FOR 40 YEARS, Fred Burton has been the steady voice on Lebanon’s airwaves, spinning records and shaping the soundtrack of Saturday nights. But his contributions to the community extend far beyond the radio booth. From military service to public office and business ownership to cultural advocacy, Burton’s life has been full of dedication, perseverance, and heart.
Born and raised in Lebanon, his love for music started early. “I played in the high school band for eight years,” he recalled. “And I always loved music, always played little record hops at school. Music was just a part of me.”
That passion followed him even when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1962 and stationed in Korea. “I had a buddy who was a disc jockey over there,” he said. “One day, I went up to the studio with him, and the program director said, ‘I like your voice; let me give you a voice test.’”
That moment set the stage for a lifetime in radio. “He said, ‘I love your voice. I’m putting you on the radio,’” Burton remembered with a large grin on his face. “So in 1963, I started playing soul music over there.”
When he returned stateside in 1964, Nashville became his next stage. “I started at WVOL radio [station] doing Sunday evenings, and I was also working at a station here in Lebanon. Two stations at once — it was busy,” he said with a laugh.
But radio was just one track of Burton’s life. In 1986, he turned up the volume on his commitment to the community by running for Lebanon City Council. “When I ran, we didn’t have a representative in our ward. It was an African American ward, and we had no voice,” he explained. “So they added two more council seats, and I was one of them. That was in 1986, and I stayed for 30 years.”
Thirty years of service. Thirty years of advocacy. Thirty years of ensuring that every voice in Lebanon had a chance to be heard. “It was a lot of work,” he admitted. “They worked me to death!”
Through it all, music remained a constant in his life. His influence reached beyond the airwaves, connecting him with legendary artists like James Brown. “James Brown was my friend,” Burton said with pride. “Every time he came to Nashville for a show, he always called me. We always had a party after the show.”
His entrepreneurial spirit also played a strong note in his life.
“After high school, I went to barber school in Memphis for six months,” he said. “Came back, met a buddy, and we opened a barbershop.” For 12 years, Burton cut hair by day and commanded the airwaves by night. “Then, in 1970, I said, ‘That’s enough.’”
Despite juggling radio, politics, and business, family remained his grounding force. “My wife, Billie, and I have a son who’s a senior engineer and a grandson who’s in the Air Force, going through fighter training in Little Rock,” he shared. “We’ve always stayed close.”
Over the years, Burton has received numerous awards recognizing his service and dedication. But when asked how it feels to be honored, he simply said, “Enough is enough,” with a chuckle. “It’s been a beautiful life.”
That life wasn’t without hardship. “My mother passed away when I was only 17. I was a senior in high school,” he said. “My dad fell in love with a woman in Detroit and moved there. He wanted me to come, but I said, ‘No way. It’s too cold. I’m staying in the South.’”
And stay he did, dedicating his life to the town that shaped him. Though he officially retired from the city council in 2023, stepping away from public service hasn’t dimmed his light. “Thirty years was enough,” he said. “The mayor asked me if I’d run again, and I said, ‘No way — I’m running out that back door!’”
Now, at 83, Burton continues to be a voice of the community. His radio show still runs strong, proving that some tunes never fade. “Music has always been my thing,” he said. “And I’m not done yet.”
Fred Burton’s legacy is like a timeless song and certainly one that Lebanon will keep singing for generations to come. GN
