| Graduation Year | Class of 1979 |
| Date of Passing | Mar 05, 2015 |
| About | Wade Ray Jessen, Billboard's senior chart manager, Nashville, died shortly after midnight March 5 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tenn., following a heart attack. The 53-year-old media veteran and country music champion had just observed his 20th anniversary as the head of Billboard's country, bluegrass, Christian and gospel charts in December. During his tenure, he was a fixture in the Nashville music business, overseeing the charts with unflagging integrity and a dedication to detail. Born Nov. 15, 1961 in Roosevelt, Utah to Robert Gary and Rosalee Brown Jessen, Wade was raised on a cattle ranch in Altonah, Utah. He graduated from Altamont High School in 1979 where he served as FFA President and Student Body President, which he won as a write-in candidate. Wade entered the country business as a broadcaster at age 16, taking his first on-air job at KNEU Roosevelt in March 1978 alongside his uncle, Fred Brown. He later worked as midday personality and music director at KSOP Salt Lake City before relocating to prestigious WSM-AM Nashville, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. During his tenure at the station, Wade was named Billboard's medium market music director of the year in 1994. Wade signed on as the Billboard country chart manager in December 1994 and became an often-quoted source for media in search of an authority, delivering analysis with a balanced and insightful point of view. Wade continued to work as a radio personality, covering the night shift on Willie's Roadhouse, a Sirius XM classic-country channel. His signature program was Rear View where he dug into his personal collection to bring rarities and deep cuts from favorite classic country albums, sharing stories behind the songs and artists. Wade is survived by his spouse Corey Jones, of Nashville; and three sisters: Jesse Ree Walker (husband Brent), of Mt. Home, Utah; Beckey Lee McConkie (husband Shawn), of Arcadia, Utah; and Gina Marie Stevenson (husband Chad), of Altonah, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gary and Rosalee, and a niece, Elizabeth McConkie. Visitation from 11 am to 7 pm on Sunday, March 8, 2015 with the family receiving guests from 3 pm to 7 pm at Spring Hill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216. Visitation at 11 am Monday, March 9, 2015 with Mass at 12 noon at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1700 Heiman Street, Nashville, Tenn. There will be a viewing at the Jessen Family home, 18000 West 7750 North, Altonah, Utah Friday, March 13, 2015 from 4-8 pm. Graveside services and interment at the Mt. Home-Boneta Cemetery, Mt. Home, Utah Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 11 am. Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN 37216, 615-865-1101, www.springhillfh.com. |
