From Philadelphia wedding bands, DJs, musical ensembles, sound production, and lighting, they are highly adaptable to fit a wide range of needs and budgets. Half a century ago, the transistor radio was a teenager's lifeline to pop music. . We had guests tell us they missed dessert because they didnt want to leave the dance floor! [33], Drive time or "morning drive" shows capitalized on a listening audience of weekday commuters and parents getting children ready for school. They reflected national and local musical trends, exposed audiences to new music, and in some cases produced records and managed artists. DJ Annie Nightingale hosted a progressive rock show on BBC Radio 1 in 1969. Born 19 May 1984, Anele Mdoda is the principal voice of Celebrity Game Night South Africa and one of the most loved and most talked about radio DJs in Mzansi. History of Philadelphia radio station 560 WFIL. We booked lighting, musicians and drapery through them and helped transform our reception space! Amazing from start to finish! Joe and the rest of the band were so wonderful and easy to work with. Record hops were often sponsored by radio stations as a way to promote their disc jockeys, or by record stores to promote the sale of records. Those classic Philly disc jockeys of 'oh so long ago'. Robert Weston Smith created such an out-of-this-world persona in Wolfman Jack that he was practically a superhero of rock & roll. Thus was born the disc jockey or DJ.. FM radio in Philadelphia has a lot to offer besides DJs peddling Top 40 artists. [7] Unlike the modern club DJ who mixes transitions between songs to create a continuous flow of music, radio DJs played individual songs or music tracks while voicing announcements, introductions, comments, jokes, and commercials in between each song or short series of songs. Over time, AM stations largely abandoned music in favor of news and talk formats, leaving DJs who played music mostly to the FM band. I would highly recommend their services! Nicole Blevin. Our day was perfect and I couldnt be happier! Sarah Fuller, RhythMix worked with us throughout the entire wedding planning process and had all of our friends and family on the dancefloor all night! FM radio had a clearer signal and higher fidelity than AM and was better suited to this new kind of programming. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2011. Phone: (267) 991-0268 Cousin Brucie, Doctor Don Rose, Ron Riley, and Jim Stagg, are just a few who keep the turntables spinning through 1960s musical history. You know that whole "I was into them before everyone else" thing? Ramon Bruce became a prominent DJ at WHAT (AM) in Philadelphia. 17 reviews. The list of legendary Philadelphia radio personalities and disc jockeys is a long one. Woods moved back to WHAT in 1966, taking caller requests and playing the caller recording on air before playing the requested song. Actor Kevin Bacon (yes, that Kevin Bacon) was born in the City of Brotherly love on July 8, 1958). They created a custom arrangement for our first dance, even recording it in advance so we could practice to the song! Kat sang during our cocktail hour and I cant say enough about her! [58] In 1990, Jackson was the first minority inducted into the National Association of Broadcaster's Hall of Fame. Retired from WOGL, in Philadelphia. Here is a list of famous radio personalities from all over the world. While radio DJs, also known as RJs, mix and play music for their live radio audiences, club DJs perform at parties, nightclubs or music festivals. They were a hip-hop duo from Philly. [40] Admission was either free, or a small admission fee was charged. The Radio 99 crew cooked 24 hours a day, and the Vineland Speedway sometimes advertised on Wibbage. While WDRE never became a true mainstream radio station in the Philadelphia radio market, the station gained a . All thanks to Pop Philly! See news and events related to the world's top DJs. We were concerned about how to balance out a brunch mid afternoon wedding with music, but Brandon handled it all. Ive worked with Jon and his team professionally a few times and didnt hesitate once I got engaged. WMMR became the preeminent Philadelphia rock station for many years, with DJs such as Ed Sciaky (19482004), Michael Tearson (b. Clipped from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (1977), this photo captures Hy Hyski Lit (left) and Joseph Nigro, better known as Joe The Rockin Bird Niagara, behind the microphone for WIBG-AM radio. Kae is best known for managing popular doo wop groups The Silhouettes and The Sensations, and for his appreciation for the blues genre. Today marks the 40th anniversary of the final hour of WIBG, hosted by two of the greatest DJs ever - Hy Lit and Joe Niagara - who signed off for the last time on September 10, 1977. One of the most prolific actors of the big screen, he has appeared in dozens of major films, including Footloose, A Few Good Men, Apollo 13, and JFK. Hull also had ties to the Beatles sensing a theme here? Our friends and family cant stop talking about how amazing they both were! Listen to the best live radio stations in Philadelphia, PA. 11 incredibly cool facts about Burt Reynolds, 6 familiar characters who got their own ''spin-off babies'' cartoons, 12 Sally Field roles that range from iconic to obscure. Richard "Richie" Hawtin, a three-time DJ Awards winner, is a Canadian DJ counted amongst the most famous DJs of all time. [55], DJ Herb Kent began his career in 1944 playing classical records on Chicago's WBEZ, then an FM broadcasting service for the Chicago Public Schools. WIBG adopted an all rock and roll format in the late 1950s with DJs Joe the Rockin Bird Niagara (real name Joseph Nigro, 19272004), Hy Hyski Lit (Hyman