One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. 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. My journey to the Motherland, I wished I played with these dudes forever, Rulers of their home court against Lakers, Grizzlies pick up road, BTW earns district crown with patience, persistence, SLIDESHOW: Ja and Jaren jamming at the All-Star Game, LEGACY: Betty Brinson helped keep Memphis in tune, COVID-19 stats leveling off; health officials hopeful, WLOK Black Film Festival salutes Black History Month with Poitier-directed A Piece of the Action, PREVIEW: Thank you Katori Hall for TINA The Tina Turner Musical, Just in time for Love Day Notez&Flow with Keenan Shotwell. Its owners, John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, established the station and located it at 2074 Union Avenue. Im not willing to say just anything. The station started the WDIA Goodwill Fund to help and empower black communities. He was 68. Do you find this information helpful? 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. Listen For Your Chance To Win! 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. He says his large family never pried, they just prayed and so did he. 1070 WDIA | iHeart 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Follow Connect Contests and Promotions Sista Strut 2023! iHeartRadio Ultimate Contest, Sweatfest Punta Cana with Keith Sweat. SIDEBAR. O'Jay was considered to be the King of Memphis radio. 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. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. Win Tickets to New Edition at FedEx Forum! [11] Elvis Presley was greatly influenced by the station. 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) 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. 2 . May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. Johnson said his presence was deeply missed by those who stayed. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. Radio talk show host Beverly Elaine Johnson was born on May 10, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee to William Van and Julia Danner Johnson. 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. Stormy has been in the radio industry for over 29 years. Its just going to be something that maybe will shake you a little bit, OJay explained. racine horlick high school football Cuidados de Gnero. He said, well, I thought you stopped using drugs. I said, no man. Ernest Brazzell gave crop advice, and Robert Thomas became a DJ named Honeyboy after he won a citywide amateur competition. Fred later became program director at that station in 1977. "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. WDIA 1070 Memphis - Bobby O'Jay - December 19 2019Bobby O'Jay was one of the most iconic voices in Memphis Broadcasting. [6] WDIA soon became the number-2 station in Memphis. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. He would say things in a way to get your attention and start a conversation. He was on the air, he engaged with his callers, talked to his listeners. WHAL Sat.. Stormy Taylor 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. On Air Talent Oct 2007 - Present15 years 3 months. 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. Were doing as well as can be expected, O'Jay's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG. WDIA went on the air June 7, 1947,[2] from studios on Union Avenue. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He was known as the King of Memphis Radio, a legend, and icon in the industry. 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. 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. Half of the listeners who could hear WDIA's signal were African-American, and WDIA hired the first black disk jockey in the South. Instant playback and premium quality. Mark as Played. "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. 1070 WDIA Podcasts Playlists from 1070 WDIA Latest News See All Advertise With Us For You WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. MEMPHIS, Tenn Legendary Memphis radio icon Bobby O'Jay has passed away. King joined WDIA in early 1949. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. I think the reason why Bobby thrived and was successful with it because he found his niche and he worked it, said Bell. 1070 WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee providing Urban Oldies/Classic Soul music. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. We just listened to him this morning, you know, and he sounded like the picture of health. [9] Originally, the fund provided transportation to school for disabled black children. 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. G.P. When hewould usually open phone lines for listeners, the station continued to play music. King and Bobby Blue Bland. 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. When I returned to Memphis as the citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless. English. See more. Great to meet you. 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 . Close Modal BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station's studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. All Rights Reserved. Web. Condolences to his family, colleagues and all who loved him. WDIA (1070 AM) is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. 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 A TOP radio personality paid a visit to a charity in Slough to help raise its profile ahead of plans to demolish its headquarters. r'n'b. soul. In 1996 Clear Channel Communications bought WDIA. At the end of everything, they had given me this fat contract. 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. B.B. Longtime radio personality Stan Bell talks new role at WDIA By Jasmine McCraven, Daily Memphian Updated: September 24, 2022 5:31 PM CT | Published: . Twitter: @WDIA Language: English Contact: 2650 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tuesday morning, iHeart Radio confirmed the death of O'Jay at age 68. He explained to Action News 5 last year he wasnt willing to just say anything. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was editor of the yearbook. WDIA's parent company iHeartRadio announced. 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. He was one of the hosts for All Blues Saturday. In 1972 Chuck Scruggs became its first black general manager and vice president, serving for 12 years. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. WDIA-AM/Memphis taps veteran air personality Stan Bell for the new "The Stan Bell Morning Show," weekdays from 6-10am, effective immediately. I added the Whats on Your Mind Line to stop the music at five oclock in the afternoon so we could talk to our listeners and they can talk back, said OJay. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. Thomas continued to work at WDIA until he died in 2001. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. He worked at radio station WTLC in Indianapolis, said Johnson. 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. It took me about a year or so to get a job on the radio, OJay recalled. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. Bobby O'Jay, radio personality on Memphis' WDIAthe country's first Black radio stationhas died at the age of 68. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. ", Another added: "Rest In Peace to legendary Memphis DJ, Bobby OJay. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Hes the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby OJay. One of the iconic voices of Memphis broadcasting, Bobby O'Jay, has died. If you post anything unrelated to WDIA it will be deleted. Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. God bless his family, friends and coworkers.". 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. 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.". [13] In addition, he contributed to the redevelopment of Beale Street and Soulsville, USA. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Website. The best way to connect to the community, you talk to them. The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. As one of Memphis most celebrated radio personalities, OJay will be inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame July 31 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own . Afternoon On-Air Talent: Earle Augustus. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. 69 talking about this. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. 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. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. 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