• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

What radio/tv personality made YOU want to be "on-the-air"?

E

emanon17

"jy" suggested a great list in another thread... so I'm not taking credit for this! Just wondering who's on your list?

What is your: "List of 'Top 5 radio/tv personalities' that made you want to be on-the-air?"

Here is mine:

1) "Robert Murphy-In-The-Morning" (Q101/Chicago & WROQ/Charlotte)
2) "Paul Harvey" (nationally syndicated for what, 40 years?)
3) "Wolfman Jack" (what a freakin' showman! Before my time really, but I always knew
he was America's coolest and freakiest DJ!)
4) "Greaseman" (what a magnificent storyteller! With vivid descriptions, accompanied by perfect sfx when
needed! His growly voice just added to his mystique...)
5) "me"

btw, if i had to name "the best personality in atlanta," right now??? I'd have to say, "bert."
... and then, "Ryan." probably "Ryan Stewart" after that. (he's a big personality on the air!)

So, what's your list look like? Discuss!
 
My top 5- (mainly NY influence)

1) Cousin Brucie (WABC/ WNBC/ WCBS-FM)
2) Ron Lundy (WABC/ WCBS-FM)
3) Bob Murphy (legendary voice of the Mets)
4) Bob Klein (longtime morning guy on WALK-FM- #1 station on Long Island, and someone whom I got to know personally)
5) Vin Scully
 
1) Mark Summers (WBBQ 80's, Augusta)
2) "Handsome" Harley Drew (WBBQ 80's, Augusta)
3) Dickie Shannon (WBBQ 80's & 90's, Augusta)
4) Paul Harvey (aired on WBBQ)
5) George Weiss (WBBQ's former owner and Mobile 1)

As small as a market Augusta was/is, these guys made WBBQ a dominant CHR in the country. It was a "get" station by all of the label reps, and I was blessed to grow up listening to what great radio can be.
 
Don King on WBML (Macon), and Bill Powell on WMAZ (Macon), who told me I didn't have the voice for it....which made me just work harder.
 
kenglish said:
Don King on WBML (Macon), and Bill Powell on WMAZ (Macon), who told me I didn't have the voice for it....which made me just work harder.
Click to expand...

Johnny Fever. I was told I didn't have the voice for it, either....so I made the switch to engineering!
 
Larry Lujack, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier, Kevin Matthews, and Bob Lassiter.

If you don't know those legendary names, look them up in Wikipedia.
 
1. Chris Eric Stevens WLS Chicago
2. "boogie Check"
3. Doctor John Leader
4. Barry Chase
5. Red Jones
6. Skinny Bobby Harper
7. Brother Lee Love
8. Bob Owen
9. Bob Bolton
10. Gary McKee
 
1. Dan Ingram WABC N.Y.
2. Johnny Fever. WKRP Cincinnati
3. Scott Munie WNEW N.Y.
4. Cousin Brucie WABC N.Y.
5. Larry King WOR N.Y.
6. Butterball WDAS Philadelphia
7. Bob Coburn Rockline
8. Howard Stern WNBC N.Y.
9. John DeBella WLIR Long Island & WMMR Philadelphia
10. Jim Ladd WKLOS Los Angeles
 
It's a short list because I started working in this business when I was 14...

Dick Biondi, WLS and Rod Roddy, WQXI (they kept me up late with my transistor radio)
Jack Hurst, WGST (sponsor of my Explorer scout troop which specialized in radio)
Pat Hughes and Tony Taylor, WQXI (who befriended the kid who always seemed to be hanging around)
Paul Drew, WQXI (who actually gave me my first job)

Things were different then. I'd have a hard time coming up with names if I were in the same position now.
 
1. Jack Gale, WITH, Baltimore
2. Paul "Fat Daddy" Johnson, WSID, WWIN, Baltimore
3. Maurice "Commander Hot Rod" Hulbert, WITH, WWIN, Baltimore
4. Pete "Mad Daddy" Myers, WINS, New York
5. Joey Reynolds, WKBW, Buffalo

Only Jack Gale and Joey Reynolds are still with us.
Was already in the biz when I first heard Wolfman, but he belongs on the list.
 
