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. Fred was also in a couple of movies that filmed here, too.. Rodriguez . Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? Johnson said his presence was deeply missed by those who stayed. 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. 1070 WDIA is an Urban Contemporary radio station serving Memphis. "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. [3], WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. 112 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA, New Destination Application Radio WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1963 she . WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. When I was a rookie, he gave me advice and always a good laugh. Owned and operated by iHeartMedia. WDIA personalities included: Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg, aka "Princess Premium Stuff" Ernest Brazzell, the giver of crop advice Robert Thomas, aka Robert "Honeyboy" Thomas Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert Theo "Bless My Bones" Wade Ford Nelson, who, until 2013, acted as a gospel D.J. M-F 6am-3pm & Sun. And I got a phone call, he remembered. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was editor of the yearbook. One of the iconic voices of Memphis broadcasting, Bobby O'Jay, has died. The Legendary Fred Hollywood Moore. WDIA radio station, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee, has been active since 1947 and has an amazing history. After a series of local owners it was bought by media giant Clear Channel Communication in 1997. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. May 3, 2022 WDIA. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Nat D. Williams show ended in 1972 following a stroke. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Hes the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby OJay. 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 MEMPHIS, Tenn Legendary Memphis radio icon Bobby O'Jay has passed away. It was Memphis WDIA.. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. WDIA moved its home to Radio Center, the former home of WMPS, in 1985, then to a suburban office park in 2004. Its owners, John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, established the station and located it at 2074 Union Avenue. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. WDIA's parent company iHeartRadio announced. WDIA was inducted in 2013. 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. What remained constant was his kooky smile and the genuine respect we had for each other. 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. Fred Hollywood Moore was the leading Actor in MA&9s 1998/ 99/2000 stage play Have Eyes see not; Have Ears hear not: Story of a family witness signs of the timeMy Prayers & condolences to Mrs. Judy Moore & the Moore Family. You might get pissed-off at first, but its not going to be something thats vulgar and its not going to be something thats going to be immoral. He was 68. A cause of . Stan Bell, one of the citys most beloved on-air personalities and popular, local DJ also posted on Facebook: We have lost a gentle giant in the radio industry. Listen online at myWDIA.com/listen If you post anything unrelated to WDIA it will be deleted. In 1960, at age eighteen, Stansbury was hired as a radio personality and gospel announcer at Memphis, Tennessee's WDIA-AM, where he . WDIA midday personality Bev Johnson confirmed to local CBS . He said, man, you sound just like him. He said can you come by the radio station?. One of the stations most well-known personalities, Bev Johnson, told The New Tri-State Defender that Moore was kind of laid back and real smooth., She continued, I came to WDIA in 1983, 38 years ago, and Fred came a later that same year, I believe it was, said Johnson. From Billboard Music Awards to the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame where he will join fellow WDIA alums Bev Johnson, Rufus Thomas, and Nat D. Williams, OJays awards are plenty. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. I have a huge family. 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. This callsign, however, is now assigned to an unrelated Christian-programmed station. These days, he eats vegan and looks back with appreciation, hoping to further WDIAs image as a goodwill station. Listen To Podcasts That Examine The Passion, Perseverance, And Power Of Black Culture! 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. So, he moved back to Houston to return to radio there. Vote Now For Your Favorite Artists! degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred "Hollywood" Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. The 12-year-old would turn the radio dial and listen to what DJs both talked about and sounded like for years. 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. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! Sandy Bromley & Tamika Davis #2. 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. WHAL Sat.. Stormy Taylor 2 . 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. She is mother of two children and grandmother of one. [11], Williams ended his show in 1972 following a stroke. But before he came to the station in Indianapolis, Fred worked at a station in St. Louis. He was one of the hosts for All Blues Saturday. "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. OJay was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. 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. Men O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. So, he was no novice when he came here to us.. And they even said to me, were going to even give you a company car to drive and this was February of 1983, and the rest is history, said OJay. 1,679 talking about this. So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. One of the iconic voices of Memphis broadcasting, Bobby O'Jay, has died. iHeartRadio Ultimate Contest, Sweatfest Punta Cana with Keith Sweat. r'n'b. soul. Address: Its been fun even though its been some ups and downs. I like to hear all kinds of opinions from all kinds of people.. Listen to the best radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, no matter where you are. It wasn't black owned, but it appealed to a black . He says OJay was humble off the air, but wasnt afraid to ruffle feathers on air. 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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Ownership of the station first changed hands in 1957. Music (Memphis: Hopkins-Oates & Associates, 2008); Louis Cantor, Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: OJay says he knew what he wanted to do early on. Tuesday morning, iHeart Radio confirmed the death of O'Jay at age 68. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also reflected on OJays life and legacy on Twitter. 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. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market . The best way to connect to the community, you talk to them. He began his teaching profession at Northside High, (his alma mater), where he taught English and Applied Economics. [citation needed]. The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . Bell will still continue his afternoon show on V101, while also taking over morning drive at WDIA. February 10. Listen live. Ernest Brazzell gave crop advice, and Robert Thomas became a DJ named Honeyboy after he won a citywide amateur competition. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. [6] In June 1954 WDIA was licensed to increase its power from 250 to 50,000 watts, which meant moving to 1070kHz. O'Jay was the program host of the "Fun Morning Show" on IHeartMedia's WDIA. 2 Be Kind and Courteous We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. He was 68. 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. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. Please include the headline. He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. But at the time he took the job, the drugs were still in his system. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG.. He explained to Action News 5 last year he wasnt willing to just say anything. 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. Fred was a very caring family man and loved his daughter and wife dearly.. 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. On Air Talent Oct 2007 - Present15 years 3 months. Hes going to be missed and I know a lot of us in the industry looked up to him. 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. His son, WDIA-AM 1070 radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years ago from natural causes. A massive lay-off sweep ended the careers of a number of radio personnel and on-air personalities. Bobby O'Jay became a popular host and was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022. 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. 69 talking about this. In 1996 Clear Channel Communications bought WDIA. Bobby OJay, radio personality on Memphis WDIAthe countrys first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. [3] WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. It reads in part: MY GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY! During her career she has worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl . View our online Press Pack. Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA, he wrote. A radio personality is a person who hosts a radio talk show and interacts with the audience via telephone or email. As program director, he hired radio broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic. Longtime WDIA Memphis personality Bobby O'Jay passes away. 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. Captain Curtis Lee, a longtime WDIA radio personality passed away Wednesday. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. She remembers her longtime friend as a visionary, teacher and game changer. Moore was in that number. Stormy has been in the radio industry for over 29 years. 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. All they did was just pray for me. 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. Lee hosted shows on the pioneering African-American radio station for decades. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. 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. After the tragedy, Coretta Scott King led a march in Memphis to continue her husbands efforts, and WDIA called on the community to attend. Kwanzaa and the celebration of Imani faith! 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. 3 Television and radio personality Colin . Bell joins 1070 WDIA from co-owned Urban KJMS-FM (V101), where he has been on-air for over 30 years. WDIA-AM/Memphis taps veteran air personality Stan Bell for the new "The Stan Bell Morning Show," weekdays from 6-10am, effective immediately. They talk back to you, OJay said. One hot day in Batesville, Mississippi, when OJay was picking cotton, his cousin visited and OJay knew he wanted to follow his cousins path. AKWAABAWelcome Home! 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 He was 68. Memphis mayor Jim Strickland also reacted to O'Jay's death on Twitter. 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