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! King would later attribute his success as a musician to the recognition he received from his early career airtime on WDIA. 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. [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. King and Rufus Thomas. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. degree in English literature from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and her M.S. 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. . [citation needed]. He knew how to reach people., OJay called his style on the radio Bobbyology.. The radio and music industries have lost a resilient pioneer and true legend.. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. WDIA Memphis mainstay Bobby O'Jay passed away of unknown causes on Tuesday (May 3). WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. "Bobby O'Jay's impact on our industry is undeniable," said iHeartMedia Memphis Senior Vice President of Programming Sue Purnell. In 1949 the station was no. Johnnie Walker, founder/CEO of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment, Inc. (NABFEME), knew OJay during her career ascension from radio station PD to senior vp, promotion at Def Jam Recordings. So, he moved back to Houston to return to radio there. 20072023 Blackpast.org. 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. News-Talk 1380 WAOK - Atlanta News & Talk Radio - WAOK-AM News How you can send well wishes to former President Carter News Atlanta mourns death of civic leader and businessman Thomas Dortch News Why it's important to know who your teen is dating News Services held for Bunnie Jackson-Ransom Atlanta's 1st Black First Lady 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Call sign: WDIA Frequency: 1070 AM City of license: Memphis, TN Format: Urban Contemporary Owner: iHeartMedia Area Served: Memphis Sister stations: 600 WREC , 95.7 Hallelujah FM , The Mighty 990 , K97.1 , V101 , 101.9 KISS FM , ROCK 103 Memphis Bobby O'Jay became a popular host and was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022. One of the DJs said to me, let me hear it. So, I went through my little, you know, mimicking. ------ Shows: . [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. Instant playback and premium quality. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. 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 He cared about the artists records he played. His voice and opinions will truly be missed.. In 1996 Clear Channel Communications bought WDIA. He also served as program director during his tenure and interviewed countless Black music and culture legends, including Whitney Houston and Muhammad Ali, as well as David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations. All Rights Reserved. I need some help.. 2 . Radio host Bev Johnson confirmed to WREG that O'Jay passed away while he was at work. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station's studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Then he fired me, OJay laughed. We were saddened to learn of the passing of Memphis radio legend Bobby O'Jay, longtime PD and morning personality on iHeartMedia's WDIA 1070-AM "The Heart & Soul Of Memphis," who died Tuesday morning, May 3 at the age of 68. K97 FM 9am. He loved God and people. Nat was a history teacher and the first black radio DJ at WDIA in Memphis. He has become one of Memphis' most energetic & beloved radio personalities for twenty-nine years now! MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis radio WDIA DJ Bobby O'Jay died at age 68 Tuesday morning. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 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. The Heart & Soul of Memphis! Fred had a very good voice, said Stansbury. Many grieved in 2017 with the devastating loss of Sharon after 30 years of marriage to O'Jay. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. He was 68. 7am-10a. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Thaddeus Mathews says that he is the reason that WDIA has fallen to the 12th best station in Memphis, TN. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. Bobby and I were always on opposite sides of the desk. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Hes the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby OJay. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He was known as the King of Memphis Radio, a legend, and icon in the industry. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. Afternoon On-Air Talent: Earle Augustus. WDIA radio station, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee, has been active since 1947 and has an amazing history. A radio personality is a person who hosts a radio talk show and interacts with the audience via telephone or email. 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. The Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer was 68. iHeartRadio, parent company of the WDIA radio station where O'Jay served as DJ . Vote Now For Your Favorite Artists! Kwanzaa and the celebration of Imani faith! Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. . Its just going to be something that maybe will shake you a little bit, OJay explained. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 1070 WDIA, N.p., n.d. The station first featured black radio personalities, and its growing success contributed in building a new audience of black listeners. [6] WDIA soon became the number-2 station in Memphis. 2 Be Kind and Courteous We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. During her career she has worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl . Sandy Bromley & Tamika Davis #2. Half of the listeners who could hear WDIA's signal were African-American, and WDIA hired the first black disk jockey in the South. 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. Please rotate your device. Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. Radio Personality iHeartMedia Oct 2018 - Jun 20223 years 9 months United States Morning On-Air Talent: Mike Evans and the Memphis Morning Show on V101. King, and Bobby Blue Bland. If you post anything unrelated to WDIA it will be deleted. OJay was also a National Radio Hall of Fame nominee. 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. She was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and attended public schools. Blues legend B.B. Download Our Free iHeartRadio App! 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. [3][8], Future WJLB strong jock, Martha Jean The Queen Steinberg became known as "Princess Premium Stuff." WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African Americans for African Americans. Stormy has been in the radio industry for over 29 years. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA., Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. racine horlick high school football Cuidados de Gnero. He was on the air, he engaged with his callers, talked to his listeners. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market . Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. In addition to providing specialized programming, through the years the station led and supported projects to benefit the community. Mark as Played. They talk back to you, OJay said. So, he was no novice when he came here to us.. 112 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA, New Destination Application After three years off the air Lee and Peters are back on air on a new station, WLRM AM 1380, with a brand new talk show. From Library Journal: In the late 1940s, Memphis radio station WDIA became the first to target its programming to a largely ignored black audience. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. 3-3:30pm. 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