Legendary programmer Bill Drake has died after a battle with lung cancer at the age of 71. Bill was the creator of "Top 40" radio by creating "Boss Radio" back in the sixties and is responsible for most of what top 40 radio stations sounding like during that period. RIP!
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THE GREAT BILL DRAKE
- Thread starter iused2bsomebody
- Start date
iused2bsomebody said:
Drake did something better... he reinvented Top 40, which had become mired in long jingles and chatty, vacuous jocks and had ceased to innovate.
Stewart & Storz invented Top 40 and put it on the air in August, 1952 in Omaha.
T
truthsayer
Guest
Radio was his life and you felt his love in his format.
Best wishes to his family!
Best wishes to his family!
Bill was a tough man to work for, while at the same time an easy guy to work for. When he would criticize he always, at least to me, did it with the intent of improving the product.
His mantra was very simple, Preperation, Concentration and Moderation.
Many on other board have been quite unfair to Bill, but in my book he was the OK. He was always willing to talk, help, and be a friend, even almost to the end.
He was able to mix different personalities and styles while maintaining the focus of the station and the product.
Gods speed Bill
His mantra was very simple, Preperation, Concentration and Moderation.
Many on other board have been quite unfair to Bill, but in my book he was the OK. He was always willing to talk, help, and be a friend, even almost to the end.
He was able to mix different personalities and styles while maintaining the focus of the station and the product.
Gods speed Bill
Proof of a true legacy, Transisterman. Thanks. His was real voice-tracking. He went national. He changed radio, at least for some time.
I remember Drake being on Houston radio for a while. Was it KRBE about 1971 when they called themselves, gulp, "R-B-E Love?" Does anyone remember this? It didn't last that long, but he was one of the smoothest "announcers" (versus personalities) I've ever heard. I was just a stupid teenager, but he impressed me. God bless him.
I remember Drake being on Houston radio for a while. Was it KRBE about 1971 when they called themselves, gulp, "R-B-E Love?" Does anyone remember this? It didn't last that long, but he was one of the smoothest "announcers" (versus personalities) I've ever heard. I was just a stupid teenager, but he impressed me. God bless him.
He gave me my stupid name and then taught me how to be a better jock. For
that I'm forever grateful.
He named, organized and implemented original formatics that have been built
on and evolved from ever since. We're all better off.
He helped me learn how to win. I've been using his "universals" to positive
effect for years, regardless of format. I thank him for that.
He was instrumental in my learning to "unlearn." This opens up new avenues
I wouldn't have known were there. Thanks, Bill.
We both drank scotch. (This eased the guilt I felt over having that kind of
stupid fun.) It's been 24 years since I've done that, but still, what slurry
memories! -- I can never thank him enough for that.
I'll always love Bill Drake.
--BobbyOcean
that I'm forever grateful.
He named, organized and implemented original formatics that have been built
on and evolved from ever since. We're all better off.
He helped me learn how to win. I've been using his "universals" to positive
effect for years, regardless of format. I thank him for that.
He was instrumental in my learning to "unlearn." This opens up new avenues
I wouldn't have known were there. Thanks, Bill.
We both drank scotch. (This eased the guilt I felt over having that kind of
stupid fun.) It's been 24 years since I've done that, but still, what slurry
memories! -- I can never thank him enough for that.
I'll always love Bill Drake.
--BobbyOcean
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