Lit, 19342007), and others. Many Philadelphia DJs became celebrities, actively engaged and influential in the local music scene. Band Leader Corey and the Pop Philly band were so professional and went out of their way to make our reception perfect! Whether youre attending one of his parties, or looking to book him for yours, he is awesome. . Rufus Thomas was the preeminent DJ of Memphis' WDIA, the nation's first radio station with an all-Black air staff. Boris, Alan. He would later relocate to Los Angeles and introduce the Fab Four at their Hollywood Bowl gig. OUR GOAL: That YOU and YOUR GUESTS have a "Good Time" at Your Ev. Radio DJs often acted as commercial brokers for their program and actively solicited paying sponsors. While he never worked at a major commercial radio stationhe got his start at WCAM, a small Camden, New Jersey, station in 1960he built a loyal following hosting dances and live shows and remained one of the best-known figures on the local music scene in the early twenty-first century. They could also negotiate which sponsors would appear on their program. As he was quite chummy with the British quartet, he often interviewed the band, and recordings of these chats were released as records. If he played something, it was a hit". Philly's 105.3 FM - the Best R&B & Throwbacks. Do Not Sell My Information - CA Residents. Listen; Music. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_radio_disc_jockeys&oldid=1118888265, This page was last edited on 29 October 2022, at 14:40. Many wrote and delivered the commercials themselves, talking the . For this, he is yet another to have earned the title "fifth Beatle." Blavat occupied a unique place among Philadelphia disc jockeys. A 1941 Variety Magazine first published the term disc jockey, which famous . They played our wedding and helped us create many memories with our friends and family that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Our day was perfect and I couldnt be happier! 2 The Real Roxanne feat. He has served as consulting archivist for the Philadelphia Orchestra and the 2014 radio documentary Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio and gave several presentations and helped produce the Historical Society of Pennsylvanias 2016 Philadelphia music series Memories & Melodies. (Author information current at time of publication. Judy Dibble on WDGY in Minneapolis started as "sidekick" to a male DJ in the mid 1960s and later went on to host her own DJ show. Their team has years of experience in the industry planning events and packing dance floors. [26][27], Alan Freed is commonly referred to as the "father of rock and roll" due to his promotion of the music and his introduction of the term rock and roll on radio in the early 1950s. Most DJs were still only doing stabs, babies and forwards back then. Offers remote services. Whatever type of event you are throwing a sweet 16, a wedding, birthday retirement party engagement shoot he knows its a big deal and an important time in your life, so he takes seriously your trust in booking a DJ or photographer through him. Website: www.ebetalent.com, Amazing from start to finish! Jan 27, 2009. Book 2, "Rock & Roll Radio DJs ~ The Swinging Sixties," continues the fun and frolic of several disc jockeys' stories from the 1950s (Book 1). The DJ was attentive to our music requests and even had my mom dancing. They reflected national and local musical trends, exposed audiences to new music, and in some cases produced records and managed artists. In the earlier years of radio broadcasting, which began in Philadelphia in 1922, programming featured mainly live entertainment such as dramas, comedy acts, and studio orchestras and singers. Top 100 of 1987 Top 100 of 1988 Top 200 of the 80'S After Hours Dance . A collaboration between public radio stations WRTI and WXPN, as well as marketing startup / talent incubator REC Philly, the project awarded a total of $48,000 in grants to 23 musicians, DJs . In 2013 and again in 2014, DJ Mag voted him the no 1 DJ in the . This meeting, hosted by Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia member Sid Mark for his Mark of Jazz television show on WPHL and WHYY, brought together local DJs and broadcasters for a round-table style discussion. By the end of World War II, disc jockeys had established a reputation as "hitmakers", someone whose influence "could start an artist's career overnight". He began hosting at WMGK in 2002 and also is known for his charity work. Hitman Howie Tee - "Bang Zoom". Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Archives. [36], In the 1950s, radio disc jockeys from local and regional radio stations took advantage of their popularity and augmented their income by playing records and performing as master of ceremonies at teen dance parties called sock hops or record hops. Okay, there had to have been at least ten "fifth Beatles." by Alex Cosper (8/28/16) While it's unknown who coined the term "disc jockey" or "DJ," the history of how radio unfolded helps tell the story. Other longtime DJs who carved out unique niches in local radio included Gene Shay (Ivan Shaner, 1935-2020), who hosted folk music shows on a number of different Philadelphia radio stations from 1962 to 2015 (and who helped found the Philadelphia Folksong Society and Philadelphia Folk Festival); Sid Mark (Sidney Mark Fliegelman, 1933?