Please get the RJ career correct for the First time in your life

[desk22]

The cut me a hard break person is incorrect about RJ, Ron Joseph's career in Philadelphia.  First of all, RJ detested doing record hops. The only reason he ever did appearances at clubs, was to promote and select young people for his weekly tv shows. two, he was not on peripherial radio stations. He chose stations that always served the Philadelphia market that would afford him to play the music he desired and speak his mind at anytime. These were called freeform radio stations of the day.  RJ never ever wanted to be on WFIL , WIBG, OR WCAU FM for they would not allow him to do his unique personality plus format that he designed himself. However, RJ's voice and commercials for his productions aired constantly during the 70's and 80's over these powerhouse stations in Philadelphia to promote his TV shows, network and productions in the Philadelphia area.RJ was absent from the Philadelphia radio market for 15 years , but he was in Hollywood and San Francisco on powerhouses such as clear channel XPRS 1090, which served 16 western states and Canada and Mexico. Maybe you remember Wolfman Jack that was on the same station as RJ. When you speak about RJ's career, you tend not to know while he was syndicating his tv show in 20 cities from the west coast holding down a radio show, managing three teenage acts, and producing these young personalities in three international motion pictures.  Let us not forget RJ came back to Philadelphia in 1991 to put on three television stations 24 hours a day of programming and has not done any record hops, clubs, or even appearances until this year.  And he only did these appearances for general managers that twisted his arm.  RJ, as any radio manager will tell you, he is too complacent with his life today, yesterday, and forever more. People like "cut me a hard break" on this thread most likely have not done one percent in the broadcasting business, and I feel sorry for these people who have not acheived their hopes and wishes for a steller career like RJ in broadcasting. Check out "Broadcast Pioneers" bio on RJ, Ron Joseph. You will see he has started a trend, sometimes gone along with a trend, and because of his broadcast ownership in various stations, today or yesterday he has never had to depend on appearances like so many others.  RJ is quite fortunate and if he ever looks back and retires tomorrow, he has no regrets. Yes you were correct , RJ is just not another DJ. How many DJ's can you name that have done so much in a many faceted career like broadcasting. RJ was more than a voice over Philadelphia. Yes, he is truely Philadelphia's unsung radio and tv personality hero.  Information on RJ's career can  also be found at http://www.rjdiscousa.com/

 

[NeroSix]

Thanks for putting RJ's long career into proper perspective and for putting "hard break" in his place. There's so much petty jealousy in life, it's nice to see someone come to the defense of another person who was so egregiously maligned. Nice work.

 

[CutMeAHardBreak]

Let's not get into a flame war, ok? Thank you for the stellar novelette on RJ. It doesn't change a thing I said. He was known as a sock hop jock, period. Whether it was TV, small radio stations, or on "X" stations booming into the USA from south of the border. He was an excellent record hop jock, and I never took that away from him. But you can't consider him an "Unsung Philly Radio Hero" because he wasn't. How can you even consider him for that when you look at the history of Philly Radio Talent? You mentioned the Philly Pioneers. Look at the people who were real ON-AIR PHILLY TALENT on that site. How can you even compare RJ to them? Is RJ a Pioneer? Yes, in some ways he is. He was synonymous with doing dance shows. Isn't that what I originally said? Does he deserve credit for that? Of course. But he is not an UNSUNG PHILLY RADIO HERO. He would have needed to be on a PHILLY radio station to qualify for that. What part of this don't you understand? I laughed when NeroSix mentioned something about petty jealousy on my part. I could care less about RJ or any of this really. I just saw the original post and wanted to comment, period. I've enjoyed a financially lucrative career in broadcasting in numerous markets, worked for three major radio corporations, and now I am semi-retired and do some consulting work for one of them for very nice bucks. Oh damn I am sooo jealous!!Hey, good talking to you guys. Have a great time keeping the RJ home fires burning!!See Ya!

