The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that Nelson Hobdell has died; Nels worked at several Philadelphia stations, most notably, his stint at WWSH-FM in the '70s. Also, Philadelphia Native Mike Kelly lost his battle with cancer over the weekend. Kelly did daytime at WMID, then after a brief stop in Harrisburg at WFEC, spent several years at the Big Eight, CKLW in Detroit. Mike Kelly was 53.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by fennessy on 08/16/05 12:53 PM.</FONT></P>
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TWO PHILLY VOICES SILENCED
- Thread starter fennessy
- Start date
J
Jim_Hicks
Guest
Nels had one of those voices you don't forget. Did he also work at WFLN?
> The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that Nelson
> Hobdell has died; Nels worked at several Philadelphia
> stations, most notably, his stint at WWSH-FM in the '70s.
> Also, Philadelphia Native Mike Kelly lost his battle with
> cancer over the weekend. Kelly did daytime at WMID, then
> after a brief stop in Harrisburg at WFEC, spent several
> years at the Big Eight, CKLW in Detroit. Mike Kelly was 53.
>
> The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that Nelson
> Hobdell has died; Nels worked at several Philadelphia
> stations, most notably, his stint at WWSH-FM in the '70s.
> Also, Philadelphia Native Mike Kelly lost his battle with
> cancer over the weekend. Kelly did daytime at WMID, then
> after a brief stop in Harrisburg at WFEC, spent several
> years at the Big Eight, CKLW in Detroit. Mike Kelly was 53.
>
E
elevator_opratr
Guest
> > Did he also work at WFLN?
>
> While I'm certain this resume isn't 100% complete, Nels
> certainly logged time
> at WFLN, WDAS, WRTI, WWSH, WPBS, WSNI, WCHE, WEEZ, WHYY and
> on NJN. As an independent "stringer", he was probably heard
> on KYW at some time or another as well.
>
> Mike Koste
Nels also did PT at WJJZ in the mid and late 90's. Didn't he work for awhile at WCOJ, too? I spoke to the man once on the phone during a job search and he was the nicest gentleman. R.I.P. Nels. What did he pass of?
>
> While I'm certain this resume isn't 100% complete, Nels
> certainly logged time
> at WFLN, WDAS, WRTI, WWSH, WPBS, WSNI, WCHE, WEEZ, WHYY and
> on NJN. As an independent "stringer", he was probably heard
> on KYW at some time or another as well.
>
> Mike Koste
Nels also did PT at WJJZ in the mid and late 90's. Didn't he work for awhile at WCOJ, too? I spoke to the man once on the phone during a job search and he was the nicest gentleman. R.I.P. Nels. What did he pass of?
S
soundchaser99
Guest
I worked with Nels for a time at WHYY. Not only did he have that million dollar voice, he was incredible smart and one of the nicest guys I have worked with in this business. He could speak on several different subjects and had a sharp wit. He was the definition of the word pro. I am sad that he is gone, but count myself lucky that I had gotten to know him.
> The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that Nelson
> Hobdell has died; Nels worked at several Philadelphia
> stations, most notably, his stint at WWSH-FM in the '70s.
> Also, Philadelphia Native Mike Kelly lost his battle with
> cancer over the weekend. Kelly did daytime at WMID, then
> after a brief stop in Harrisburg at WFEC, spent several
> years at the Big Eight, CKLW in Detroit. Mike Kelly was 53.
>
> The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that Nelson
> Hobdell has died; Nels worked at several Philadelphia
> stations, most notably, his stint at WWSH-FM in the '70s.
> Also, Philadelphia Native Mike Kelly lost his battle with
> cancer over the weekend. Kelly did daytime at WMID, then
> after a brief stop in Harrisburg at WFEC, spent several
> years at the Big Eight, CKLW in Detroit. Mike Kelly was 53.
>
Nelson Hobdell also voicetracked 560 when it was "Wish 560" in the early '90's.
He had the perfect style for "beautiful music" radio, he sounded professional and read all those cheesy liners with conviction & sincerity ("A Wish to Build a Dream On, WWSH, FM 106", etc.) I remember when he became PD for WRCP-FM in 1977 and switched it to "beautiful country" (soft country & pop vocalists doing country songs, orchestrated instrumentals of country songs, and the "Sunny Custom Orchestra, Singers & Strings". The format didn't last long but the Sunny name lives on! You knew you were listening to easy listening when you heard his familiar voice!
> > Did he also work at WFLN?
>
> While I'm certain this resume isn't 100% complete, Nels
> certainly logged time
> at WFLN, WDAS, WRTI, WWSH, WPBS, WSNI, WCHE, WEEZ, WHYY and
> on NJN. As an independent "stringer", he was probably heard
> on KYW at some time or another as well.