-2022), who featured the music of Frank Sinatra on various local stations since the 1950s; and David Dye, a veteran of Philadelphia rock radio who since 1991 hosted WXPNs World Caf, a daily alternative music show syndicated to over 250 stations nationwide. They could also negotiate which sponsors would appear on their program. The station is known for the wide variety of music it plays, including adult alternative and singer-songwriter styles, as well as folk, jazz, avant-garde, and new music from artists across the country and around the world. For a number of decades beginning in the 1930s, the term "disc jockey", "DJ", "deejay", or "jock"[1] was exclusively used to describe on-air personalities who played selections of popular recorded music on radio broadcasting stations. During the 1950s, Kent worked at WGES in Chicago and then at WBEE where he coined the phrase "dusty records" or "dusties." gonna post one here. He is also the subject of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game. As a producer, she produced and co . We also had an early and late bus to take guests back to the hotel. Most radio stations had an orchestra or band on the payroll. Website: www.djravijackson.com, Have been to several of DJ Ravi Jacksons parties in the Philly area. RhythMix has something for everyone. Then to WWRL the Big RL. 9 T7. [2][3], The term "disc jockey" first appeared in print in a 1941 issue of Variety magazine,[4][5] although the origin of the term is generally attributed to American radio news commentator Walter Winchell who used it to describe radio presenter Martin Block's practice of introducing phonograph recordings to create a "Make Believe Ballroom" experience for radio listeners. His show was known for its frenetic pace that incorporated segues, jingles, sound effects, and antics. DJs such as John Peel, Tony Blackburn, Kenny Everett, Tony Prince, Emperor Rosko and Spangles Muldoon pioneered an innovative, American-influenced style of presentation, often programming their personal music choices rather than adhere to a strict playlist, thereby winning large audiences hungry for youth-oriented sounds and the latest musical trends. DJs were less consequential in this new environment, exercising reduced control over what they played and how their programs were structured. Responding to an ad for female disk jockeys, Steele auditioned with 800 other women and was chosen with three others to launch an "all woman" format. 1 . Many Philadelphia DJs became celebrities, actively engaged and influential in . Some of the DJs included: Joe Bonadonna, Ed Sciaky, Anita, . Categories and articles related to notable radio personalities presently or previously from Philadelphia. To some, radio history was made that day, while others would argue that's the day that radio took a turn for the worst. DJ on the 60s on 6, weekdays noon-3pm ET, and host of the 60s Satellite Survey, Saturday 2pm ET, Sunday 10am ET, and . Have been to several of DJ Ravi Jacksons parties in the Philly area. 1. Among them was WMMR DJ Jonathan Takiff, shown here in the stations library in 1971, who went on to be an influential music writer for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer. Don Imus - Net Worth: $35 million. Dick Clark was a radio DJ at WFIL in Philadelphia before he began hosting WFIL-TV's American Bandstand. . During this time, he moved from his . Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio highlights a time when black radio stations were the only ones playing music by African-Americans. Anele Mdoda. . From meeting the staff at a bridal show we knew this was gonna be the group to meet our wedding needs. Try to name all the famous people on magazine covers in 1979. Some for more than a decade now. Traditional broadcast radio remained a popular medium into the early twenty-first century, despite competing outlets such as online music streaming services and internet radio. See more ideas about disc jockey, radio, jockey. Niara Sterling. Blavat, Jerry. Four AM stations ruled the Philadelphia airwaves in the all-important youth radio market in this period: white stations WIBG and WFIL and Black stations WDAS and WHAT. [18], Disputes with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) affected radio DJs during World War II. Bob Charger . Many of these radio presenters host programs on Sirius XM, are featured on the local stations' morning shows, or have their own podcasts, so expect a variety of radio celebrities. The radio DJ has been around almost . Freed also made a practice of presenting music by African-American artists rather than cover versions by white artists on his radio program. It became a mass medium due to commercial licensing through the U.S. Department of Commerce in the 1920s. [8], During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, radio DJs exerted considerable influence on popular music, especially during the Top 40 radio era, because of their ability to introduce new music to the radio audience and promote or control which songs would be given airplay. With a true love for all kinds of music, DJ Ravi Jackson started DJing just to make mixes for his friends and family. WIBG Radio 99 Philadelphia - The History of WIBBAGE - 1970Courtesy: Bill CainFrom the late 50s, until the mid 1960s, 99 WIBG wast the Rock & Roll leader in P. Jerry Blavat. Rick Party. He . Dylan, the founder of Good DJs Cheap started the company in Baltimore way back when Clinton was in office. Very easy to work with to the point that they take a massive amount of stress off of planning anything entertainment related. [68][69], In 1973, Yvonne Daniels was the first female DJ hired by WLS (AM) in Chicago. Our passion and knowledge of music is extensive, we offer superb customer service, quality and good value. He was also known for his on-air social and political activism. 26 September 2017 Terry Wogan voted the greatest BBC Radio presenter of the last 50 years The most popular BBC radio DJs have been revealed as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. 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