 

[DToTheJ]

You mentioned the Philly Pioneers. Look at the people who were real ON-AIR PHILLY TALENT on that site. How can you even compare RJ to them? Is RJ a Pioneer? Yes, in some ways he is. He was synonymous with doing dance shows. Isn't that what I originally said? Does he deserve credit for that? Of course. But he is not an UNSUNG PHILLY RADIO HERO. He would have needed to be on a PHILLY radio station to qualify for that.

Sure, WVLT might be a rimshot, but I would make the argument that his short-lived weekend talk show on WNWR (the former WPGR) would make him qualified as a Philadelphia radio personality.

By the way, it's been almost a year since that show was cancelled. Would like to hear his unique take on today's issues these days.

 

[New Castle]

I been listening to Philly radio for over 40 years and I've never heard of Ron Joseph. The only RJ I can remember from Philly radio was RJ Harris who did overnights on WPEN back when they were oldies. (He now owns mornings in Central PA on WHP).

 

[nitetalker]

I also never heard of Ron Joseph before I started to read this board and I've been listening to Philly radio for 40 years.

Another RJ was Roy Laurence from WIOQ and (I think?) WCAU-FM. He went by "RJ Laurence" some of the time.

 

[cbsstaffer]

its lawrence and he was at I-92, he was a two bit phoney at that horrible Disco 98 he was at the Q before 98....Oh I did love I-92 one of the best stations at that time shame the signal ruined it RIP to the guy who died of AIDs in the 7pm slot...gabba gabba hey

 

[murcuryvapor]

WFIL , WIBG, WCAU FM XPRS 1090, three television stations 24 hours a day http://www.rjdiscousa.com/

How about a little Habeas Corpus? A little tale of the tape? Oh, and I've seen those tapes of the Philly TV disco show with that raccoon on your head, but that would be enlightening too-please post a link. I just don't feel like digging that up. I thought that was a goof on local access-fun to play as punk band backdrop

So, if you prized these 'years of experience' as you seem to in your lugubrious, long-winded postings, you'll have the tape.

By the way, why do you sound like you've been drilling cadets for the past 20 years, or had some kind of throat virus? Do you have nodules on your chords? Seriously-get a doctor to put a scope down there instead of wasting money on airtime. Really.

I like you pot work though, and the 35-year-old wax. Don't talk.

 

[JaMa]

I hate to sound mean about this, but really, who cares? RJ has done a lot through the years. I won't take that away from him. BUT, he's not an "unsung hero" of Philadelphia radio. Most of his jobs (if I'm not mistaken) were situations where he paid for airtime. Anybody can do that.

 

[nitetalker]

its lawrence and he was at I-92, he was a two bit phoney at that horrible Disco 98 he was at the Q before 98....Oh I did love I-92 one of the best stations at that time shame the signal ruined it RIP to the guy who died of AIDs in the 7pm slot...gabba gabba hey

Funny, cbsstaffer, I was able to enjoy both 98's disco format and I-92. To each their own I guess.

I was pretty sure I had the spelling of Roy Lawrence/Laurence right but I defer to you on that. I don't remember him on I-92. Two-bit phony, huh? Care to elaborate?

The I-92 DJ who died was Lee Paris http://www.jchtv.com/?p=72.

 

[amfmsw]

I have no dog in this discussion, 'cept to say that the Geator also used rim shots and small signals to build a wonderful career in Phila broadcasting. He is no footnote.

Wolfman Jack was on 1570 XERF across the border from Del Rio Texas. At the time, it operated at 500,000 watts (think cruising in American Grafitti). It is now half that. Mike and Joan Venditti were the last persons to get the station at full power. It used a half-million watt, Camden, NJ, built RCA Short Wave transmitter that the Mexican owner re-tuned for Medium Wave AM. THAT was the station that covered half of the Americas.

The 1090 AM station you mention is a 50,000 watt regional, directional at night, across from San Diego, CA and it's calls are XEPRS. It is a very successful Sports station, home to the Padres.