Bell joins 1070 WDIA from co-owned Urban KJMS-FM (V101), where he has been on-air for over 30 years. In 1996 Clear Channel Communications bought WDIA. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. He also served as program director during his tenure and interviewed countless Black music and culture legends, including Whitney Houston and Muhammad Ali, as well as David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations. 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. WDIA's parent company iHeartRadio announced. 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. Fred was real smooth on the air, and he had that infectious laugh. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. Do you find this information helpful? All they did was just pray for me. 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! 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. Updated: 5:25 PM CDT May 3, 2022. Great to meet you. So, he moved back to Houston to return to radio there. 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. 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. VIBE sends our deepest condolences to the OJay family and those affected by this tragic loss. 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. They talk back to you, OJay said. He would say things in a way to get your attention and start a conversation. But at the time he took the job, the drugs were still in his system. 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. Even though there have been some ups and downs, its been more fun than anything.. iHeartRadio Ultimate Contest, Sweatfest Punta Cana with Keith Sweat. 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. Afternoon On-Air Talent: Earle Augustus. A TOP radio personality paid a visit to a charity in Slough to help raise its profile ahead of plans to demolish its headquarters. 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. Website. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. Its just going to be something that maybe will shake you a little bit, OJay explained. WDIA was inducted in 2013. OJay says he knew what he wanted to do early on. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . He said, well, I thought you stopped using drugs. I said, no man. [7] Its powerful signal reached the Mississippi Deltas dense African-American population and was heard from the Missouri Bootheel to the Gulf Coast. 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. WDIA, the country's first Black radio station, had the distinction of hiring O'Jay as an on-air personality 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. 1,679 talking about this. Simple and modern interface. For other inquiries, Contact Us. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. Music News He was 68. See more. Discover Tuesday's shows for 1070 WDIA in Memphis, TN. Listen online at myWDIA.com/listen Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Many music legends got their start by working at WDIA, including B.B. 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. They just prayed for me and June 28, 1985, I just went to work one morning after being out all night and called the general manager of the radio station. Its owners, John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, established the station and located it at 2074 Union Avenue. [6] WDIA soon became the number-2 station in Memphis. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. Ownership of the station first changed hands in 1957. 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 The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. 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. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. This callsign, however, is now assigned to an unrelated Christian-programmed station. The stations influence and popularity reached the Mississippi Deltas dense African-American population, and WDIAs broadcasts were heard from Missouri to the Gulf Coast, reaching 10 percent of the African-American population in the United States. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. 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. After 44 years in radio, OJay is known around the nation for his Bobbyology. 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. Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. 1070 WDIA is the heart & soul of Memphis! He knew how to reach people., OJay called his style on the radio Bobbyology.. One of the best to don headsets and bless the mic in the control room. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred Hollywood Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to OJay on his morning radio show. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. May 3, 2022 WDIA. 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. So, he was no novice when he came here to us.. 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. All Rights Reserved. Close Modal The owners, John Pepper and Bert Ferguson, were both white, and the format was a mix of country and western and light pop,[3] as well as "homemaker shows", network shows and block programming that included soap operas and classical music. 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. Community Efforts 1070 WDIA is the heart & soul of Memphis! During her career she has worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl . A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Listen For Your Chance To Win! 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. Fred later became program director at that station in 1977. When I returned to Memphis as the citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless. Ahead of his induction in Tennessee, he shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, Ive never had this job and that job. In February 1983, he joined WDIA in Memphis, America's first Black radio station. I have met some of the biggest stars in America. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. King, and Bobby Blue Bland. [14], "Celebrating 65 Years of Goodwill & Good Times." [citation needed]. Bobby O'Jay, radio personality on Memphis' WDIAthe country's first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. 3-3:30pm. Williams continued on the air . Television and radio personality Colin . 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. Fans of the radio legend, known as the "King of Memphis radio," took to Twitter to mourn him and celebrate his life. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. 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.. Thaddeus Mathews says that he is the reason that WDIA has fallen to the 12th best station in Memphis, TN. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. Johnson said his presence was deeply missed by those who stayed. Wdia Profile and History . 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 The station's management had been mostly white. 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Stormy has been in the radio industry for over 29 years. 1070 WDIA | iHeart 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Follow Connect Contests and Promotions Sista Strut 2023! The station first featured black radio personalities, and its growing success contributed in building a new audience of black listeners. O'Jay often shared his life on-air with his late wife, Sharon. WDIA moved its home to Radio Center, the former home of WMPS, in 1985, then to a suburban office park in 2004. [26][27] Radio DJ Alan Freedon New York City's WINS (AM)in 1955. Bobbyology is my thought pattern. I have a huge family. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. O'Jay was considered to be the King of Memphis radio. You can listen to Bobby OJay Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on 1070 AM. WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. The best way to connect to the community, you talk to them. In the 1970s and 1980s, the owners of WDIA also owned KDIA, a similarly formatted station in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the time, most stations had one talk show per week. 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. 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. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. The radio and music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend.. In 1972 Chuck Scruggs became its first black general manager and vice president, serving for 12 years. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. At the end of everything, they had given me this fat contract. Hes going to be missed and I know a lot of us in the industry looked up to him. 7am-10a. He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. The station started the WDIA Goodwill Fund to help and empower black communities. [I] stayed the 30 days, havent touched drugs and alcohol since, he said. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! He was green so he hired an experienced executive who needed a job. Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? Radio proved to be a rocky road. Fred had a very good voice, said Stansbury. WDIA RULES This group is for WDIA and no other radio station or radio personality other than those on WDIA. King would later attribute his success as a musician to the recognition he received from his early career airtime on WDIA. B.B. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. 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. [3], WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. WDIA midday personality Bev Johnson confirmed to local CBS . After a series of local owners it was bought by media giant Clear Channel Communication in 1997. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG.. Twitter: @WDIA Language: English Contact: 2650 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Notable U.S.radio disc jockeys of the period include Alan Freed, Wolfman Jack, Casey Kasem,[25]and their Britishcounterparts such as the BBC's Brian Matthewand Alan Freeman, Radio London'sJohn Peel, Radio Caroline's Tony Blackburn, and Radio Luxembourg's Jimmy Savile. 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. Listen To Podcasts That Examine The Passion, Perseverance, And Power Of Black Culture! 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. [4], Nat D. Williams, a syndicated columnist and high-school teacher, started Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948. G.P. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. One hot day in Batesville, Mississippi, when OJay was picking cotton, his cousin visited and OJay knew he wanted to follow his cousins path. It wasn't black owned, but it appealed to a black . Nat was a history teacher and the first black radio DJ at WDIA in Memphis. As program director, he hired radio broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic. WHAL Sat.. Stormy Taylor February 10. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. He was known as a pioneer of Black radio. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA., Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. WDIA reached 10% of the African-American population in United States. On Air Talent Oct 2007 - Present15 years 3 months. 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