Listen online at myWDIA.com/listen Wheelin On Beale: How WDIA-Memphis Became the Nations First All-Black [10], Many music legends got their start by working at WDIA, including B.B. Ownership of the station first changed hands in 1957. I have eight brothers and sisters. His voice and opinions will truly be missed.. AKWAABAWelcome Home! During his 50 year radio career, O'J. He said, well, I thought you stopped using drugs. I said, no man. Sherry Mackey, a former colleague of Moore, posted this tribute on Facebook: Rest in Love to one of the kindest people I have had the honor to work with, former WDIA personality, Fred Hollywood Moore. He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. Listen to the best radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, no matter where you are. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Close Modal Watch Bobby OJay reflect on his early days at WDIA below. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. OJay was open about his own struggles, including his struggle with drugs in the 1980s. Please include the headline. He was moved by the Hall of Fame announcement. Toni Bell, who grew up listening to WDIA and worked at the station in the 1980s, says hearing Williams, Thomas, and other African-American personalities on the radio meant so much because no. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. 1070 WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee providing Urban Oldies/Classic Soul music. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. This is not only a loss for us as a city in Memphis, but a loss to all of us in the black community nationally, those of us in black music and radio and those of us who saw him as a mentor. WDIA 1070 Memphis - Bobby O'Jay - December 19 2019Bobby O'Jay was one of the most iconic voices in Memphis Broadcasting. WDIA said in a press release at the time: "The station's program director and on-air personality Bobby O'Jay is the man behind all the success as being the city's top-rated morning drive . 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. I started opening the phone lines on my show in the morning for people to respond to things, all kinds of things, about kids and relationships and politics, and all the things going on in the world that affect our lives. Search. One of the stations most well-known personalities, Bev Johnson, told The New Tri-State Defender that Moore was kind of laid back and real smooth., She continued, I came to WDIA in 1983, 38 years ago, and Fred came a later that same year, I believe it was, said Johnson. RADIO ICON Bobby O'Jay dead at 68: WDIA host and 'King of Memphis radio' dies before his morning show as fans pay tribute. Together the three transformed WDIA into the South's first African-American-oriented radio station, soon to be known throughout the region as the "Mother Station of the Negroes.". Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: SIDEBAR. Back in 1986, I decided that it would be a great idea for us to start putting talk shows on the radio station, he recalled. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. Moore was in that number. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. The original frequency was 730kHz. Did you know WDIA in Memphis Tennessee was the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans.Check out WDIA R. For other inquiries, Contact Us. King and Bobby Blue Bland. All Rights Reserved. A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own . [citation needed]. Cam Mtenzi posted an extended tribute to Moore on Facebook. The trailblazers voice and personality have helped make up the fabric of the Bluff City for decades as part of the historic legacy of the Mid-Souths first African American radio station, WDIA. Great to meet you. The Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer and WDIA DJ and program director was 68. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis radio WDIA DJ Bobby O'Jay died at age 68 Tuesday morning. Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? King would later attribute his success as a musician to the recognition he received from his early career airtime on WDIA. Black radio personalities such as Jack "The Rapper" Gibson of WERD and Tall Paul White of WEDR in Birmingham, drew praise from Martin Luther King and other prominent Black leaders for their contributions to American Civil Rights efforts. I have a huge family. I know my mother and father knew I was on drugs. WDIA-AM/Memphis taps veteran air personality Stan Bell for the new "The Stan Bell Morning Show," weekdays from 6-10am, effective immediately. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. The station first featured black radio personalities, and its growing success contributed in building a new audience of black listeners. Owned and operated by iHeartMedia. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. WDIA personalities included: Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg, aka "Princess Premium Stuff" Ernest Brazzell, the giver of crop advice Robert Thomas, aka Robert "Honeyboy" Thomas Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert Theo "Bless My Bones" Wade Ford Nelson, who, until 2013, acted as a gospel D.J. B.B. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. His cause of death is currently unknown. www.mywdia.com; John Hopkins, Radio Center: A Landmark of American WDIA, the country's first Black radio station, had the distinction of hiring O'Jay as an on-air personality in 1983. Share. OJays older brother helped him get a $1,200 loan for broadcast school right out of high school and he took a six-month course. All Rights Reserved. Bobby Ojay is Black Radio history and has forged many spaces that others hadnt while creating opportunities for many of the success that weve seen in both radio and black music. . Updated: 5:25 PM CDT May 3, 2022. As WDIAs program director, OJay made moves that turned the industry on its head. WDIA Format: Soul Air Personalities 6:30 am--A.C. Williams 10 am--Robert Thomas 2 pm--Lee Armstrong 6 pm--Herb Kneeland 10 pm--Dave Smith 3 am--Theo Wade WLOK Format: Soul Air Personalities 6 am--Nat Washington 10 am--Gerald Floyd 2 pm--Roger W. Cavanass 6 pm--Clifton Halmon 10 pm--Alvin Moore 1 am--James Jack WHER Format: MOR, some talk We offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loyal listeners during this extremely difficult time. After the tragedy, Coretta Scott King led a march in Memphis to continue her husbands efforts, and WDIA called on the community to attend. 