on The Most Influential DJs of All Time #5 . Today, however, most commercial radio stations use music playlists, which are selected by the music director or program director and tend to be heavily based on market research rather than . [63][70][71], Radio disc jockey Donna Halper is credited with discovering the rock band Rush while working as a radio DJ at WMMS in Cleveland in 1974. Their dance and event bands are trained in The Art of the Party and have your whole night covered! The history of radio disc jockeys covers the time when gramophone records were first transmitted by experimental radio broadcasters to present day radio personalities who host shows featuring a variety of recorded music. By then, the rebellious youth market made the nightly rhythm and blues station the one they tuned to for rock and roll, as atmospherics carried the signal enabling the station to be heard throughout much of the North American continent and Caribbean islands. Stations adopted narrowly focused formats aimed at specific target audiences, with playlists that were tightly controlled and driven by market research and advertising revenue. We only had to do a simple phone call to discuss details two weeks before the wedding to finalize everything (Even though we bugged him probably 20 times throughout our two year engagement with random questions). gonna post one here. When television came into widespread use, the audience for this type of programming largely abandoned radio for the new medium. If Niara Sterling 's name sounds familiar it's because the popular New York City . "[82] Such format changes as well as the rise of new music distribution models such as MP3 and online music stores led to the demise of radio DJs reputation as trendsetters and "hit makers" who wielded considerable influence over popular music. [80], As radio stations moved from the AM Top 40 format to the FM album-oriented rock format or adopted more profitable programming such as news and call-in talk shows, the impact of the radio DJ on popular music was lessened. Birthdate: October 31, 1926. They were both enthusiastic, longtime DJs for WIBG. Robert Weston Smith created such an out-of-this-world persona in Wolfman Jack that he was practically a superhero of rock & roll. Based In: Montreal. DJs came into being as a result of changes in the radio industry after the advent of television in the 1950s. ASCAP and AFM cited the decline in demand for live appearances of musical artists due to the proliferation of radio disc jockeys playing recorded music. When he hosted for WHAT and WDAS, beginning in the 50s, he was famous for his rhyming, catchy, fast-paced lines, like this one: Hey there all you Daddy-Os and Mommy-Os, welcome aboard the big Rocket Ship Show. Pages in category "Radio personalities from Philadelphia" The following 67 pages are in this category, out of 67 total. Jonathan Simon - DJ Gatsby. Sartori has been credited with influencing the success of artists such as Aerosmith and The Cars. Oct 28, 2016. As the market became increasingly competitive, stations frequently changed ownership and formats (and sometimes call letters), while DJs jumped from station to station in the constantly changing environment. . One of the kings of the East Coast, Brucie held down the primetime 6:15PM to 10:30PM slot at WABC in NYC. . [36], In the 1950s, radio disc jockeys from local and regional radio stations took advantage of their popularity and augmented their income by playing records and performing as master of ceremonies at teen dance parties called sock hops or record hops. 233 verified bookings. Radio DJs often acted as commercial brokers for their program and actively solicited paying sponsors. They welcomed my dad, a bassist his whole life, to play a few songs with them during the wedding. You'll often hear world famous celebrities on great morning radio shows in the US as both guests and hosts. Frankie Knuckles, affectionately known as 'The Godfather of House Music', was a DJ, producer, and remixer from The Bronx, New York. 11. (DJ, Television & Radio Personality) 20. Below is a list of the top and leading DJs in Philadelphia. Hill - Mitchell "KC" Hill is creative director and co - founder of Secret Agency LLC., a media production company located in Wilmington, Delaware. We had trouble picking songs and he guided us through and made it so easy. We booked lighting, musicians and drapery through them and helped transform our reception space! [30], A number of actors and media personalities began their careers as traditional radio disc jockeys who played and introduced records, such as Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane, talk show host Art Bell, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, and Howard Stern. Having performed thousands of events, EBE bands have the experience to make yours memorable long after the party is over. Specializing in all things modern, RhythMix offers customized lighting options, drapery, and creative dcor concepts. Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike. Lady B. Hull also had ties to the Beatles sensing a theme here? However beginning in the Top 40 era, female disc jockeys became more common. In the days before station-controlled playlists, the DJ often followed their personal tastes in music selection. All thanks to Pop Philly! No wonder he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Leonard Nimoy. Connecting the Past with the Present, Building Community, Creating a Legacy, TheEncyclopedia Redirecting to https://phillyradioarchives.com/history/wmmr Website: www.jaelive.com, My now wife and I are so happy with Jon and the Soul City Shakedown band. Also . Many wrote and delivered the commercials themselves, talking the . Dance Bands, Top Rated DJs, Lighting and AV, World Class Musicians, Photobooths, Address: 1933 E Cumberland St, Philadelphia, PA 19125 DJ Diamond Kuts is a radio DJ, tour DJ and producer from Philadelphia. African American radio DJs emerged in the mid 1930s and late 1940s, mostly in cities with large black populations such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit. We said it. We had such an exceptional experience!! While WDRE never became a true mainstream radio station in the Philadelphia radio market, the station gained a . Some of these radio pioneers of the Black-appeal radio period presaged the Top 40, playing recordings that were targeted to the black youth and reflected jukebox selections that were popular. Jon was so easy to work with from the beginning to find the best entertainment for my style wedding. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2011. Cousin Brucie, Doctor Don Rose, Ron Riley, and Jim Stagg, are just a few who keep the turntables spinning through 1960s musical history. Hopson hosted his show for twenty-one years, from 1965 to 1986. National DJ Day is commemorated on Jan. 20 every year to celebrate the work of amateur and professional disk jockeys. Holiday was still on the air in the early decades of the twenty-first century, as was another white DJ who regularly featured Black music and whose career was still going strong after over fifty years in Philadelphia radio: Jerry Blavat, the Geator with the Heater (1940-2023). We only had to do a simple phone call to discuss details two weeks before the wedding to finalize everything (Even though we bugged him probably 20 times throughout our two year engagement with random questions). Phone: (610) 804-2960 Categories and articles related to notable radio personalities presently or previously from Philadelphia. Joe and the rest of the band were so wonderful and easy to work with. The show, which he called Make Believe Ballroom, was an instant hit. WIBG Radio 99 Philadelphia - The History of WIBBAGE - 1970Courtesy: Bill CainFrom the late 50s, until the mid 1960s, 99 WIBG wast the Rock & Roll leader in P. WMMR, with a longtime slogan of Everything that Rocks, first broadcast as WIP in 1942 and in the early twenty-first century continued to have a national reputation as a hard rock station, featuring in 2016 the popular Preston and Steve talk show in the mornings. The list of legendary Philadelphia radio personalities and disc jockeys is a long one. Jack McCarthy is a music historian who regularly writes, lectures, and gives walking tours on Philadelphia music history. Philly mourns the loss of an icon (WHYY, January 21, 2023), Catch a Wave: Radio Waves and How They Work (Illumin, University of Southern California), Sonny Hopson, from "Going Black: The History of Philly Soul Radio" (Mighty Writers), Listen to a 1957 aircheck from the legendary Philly DJ Jocko Henderson (WXPN, The Key), Two of Phillys best AM radio station airchecks in one (WXPN, The Key). THE BRIGHT NEW SOUND. Discover the best places for drinks in your city, plus transactions and logistics made easy. Block's program on station WNEW was highly successful, and Block was described as "the make-all, break-all of records. In May 1943, however, the format settled on a single regular host DJ, Martha Wilkerson, who was known on the air as "GI Jill. As a private chef with over 15 years in the business, I have very high expectation when it comes to soliciting vendors for my own personal clients, so when the day came to be on the other side of the negotiating table I was indeed apprehensive about whom I should select for my own celebration. Gene Shay started his career at WHAT in 1962the same year in which he founded the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Labels turned to independent promoters to circumvent allegations of payola. With a name like "highlight," Hyman "Hy" Lit was born to be a radio personality. [64][65], Alison Steele began her career at WNEW-FM in the late 1960s. Holliday was the king of the Bay Area scene. When she wasn't traveling, Mason paid (or really had her advertisers pay) for a two-hour Saturday talk radio show on WWDB 860-AM. All three also produced and hosted live music shows at local venues. Disc jockeys continued to offer music to local audiences and play a role in the local music scene, but they were no longer the influential force they once were. While radio DJs, also known as RJs, mix and play music for their live radio audiences, club DJs perform at parties, nightclubs or music festivals. Pick: Do you consider these musicians one-hit wonders? If he played something, it was a hit". WDAS also had popular white DJs who played Black music, including Joe Butterball Tamburro (19422012) and Harvey Holiday (Harvey William Levy). Las 100 Mejores Rumbas - The 100 Best Rumbas - Rumbita de la buena; 1. interview with susana borrego; L-GANTE FT PAPU DJ (Official Videoclip) He lead the team of "Boss Jocks" at KHJ-AM in L.A. and would kick off each broadcast with a cry of, "Good morning, Boss Angeles!" Our friends and family cant stop talking about how amazing they both were! [28], WLAC radio DJ John R. (aka John Richbourg) in Nashville, Tennessee adopted the African-American Vernacular English of African-American DJ's in the early 1950s. He would later relocate to Los Angeles and introduce the Fab Four at their Hollywood Bowl gig. Boris, Alan. People were always on the dance floor having fun. In the earlier years of radio broadcasting, which began in Philadelphia in 1922, programming featured mainly live entertainment such as dramas, comedy acts, and studio orchestras and singers. WABC (AM) in New York hired DJ Liz Kiley in 1979. The Stylistics, The O'Jays, and others who started out in Philly. Band Leader Corey and the Pop Philly band were so professional and went out of their way to make our reception perfect! Retired from WOGL, in Philadelphia. Block later negotiated a multimillion-dollar contract with ABC for a syndicated nationwide radio show. They created a custom arrangement for our first dance, even recording it in advance so we could practice to the song! Operating out of a city with such a rich musical history has allowed us to truly embrace the magical experiences created by entertainers. He was there when the Fab Four first arrived in America, broadcasting his show from the band's Plaza Hotel suite at the invite of Brian Epstein. All we wanted for our wedding was a great party EBE Pop Philly made that happen! FM radio became more commercial during the 1970s, as the music and radio industries became big business. Here are the top 10 DJs in the world in 2023: 10. A-Trak. Famous 56 WFIL is what introduced me to Golden Oldies. FM radio in Philadelphia has a lot to offer besides DJs peddling Top 40 artists. They bring fun wherever they go. Then to WWRL the Big RL. He began hosting at WMGK in 2002 and also is known for his charity work. 1. After being invited by Beatles manager Brian Epstein to travel with the band, he came to be referred to as the "Fifth Beatle". 9 T7. [37][38], Record hops became strongly associated with early rock and roll. 1 . Wikimedia Commons. The first black-owned and controlled radio station in Europe, DBC mainly played reggae, soca, calypso, dub, jazz and R'n'B. Woods moved back to WHAT in 1966, taking caller requests and playing the caller recording on air before playing the requested song. Most radio stations had an orchestra or band on the payroll. Radio disc jockey Bobby Jay, poses for a photo in Columbia, South Carolina Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Credit: Sean Rayford. Hitman Howie Tee - "Bang Zoom". Here you can hear DJ Jaz chirp from beginning to end. This Chicago legend has the ultimate bragging right. Brandon Gourdine was our point person and DJ. . As Philadelphia's most experienced Indian wedding reception specialists, DJ Jackson is a pro at bringing together a diverse range of . [33], Drive time or "morning drive" shows capitalized on a listening audience of weekday commuters and parents getting children ready for school. Four AM stations ruled the Philadelphia airwaves in the all-important youth radio market in this period: white stations WIBG and WFIL and Black stations WDAS and WHAT. Wed get married again just to party with Pop Philly again! Gina Sutera. Rufus Thomas was the preeminent DJ of Memphis' WDIA, the nation's first radio station with an all-Black air staff. Blavat occupied a unique place among Philadelphia disc jockeys. Would recommend these guys first to anyone who needs a band for any event. MC/DJ Frank - Ultimate Sound DJs. In 2013 and again in 2014, DJ Mag voted him the no 1 DJ in the . RhythMix worked with us throughout the entire wedding planning process and had all of our friends and family on the dancefloor all night! Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio. DJ from Hazlet, NJ (59 miles from Philadelphia, PA) Good Time Party Music is Professional DJ Entertainment catering to Weddings, Anniversaries, Milestone Birthdays and Special Events with Elegance and Style. In the early radio age, content typically included comedy, drama, news, music, and sports reporting. In 1976, Steele was the first woman chosen by Billboard magazine as "FM Personality of the Year", and she was instrumental in promoting performers such as the Moody Blues. Top DJs In Philadelphia. [52][53], Cold War radio DJ Willis Conover's program on the Voice of America from 1955 through the mid-1990s featured jazz and other "prohibited" American music aimed at listeners in the Soviet Union and other Communist countries. The Radio 99 crew cooked 24 hours a day, and the Vineland Speedway sometimes advertised on Wibbage. In today's world, with streaming services and digital music, an ocean of music is at your fingertips. We had Amsterdam at our wedding at Fairmont Park Horticulture Center during cocktail hour and the reception. That being said, here are 25 that we won't ever . Jesse "Spider" Burke hosted a popular show on KXLW in Saint Louis, Missouri. Here are the 20 most influential DJs of all time. Company founder and long-time musician, Jon Ardito, has a passion for providing clients with their most cherished moments. Sue us. Fatboy Slim also appeared on the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs list in 1997 and 1998 as Norman Cook, and in 1999 he . 4. They could also negotiate which sponsors would appear on their program. As a producer, she produced and co . [43][44] In 1957 alone, disc jockey and American Bandstand host Dick Clark made 157 appearances at dances and record hops. A 1941 Variety Magazine first published the term disc jockey, which famous . Thanks so much. Miss P went on to the be the first reggae DJ on Radio 1. Record hops were often sponsored by radio stations as a way to promote their disc jockeys, or by record stores to promote the sale of records. Traditional broadcast radio remained a popular medium into the early twenty-first century, despite competing outlets such as online music streaming services and internet radio. Contenidos. The term combined "disc", referring to phonograph disc records, and "jockey", denoting the DJs practice of riding the audio gain, or alternately, riding a song to success and popularity. with Nestico DJ-ing as Lady Prowl and holding a radio show on underground station RWD.FM, . Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Original home of WFIL studios and American Bandstand TV show (now the Enterprise Center in 2016), Follow The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Instagram, Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Philadelphia, the Place that Loves You Back, Rock Music and Culture (Late 1960s to Present), Tuning in to the story of Philadelphia radio (WHYY, July 21, 2011), Blavat, Lamaine return to radio in South Jersey (WHYY, July 29, 2011), The 52nd annual Philadelphia Folk Festival focuses on 'Philly-centric' acts (WHYY, August 19, 2013), Growing up in love with Philly's soul radio (WHYY, February 13, 2014), Avalon, Blavat each kick in $5K to help find new home for South Philly mural (WHYY, June 11, 2015), WXPN morning host signing off after nearly 30 years (WHYY, June 24, 2015), "What is Philly without the Geator?" 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