r'n'b. soul. WDIA 1070 Memphis - Bobby O'Jay - December 19 2019Bobby O'Jay was one of the most iconic voices in Memphis Broadcasting. 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. 1,679 talking about this. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. The 12-year-old would turn the radio dial and listen to what DJs both talked about and sounded like for years. 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. 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. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. 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. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. 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. These days, he eats vegan and looks back with appreciation, hoping to further WDIAs image as a goodwill station. At the time, most stations had one talk show per week. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. 112 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA, New Destination Application Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. Wdia Profile and History . A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own . Listen to the radio in the background. 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. "We have raised over $900,000 over the years," A.C. Williams says. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. He cared about the artists records he played. Honored by the Living Legends Foundation in 2000 and iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018, he was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. Heres a guy who came from the cotton fields in Mississippi. Born in Batesville, Mississippi on August 8, 1953, OJay began his dream career as radio host in 1972 in Milwaukee. Having launched his start in 1972 in Milwaukee, O'Jay went from there to. 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. We just listened to him this morning, you know, and he sounded like the picture of health. WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. "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. Website. He was moved by the Hall of Fame announcement. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. A.C. Williams, a former WDIA disc jockey, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis radio WDIA DJ Bobby O'Jay died at age 68 Tuesday morning. OJay was open about his own struggles, including his struggle with drugs in the 1980s. Rating: 4.0 Reviews: 1. 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." O'Jay often shared his life on-air with his late wife, Sharon. Twin Cities: AM Personality Tom Barnard ReUps At KQRS; Portland OR Radio: Lar Larson Renews Deal With KXL; Richmond Radio: iHM Names A-J OM/Regional PM . Bobby OJay, radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. OJay was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. degree in English literature from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and her M.S. Search. 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 . . Memphis mayor Jim Strickland also reacted to O'Jay's death on Twitter. As program director, he hired two other on-air personalities, who are still working: Bev Johnson and Mike Evans. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. Mike Evans and the Memphis Morning Show with Earle & Stormy. In the 1970s and 1980s, the owners of WDIA also owned KDIA, a similarly formatted station in the San Francisco Bay Area. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. He was 68. Claim your profile [4], Nat D. Williams, a syndicated columnist and high-school teacher, started Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948. "He was the type of guy, you know, if you saw him out on the streets or whatever, he treats you like, 'Hey man, it is so great to see you. The Heart & Soul of Memphis! G.P. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. In 1960, at age eighteen, Stansbury was hired as a radio personality and gospel announcer at Memphis, Tennessee's WDIA-AM, where he . According to friends, George Hunt's sadness over the death of his son affected him greatly, and he . ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. Great to meet you. And I got a phone call, he remembered. Johnson said his presence was deeply missed by those who stayed. WDIA M-F 6am-10am & Sun. 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. Fred was also in a couple of movies that filmed here, too.. Radio Hall of Fame Announces 2022 Legends of Radio Inductees. Main features: Easy to use. Stan is also a Shelby County Schools Careers and Technology instructor. Condolences to his family, colleagues and all who loved him. He was 68. 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. [7] Its powerful signal reached the Mississippi Deltas dense African-American population and was heard from the Missouri Bootheel to the Gulf Coast. Fans of the radio legend, known as the "King of Memphis radio," took to Twitter to mourn him and celebrate his life. See more. He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. 3 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. Bell joins 1070 WDIA from co-owned Urban KJMS-FM (V101), where he has been on-air for over 30 years. RADIO ICON Bobby O'Jay dead at 68: WDIA host and 'King of Memphis radio' dies before his morning show as fans pay tribute. 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. Its owners, John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, established the station and located it at 2074 Union Avenue. 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. 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. The Legendary Fred Hollywood Moore. On air personality Bev Johnson of WDIA, AM 1070 in Memphis, Tennessee. Its owners, John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, established the station and located it at 2074 Union Avenue. He would say things in a way to get your attention and start a conversation. 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. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. M-F 6am-3pm & Sun. [3], WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. 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. 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. Please rotate your device. One of the best to don headsets and bless the mic in the control room. Listeners heard about all the significant moments in the couple's life. WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. All Rights Reserved. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. He was on the air, he engaged with his callers, talked to his listeners. And we just started calling him Hollywood Fred Hollywood Moore. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. 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." Radio proved to be a rocky road. Listen To Podcasts That Examine The Passion, Perseverance, And Power Of Black Culture! 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. The Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer was 68. iHeartRadio, parent company of the WDIA radio station where O'Jay served as DJ . Suite 4100 901-535-9342 Website: http://mywdia.iheart.com Stations 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis TOMORROW: 7am Bobby O'Jay 11am Bev Johnson 4pm Earle Augustus Shows Bev Johnson Memphis, TN Nat D. Williams show ended in 1972 following a stroke. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. 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. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Moreover, the station owners established several other successful rhythm-and-blues outlets, including KDIA in Oakland, California. Praying for the strength and peace of his family as we honor his legacy.. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. 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. And the name kind of stuck from that time. He suffered a fatal massive heart attack. During his 50 year radio career, O'J. In WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred "Hollywood" Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. Sandy Bromley & Tamika Davis #2. WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African Americans for African Americans. In 1949 the station was no. WDIA Memphis mainstay Bobby O'Jay passed away of unknown causes on Tuesday (May 3). Listen to the best radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, no matter where you are. Radio talk show host Beverly Elaine Johnson was born on May 10, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee to William Van and Julia Danner Johnson. [11] Elvis Presley was greatly influenced by the station. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to OJay on his morning radio show. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. Rufus Thomas maintained his program until his passing in 2001. He was highly respected by all of in the industry whether you were radio, television or whatever. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loyal listeners during this extremely difficult time. Half of the listeners who could hear WDIA's signal were African-American, and WDIA hired the first black disk jockey in the South. Competing against him in radio taught me programming; trying to get a record played at his station taught me the real meaning of perseverance, tenacity and how to be a record exec. King, and Bobby Blue Bland. A segue to an on-air gig in Montgomery, Alabama, was followed by a return to Milwaukee prior to landing at WDIA, where he also served as program director, During the course of his estimable tenure at the station, OJay interviewed a whos who in Black music and culture, including Whitney Houston, Muhammad Ali and Temptations members David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. pic.twitter.com/DoZ0sl9QNg, Mayor Jim Strickland (@MayorMemphis) May 3, 2022, Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. Williams continued on the air . 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. May 3, 2022 WDIA. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. 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. Twitter: @WDIA Language: English Contact: 2650 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Address: The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . AKWAABAWelcome Home! After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. 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. 2 in Memphis in terms of audience. One of the iconic voices of Memphis broadcasting, Bobby O'Jay, has died. Radio WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. WDIA reached 10% of the African-American population in United States. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. 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