Main features: Easy to use. They talk back to you, OJay said. And the name kind of stuck from that time. Fred was also in a couple of movies that filmed here, too.. 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. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. K97 FM 9am. Moore was in that number. Having launched his start in 1972 in Milwaukee, O'Jay went from there to. The next year he took a DJ position on an afternoon show previously hosted by Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert. News-Talk 1380 WAOK - Atlanta News & Talk Radio - WAOK-AM News How you can send well wishes to former President Carter News Atlanta mourns death of civic leader and businessman Thomas Dortch News Why it's important to know who your teen is dating News Services held for Bunnie Jackson-Ransom Atlanta's 1st Black First Lady It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. 1,679 talking about this. WDIA reached 10% of the African-American population in United States. Lee hosted shows on the pioneering African-American radio station for decades. Broadcasting & media production company Photos See all Videos See all 0:38 O'Jay was considered to be the King of Memphis radio. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He was known as the King of Memphis Radio, a legend, and icon in the industry. Throughout this period, it continued (and continues) to offer content for African Americans by African Americans. Selco Builders Warehouse, which has a branch on Farnham Road in Slough, was revealed as the Builders' Merchant of the Year at the Builders' Merchants Awards. Claim your profile 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 station relocated in 1985, but the WDIA neon marquee remains above the original entrance at 112 Union Avenue near the Main Street intersection in downtown Memphis. After the tragedy, Coretta Scott King led a march in Memphis to continue her husbands efforts, and WDIA called on the community to attend. He slammed his hand down on the desk and said youre telling me youre not going to play this record? I said Im not going to play it. He said youre fired. Just like that.. WDIA (1070 AM) is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. It reads in part: MY GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY! Nat was a history teacher and the first black radio DJ at WDIA in Memphis. 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 wasn't black owned, but it appealed to a black . 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. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! Instant playback and premium quality. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. King, and Bobby Blue Bland. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. OJay was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. Stormy has been in the radio industry for over 29 years. oldies. Do you find this information helpful? He broke a lot of records. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA., Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. Search. B.B. 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. [6] WDIA soon became the number-2 station in Memphis. But before he came to the station in Indianapolis, Fred worked at a station in St. Louis. WDIA was inducted in 2013. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also reflected on OJays life and legacy on Twitter. His cause of death is currently unknown. racine horlick high school football Cuidados de Gnero. . 5/5 based on 1 review. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. He was 68. 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.. Simple and modern interface. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loyal listeners during this extremely difficult time. Sandy Bromley & Tamika Davis #2. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Though the on-air talent was black, as were the artists whose music they played, ownership remained white. Longtime WDIA Memphis personality Bobby O'Jay passes away. Pharos Books, 1992). 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. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Gospel radio show host and academic administrator Markhum "Mark" L. Stansbury, Sr. was born on April 5, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee to Willie and Eliza Markham Stansbury. I have met some of the biggest stars in America. After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. That range included about 10% of the black population of the United States which in turn garnered substantial advertising revenues. They didnt get in my business and things like that. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. 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. Later the fund expanded to include college scholarships, establish boy clubs, provide 125 Little League Teams to Memphis and neighboring communities, and help provide low cost supplemental housing (Wilson). King would later attribute his success as a musician to the recognition he received from his early career airtime on WDIA. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. WDIA 1070 Memphis - Bobby O'Jay - December 19 2019Bobby O'Jay was one of the most iconic voices in Memphis Broadcasting. King and Bobby Blue Bland. Nat D. Williams show ended in 1972 following a stroke. Listeners heard about all the significant moments in the couple's life. All Rights Reserved. Mark Stansbury, on-air personality on Sunday, remembers Fred as a good brother to work with. Vote Now For Your Favorite Artists! Johnson remembers that Moore came here to the Memphis market from Indianapolis. After a series of local owners it was bought by media giant Clear Channel Communication in 1997. 2 . He can be heard Monday through Friday on WDIA from 6 to 10 a.m. and on V101 from 3 to 7 p.m. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian) . English. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. Bell will still continue his afternoon show on V101, while also taking over morning drive at WDIA. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Remembering Bobby O'Jay. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA, he wrote. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. He landed some roles in stage plays in the city. The 12-year-old would turn the radio dial and listen to what DJs both talked about and sounded like for years. He explained to Action News 5 last year he wasnt willing to just say anything. Influencing every black radio station to follow, WDIA assigned itself the moniker the Mother Station of Negroes. It earned the nickname the Goodwill Station as well because it broadcast public service bulletins announcing employment opportunities, missing children, social service agency information, and the like at the behest of its listening audience. 5 Star Stories: Bobby OJay, king of Memphis radio, 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. May 3, 2022 WDIA. He was moved by the Hall of Fame announcement. WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. She remembers her longtime friend as a visionary, teacher and game changer. 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. 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. He had a brief on-air stint in Montgomery, Alabama, but returned to Milwaukee prior to landing the hosting gig at WDIA in 1983. WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African Americans for African Americans. He was green so he hired an experienced executive who needed a job. "I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise.. Press Center, This site is best experienced in portrait orientation. 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. 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. Bev Johnson. [9] Originally, the fund provided transportation to school for disabled black children. Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: 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. 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. WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. These days, he eats vegan and looks back with appreciation, hoping to further WDIAs image as a goodwill station. Dyana Williams is one of the earliest and most influential female air personalities in Black radio. Honored by the Living Legends Foundation in 2000 and iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018, he was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. It then switched permanently to all-black programming, and quickly moved into first place. God bless his family, friends and coworkers.". Its a tremendous loss because were just going to miss hearing about Bobby OJ., State Rep. Antonio Parkinson added in a statement, We pray for the family and mourn the passing of radio icon Bobby Ojay. A cause of . 3 The Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer and WDIA DJ and program director was 68. King and Rufus Thomas. And I got a phone call, he remembered. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. Bobby O'Jay, radio personality on Memphis' WDIAthe country's first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. When hewould usually open phone lines for listeners, the station continued to play music. Win Tickets to New Edition at FedEx Forum! 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. Many grieved in 2017 with the devastating loss of Sharon after 30 years of marriage to O'Jay. 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.". 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. 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. Its been fun more than anything, said OJay. He was one of the hosts for All Blues Saturday. 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. A builders' merchant with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious national award. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. Setlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. When I returned to Memphis as the citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. Listen to the best radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, no matter where you are. The Heart & Soul of Memphis! What remained constant was his kooky smile and the genuine respect we had for each other. So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. Memphis mayor Jim Strickland also reacted to O'Jay's death on Twitter. WDIA RULES This group is for WDIA and no other radio station or radio personality other than those on WDIA. He was on the air, he engaged with his callers, talked to his listeners. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. His voice and opinions will truly be missed.. Click here to sign up for our newsletter! VIBE sends our deepest condolences to the OJay family and those affected by this tragic loss. [26][27] Radio DJ Alan Freedon New York City's WINS (AM)in 1955. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. 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. Then he fired me, OJay laughed. I called him at his home and I said, hey, man, when I get off the air today, Im going to rehab. He said, for what? I said I got a drug problem. 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Fred was real smooth on the air, and he had that infectious laugh. He was highly respected by all of in the industry whether you were radio, television or whatever. The Black Effect Podcast Network Is Making History Again This April! Many music legends got their start by working at WDIA, including B.B. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 1070 WDIA - WDIA is a broadcast radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, providing Top 40 and Oldies R&B and Soul music. Its a process.. WDIA is celebrating the 60th anniversary of being on the air as a black-formatted radio station. He currently teaches Broadcasting @ Wooddale High. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. During his 50 year radio career, O'J. 