The Black Effect Podcast Network Is Making History Again This April! Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1953, OJay was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. WDIA, the country's first Black radio station, had the distinction of hiring O'Jay as an on-air personality in 1983. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Mark as Played. A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own . He was 68. In the 1970s and 1980s, the owners of WDIA also owned KDIA, a similarly formatted station in the San Francisco Bay Area. He had a brief on-air stint in Montgomery, Alabama, but returned to Milwaukee prior to landing the hosting gig at WDIA in 1983. Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. [3], WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. 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. After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. [14], "Celebrating 65 Years of Goodwill & Good Times." 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. His cause of death is currently unknown. I hired this guy and within two months, this man had taken my job. Please include the headline. He was moved by the Hall of Fame announcement. As WDIAs program director, OJay made moves that turned the industry on its head. English. [citation needed]. WDIA (1070 AM) is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. 5/5 based on 1 review. Ahead of his induction in Tennessee, he shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, Ive never had this job and that job. 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. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station's studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. SIDEBAR. We want to hear from you! So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. Community Efforts From Library Journal: In the late 1940s, Memphis radio station WDIA became the first to target its programming to a largely ignored black audience. It featured shows by Beale Street legends such as Nat D. Williams, Rufus Thomas, B.B. I have a huge family. WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. 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Radio personalities are very popular and the success of a radio channel is largely dependent upon the popularity of the radio personality who host its programs. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. All Rights Reserved. Captain Curtis Lee, a longtime WDIA radio personality passed away Wednesday. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. Discover Tuesday's shows for 1070 WDIA in Memphis, TN. 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. WDIA Format: Soul Air Personalities 6:30 am--A.C. Williams 10 am--Robert Thomas 2 pm--Lee Armstrong 6 pm--Herb Kneeland 10 pm--Dave Smith 3 am--Theo Wade WLOK Format: Soul Air Personalities 6 am--Nat Washington 10 am--Gerald Floyd 2 pm--Roger W. Cavanass 6 pm--Clifton Halmon 10 pm--Alvin Moore 1 am--James Jack WHER Format: MOR, some talk ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. RADIO ICON Bobby O'Jay dead at 68: WDIA host and 'King of Memphis radio' dies before his morning show as fans pay tribute. Moreover, the station owners established several other successful rhythm-and-blues outlets, including KDIA in Oakland, California. 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. In 1972 Chuck Scruggs became its first black general manager and vice president, serving for 12 years. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. 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. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. Wheelin On Beale: How WDIA-Memphis Became the Nations First All-Black 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. Rodriguez . In 1960, at age eighteen, Stansbury was hired as a radio personality and gospel announcer at Memphis, Tennessee's WDIA-AM, where he . 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Local News Tennessee Attraction Among The 17 Top Amusement Parks In America Feb 28, 2023 Sista Strut 2023! MEMPHIS, Tenn Legendary Memphis radio icon Bobby O'Jay has passed away. He reflected on his career just before being inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame last year. 1070 WDIA | iHeart 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Follow Connect Contests and Promotions Sista Strut 2023! All Rights Reserved. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. 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. 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. In 1949 the station was no. AKWAABAWelcome Home! 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. WDIA reached 10% of the African-American population in United States. Were doing as well as can be expected, O'Jay's niece Wanda Thomas told WREG. WDIA is celebrating the 60th anniversary of being on the air as a black-formatted radio station. Fred had a very good voice, said Stansbury. WDIA M-F 6am-10am & Sun. This callsign, however, is now assigned to an unrelated Christian-programmed station. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA., Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. In WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. . r'n'b. soul. 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. Twitter: @WDIA Language: English Contact: 2650 Thousand Oaks Blvd. 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. 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 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) Fred was real smooth on the air, and he had that infectious laugh. I like to hear all kinds of opinions from all kinds of people.. 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. I know my mother and father knew I was on drugs. Heres a guy who came from the cotton fields in Mississippi. Having launched his start in 1972 in Milwaukee, O'Jay went from there to. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. [5] This was one of the first radio programs in the United States to appeal to black listeners. 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. 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. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. By age 17, OJay remembered walking the halls of his high school, using his radio voice.. Johnson received her B.A. Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? The trailblazers voice and personality have helped make up the fabric of the Bluff City for decades as part of the historic legacy of the Mid-Souths first African American radio station, WDIA. WDIA 1070 Memphis - Bobby O'Jay - December 19 2019Bobby O'Jay was one of the most iconic voices in Memphis Broadcasting. K97 FM 9am. A.C. Williams, a former WDIA disc jockey, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. WDIA Memphis mainstay Bobby O'Jay passed away of unknown causes on Tuesday (May 3). I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. 2 . Blues legend B.B. Watch Bobby OJay reflect on his early days at WDIA below. 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. 14. Mike Evans and the Memphis Morning Show with Earle & Stormy. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. A builders' merchant with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious national award. Press Center, This site is best experienced in portrait orientation. Nat was a history teacher and the first black radio DJ at WDIA in Memphis. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. King and Rufus Thomas. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. 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.". I have eight brothers and sisters. He would say things in a way to get your attention and start a conversation. The Legendary Fred Hollywood Moore. 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. Broadcasting & media production company Photos See all Videos See all 0:38 G.P. Throughout this period, it continued (and continues) to offer content for African Americans by African Americans. 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