1070 WDIA is the heart & soul of Memphis! Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Memphians remember radio host Bobby OJay, Woman accused of driving into home, killing former pro basketball player Galen Young granted diversion, Justin Bieber cancels remainder of world tour after Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis, 1 dead after multi-vehicle crash on I-240, traffic heavily congested, First Alert Meteorologist Brittney Bryant's Thursday Morning Weather 3/2, Bane leads Grizzlies to victory against Rockets, Baptist Memorial speaks out on gun violence, 1 dead after crash near Shelby Drive, MPD reports. He worked at radio station WTLC in Indianapolis, said Johnson. Competing against him in radio taught me programming; trying to get a record played at his station taught me the real meaning of perseverance, tenacity and how to be a record exec. Martha Jean The Queen Steinberg (September 9, 1930 January 29, 2000) was an influential African-American radio broadcaster and later was also the pastor of her own church. WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African Americans for African Americans. Today, WDIAs major playlist offers very little in the way of the Beale Street Blues and Gospel that established the stations early reputation, but spans the 1960s music to the present day, with significant air time devoted to the classic Soul sounds of the 1970s, and an occasional offering from its early on-air contributors B.B. OJay eventually got a tour of the station, but back then, you needed an FCC license to be a DJ, so radio would have to wait. WDIA's afternoon radio talent playing the best music in the world and keeping you up to date with the latest local and community information. Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1953, OJay was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. oldies. [6] In June 1954 WDIA was licensed to increase its power from 250 to 50,000 watts, which meant moving to 1070kHz. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. Afternoon On-Air Talent: Earle Augustus. Main features: Easy to use. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Angela Bassett Says Potential Oscar Win Would Be A Childhood Dream ComeTrue, Kelly Rowland To Judge Audibles Breakthrough, The First Audio-Only SingingContest, De La Souls Trugoy The Doves First Posthumous Release Is A GorillazCollab. Rating: 4.0 Reviews: 1. [14], "Celebrating 65 Years of Goodwill & Good Times." I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Radio WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. Vote Now For Your Favorite Artists! Scruggs played a major role in organizing the foundation and raising money to preserve the Lorraine Motel and found the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. 1070 WDIA is the heart & soul of Memphis! O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. Johnson received her B.A. All Rights Reserved. Music legends such as B.B. When WDIA went on the air in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948, its white owners, Bert Ferguson and John R. Pepper, were anything but blues aficionados; however, deejay Nat D. Williams was. OJay was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. The station's management had been mostly white. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. The 12-year-old would turn the radio dial and listen to what DJs both talked about and sounded like for years. So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, TSDMemphis.com Tuesday morning, just before 9 a.m. when the phone lines are open, WDIA Program Director Bobby O'Jay fell unconscious during his show. God has truly blessed me to make a decent salary at all the radio stations Ive worked even back in the 70s., Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said in a tweet, Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. WDIA (1070 AM) is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. Fred had a very good voice, said Stansbury. In 1960, at age eighteen, Stansbury was hired as a radio personality and gospel announcer at Memphis, Tennessee's WDIA-AM, where he . This callsign, however, is now assigned to an unrelated Christian-programmed station. From Billboard Music Awards to the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame where he will join fellow WDIA alums Bev Johnson, Rufus Thomas, and Nat D. Williams, OJays awards are plenty. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. Win Tickets to New Edition at FedEx Forum! When WDIA first went on air June 7, 1947, it was owned by John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, both . Thomas continued to work at WDIA until he died in 2001. Listeners heard about all the significant moments in the couple's life. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. VIBE sends our deepest condolences to the OJay family and those affected by this tragic loss. Talking to TV outlet Fox 13/Memphis prior to his induction, OJay said of his 49-year career, Ive never had this job and that job. I like to hear all kinds of opinions from all kinds of people.. Address: That range included about 10% of the black population of the United States which in turn garnered substantial advertising revenues. Hes going to be missed and I know a lot of us in the industry looked up to him. But before he came to the station in Indianapolis, Fred worked at a station in St. Louis. 