Dave Brown, born on September 1, 1946, is an American meteorologist and former wrestling announcer. He is best known for his long tenure as the chief meteorologist for WMC-TV in Memphis, Tennessee, and his significant contributions to Memphis Wrestling. Let's delve into the remarkable career of this multifaceted personality.
Dave Brown (right) with Lance Russell
Early Career and Education
Brown grew up in Trenton, Tennessee. He began his broadcasting career in 1962 as a disc jockey at WKBJ Radio in Milan, Tennessee, while still a sophomore in high school at age 15. One year later, he moved to WIRJ Radio in Humboldt, Tennessee. When he came to Memphis to study political science at the University of Memphis, he moved to WHBQ-AM Radio in Memphis, where he was on the air from September 1964 to October 1968. Notably, this station was the first to play a song by Elvis Presley on the radio in 1954.
Transition to Television and Meteorology
In October 1968, Brown accepted an offer to become a staff announcer and host of Dialing For Dollars at WHBQ-TV. He began his career in meteorology as a weathercaster on the initial broadcast of WHBQ-TV's 12 noon newscast in May 1972. Dave Brown began his television meteorology career as a weathercaster on WHBQ-TV starting in May 1972.
A Storied Career in Memphis Wrestling
Dave Brown's involvement in professional wrestling commentary began in 1967, marking the start of a significant chapter in his career. In 1967, while working as a disc jockey at WHBQ radio, Brown received an opportunity from program manager Lance Russell to fill in as an announcer for wrestling broadcasts, initiating his longstanding involvement in professional wrestling commentary on local platforms. For a large portion of his broadcasting career (most of the period between 1967 and 2002), he also co-hosted the Memphis Wrestling television program (and its predecessor, Championship Wrestling). Dave Brown began his wrestling commentary career in 1967 as co-host of the Memphis Wrestling television program on WHBQ-TV, partnering primarily with veteran announcer Lance Russell for a 25-year collaboration that lasted until Russell's departure in 1989.
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The duo's broadcasts, airing Saturday mornings, became a staple for the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), drawing over 60% of the local audience share and featuring promotions that launched stars like Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. When the promotion moved to WMC-TV in 1977, Brown continued the broadcasts there. Brown moved to WMC when Jerry Jarrett split from his business partners (who controlled the wrestling timeslot on Channel 13) to run his own Memphis territory. WMC agreed to air Jarrett's Championship Wrestling in the traditional Saturday timeslot, partly on the condition that "Lance and Dave" provided the commentary. Russell rejoined Brown several weeks after the initial broadcast on Channel 5, where wrestling remained for the next 26 years.
Known for his relaxed, straight-man style that complemented Russell's enthusiastic play-by-play, Brown provided color commentary during iconic CWA events, including Jerry Lawler's heated feud with Andy Kaufman, which he later described as "perhaps the single most talked about event" in Memphis wrestling history. Memorable moments under Brown's calls included chaotic brawls like the 1982 Tupelo Concession Stand Fight, where wrestlers hurled condiments at fans and each other, and early appearances by future legends such as Hogan, who credited the Memphis promotion for honing his showmanship.
Russell and Brown have been described by wrestling insiders and fans as the greatest television announcing team in the history of wrestling. Most notably, he spent 25 years with Lance Russell, with the rest of the time spent alongside Corey Maclin.
Brown's contributions extended beyond Memphis broadcasts, with episodes occasionally syndicated nationally via networks like the Financial News Network (FNN) in the 1980s, exposing CWA matches to broader audiences. His distinctive voice and persona even inspired soundalike references in media, such as character impressions in films drawing from his meteorologist-wrestling announcer duality.
After Russell left Memphis for World Championship Wrestling in 1989, Brown continued as the host of the wrestling program, frequently teamed with Corey Maclin and demonstrating a style similar to Russell. Russell left WCW in 1992 and returned to Memphis Wrestling, paired once again with Brown and/or Maclin.
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Dave Brown and Lance Russell were inducted into the Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame April 22, 2017.
Dream Machine blows a gasket on Lance Russell (1981) Classic Memphis Wrestling Promo
Chief Meteorologist at WMC-TV
For 38 years, he has been chief meteorologist for WMC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Memphis. He is the former chief meteorologist from 1977 to 2015 for WMC-TV. Dave Brown received an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his outstanding meteorology work at WMC-TV in Memphis, recognizing his contributions to weather broadcasting over decades.
In August 2014, Brown announced that WMC-TV had agreed to his request of a reduced schedule. Effective September 1, 2014 he was seen on the 6pm newscast only. In his announcement, he noted that he has worked since the age of 10, most of which he worked six days a week. Fifty-two of those years have been in broadcasting, more than 37 at WMC-TV.
Community Involvement and Advocacy
Brown has been active in the campaign against drunk driving since the May 1997 death of his daughter, granddaughter and unborn grandson due to a drunk driver. Brown has actively shared his family's story through public service announcements and interviews on WMC Action News 5 to educate the public on the preventable dangers of drunk driving, stating, "There is no excuse for driving drunk."
Recent Activities
Since 2020, Brown is part of All Elite Wrestling events in the Memphis area. On January 8, 2020, Brown participated in All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite events from Southaven, Mississippi, doing play-by-play for the events with Excalibur for AEW Dark, as the event was declared "A Tribute to Memphis Wrestling" with appearances by legends and off-spring of deceased wrestling legends of professional wrestling in the Memphis area.
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Dave Brown married Margaret Bramblett Brown in December of 1967.
Summary of Dave Brown's Career
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Early Career | Disc Jockey at WKBJ Radio, WIRJ Radio, WHBQ-AM Radio |
| Television | Staff Announcer and Host of Dialing For Dollars at WHBQ-TV |
| Meteorology | Weathercaster at WHBQ-TV (1972), Chief Meteorologist at WMC-TV (1977-2015) |
| Wrestling Announcer | Co-host of Memphis Wrestling/Championship Wrestling (1967-2002) with Lance Russell and Corey Maclin |
| Awards and Recognition | Emmy Award for meteorology, Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame (2017) |
| Community Involvement | Advocate against drunk driving |
| Recent Activities | Part of All Elite Wrestling events in Memphis area (since 2020) |