>
> Mike Koste
>
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by John1 on 08/16/05 08:43 PM.</FONT></P>
He had the perfect style for "beautiful music" radio, he sounded professional and read all those cheesy liners with conviction & sincerity ("A Wish to Build a Dream On, WWSH, FM 106", etc.) I remember when he became PD for WRCP-FM in 1977 and switched it to "beautiful country" (soft country & pop vocalists doing country songs, orchestrated instrumentals of country songs, and the "Sunny Custom Orchestra, Singers & Strings". The format didn't last long but the Sunny name lives on! You knew you were listening to easy listening when you heard his familiar voice!
> > Did he also work at WFLN?
>
> While I'm certain this resume isn't 100% complete, Nels
> certainly logged time
> at WFLN, WDAS, WRTI, WWSH, WPBS, WSNI, WCHE, WEEZ, WHYY and
> on NJN. As an independent "stringer", he was probably heard
> on KYW at some time or another as well.
>
> Mike Koste
>
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by John1 on 08/16/05 08:43 PM.</FONT></P>
Re: Answer & Note to Michael Klein
> What did he pass of?
>
> Obit in the 8/16 Inky didn't say.
>
Listing says donations to the Fox Chase Cancer Center (or NJN or WHYY) so I would guess he had cancer.
Note to Michael Klein if checking out the board - The only listing (at least in my Inquirer edition) for Nels Hobdell was in the "Funeral Announcements" that the family pays for, not the Obituaries written by the paper. Nelson Hobdell was a recognizable name in Philadelphia radio for decades. Even younger adults who don't remember WWSH would know him from doing traffic & news more recently on WHYY. Can you see that he gets a proper Obit in the Inquirer? Thanks!
> What did he pass of?
>
> Obit in the 8/16 Inky didn't say.
>
Listing says donations to the Fox Chase Cancer Center (or NJN or WHYY) so I would guess he had cancer.
Note to Michael Klein if checking out the board - The only listing (at least in my Inquirer edition) for Nels Hobdell was in the "Funeral Announcements" that the family pays for, not the Obituaries written by the paper. Nelson Hobdell was a recognizable name in Philadelphia radio for decades. Even younger adults who don't remember WWSH would know him from doing traffic & news more recently on WHYY. Can you see that he gets a proper Obit in the Inquirer? Thanks!
E
elevator_opratr
Guest
Re: Answer & Note to Michael Klein
> Note to Michael Klein if checking out the board - The only
> listing (at least in my Inquirer edition) for Nels Hobdell
> was in the "Funeral Announcements" that the family pays for,
> not the Obituaries written by the paper. Nelson Hobdell was
> a recognizable name in Philadelphia radio for decades. Even
> younger adults who don't remember WWSH would know him from
> doing traffic & news more recently on WHYY. Can you see
> that he gets a proper Obit in the Inquirer? Thanks!
I'll second that.
> Note to Michael Klein if checking out the board - The only
> listing (at least in my Inquirer edition) for Nels Hobdell
> was in the "Funeral Announcements" that the family pays for,
> not the Obituaries written by the paper. Nelson Hobdell was
> a recognizable name in Philadelphia radio for decades. Even
> younger adults who don't remember WWSH would know him from
> doing traffic & news more recently on WHYY. Can you see
> that he gets a proper Obit in the Inquirer? Thanks!
I'll second that.
Re: Follow-Up & Thanks
The Inquirer did have an obituary for Nelson Hobdell today - thanks to the Inquirer for recognizing him as they should.
I was surprised to read he was only 58. So back when I was listening to him on WWSH he was only in his 20's! He probably could have been doing a soft-voiced progressive thing on MMR similar to Johnny Craft.
Reminds me of Alan Dean, who went from top 40 Wibbage to easy WDVR to country WRCP in the late '60's era, and pulled it off sounding like he belonged wherever he went!
The Inquirer did have an obituary for Nelson Hobdell today - thanks to the Inquirer for recognizing him as they should.
I was surprised to read he was only 58. So back when I was listening to him on WWSH he was only in his 20's! He probably could have been doing a soft-voiced progressive thing on MMR similar to Johnny Craft.
Reminds me of Alan Dean, who went from top 40 Wibbage to easy WDVR to country WRCP in the late '60's era, and pulled it off sounding like he belonged wherever he went!
J
Jack_Moore
Guest
> What did he pass of?
>
> Obit in the 8/16 Inky didn't say.
>
Nels had throat cancer. He had his voice box removed last year unfortunately, and stopped working afterward.
Jack Moore
>
> Obit in the 8/16 Inky didn't say.
>
Nels had throat cancer. He had his voice box removed last year unfortunately, and stopped working afterward.
Jack Moore
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