Don Cox

[Super Jock]

Need some info, does anyone on this board, know anything about the late Don Cox's radio career, other than the time he spent in Miami? Did anyone know him personally? The reason, I ask is that, I heard an old radio aircheck of him working on CKLW in 1971, under the name Don O'Brien. I've tried several contacts to see if anyone knew how long he worked there.

 

[radioman148]

Need some info, does anyone on this board, know anything about the late Don Cox's radio career, other than the time he spent in Miami? Did anyone know him personally? The reason, I ask is that, I heard an old radio aircheck of him working on CKLW in 1971, under the name Don O'Brien. I've tried several contacts to see if anyone knew how long he worked there.

I can tell you that he worked in Chicago in the late 70s on WEFM. In fact he helped launch their new format in early 78.
He billed himself as "Cox on the Radio"

 

[davideduardo]

Need some info, does anyone on this board, know anything about the late Don Cox's radio career, other than the time he spent in Miami? Did anyone know him personally? The reason, I ask is that, I heard an old radio aircheck of him working on CKLW in 1971, under the name Don O'Brien. I've tried several contacts to see if anyone knew how long he worked there.

I can tell you that he worked in Chicago in the late 70s on WEFM. In fact he helped launch their new format in early 78.
He billed himself as "Cox on the Radio"

Cox was from Cumming, GA. His stepping stone to fame was, I believe, WQXI in Atlanta. There was a stint at a Chicago FM, too. He was with Bill Tanner in Pittsburgh at Heftel's 13Q and then went to Miami. He had a stint at KHJ, and later at Y-95 with Keith Eisley, as well as Power and Kiss in Miami.

Google a few of these and you will find airchecks and more information.

I worked with Don in the early 80's (I was GM of sister station WHTT in Miami) and he was one of a kind... on a one of a kind radio station, Y 100.

 

[Super Jock]

Thanks for your assistance. I forgot to mention, that the people who I contacted about Don, were radio people who knew or worked at CKLW or in the Detroit area in 1971. It seems no one remembers anything about him working there.

 

[davideduardo]

Thanks for your assistance. I forgot to mention, that the people who I contacted about Don, were radio people who knew or worked at CKLW or in the Detroit area in 1971. It seems no one remembers anything about him working there.

There is a CKLW tribute site... i lost the link, but google it and it should appear. I believe it has a chronology of the talent.

 

[Super Jock]

David, thanks but I know that site by heart. That's where I found some of the people to contact about Don.

 

[radioman148]

So then did Don Cox actually work for CKLW or not?

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

Need some info, does anyone on this board, know anything about the late Don Cox's radio career, other than the time he spent in Miami? Did anyone know him personally? The reason, I ask is that, I heard an old radio aircheck of him working on CKLW in 1971, under the name Don O'Brien. I've tried several contacts to see if anyone knew how long he worked there.

I can tell you that he worked in Chicago in the late 70s on WEFM. In fact he helped launch their new format in early 78.
He billed himself as "Cox on the Radio"

Cox was from Cumming, GA. His stepping stone to fame was, I believe, WQXI in Atlanta. There was a stint at a Chicago FM, too. He was with Bill Tanner in Pittsburgh at Heftel's 13Q and then went to Miami. He had a stint at KHJ, and later at Y-95 with Keith Eisley, as well as Power and Kiss in Miami.

Google a few of these and you will find airchecks and more information.

I worked with Don in the early 80's (I was GM of sister station WHTT in Miami) and he was one of a kind... on a one of a kind radio station, Y 100.

As a kid, I remember hearing him on I-95 and then on "Power 96" where he would have a long run, till the mid 90's. After Power 96, he was at Kiss country for a brief stint, and shortly after, he passed away. I consider him the last great DJ that Power had. No one since has come close to the caliber of his talent.

 

[Super Jock]

Yes, I believe Don did work at CKLW in 1971. I found this out listening to a compliation aircheck of Detroit area radio stations from 1971, on Airchexx.com. The tape is about 30 mins. long and he's featured in two segments in the last three mins. I found out from someone who worked there, after Don left that, it was him, but he didn't remember how long he worked there. Lastly, I cross-referenced two other airchecks of him. It was the same person. I enjoyed listening to CKLW as a teen growing up here in Philly, but don't remember him...thus my curiosity.

 

[radioman148]

Yes, I believe Don did work at CKLW in 1971. I found this out listening to a compliation aircheck of Detroit area radio stations from 1971, on Airchexx.com. The tape is about 30 mins. long and he's featured in two segments in the last three mins. I found out from someone who worked there, after Don left that, it was him, but he didn't remember how long he worked there. Lastly, I cross-referenced two other airchecks of him. It was the same person. I enjoyed listening to CKLW as a teen growing up here in Philly, but don't remember him...thus my curiosity.

I was curious too, because I don't remember him working at CKLW. It must have been a short stint.

 

[HitOldies]

For a great aircheck of Cox on the Radio at I-95. see this website...

http://airchexx.com/category/contributors/daniel-coulombe

 

[radioman148]

Thanks.

 

[isleyk]

Cox did work at CKLW, but not for too long. I don't think he was a favorite of PD Paul Drew. The year 1971 seems too early, though. As I recall from his telling it, he did afternoons at WMYQ briefly, then went to CKLW in summer 1973. While he was in Detroit, the Miami spring book came out and showed some good numbers for his shift. Buzz Bennett and Ronny Grant were assembling the staff for Y-100's Aug. '73 sign-on, and based on the WMYQ ratings, they brought Cox back for Y-100 PM drive. He met his first wife Marty, a Detroit stripper, while there.

 

[radioman148]

Cox did work at CKLW, but not for too long. I don't think he was a favorite of PD Paul Drew. The year 1971 seems too early, though. As I recall from his telling it, he did afternoons at WMYQ briefly, then went to CKLW in summer 1973. While he was in Detroit, the Miami spring book came out and showed some good numbers for his shift. Buzz Bennett and Ronny Grant were assembling the staff for Y-100's Aug. '73 sign-on, and based on the WMYQ ratings, they brought Cox back for Y-100 PM drive. He met his first wife Marty, a Detroit stripper, while there.

Does anyone know how old Cox was when he passed away?

 

[top4odj]

Cox did work at CKLW, but not for too long. I don't think he was a favorite of PD Paul Drew. The year 1971 seems too early, though. As I recall from his telling it, he did afternoons at WMYQ briefly, then went to CKLW in summer 1973. While he was in Detroit, the Miami spring book came out and showed some good numbers for his shift. Buzz Bennett and Ronny Grant were assembling the staff for Y-100's Aug. '73 sign-on, and based on the WMYQ ratings, they brought Cox back for Y-100 PM drive. He met his first wife Marty, a Detroit stripper, while there.

Does anyone know how old Cox was when he passed away?

The Legendary Don Cox passed away on September 14, 2003 at the young age of 55.

 

[radioman148]

Way too young.

 

[Super Jock]

I got the official word on Don from ex-CKLW dj Ted Richards...Don worked there in 1972...was given a mid-day slot...screwed up royally...was put on overnights...after a three month evaluation...was given the boot...end of story.

 

[isleyk]

Yeah, a lot of programmers thought Cox was a terrible jock, especially with his "maniacal" laugh. Another example of how S. Florida was a different breed of market.

 

[radioman148]

He didn't last too long in Chicago either.

 

[Earlyriser]

What killed him? Not that there weren't many possibilities.