On April 24th , The Classical Station lost our dear friend and colleague Sherman Wallace. Sherman was the regular host of “Sleepers Awake” for many years and delighted our listeners with his knowledge of classical music, his soothing voice, and his presence. In addition to hosting a program on WCPE, he performed in the Salvation Army Band for a number of years. The only thing he loved more than music was sharing it with others.

Here are some memories from the staff and volunteers that worked with him most:

Dick Storck – “My job description as Program Director says I am to be “on call” 24/7. Most of
my friendly relationship and business interaction with Sherman occurred between the hours of
11:00pm and 5:00am by means of sudden calls and texts on my cell phone. Sometimes he
called just because he was lonely and wanted a friend to talk to.”

Dan McHugh – “When I hosted the early Saturday morning show at 6 a.m., Sherman always stuck around for half an hour just to chat. We talked about work, the news, fun things happening in life, and Jesus. He was a good friend.”

Chuck Till – “I listened closely to Sherman on the air because he was such a good announcer to learn from: his diction, his pacing, his inflections, and the way he engaged listeners and made them comfortable.”

Rob Kennedy – “Sherman and I go way back to his very first time on air at WCPE. He also worked for me when I was a Sales Manager at Systemax’s Raleigh Call Center. He was a gentle giant. I will miss his deep bass voice on Sleepers Awake.”

Bruce Huffine – “I had the early Weekend Classics on Sunday morning starting at 6am for a number of years, relieving Sherman after the six-plus hour shift.  He always took a 1-2-hour nap on the then-famous couch in the reception area before starting home.  At times, he could snore pretty loudly, and it always entailed my closing the door to the studio just to play it safe. He was apparently a conscientious driver, and for sure, a very fine man.”

Sherman’s memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 600 Walnut Street, Cary, N.C. You can read his obituary here: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/27926286/sherman-wallace