Sonny Joe Cross Passes at 94

Sonny Joe Cross has passed away, 1 month shy of his 95^th birthday. Happily married for 74 years to Gladys,  Sonny Joe was a staple on K1037 airwaves for almost 34 years. The couple were married on November 11^th, 1950, with Gladys always being his biggest supporter over the years, staying in with Sonny Joe on Sundays in order to tape his shows for the radio station and listen to his music selection. And what a collection he had to choose from, boasting in an Eastern Door article 15 years ago that he had, at that point, amassed over 40 thousand albums. In that self-written article, the community icon shared his story of his introduction to radio in the community, in his words: “I went to the back door of K103 Radio station at 10 o’clock one night. I had a Hank Williams record with me and asked, “Could I pay you $10 to play two or three songs?” I knew it wouldn’t be allowed if I had asked at the main entrance. They would think I’m crazy. So, I bribed them all – everyone except the manager. Soon the manager got calls from people saying, “Gee, you got a nice program.” It was funny but I got nervous. I didn’t know what to do. The manager had no idea. Next thing you know I was there every day of the week. The people loved it. Sonny Joe admitted openly to his struggles growing up and into his later years. After going through residential school, he drank and he fought. Then when he was about 37 years old, he decided to put the bottle away and along with it, what he declared as ‘the nonsense.’ Sonny Joe would say that the only thing that saved his life was the music, along with my wife and three daughters, his support system. Last October 2023, marked 33 years that he was celebrated on the radio. Sonny Joe Cross, passing away at 94.