1. Arthur Godfrey
2. Molton "Ty" Cobb
3. T. Tommy Cutrer
4. Gordon McClendon (as the baseball announcer before he "invented" rock n roll)
5. Martin. What was his first name? Dick? Moonglow with Martin, WWL
 
Johnny Fever- WKRP
Jim Ladd- KMET
Frazier "Shecky, get the jet" Smith- KLOS
"The Burner Mary Turner"- KMET
Paraquat Kelley- KLOS
Strawberry Jan- KEZY
Uncle Joe Benson- KLOS
Jed The Fish- KROQ
 
Lanny West (Y102 Montgomery)
Bill "Birdman" Thomas (WHHY Montgomery, WHBQ Memphis, WBRC Birmingham)
Spider Harrison (15LAC Nashville)
 
my list:

Ron Riley (WLS)
Jay Thomas (WAYS)
John Landecker (WLS)


FloydB said:
1) Mark Summers (WBBQ 80's, Augusta)
2) "Handsome" Harley Drew (WBBQ 80's, Augusta)
3) Dickie Shannon (WBBQ 80's & 90's, Augusta)
4) Paul Harvey (aired on WBBQ)
5) George Weiss (WBBQ's former owner and Mobile 1)

As small as a market Augusta was/is, these guys made WBBQ a dominant CHR in the country. It was a "get" station by all of the label reps, and I was blessed to grow up listening to what great radio can be.
Click to expand...

Floyd, you can't have that list and leave out BUDDY CARR of WBBQ!

JeffONeal said:
Lanny West (Y102 Montgomery)
Bill "Birdman" Thomas (WHHY Montgomery, WHBQ Memphis, WBRC Birmingham)
Spider Harrison (15LAC Nashville)
Click to expand...

Jeff, I was very fortunate to work with Birdman at 15Q (WKVQ) Knoxville in '76. What a great talent! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lASs5DhgOq8 (found via google)


-amos
 
amos said:
my list:

Ron Riley (WLS)
Jay Thomas (WAYS)
John Landecker (WLS)


FloydB said:
1) Mark Summers (WBBQ 80's, Augusta)
2) "Handsome" Harley Drew (WBBQ 80's, Augusta)
3) Dickie Shannon (WBBQ 80's & 90's, Augusta)
4) Paul Harvey (aired on WBBQ)
5) George Weiss (WBBQ's former owner and Mobile 1)

As small as a market Augusta was/is, these guys made WBBQ a dominant CHR in the country. It was a "get" station by all of the label reps, and I was blessed to grow up listening to what great radio can be.
Click to expand...

Floyd, you can't have that list and leave out BUDDY CARR of WBBQ!

JeffONeal said:
Lanny West (Y102 Montgomery)
Bill "Birdman" Thomas (WHHY Montgomery, WHBQ Memphis, WBRC Birmingham)
Spider Harrison (15LAC Nashville)
Click to expand...

Jeff, I was very fortunate to work with Birdman at 15Q (WKVQ) Knoxville in '76. What a great talent! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lASs5DhgOq8 (found via google)


-amos
Click to expand...

Amos -

Thanks for the link...first time I've seen this. Was blessed to hang out with Bill a few years before he died. What a tragic loss for radio and humanity.
 
My major influences, and where I first heard them:

Eric Rhoads, 96X Miami (Now publisher of Radio Inc.)
Steve Rivers, 96X Miami (Now PD KBKS Seattle)
Frank Reed, 96X Miami (Now PD KLTY Dallas)
Gary Bridges, 96X Miami
John Lee Walker, 96X Miami
Robert W. Walker, WMYQ & Y-100 Miami
Bill Tanner, Y-100 Miami
JoJo Kincaid, Y-100 Miami
Quincy McCoy, Y-100 Miami
Rick Elliot, Y-100 Miami
Don Cox, Y-100 Miami (RIP)
Dr. Dave Dunaway, Y-100 Miami
Cramer Haas, Y-100 Miami (RIP)
Bwana Johnny, WFUN Miami (RIP)
John Lander, WLCY Tampa (Now Mornings WBMX Boston)
Uncle Johnny, WYNF Tampa
 
amos said:
Floyd, you can't have that list and leave out BUDDY CARR of WBBQ!
Click to expand...

Amos, that name is striking a chord in my head, but I'm drawing a blank. He might've been before my time. Just about everybody at BBQ was legendary. It was a true family at that station back then.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom