Wayne Williams was born on May 27, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Homer and Faye Williams, both school teachers since the 1930s. The family lived in the Dixie Hills area of NW Atlanta where Wayne and a next door neighbor became the youngest owner/operators of a commercial radio station at the age of eleven. Since then, Williams has traveled extensively in connection with a career in the media and entertainment industries. His hobbies and interests include sports, photography, flying and cars.
Radio Years: 1970 - 1976
While Williams was a student at Atlanta’s Frederick Douglass High School , the station operated with a full professional staff. The station, WRAZ, soon moved from the back home area to offices on Campbellton Rd in SW Atlanta. The carrier current am station now reached a large audience and continued to draw international credit for innovation. Williams also worked at WIGO radio station while still a student at Douglass High. Williams and station co-founder, Keith Knox, credit Atlanta radio notables at WIGO as well as WAOK, V103, WQXI and WSB with mentoring their interest in broadcasting.
Metro News : 1976- 1979
After the station closed in 1976, Williams continued to work in radio at WBIE and WGST. He started a television news company that same year. By 1979, Metro News Productions was supplying stringer service for all three major Atlanta network affiliate tv stations. The company employed two other cameramen to handle the 24 hour work load.
Williams’ company also provided contract services for the City of Atlanta Fire Department in 1977, while he attended Georgia State University as a business major. He also briefly worked as a part time news photographer at WSB TV in 1979, before closing the news company to pursue a music career.
Music Career: 1978-1981
Williams used earnings from his news business to begin a full-time career as a professional music artist manager. He and business associates worked with Atlanta artists in paving the way for the city to become the music center it is today.
Other Skills and Work Experiences: 1976 - 1979
In addition to communications, media, and music industry careers, Williams’ background includes confidential work experiences.
