As program director, he hired two other on-air personalities, who are still working: Bev Johnson and Mike Evans. His cause of death is currently unknown. He began his teaching profession at Northside High, (his alma mater), where he taught English and Applied Economics. Mike Evans and the Memphis Morning Show with Earle & Stormy. Acquiring the right to broadcast at a higher wattage, the station moved to 1070 kHz and boosted their signal from 250 watts to 50,000 watts and was now capable of reaching as far north as Missouri and as far south as Louisiana. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. (Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage), Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Stax Records Icon Al Bell and More Reflect on 50thAnniversary of Wattstax, Chuck D Talks PBS & BBC Music Premiere of Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed theWorld, Lil Kim and Friends to Headline Apollo for Harlem Festival of CultureConcert. Web. Last year, he was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame after being honored by the Living Legends Foundation in 2000 and iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018. 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. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. Download the "WDIA 1070 Radio Station" radio app to enjoy the best programming in town - FREE! 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. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to OJay on his morning radio show. "Cannonball" Cantor, one of the few white announcers on WDIA, tells how this decision resulted not only in business success, but mirrored America's nascent awareness of African American culture and social issues. If you post anything unrelated to WDIA it will be deleted. One of the best to don headsets and bless the mic in the control room. She remembers her longtime friend as a visionary, teacher and game changer. Though the on-air talent was black, as were the artists whose music they played, ownership remained white. King and Rufus Thomas. Johnson said his presence was deeply missed by those who stayed. . Download Our Free iHeartRadio App! 5/5 based on 1 review. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Its been fun even though its been some ups and downs. Share. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. He loved God and people. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loyal listeners during this extremely difficult time. The Youth & Family Resource Center is the topic of conversaton on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio with Executive Director Tamika Davis and Sandy Bromley, Deputy Director of the Division of Community Services. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis radio WDIA DJ Bobby O'Jay died at age 68 Tuesday morning. Sandy Bromley & Tamika Davis #2. WDIA's afternoon radio talent playing the best music in the world and keeping you up to date with the latest local and community information. 29 Apr. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA., Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Moreover, the station owners established several other successful rhythm-and-blues outlets, including KDIA in Oakland, California. As program director, he hired radio broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic. 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. 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.". Main features: Easy to use. It reads in part: MY GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY! The station started the WDIA Goodwill Fund to help and empower black communities. Radio WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. Bobby O'Jay, radio personality on Memphis' WDIAthe country's first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. "We have raised over $900,000 over the years," A.C. Williams says. WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. The radio and music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend.. In addition to providing specialized programming, through the years the station led and supported projects to benefit the community. K97 FM 9am. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. O'Jay often shared his life on-air with his late wife, Sharon. From Library Journal: In the late 1940s, Memphis radio station WDIA became the first to target its programming to a largely ignored black audience. SIDEBAR. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred Hollywood Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. 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 . I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. King has a good time telling the story of how he got his radio gig at WDIA in Memphis, TN, a station that turned its sinking fortune around by becoming the first radio station in . Pharos Books, 1992). I was listening to WDIA radio when they only stayed on the air until 12:AM Rufus Thomas signed off at Midnight. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. 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." He was 68. When I returned to Memphis as the citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless. After a series of local owners it was bought by media giant Clear Channel Communication in 1997. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. O'Jay was considered to be the King of Memphis radio. A massive lay-off sweep ended the careers of a number of radio personnel and on-air personalities. M-F 6am-3pm & Sun. 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. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. G.P. Listen to the radio in the background. He was moved by the Hall of Fame announcement. He programmed four talk shows and industry insiders scoffed until the ratings showed listeners wanted more. I think the reason why Bobby thrived and was successful with it because he found his niche and he worked it, said Bell. [I] stayed the 30 days, havent touched drugs and alcohol since, he said. AKWAABAWelcome Home! A builders' merchant with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious national award. Then he fired me, OJay laughed. His voice and opinions will truly be missed.. Community Efforts Cam Mtenzi posted an extended tribute to Moore on Facebook. Mathews has been quick to tell his listeners to check out the Arbitron ratings on radio on line.It is very clear that since WPLX as been on the air, that WDIA ratings has been on a decline. Praying for the strength and peace of his family as we honor his legacy.. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. She is mother of two children and grandmother of one. On air personality Bev Johnson of WDIA, AM 1070 in Memphis, Tennessee. See more. [14], "Celebrating 65 Years of Goodwill & Good Times." My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. Thomas continued to work at WDIA until he died in 2001. Press Center, This site is best experienced in portrait orientation. He was green so he hired an experienced executive who needed a job. WHAL Sat.. Stormy Taylor His voice and opinions will truly be missed.. I hired this guy and within two months, this man had taken my job. Johnnie Walker, founder/CEO of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment, Inc. (NABFEME), knew OJay during her career ascension from radio station PD to senior vp, promotion at Def Jam Recordings. [citation needed]. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. Ownership of the station first changed hands in 1957. Listen For Your Chance To Win! Listen online at myWDIA.com/listen 112 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA, New Destination Application Let's treat everyone with respect. It empowered a huge segment of the . When WDIA first went on air June 7, 1947, it was owned by John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, both . King and Rufus Thomas. Johnson remembers that Moore came here to the Memphis market from Indianapolis. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1953, OJay was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. Tuesday morning, iHeart Radio confirmed the death of O'Jay at age 68. A TOP radio personality paid a visit to a charity in Slough to help raise its profile ahead of plans to demolish its headquarters. Address: By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, TSDMemphis.com Tuesday morning, just before 9 a.m. when the phone lines are open, WDIA Program Director Bobby O'Jay fell unconscious during his show. A cause of death has not been released by authorities. He said, man, you sound just like him. He said can you come by the radio station?. Bev Johnson. [26][27] Radio DJ Alan Freedon New York City's WINS (AM)in 1955. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! Bobby OJay, radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. He was on the air, he engaged with his callers, talked to his listeners. So, even though I was showing up for work every day, they just felt like, you know, we cant have that kind of guy on our radio station, he said. 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) 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. 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. So, he was no novice when he came here to us.. 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). As one of Memphis most celebrated radio personalities, OJay will be inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame July 31 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: 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. King and Rufus Thomas got their start by working at WDIA. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. 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 is an Urban Contemporary radio station serving Memphis. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. According to friends, George Hunt's sadness over the death of his son affected him greatly, and he . His son, WDIA-AM 1070 radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years ago from natural causes. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy., Black Developers Housing Summit headed to Memphis to educate & empower, Ken Moody makes move from city government to the U of, For the childrens sake, let us not allow our history to, City Council edges forward with measures for police reform and oversight, A selection of books with African-American History Month in mind, Ekpe Abioto brings solid message with Dont Touch A Gun, WLOK Black Film Festival salutes Black History Month with Poitier-directed A, PREVIEW: Thank you Katori Hall for TINA The Tina Turner, Talking Black AF (And Fearless) takes root at town hall, Angela Davis reaction to a big reveal was the most priceless. Afternoon On-Air Talent: Earle Augustus. ------ Shows: . Born in Batesville, Mississippi. 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.. 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 need some help.. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The station also publicized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s visits to Memphis and served as a leading source of news and information for the black community following Dr. Kings assassination. It was Memphis WDIA.. Rufus Thomas maintained his program until his passing in 2001. Hear the conversation on my podcast at mywdia.com. RADIO ICON Bobby O'Jay dead at 68: WDIA host and 'King of Memphis radio' dies before his morning show as fans pay tribute. Rating: 4.0 Reviews: 1. I have eight brothers and sisters. 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