Explore the Golden Age of Rock Radio with America's best-loved Deejays. Learn the truth about cover artists, payola, and banned lyrics. And feel the power of radio when we all listened together and it changed our lives. Here are just a few of the deejays who will be featured.
Who Were the Deejays Who Made Rock Radio?
Dennis Elsas
Dennis Elsas grew up listening to Scott Muni and other legends of New York rock radio, and went on to become one. Hired by Muni at groundbreaking WNEW-FM, he became Music Director, helping to create the station's unique sound.
A guiding force at NEW for over 25 years, Elsas also interviewed the rock heroes of his generation, including Mick Jagger, Elton John and an infamous conversation with John Lennon that was included in the Beatles Anthology and is in the permanent collection at the Paley Center for Media.
Today, besides a busy voice-over career, Elsas can be heard on WFUV-FM and SiriusXM's Classic Vinyl channel. He is also the producer/writer/host of the award-winning radio documentary, “It Was Forty Years Ago Today: The Beatles Invade America”.
Scott Shannon
Born in St. Louis to a career Army officer, Scott Shannon began his career in his room, broadcasting a daily radio show to himself. Fast-forward several years and jobs later. After taking DC's WPGC-FM to #1 as Program Director, the former Supershan landed in Tampa, where he created The Morning Zoo with partner Cleveland Wheeler. Today, he and Todd Pettengill host the Scott and Todd in The Morning show on WPLJ, where Shannon is also PD. And Oldies fans around the country can hear their favorites on Scott's syndicated True Oldies Channel.
Cousin Brucie
Bruce Morrow (a.k.a. Cousin Brucie) has done it all. He started his career on AM, where he was heard nightly all over the country on 50,000 watt powerhouse WABC. When the Beatles came to America, Brucie was there. When FM began to dominate the airwaves, Brucie became an FM jock. Today, you can catch him on Sirius/XM, still playing the music that he and his “cousins” love. Infamous for his shows at Palisades Park, he is also the author of three books.
Joey Reynolds
Joey Reynolds has been called the originator of shock talk radio, and he's said and done some shocking things in his career, but he also spent over two decades as a Top 40 and progressive rock deejay at stations including his home town of Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, LA and New York. He was honored as Deejay of the Year and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in radio, television and music. He chronicled his colorful life in a memoir, Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella, But Don't Get a Mouthful of Rain.
Rita Houston
A native New Yorker who grew up listening to the city's legendary stations, Rita is now the Music Director of one — the progressive listener-supported WFUV-FM. Known for introducing listeners to the new artists she has discovered as well as indulging in "Guilty Pleasures", Rita has been named Music Director of the Year twice by Radio & Records and three times by Gavin, along with several other industry awards. She kicks off her weekends hosting FUV's, the Whole Wide World with Rita Houston, an eclectic, dance-based show reflecting her wide-ranging taste in music.
Porky Chedwick
Porky Chedwick is living proof that you're never too old to rock 'n roll. The Pittsburgh radio legend and oldies pioneer has been spinning his “dusty discs” since 1948. He helped to launch the careers of R&B artists including Bo Diddley, Little Anthony and Smokey Robinson. He also broke down racial barriers, bringing Black and White teens together at his dances. He's the only Pittsburgh radio personality honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Still “The Daddio of the Radio” at the age of 94, Porky can be heard on www.pittsburgholdiesradio.com.
Maria Milito
Maria Milito grew up listening to New York radio and has rocked the airwaves there for over 20 years. Besides sharing her love of music, Maria shares her love of animals, advocating for animal rights and supporting local charities. Her beloved dog, Clarice the Wonder Pug, was a fixture of her show. When Clarice died, Maria's fans' outpouring of love and support became a book. Clarice and Friends…How They Helped Mend The Hole In My Heart is a compilation of the email she received. Maria can be heard on Classic Rock station Q104.3. She shares her home with Carmine The Big Ragu, her four-legged 90-pound roommate.
Johnny Holliday
The self-described “refugee from the Sunshine State” was born in Miami, but made his mark as a radio personality at legendary stations like WHK (Cleveland), WINS (New York) and KYA (San Francisco). Named America's Number One Top 40 DJ by Bill Gavin in 1965, Johnny also started charity basketball and softball teams like the WHK Oneders in every market, raising millions of dollars over the years. During that time, he was also the announcer for the TV show, Hullabaloo, and co-hosted the Beatles' last concert, in Candlestick Park. He's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Johnny has been the voice of the Maryland Terrapins football and basketball teams since 1979 as well as an accomplished actor and author of Johnny Holliday: From Rock to Jock.
Pat St. John
Pat St. John has been referred to as “The Deejay's DJ”. After a stint at his high school radio station, with a range of several blocks, he graduated to 50,000-watt powerhouse CKLW at the age of 18. Keener 13 (WKNR) and WRIF followed, before he went to New York for what he assumed would be a few years. That was 1973. He's still there. An avid record collector since the age of eight, Pat shares his vast knowledge of music and his enthusiasm, both on WCBS-FM and on Sirius/XM, on the 50's channel, BB King's Bluesville and Deep Tracks. You can also hear his voice on everything from a new Motown Story CD to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
Human Numan
What's in a name? Human Numan should know. He's had several in his career. But one thing hasn't changed…his love of radio. The Pittsburgh-area native grew up listening to his early heroes on his transistor, and ever since meeting his local deejay at a school dance, he knew that was what he wanted to do. After working at stations from New York to Los Angeles…and many places in between…he can be heard on Sirius/XM's Hits 1 channel.