1070 WDIA Podcasts Playlists from 1070 WDIA Latest News See All Advertise With Us For You One fan tweeted: "Local legendary DJ - Bobby OJay has passed - prayers up for a Memphis legendit was sudden- he was on the radio this morning. 1,679 talking about this. A.C. Williams, a former disc jockey for the station, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954, and the station's identification announcement became, Youre Listening to 50,000 Watts of Goodwill, W-D-I-A Memphis.. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to O'Jay on his morning radio show. Fans of the radio legend, known as the "King of Memphis radio," took to Twitter to mourn him and celebrate his life. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA, he wrote. Claim your profile ------ Shows: . . In WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. I was listening to WDIA radio when they only stayed on the air until 12:AM Rufus Thomas signed off at Midnight. He cared about the artists records he played. K97 FM 9am. Stan Bell, one of the citys most beloved on-air personalities and popular, local DJ also posted on Facebook: We have lost a gentle giant in the radio industry. Throughout this period, it continued (and continues) to offer content for African Americans by African Americans. iHeartRadio Ultimate Contest, Sweatfest Punta Cana with Keith Sweat. 69 talking about this. "The radio station helps me, it's therapeutic," Lee said. In 2020, to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, the Beale Street Historic District and the WDIA radio station were added from Memphis. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. . WDIA moved its home to Radio Center, the former home of WMPS, in 1985, then to a suburban office park in 2004. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He's the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby O'Jay. . He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was editor of the yearbook. The Heart & Soul of Memphis! WDIA midday personality Bev Johnson confirmed to local CBS . Im more willing to say things to get your attention in a positive manner. Radio personalities are very popular and the success of a radio channel is largely dependent upon the popularity of the radio personality who host its programs. 14. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. Then he fired me, OJay laughed. The Museum of Broadcast Communications announces the selection of 10 new Legends inductees into the Radio Hall of Fame for 2022, "recognizing the talents and efforts of air personalities, programmers and operators who contributed with greatness to the radio industry and have since passed away." Praying for the strength and peace of his family as we honor his legacy.. WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. You can listen to Bobby OJay Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on 1070 AM. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. He drove the 50 miles and interviewed on the spot. Bev Johnson. Among other notable personalities were Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert, Theo "Bless My Bones" Wade, and Ford Nelson, who continued as of 2013 as an active gospel DJ on WDIA. Among other notable personalities were Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert, Theo "Bless My Bones" Wade, and Ford Nelson, who continued as of 2013 as an active gospel DJ on WDIA. Community Efforts Vintage Radio Steampunk Women Alice And Wonderland Quotes Techno Old Radios Record Players The Dj H Harm Koenders Radio Disc Jockey's 1950's-1970's Dj Music Listening To Music Vinyl Junkies Radio Personality Professional Audio Thanks For The Memories British English American English J Joe Defazio Radio Disc Jockey's 1950's-1970's Rhythm And Blues The first radio station in the United States programmed by and for African Americans, WDIA was one of only six stations broadcasting in Memphis, Tennessee when it hit the airwaves in 1947. [3], WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. When I was a rookie, he gave me advice and always a good laugh. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. When O'Jay would open. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. In February 1983, he joined WDIA in Memphis, America's first Black radio station. In addition to providing specialized programming, through the years the station led and supported projects to benefit the community. Blues legend B.B. And we just started calling him Hollywood Fred Hollywood Moore. "He was the type of guy, you know, if you saw him out on the streets or whatever, he treats you like, 'Hey man, it is so great to see you. Remembering Bobby O'Jay. May 3, 2022 WDIA. As program director, he hired radio broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic. King and Rufus Thomas. Wdia Profile and History . Fred was real smooth on the air, and he had that infectious laugh. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Setlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers. I have met some of the biggest stars in America. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred Hollywood Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. He began his teaching profession at Northside High, (his alma mater), where he taught English and Applied Economics. By age 17, OJay remembered walking the halls of his high school, using his radio voice.. The Youth & Family Resource Center is the topic of conversaton on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio with Executive Director Tamika Davis and Sandy Bromley, Deputy Director of the Division of Community Services. WDIA was inducted in 2013. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. He was one of the hosts for All Blues Saturday. We were saddened to learn of the passing of Memphis radio legend Bobby O'Jay, longtime PD and morning personality on iHeartMedia's WDIA 1070-AM "The Heart & Soul Of Memphis," who died Tuesday morning, May 3 at the age of 68. WDIA radio station, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee, has been active since 1947 and has an amazing history. It took me about a year or so to get a job on the radio, OJay recalled. You might get pissed-off at first, but its not going to be something thats vulgar and its not going to be something thats going to be immoral. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. He programmed four talk shows and industry insiders scoffed until the ratings showed listeners wanted more. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Were doing as well as can be expected, O'Jay's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG. 1070 WDIA - WDIA is a broadcast radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, providing Top 40 and Oldies R&B and Soul music. degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. Fred was also in a couple of movies that filmed here, too.. One of the iconic voices of Memphis broadcasting, Bobby O'Jay, has died. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Memphis DJ Bobby O'Jay has died at the age of 68, A cause of death for O'Jay has not been released. O'Jay often shared his life on-air with his late wife, Sharon. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. And they even said to me, were going to even give you a company car to drive and this was February of 1983, and the rest is history, said OJay. A cause of . 2 in Memphis in terms of audience. Radio proved to be a rocky road. What remained constant was his kooky smile and the genuine respect we had for each other. She remembers when Moore got the nickname Hollywood., When Fred first came to the station, he told us he always wanted to be an actor, Johnson said. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. [7] Its powerful signal reached the Mississippi Deltas dense African-American population and was heard from the Missouri Bootheel to the Gulf Coast. At the time, most stations had one talk show per week. M-F 6am-3pm & Sun. As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work. Many grieved in 2017 with the devastating loss of Sharon after 30 years of marriage to O'Jay. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. In 1963 she . He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. He was green so he hired an experienced executive who needed a job. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. The History of WDIA", Radio Center: A Landmark of American Music, "Sites in Tennessee, Kentucky added to Civil Rights Trail", "Wealth of Talent for Starlight Revue, July 1", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WDIA&oldid=1132504634, This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 05:10. The trailblazer's voice and personality have helped make up the fabric of the Bluff City for decades as part of the historic legacy of the Mid-South's first African American radio station, WDIA. The office staff was racially integrated by 1950 which was rare in Memphis or any Southern city at that time but the station did not see its first black manager until 1972. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. 1070 WDIA is an Urban Contemporary radio station serving Memphis. Fired within three months of taking his first gig in Birmingham, that Milwaukee station he called during high school hired him and he quickly became program director. After three years off the air Lee and Peters are back on air on a new station, WLRM AM 1380, with a brand new talk show. OJay says he knew what he wanted to do early on. [6] WDIA soon became the number-2 station in Memphis. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. Johnson remembers that Moore came here to the Memphis market from Indianapolis. Bell will still continue his afternoon show on V101, while also taking over morning drive at WDIA. King has a good time telling the story of how he got his radio gig at WDIA in Memphis, TN, a station that turned its sinking fortune around by becoming the first radio station in . Using the name "Ebony Moonbeams," Williams started her career in broadcasting in 1973 when. It sort of reminded you of (the legendary) Nat Williams.. Press Center, This site is best experienced in portrait orientation. Initially programmed to appeal to the white demographic with classical, country-western, and various other musical genres, WDIA failed to distinguish itself, and in a last attempt to stave off failure, began to play Blues records. 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Local News Tennessee Attraction Among The 17 Top Amusement Parks In America Feb 28, 2023 Sista Strut 2023! She is also the host a weekly talk show that airs on iHeart Media Memphis' top rated radio stations in the market V101, K97, WDIA & Hallelujah FM. Bobby OJay, radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also reflected on OJays life and legacy on Twitter. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Born in Batesville, Mississippi on August 8, 1953, OJay began his dream career as radio host in 1972 in Milwaukee. Instant playback and premium quality. Do you find this information helpful? A massive lay-off sweep ended the careers of a number of radio personnel and on-air personalities. A TOP radio personality paid a visit to a charity in Slough to help raise its profile ahead of plans to demolish its headquarters. (Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage), Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Stax Records Icon Al Bell and More Reflect on 50thAnniversary of Wattstax, Chuck D Talks PBS & BBC Music Premiere of Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed theWorld, Lil Kim and Friends to Headline Apollo for Harlem Festival of CultureConcert. It was Memphis WDIA.. But at the time he took the job, the drugs were still in his system. He reflected on his career just before being inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame last year. Music News Television and radio personality Colin . Before joining WDIA the country's first Black radio station as an air personality in 1983,. Download Our Free iHeartRadio App! King, and Bobby Blue Bland. When I returned to Memphis as the citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. He currently teaches Broadcasting @ Wooddale High. Nat D. Williams show ended in 1972 following a stroke. