degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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 wasn't black owned, but it appealed to a black . She remembers her longtime friend as a visionary, teacher and game changer. Fred was also in a couple of movies that filmed here, too.. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. All Rights Reserved. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. His son, WDIA-AM 1070 radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years ago from natural causes. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Hes the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby OJay. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. He worked at radio station WTLC in Indianapolis, said Johnson. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. Heres a guy who came from the cotton fields in Mississippi. Ahead of his induction in Tennessee, he shared with local outlet Fox13 Memphis, Ive never had this job and that job. I like to hear all kinds of opinions from all kinds of people.. Longtime radio personality Stan Bell talks new role at WDIA By Jasmine McCraven, Daily Memphian Updated: September 24, 2022 5:31 PM CT | Published: . He had a daily 15-minute show, promoting first a patent medicine called Pep-Ti-Kon, and later Lucky Strike cigarettes, the first major advertiser for the station. 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. Bobby and I were always on opposite sides of the desk. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. WDIA midday personality Bev Johnson confirmed to local CBS . WDIA reached 10% of the African-American population in United States. Listen online at myWDIA.com/listen The next year he took a DJ position on an afternoon show previously hosted by Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert. 1070 WDIA | iHeart 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Follow Connect Contests and Promotions Sista Strut 2023! Later the fund expanded to include college scholarships, establish boy clubs, provide 125 Little League Teams to Memphis and neighboring communities, and help provide low cost supplemental housing (Wilson). What are you doing? That kind of thing, said Stan Bell. Kwanzaa and the celebration of Imani faith! Click here to sign up for our newsletter! MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He was known as the King of Memphis Radio, a legend, and icon in the industry. The 12-year-old would turn the radio dial and listen to what DJs both talked about and sounded like for years. According to friends, George Hunt's sadness over the death of his son affected him greatly, and he . Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. . I was listening to WDIA radio when they only stayed on the air until 12:AM Rufus Thomas signed off at Midnight. B.B. Bev Johnson. 3 Martha Jean The Queen Steinberg (September 9, 1930 January 29, 2000) was an influential African-American radio broadcaster and later was also the pastor of her own church. Let's treat everyone with respect. At the time, most stations had one talk show per week. [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. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. 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. [4], Nat D. Williams, a syndicated columnist and high-school teacher, started Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948. VIBE sends our deepest condolences to the OJay family and those affected by this tragic loss. 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! 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. WDIA (1070 AM) is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. As program director, he hired two other on-air personalities, who are still working: Bev Johnson and Mike Evans. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. 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. Regional As seen in: WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN), POWER Magazine Educator, Radio Personality, Husband, Father Is this you? Bobbyology is my thought pattern. SIDEBAR. 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. She was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and attended public schools. Twitter: @WDIA Language: English Contact: 2650 Thousand Oaks Blvd. ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. 69 talking about this. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. God bless his family, friends and coworkers.". Instant playback and premium quality. A.C. Williams, a former disc jockey for the station, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954, and the station's identification announcement became, Youre Listening to 50,000 Watts of Goodwill, W-D-I-A Memphis.. He has become one of Memphis' most energetic & beloved radio personalities for twenty-nine years now! ICONIC DJ Bobby O'Jay has died while at work at a Memphis radio station. Ive always had just the radio job. [13] In addition, he contributed to the redevelopment of Beale Street and Soulsville, USA. [3] WDIA is known for its community efforts throughout the years. Broadcasting & media production company Photos See all Videos See all 0:38 Memphis mayor Jim Strickland also reacted to O'Jay's death on Twitter. 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. The radio and music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend.. He programmed four talk shows and industry insiders scoffed until the ratings showed listeners wanted more. May 3, 2022 WDIA. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. 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 Williams continued on the air . So, he was no novice when he came here to us.. Simple and modern interface. 3-3:30pm. Stan is also a Shelby County Schools Careers and Technology instructor. 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. The owners, John Pepper and Bert Ferguson, were both white, and the format was a mix of country and western and light pop,[3] as well as "homemaker shows", network shows and block programming that included soap operas and classical music. The WDIA Goodwill Fund is dedicated to helping and empowering . Fred had a very good voice, said Stansbury. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. Radio Station and Created the Sound that Changed America (New York: I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. "I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise.. M-F 6am-3pm & Sun. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. A cause of death has not been released by authorities. [6] WDIA soon became the number-2 station in Memphis. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. Today, WDIAs major playlist offers very little in the way of the Beale Street Blues and Gospel that established the stations early reputation, but spans the 1960s music to the present day, with significant air time devoted to the classic Soul sounds of the 1970s, and an occasional offering from its early on-air contributors B.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. Condolences to his family, colleagues and all who loved him. 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. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. Updated: 5:25 PM CDT May 3, 2022. Johnson remembers that Moore came here to the Memphis market from Indianapolis. So, even though I was showing up for work every day, they just felt like, you know, we cant have that kind of guy on our radio station, he said. Win Tickets to New Edition at FedEx Forum! God has truly blessed me to make a decent salary at all the radio stations Ive worked even back in the 70s., Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said in a tweet, Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Do you find this information helpful? He was 68. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. WDIA Memphis mainstay Bobby OJay passed away of unknown causes on Tuesday (May 3). By age 17, OJay remembered walking the halls of his high school, using his radio voice.. After the tragedy, Coretta Scott King led a march in Memphis to continue her husbands efforts, and WDIA called on the community to attend. He was inspired by his cousin, Victory in Christ Christian Church senior pastor, Melvin Jones, who was a radio and record executive in OJays early days. Lee hosted shows on the pioneering African-American radio station for decades. Ive always had just the radio job. Did you know WDIA in Memphis Tennessee was the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans.Check out WDIA R. It reads in part: MY GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY! Broadcasting Blues, Gospel, emerging R&B and various talk programs, WDIA became known as a direct appeal to advertisers who wished to reach the African American demographic. Wdia Memphis mainstay Bobby OJay with our Privacy & Cookie Policy away on Tuesday morning before the of! Station for decades, Michigan and attended public schools music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend O... And music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend: 5:25 PM CDT May 3 ) is to! And Created the Sound that Changed America ( new York: I always enjoyed being Bobby! Provided on News Group Newspapers ' Limited 's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Policy. `` I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise time most... 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