Dick Biondi
The self-proclaimed “Wild Itralian” has lived up to that name for over a half century. He's as famous for getting fired 23 times (his count) as he is for his crazy stunts. He's credited as the #1 disc jockey in the US in the early 60's, and the first US disc jockey to play a Beatles' record, in February of 1963. Dick still rocks on Chicago's True Oldies, 94.7.
Raechel Donahue
With her husband, Tom Donahue, Raechel pioneered progressive rock radio in San Francisco, starting with KMPX in 1967. Their radio stations were part of the cultural phenomenon of the 60's and the voice of the counterculture. Her many careers include radio personality, TV personality, voice-over talent and documentary producer.
Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg
Martha Jean Steinberg began her career at groundbreaking station WDIA. Dubbed "The Queen" she reigned over the airwaves of Memphis and later Detroit. She became a community activist, using her microphone to be the voice of her listeners. She said to be successful in radio, a woman had to “think like a man, act like a lady and work like a dog.”
Jerry Blavat
Jerry “The Geator With The Heater” Blavat has been playing music “from the heart, not a research chart” for his Philadelphia listeners since 1960. Jerry can still be heard on the radio and seen at his many personal appearances, surrounded by generations of fans, including the “beyond teenagers” who have come to his shows for decades, and still know all the dances.
Art Laboe
Art Laboe is known for a lot of “firsts”. He was the first deejay to play rock 'n roll on the West Coast. He was also the first to play both black and white music to a multi-cultural audience of white, African-American and Hispanic teens. He was a fixture at Scrivner's Drive-In, where he broadscast live, surrounded by his fans and young artists like Ricky Nelson. Art also produced the first “Oldies But Goodies” album. After more than a half-century on the radio, Art is still playing your requests and taking your dedications, both on his syndicated show and on LA's KHHT-FM (Hot 92.3). This oldie is definitely a goodie!
Rick Dees
The winner of multiple Billboard Radio Personality of the Year awards, Rick began his career at his North Carolina college station, but, while a Memphis deejay, flapped his way to fame with the hit record, Disco Duck. Relocating to Los Angeles, Rick hosted the top-rated morning show on KIIS-FM for 23 years, winning accolades including the Marconi Award and induction into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Rick Dees' Weekly Top 40 is heard worldwide and Rick can be heard every morning in LA on KHHT-FM (Hot 92.3).
Bill Tanner
Bill Tanner grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. His early influences included a local deejay who allowed him to speak his first words on the radio and a mother who entered – and won – radio contests. He went on to be the morning personality and program director of Miami's Y-100, a station with some legendary contests of its own, Tanner continues to bring his 40+ years of experience to the business he loves as a consultant (or self-described “insultant”) to stations across the country.
Robert W. Walker
Robert W. Walker discovered radio at an early age. And radio discovered him. While still in high school, the Oklahoma native was hired as the youngest on-air personality ever on a #1-rated station in the Midwest. After a decades-long career as a radio personality and programmer in major markets, he still receives fan mail from listeners whose lives he touched. Robert is still active in the industry, as a voice-over talent and partner, with his wife, Mo, in Walker/Fitzgibbon TV & Film Production.
Charlie Tuna
His parents didn't name him Charlie Tuna, but they did encourage his interest in radio. His first on-air job, while still in high school, was in his Nebraska hometown, but Charlie has spent most of his career on the radio in Los Angeles…all over Los Angeles. He's hosted morning shows on more stations than any other LA personality, and was one of the legendary Boss Jocks on KHJ, Charlie can be heard on KRTH-FM and around the country on his syndicated shows. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is also the honorary mayor of Tarzana, CA.
Shotgun Tom Kelly
With his signature black ranger hat (think Smokey the Bear), beard and unmistakable voice, Shotgun Tom Kelly has been entertaining California listeners from San Francisco to San Diego since 1966. The San Diego native fulfilled an early career ambition to be a "Boss Jock" when he was hired at his hometown boss radio station, KGB. The winner of two Emmys for hosting children's TV shows, he's been rocking afternoons at Los Angeles' KRTH-FM since 1997, when he was hired to replace legendary personality The Real Don Steele. “You better believe it, baby!”
Ben Fong-Torres
Ben Fong-Torres is a triple threat - rock journalist, author and radio personality. He was a deejay for the legendary KSAN-FM in the 70's and a writer and editor at Rolling Stone almost at its inception. As an author, he chronicled the Top 40 era in “The Hits Just Keep On Comin'”. “The Eagles: Taking It To The Limit” and a new edition of his critically-acclaimed memoir, “The Rice Room” are available Fall 2011.
Deejay Dish
Who Took Payola?
It was the hot scandal of the AM era. But was taking money to play records illegal? Deejays who were there tell all.
The Payola Hearings
In 1960, a Congressional Committee decided to make a Federal case of payola. Did justice prevail?
Boss Radio
Boss Radio is a format developed by programming pioneers Bill Drake and Gene Chenault. The best-known station was KHJ. Thanks to Boss Jocks including Robert W. Morgan and The Real Don Steele and legendary Program Director Ron Jacobs, it took Los...make that Boss Angeles by storm in the 60's.
Alan Freed Apology
Alan Freed's Moondog Coronation Ball, considered by some to be the first rock concert, took place on March 21, 1952, but police shut it down after more than 20,000 people stormed the 10,000-capacity Cleveland Arena. Freed went on the air the next night to apologize.
Don't See Your Favorite Deejay?
Tell us who to add and why you loved them!
To contribute your memories, videos, airchecks, documents, links, or memorabilia to this page, please contact Carolyn@TheAirplayChannel.com