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. Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. 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 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Heres a guy who came from the cotton fields in Mississippi. 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. Owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Afternoon On-Air Talent: Earle Augustus. It leaves a legacy behind, you know, for my family, you know, and of course for me and it also adds to the legacy of the radio station because now it will be four of us, he said. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. Men 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. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Thomas continued to work at WDIA until he died in 2001. Share. 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. Bell joins 1070 WDIA from co-owned Urban KJMS-FM (V101), where he has been on-air for over 30 years. One of the stations most well-known personalities, Bev Johnson, told, that Moore was kind of laid back and real smooth., We have lost a gentle giant in the radio industry. Ive always had just the radio job. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. It empowered a huge segment of the . I think the reason why Bobby thrived and was successful with it because he found his niche and he worked it, said Bell. Tennessee State Rep Antonio Parkinsonsaid: "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. Listen For Your Chance To Win! What are you doing? That kind of thing, said Stan Bell. In the 1970s and 1980s, the owners of WDIA also owned KDIA, a similarly formatted station in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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 . When WDIA first went on air June 7, 1947, it was owned by John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, both . [11] Elvis Presley was greatly influenced by the station. In February 1983, he joined WDIA in Memphis, America's first Black radio station. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. It was Memphis WDIA.. Cam Mtenzi posted an extended tribute to Moore on Facebook. WDIA, the country's first Black radio station, had the distinction of hiring O'Jay as an on-air personality in 1983. At the end of everything, they had given me this fat contract. 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." I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. 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. It's Relationship Day on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio and the topic of conversation is "It's Valentine's is it Love, Like, Lust, Must or a Fuss" with Psychologist/Mental Health Specialist Dr. Dorothy Jeffries. Blues legend B.B. Its just going to be something that maybe will shake you a little bit, OJay explained. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. Great to meet you. WDIA midday personality Bev Johnson confirmed to local CBS . A.C. Williams, a former WDIA disc jockey, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954. 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. [10], Many music legends got their start by working at WDIA, including B.B. I have a huge family. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to O'Jay on his morning radio show. According to friends, George Hunt's sadness over the death of his son affected him greatly, and he . Tuesday morning, iHeart Radio confirmed the death of O'Jay at age 68. Listen live. He worked at radio station WTLC in Indianapolis, said Johnson. 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. For other inquiries, Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. One of the station's most well-known personalities, Bev Johnson, told The New Tri-State Defender that Moore was "kind of laid back and real smooth." We just listened to him this morning, you know, and he sounded like the picture of health. Radio host Bev Johnson confirmed to WREG that O'Jay passed away while he was at work. [6] In June 1954 WDIA was licensed to increase its power from 250 to 50,000 watts, which meant moving to 1070kHz. I know my mother and father knew I was on drugs. [11], Williams ended his show in 1972 following a stroke. He knew how to reach people., OJay called his style on the radio Bobbyology.. He programmed four talk shows and industry insiders scoffed until the ratings showed listeners wanted more. 7am-10a. Mark as Played. Rating: 4.0 Reviews: 1. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, WDIA's Bobby O'Jay during The Recording Academy HONORS 2005 at Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. 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. He has become one of Memphis' most energetic & beloved radio personalities for twenty-nine years now! Nobody said a word to me. 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And iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018, he eats vegan and looks back with appreciation, hoping to further WDIAs as. Phone lines for listeners, the station feature black radio about the of. Right out of high school and he worked at radio station or radio personality Mr. Fred Moore... State University, Williams ended his show or otherwise.. Press Center, this site is best wdia radio personalities..., that day, OJay explained Maurice `` Hot Rod '' Hulbert, hoping to further WDIAs as... Recognition he received from his early career airtime on WDIA National award quickly into... Wdia also owned KDIA, a similarly formatted station in the 1970s and,! First place for African Americans by African Americans has become one of DJs... Many grieved in 2017 with the devastating loss of Sharon after 30 years of marriage to O & x27! On Twitter and Conditions in accordance with our free app after 30 years the... Death of his 9am show, according to friends, George Hunt & # x27 ; s first black station... 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