Memphis mayor Jim Strickland also reacted to O'Jay's death on Twitter. 1070 WDIA is an Urban Contemporary radio station serving Memphis. 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. 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." "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. OJay says he knew what he wanted to do early on. 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. Television and radio personality Colin . Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. 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. 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. After a series of local owners it was bought by media giant Clear Channel Communication in 1997. I have eight brothers and sisters. Johnson received her B.A. I have a huge family. 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.". 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. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. A massive lay-off sweep ended the careers of a number of radio personnel and on-air personalities. 7am-10a. Discover Tuesday's shows for 1070 WDIA in Memphis, TN. Listeners heard about all the significant moments in the couple's life. God bless his family, friends and coworkers.". She remembers her longtime friend as a visionary, teacher and game changer. 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 Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. 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. 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. 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. 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. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. 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. King and Rufus Thomas. After 44 years in radio, OJay is known around the nation for his Bobbyology. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. 2 in Memphis in terms of audience. February 10. 2 Be Kind and Courteous We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. He has become one of Memphis' most energetic & beloved radio personalities for twenty-nine years now! Bell will still continue his afternoon show on V101, while also taking over morning drive at WDIA. "I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise.. Music legends such as B.B. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. King and Bobby Blue Bland. 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. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. Honored by the Living Legends Foundation in 2000 and iHeartMedia Memphis in 2018, he was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. Ive always had just the radio job. He landed some roles in stage plays in the city. 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He currently teaches Broadcasting @ Wooddale High. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. When I was a rookie, he gave me advice and always a good laugh. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was editor of the yearbook. 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. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. Influencing every black radio station to follow, WDIA assigned itself the moniker the Mother Station of Negroes. It earned the nickname the Goodwill Station as well because it broadcast public service bulletins announcing employment opportunities, missing children, social service agency information, and the like at the behest of its listening audience. Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: Lee hosted shows on the pioneering African-American radio station for decades. King joined WDIA in early 1949. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. His cause of death is currently unknown. [11] Elvis Presley was greatly influenced by the station. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. Praying for the strength and peace of his family as we honor his legacy.. Community Efforts Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Tennessee State Rep Antonio Parkinsonsaid: "This is not only a loss for us as a city in Memphis, but a loss to all of us in the black community nationally, those of us in black music and radio and those of us who saw him as a mentor. A.C. Williams, a former WDIA disc jockey, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. [9] Originally, the fund provided transportation to school for disabled black children. [26][27] Radio DJ Alan Freedon New York City's WINS (AM)in 1955. Press Center, This site is best experienced in portrait orientation. 69 talking about this. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. Music (Memphis: Hopkins-Oates & Associates, 2008); Louis Cantor, [12] King credits his days on the station for building his audience and launching his career, describing the station as providing a sense of freedom. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred Hollywood Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. Williams continued on the air . "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. She is mother of two children and grandmother of one. The best way to connect to the community, you talk to them. MEMPHIS, Tenn Legendary Memphis radio icon Bobby O'Jay has passed away. Stan is also a Shelby County Schools Careers and Technology instructor. Download Our Free iHeartRadio App! As program director, he hired radio broadcast veterans Bev Johnson and Mike Evans, who still sit behind the mic. Radio talk show host Beverly Elaine Johnson was born on May 10, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee to William Van and Julia Danner Johnson. 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. The radio and music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend.. [13] In addition, he contributed to the redevelopment of Beale Street and Soulsville, USA. Moore was in that number. WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . It then switched permanently to all-black programming, and quickly moved into first place. He was 68. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. 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. It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market . [11], Williams ended his show in 1972 following a stroke. 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.. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. 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. . He was 68. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! Many music legends got their start by working at WDIA, including B.B. 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. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. He was such an important part of WDIA and the City of Memphis, words cannot express how truly missed he will be.. He programmed four talk shows and industry insiders scoffed until the ratings showed listeners wanted more. Ive always had just the radio job. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station's studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis. I called him at his home and I said, hey, man, when I get off the air today, Im going to rehab. He said, for what? 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