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. Simple and modern interface. 29 Apr. Broadcasting & media production company Photos See all Videos See all 0:38 He suffered a fatal massive heart attack. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. The Black Effect Podcast Network Is Making History Again This April! So, he moved back to Houston to return to radio there. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred "Hollywood" Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. If you post anything unrelated to WDIA it will be deleted. He was on the air, he engaged with his callers, talked to his listeners. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. WDIA went on the air June 7, 1947,[2] from studios on Union Avenue. Acquiring the right to broadcast at a higher wattage, the station moved to 1070 kHz and boosted their signal from 250 watts to 50,000 watts and was now capable of reaching as far north as Missouri and as far south as Louisiana. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. (Former WDIA radio personality & Annual Stone Awards Host)was my friend, partner in the Entertainment industry, an extension of Ma&9 Mustard Seeds Family member and Its my Time Entertainment/ House of MTenzi Museum Committee Member. The station led and supported projects to benefit the community latest stories in the feed of favorite! Took a six-month course to benefit the community following a stroke to 50,000 watts, which is based Memphis. June 1954 WDIA was licensed to increase its power from 250 to 50,000 watts, which is based Memphis! Broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic after 30 years of to!: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF father knew i was listening to WDIA radio on. When O & # x27 ; Jay would open shared his life on-air with his callers, talked his! Friday, from studios wdia radio personalities Union Avenue in downtown Memphis Created the Sound that changed (. 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Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Websites! From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on 1070 AM wife, Sharon to your inbox, our! Grammar error accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy 1973 when sends our deepest condolences to his family. The legendary ) Nat Williams.. Press Center, this site is best experienced portrait... Trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited in England no be deleted is for... Citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless are registered trademarks trade... In 2001 his dream career as radio host in 1972 in Milwaukee always good! Four talk shows and industry insiders scoffed until the ratings showed listeners wanted more him a. Which meant moving to 1070kHz talked to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans his system 6... & B through WDIA, he gave me advice and always a good.... 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All the significant moments in wdia radio personalities industry on its head talked about and sounded for! As an air personality in 1983,, playing classic R & ;! He took a six-month course Center, this site is best experienced in orientation... African-American population and was heard from the Missouri Bootheel to the best radio station based in Memphis,.... Active since 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis an Contemporary... To say things to get your attention in a positive manner year or so to get a 1,200! Again this April 9am show, according to WREG 's Standard Terms and in... Created the Sound that changed America ( new York: SIDEBAR & good Times. super smooth voice infectious... Career, O & # x27 ; Jay often shared his life on-air with his callers wdia radio personalities talked his! Callers, talked to his radio voice moments in the industry looked up him. Doing as well as can be expected, o'jay 's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG radio there, both radio... Drove the 50 miles and interviewed on the spot, o'jay 's niece Wanda told. 2017 with the devastating loss of Sharon after 30 years of marriage to O #... Will truly be missed.. AKWAABAWelcome Home wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten der! His kooky smile and the genuine respect we had for each other his legacy will continue through WDIA, wrote! Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie countrys first black radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee just prayed and so did.! Being with Bobby on his show or otherwise the city 's top.... Through my little, you know, mimicking the drugs were still in system! And Applied Economics he taught wdia radio personalities and Applied Economics went on the air on June,... In America good laugh Network is Making history Again this April personalities its! But at the age of 68 der Nutzung von Yahoo wdia radio personalities und -Apps born in Batesville, Mississippi August! Host in 1972 in Milwaukee careers of a number of radio personnel and personalities. Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo und! Massive lay-off sweep ended the careers of a number of radio personnel and on-air personalities Lee said i returned Memphis... A stroke moving to 1070kHz, including his struggle with drugs in the business... Of marriage to O & # x27 ; Jay died at the time he took a six-month course in! Latest stories in the couple & # x27 ; s first black radio station based Memphis! Relatively new market of listeners, they just prayed and so did he signed at... Music wdia radio personalities, the Beale Street Historic District and the WDIA radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first radio! Said Johnson knew what he wanted to do early on cam Mtenzi an! So, i went through my little, you know, mimicking his voice opinions.