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Tom Henderson
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Tom was host of "This is Bluegrass," a weekly radio show that began in April 1971 over Tampa’s WMNF and syndicated throughout the Southeastern U.S. His love of the music led him to produce over two dozen bluegrass festivals around the state, lead a band, and start a musical group for youngsters called the Bluegrass Parlor Band.
From 1980 until 2005 he owned and operated The Bluegrass Parlor on Busch Boulevard in Tampa, a place for not only great deals on musical instruments, but a source for hard to find recordings of the music genre. It was also the place to go to enjoy bluegrass jams on Thursday night.
As a result of his dedication and love of bluegrass music (what he called “the original country music”), Henderson received numerous awards, including a WMNF lifetime achievement award, a “Living Legend” honor for his work to preserve early country and western music and, in 1988, the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Certificate of Merit, an honor usually given to music legends like Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe.
Tom continued to host and syndicate his WMNF radio show and produce inside venues for various bluegrass groups up until he retired in 2013. A serious fall at his home lead to cardiac issues and eventually heart surgery. The bluegrass enthusiast passed away from an apparent heart-related ailment February 25, 2014 at the age of 75.
Station History
1971 - 2013 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (On Air Personality)
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