Esmond J. Patterson

News Obituary Article

DECATUR: Esmond J. Patterson, 75, gospel radio host

By DERRICK HENRY

Every weekday morning for nearly 40 years, Esmond Patterson would get up at 2 o'clock, put on his tuxedo and head to WAOK-AM for his 4 a.m. "Sunrise Morning Gospel" radio show.

Each March, Mr. Patterson would present national gospel singers in concert at either the old Atlanta Municipal Auditorium or the Atlanta Civic Center. Once a month, he'd host a Gospel Caravan featuring local gospel artists in an Atlanta church.

"I am who I am because of him," said nationally known singer Dottie Peoples, one of many gospel performers who got their start through Mr. Patterson. "He nicknamed me the Songbird of the South, and now people call me that all over the country. There will never be another Brother Esmond Patterson. He's a legend in gospel, an icon."

For Mr. Patterson, traditional gospel music was inspiration for the soul, a balm for difficult times.

"When the world's in a mess, you don't got time for no la-dee-da-da music," said Mr. Patterson in a 1992 Atlanta Journal-Constitution article. "People are looking for something real. People are looking for hope."

Esmond J. Patterson Sr., 75, of Decatur died Saturday of pneumonia at Crawford Long Hospital of Emory University. The funeral is 11 a.m. Thursday at Salem Baptist Church of Atlanta. Hines Home of Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

A gospel singer in his youth, the Atlanta native began his radio career in 1955 with a 4 a.m. gospel show on WERD, the first black-owned radio station in the country.

"He did everything," said his daughter Edna Renee Patterson of Lithonia. "He'd play a record, then wash a window or two and be the janitor, too. They put him on early in the morning because they didn't think gospel was going to last."

In 1963 Mr. Patterson moved his two-hour weekday show to WAOK, remaining until the station switched to a news/talk format in December 2001. During his 38 years there, Mr. Patterson also hosted a Sunday show from 6 a.m. to noon.

Every show featured a sermon by a local preacher. "He'd give each of them a nickname, like Son of Thunder or Hurricane," said his daughter. "He made a lot of preachers popular."

His weekday show was one of the highest rated in its time slot. Still, Mr. Patterson had to supplement his income by selling life insurance, furniture and radio ads. "He could sell bifocals to Stevie Wonder," his daughter said.

His honors include a 1996 Stellar Award --- the gospel equivalent of a Grammy. In 1992 a videotaped interview with Mr. Patterson was placed in the Smithsonian Institution archives.

A snazzy dresser, he owned more than 150 tuxedos. "He wore them everywhere," his daughter said. "He'd go through the drive-through and get a 12-piece box of chicken in a tuxedo. He even wore a tuxedo to the hospital."

For 48 years, he closed his radio show with this: "You ain't nothing but sugar, Atlanta. Stay sweet till we meet again."

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mozelle Patterson; another daughter, Marsha Dobbs of Decatur; a son, Esmond Patterson Jr. of Decatur; and a grandson.

© 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution