Curly King and Don Campbell with the Tennessee Hilltoppers
Curly King was widely known in upper east Tennessee during the 1940s and 1950s, most notably for broadcasting on WCYB in Bristol, Virginia. King and his band, the Tennessee Hilltoppers, appeared alongside the Stanley Brothers during the day programming. The Stanleys were often featured on the Farm N' Fun Time segment, airing six days a week at 12:05 p.m.
King and his band were featured on the Thrift Supply Company Store segment. WCYB expanded its listening range in the late 1940s with the addition of a 1000 watt license which allowed it to broadcast into the five-state region: Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky--the heartland of old-time and traditional music.
In the late 1950s, Curly King's path crossed the Stanley Brothers again when he filled in on bass during a session for Mercury Records in 1958.