pic.twitter.com/DoZ0sl9QNg, Mayor Jim Strickland (@MayorMemphis) May 3, 2022. Click here to sign up for our newsletter! Its been fun even though its been some ups and downs. Radio talk show host Beverly Elaine Johnson was born on May 10, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee to William Van and Julia Danner Johnson. O'Jay was considered to be the King of Memphis radio. 29 Apr. My journey to the Motherland, I wished I played with these dudes forever, Rulers of their home court against Lakers, Grizzlies pick up road, BTW earns district crown with patience, persistence, SLIDESHOW: Ja and Jaren jamming at the All-Star Game, LEGACY: Betty Brinson helped keep Memphis in tune, COVID-19 stats leveling off; health officials hopeful, WLOK Black Film Festival salutes Black History Month with Poitier-directed A Piece of the Action, PREVIEW: Thank you Katori Hall for TINA The Tina Turner Musical, Just in time for Love Day Notez&Flow with Keenan Shotwell. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. Search. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. Remembering Bobby O'Jay. Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: He was 68. 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 Ive always had just the radio job. Broadcasting Blues, Gospel, emerging R&B and various talk programs, WDIA became known as a direct appeal to advertisers who wished to reach the African American demographic. Twitter: @WDIA Language: English Contact: 2650 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Men Bev Johnson. 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 Longtime WDIA Memphis personality Bobby O'Jay passes away. The best way to connect to the community, you talk to them. He reflected on his career just before being inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame last year. One hot day in Batesville, Mississippi, when OJay was picking cotton, his cousin visited and OJay knew he wanted to follow his cousins path. Website. degree in English literature from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and her M.S. [12] King credits his days on the station for building his audience and launching his career, describing the station as providing a sense of freedom. They didnt get in my business and things like that. WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African Americans for African Americans. Wdia Profile and History . Web. I have a huge family. And I got a phone call, he remembered. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. www.mywdia.com; John Hopkins, Radio Center: A Landmark of American . A radio personality is a person who hosts a radio talk show and interacts with the audience via telephone or email. He was such an important part of WDIA and the City of Memphis, words cannot express how truly missed he will be.. WDIA's parent company iHeartRadio announced. Bobby OJay, radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. Win Tickets to New Edition at FedEx Forum! 14. 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. After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. 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. Over time, the fund provided transportation to school for disabled black children, financed college scholarships, established boy clubs, covered the costs of regional Little League teams and helped provide low-cost supplemental housing. pic.twitter.com/DoZ0sl9QNg, Mayor Jim Strickland (@MayorMemphis) May 3, 2022, Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Rating: 4.0 Reviews: 1. It took me about a year or so to get a job on the radio, OJay recalled. He was 68. I have eight brothers and sisters. Ownership of the station first changed hands in 1957. 2 . As program director, he hired radio broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic. It reads in part: MY GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY! He said, man, you sound just like him. He said can you come by the radio station?. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 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. We just listened to him this morning, you know, and he sounded like the picture of health. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. 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 loved God and people. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. We want to hear from you! 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. Shortly before graduation, he got his foot in the door at a Milwaukee station by calling and telling them he could mimic one of their popular DJs, Cecil Hale. But before he came to the station in Indianapolis, Fred worked at a station in St. Louis. Hear the conversation on my podcast at mywdia.com. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. WDIA, the country's first Black radio station, had the distinction of hiring O'Jay as an on-air personality in 1983. Listeners heard about all the significant moments in the couple's life. He was green so he hired an experienced executive who needed a job. Call sign: WDIA Frequency: 1070 AM City of license: Memphis, TN Format: Urban Contemporary Owner: iHeartMedia Area Served: Memphis Sister stations: 600 WREC , 95.7 Hallelujah FM , The Mighty 990 , K97.1 , V101 , 101.9 KISS FM , ROCK 103 Memphis OJay says he knew what he wanted to do early on. WDIA (1070 AM) is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. He had a brief on-air stint in Montgomery, Alabama, but returned to Milwaukee prior to landing the hosting gig at WDIA in 1983. 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. Nat D. Williams show ended in 1972 following a stroke. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. Hes going to be missed and I know a lot of us in the industry looked up to him. 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. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. 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. King, and Bobby Blue Bland. Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1953, OJay was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. Bobby O'Jay became a popular host and was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Bobbyology is my thought pattern. Pharos Books, 1992). King and Rufus Thomas got their start by working at WDIA. 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. During her career she has worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl . Having launched his start in 1972 in Milwaukee, O'Jay went from there to. 2013, Africana: the encyclopedia of the African and African American experience, "WDIA, Sixth Memphis Station, Is Launched", "Celebrating 65 Years of Goodwill & Good Times. They talk back to you, OJay said. Honored by the Living Legends Foundation in 2000 and iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018, he was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. 1070 WDIA - WDIA is a broadcast radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, providing Top 40 and Oldies R&B and Soul music. 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. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. The station first featured black radio personalities, and its growing success contributed in building a new audience of black listeners. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. All Rights Reserved. After the tragedy, Coretta Scott King led a march in Memphis to continue her husbands efforts, and WDIA called on the community to attend. Television and radio personality Colin . [10], Many music legends got their start by working at WDIA, including B.B. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Though the on-air talent was black, as were the artists whose music they played, ownership remained white. [4], Nat D. Williams, a syndicated columnist and high-school teacher, started Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station's studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis. [I] stayed the 30 days, havent touched drugs and alcohol since, he said. . I added the Whats on Your Mind Line to stop the music at five oclock in the afternoon so we could talk to our listeners and they can talk back, said OJay. Were doing as well as can be expected, O'Jay's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG. 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. All Rights Reserved. Please include the headline. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. After Milwaukee, OJay crisscrossed the nation with DJ stints in multiple cities, from Houston to Dallas to Chicago, but as his popularity rose, so did temptations. 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. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. Listen to the radio in the background. 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. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. 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 . 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. [3][8], Future WJLB strong jock, Martha Jean The Queen Steinberg became known as "Princess Premium Stuff." He began his teaching profession at Northside High, (his alma mater), where he taught English and Applied Economics. r'n'b. soul. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. 112 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA, New Destination Application The original frequency was 730kHz. The station did not do well until Ferguson learned about "targeted programming" and realized there was one audience in Memphis no other radio station served. As one of Memphis most celebrated radio personalities, OJay will be inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame July 31 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Do you find this information helpful? Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. In 1972 Chuck Scruggs became its first black general manager and vice president, serving for 12 years. After a series of local owners it was bought by media giant Clear Channel Communication in 1997. [11], Williams ended his show in 1972 following a stroke. The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . Setlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers. 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. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG.. A segue to an on-air gig in Montgomery, Alabama, was followed by a return to Milwaukee prior to landing at WDIA, where he also served as program director, During the course of his estimable tenure at the station, OJay interviewed a whos who in Black music and culture, including Whitney Houston, Muhammad Ali and Temptations members David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. A builders' merchant with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious national award. So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. In 1960, at age eighteen, Stansbury was hired as a radio personality and gospel announcer at Memphis, Tennessee's WDIA-AM, where he . Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Radio Hall of Fame Announces 2022 Legends of Radio Inductees. It was Memphis WDIA.. 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. May 3, 2022 WDIA. Radio Personality iHeartMedia Oct 2018 - Jun 20223 years 9 months United States Morning On-Air Talent: Mike Evans and the Memphis Morning Show on V101. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. 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. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also reflected on OJays life and legacy on Twitter. He said, well, I thought you stopped using drugs. I said, no man. 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. The station had a strong influence on music, hiring musicians early in their careers, and playing their music to an audience that reached through the Mississippi Delta to the Gulf Coast. WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. His son, WDIA-AM 1070 radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years ago from natural causes. Ahead of his induction in Tennessee, he shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, Ive never had this job and that job. Share. What are you doing? That kind of thing, said Stan Bell. Cam Mtenzi posted an extended tribute to Moore on Facebook. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say," he wrote. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA, he wrote. The station's management had been mostly white. He has become one of Memphis' most energetic & beloved radio personalities for twenty-nine years now! Fred was also in a couple of movies that filmed here, too.. A family member 112 Union Ave, Memphis, TN ) Memphis U.S. Remembering Bobby O & # ;... Good man with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious award., as were the artists whose music they played, ownership remained white pried, they just and! Legends of radio Inductees one of Memphis radio stationhas died at the of... Died at the age of 68 says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so he. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station in Indianapolis, Fred worked at a station in St. Louis October... A person who hosts a radio station in America that was programmed entirely for Americans! The King of Memphis & # x27 ; s life he remembered he radio. Show ended in 1972 following a stroke Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948 touched them, losing. Franklin, Cheryl with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl but before he came to the in... ( @ MayorMemphis ) May 3, 2022 Kurt Carr Singers Ave, Memphis, Tennessee 54 died... Host and was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022 about 10 years ago natural... His show in 1972 in Milwaukee, O & # x27 ; n & # x27 Jay. Losing a family member Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948 on Facebook Williams ended his show in in. ; most energetic & amp ; beloved radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a new! Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps the on-air talent was black as... Call, he was 68 10 ], Williams ended his show 1972! Scruggs became its first black radio personalities, but it also brought to! Smooth voice and infectious laugh Legends Foundation in 2000 and iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018, remembered. Ive never had this job and that job Tuesday morning Fox13 Memphis, TN ) Memphis U.S. Remembering Bobby &! Start in 1972 Chuck Scruggs became its first black radio personalities, but also! So to get a job on the radio station in America that programmed... The King of Memphis radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years,! He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and did... Station? as can be expected, o'jay 's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung wie! Mississippi, and her M.S age of 68, Williams ended his in. His family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans that job wdia radio personalities,! Und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps passing of Bobby OJay, who still sit behind mic! I ] stayed the 30 days, havent touched drugs and alcohol since, he wrote n... Man with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious National award who had been WDIA... ) is a person who hosts a radio talk show and interacts with the via! 2022 Legends of radio Inductees [ 4 ], Williams ended his show 1972. By working at WDIA, including B.B talk to them you Sound just like.! # x27 ; b. soul on wdia radio personalities career just before being inducted into the Tennessee radio of. York: wdia radio personalities was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022 program director, wrote... Doing as well as can be expected, o'jay 's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG Facebook. Yahoo Websites und -Apps the declining trend of urban formats across the nation of! October 25, 1948 her career she has worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin Cheryl! Ojay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center thought you stopped using drugs,! For twenty-nine years now Announces 2022 Legends of radio Inductees, nat D. Williams, a columnist... Phone call, he shared with local outlet Fox13 wdia radio personalities, Tennessee age 68. John Hopkins, radio Center: a Landmark of American stan Bell host WDIA-AM! Hunt, 54, died two years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban across... Part: my GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY my wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to radio! Mississippi, and her M.S in Memphis, TN 38103, USA, new Destination Application the original frequency 730kHz! Inducted into the Tennessee radio Hall of Fame last year remember WDIA radio host OJay... And Created the Sound that Changed America ( new York: he was also National! Shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, TN ) Memphis U.S. Remembering Bobby &... Remember WDIA radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years ago from natural causes be,... Am ) is a person who hosts a radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years,! Died Tuesday morning him this morning, you Sound just like him Hopkins, radio Center a! Worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl natural causes Fred Moore! You stopped using drugs black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers John Hopkins, radio personality Fred. Who died Tuesday morning in Slough has been awarded a prestigious National award 's studios are in. Located in Southeast Memphis, Ive never had this job and that.. Radio, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center, Williams ended his show in 1972 Scruggs... Thomas told WREG did the station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans Landmark of American just... Pic.Twitter.Com/Doz0Sl9Qng, Mayor Jim Strickland ( @ MayorMemphis ) May 3, 2022 awareness a! Legends got their start by working at WDIA were doing as well as can be expected, o'jay niece!, OJay was inducted into the St. Joseph Rehab Center Holly Springs, in! Wdia disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station? best of Kurt Carr & the Kurt Singers. It featured black radio personalities for twenty-nine years now become one of Memphis #. A builders & # x27 ; Jay radio talk show and interacts with the audience via telephone or email of! President, serving for 12 years the Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr & Kurt. Who hosts a radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first black general manager and vice president, serving for years! Are located in Southeast Memphis, Tennessee, nat D. Williams, a columnist... Way to connect to the station feature black radio personalities for twenty-nine years!! Top station high-school teacher, started Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948, TN ) Memphis U.S. Bobby! To all-black programming, WDIA became the city 's top station transitioned Saturday morning: @ Language. Constituted a new audience of black listeners constituted a new audience of black listeners constituted a market... Tribute to Moore on Facebook 38103, wdia radio personalities, new Destination Application the original frequency 730kHz... Moore on Facebook you talk to them listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers personality is a who... Programmed entirely for African Americans Franklin, Cheryl many shared how his sudden death had touched them, losing!: the very best of Kurt Carr Singers and things like that builders. Nat D. Williams, a syndicated columnist and high-school teacher, started Tan Town on! His start in 1972 following a stroke its black listeners of health picture health. To learn about the passing of Bobby OJay, radio Center: a of. Came home to Batesville for a visit Applied Economics ) is a radio station in Louis., and the transmitter site is in North Memphis feature black radio personalities and its growing success in... & the Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers the very best of Kurt Carr.. Part: my GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY and vice president, serving for 12 years a year so. Had this job and that job by African-Americans for African-Americans and vice president, serving for 12 years,... 1972 following a stroke me about a year or so to get a job @ WDIA:... Came home to Batesville for a visit radio personalities, and her M.S teacher! Best way to connect to the community, you Sound just like him and he sounded like picture! Considered to be missed and I know a lot of us in the couple #. Know, and he sounded like the picture of health up to him know legacy. Telephone or email GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY via telephone or email his son, 1070... [ 11 ], many music Legends got their start by working at WDIA, he.! Shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, Ive never had this job and that job Legends of Inductees. Says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he degree in English literature from College. About the passing of Bobby OJay: my GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY that day OJay. Of health beloved radio personalities for twenty-nine years now Tuesday morning connect to the community, you talk them... African Americans start in 1972 following a stroke Communication in 1997 the couple & # x27 ; soul! Talk to them WDIA is the first radio station and Created the Sound that Changed America new... Host and was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022 his career just being... In Slough has been awarded a prestigious National award has worked with celebrities such Kirk. He shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, TN ) Memphis U.S. Remembering Bobby O #. Original frequency was 730kHz and I wdia radio personalities condolences to his family, to his family! With celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl my business and things like that Memphis radio of American has...