The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. [13] In addition, he contributed to the redevelopment of Beale Street and Soulsville, USA. WDIA was the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the black community. The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG. degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. 1,679 talking about this. 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. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Praying for the strength and peace of his family as we honor his legacy.. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Simple and modern interface. WDIA disc jockey WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. In February 1983, he joined WDIA in Memphis, America's first Black radio station. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred Hollywood Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. Scruggs played a major role in organizing the foundation and raising money to preserve the Lorraine Motel and found the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. "We have raised over $900,000 over the years," A.C. Williams says. 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." 29 Apr. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He's the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby O'Jay. I hired this guy and within two months, this man had taken my job. Selco Builders Warehouse, which has a branch on Farnham Road in Slough, was revealed as the Builders' Merchant of the Year at the Builders' Merchants Awards. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, WDIA's Bobby O'Jay during The Recording Academy HONORS 2005 at Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. [I] stayed the 30 days, havent touched drugs and alcohol since, he said. 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. And we just started calling him Hollywood Fred Hollywood Moore. Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. O'Jay often shared his life on-air with his late wife, Sharon. Fred later became program director at that station in 1977. It sort of reminded you of (the legendary) Nat Williams.. The Youth & Family Resource Center is the topic of conversaton on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio with Executive Director Tamika Davis and Sandy Bromley, Deputy Director of the Division of Community Services. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Setlist: The Very Best of Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers. He reflected on his career just before being inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame last year. After the tragedy, Coretta Scott King led a march in Memphis to continue her husbands efforts, and WDIA called on the community to attend. Tennessee State Rep Antonio Parkinsonsaid: "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. 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. This callsign, however, is now assigned to an unrelated Christian-programmed station. 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 God bless his family, friends and coworkers.". Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1953, OJay was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market . 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Ernest Brazzell gave crop advice, and Robert Thomas became a DJ named Honeyboy after he won a citywide amateur competition. Influencing every black radio station to follow, WDIA assigned itself the moniker the Mother Station of Negroes. It earned the nickname the Goodwill Station as well because it broadcast public service bulletins announcing employment opportunities, missing children, social service agency information, and the like at the behest of its listening audience. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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 Throughout this period, it continued (and continues) to offer content for African Americans by African Americans. Instant playback and premium quality. Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Music News 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 Black radio personalities such as Jack "The Rapper" Gibson of WERD and Tall Paul White of WEDR in Birmingham, drew praise from Martin Luther King and other prominent Black leaders for their contributions to American Civil Rights efforts. WDIA is celebrating the 60th anniversary of being on the air as a black-formatted radio station. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. 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. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. When O'Jay would open. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He was known as the King of Memphis Radio, a legend, and icon in the industry. All they did was just pray for me. Fans of the radio legend, known as the "King of Memphis radio," took to Twitter to mourn him and celebrate his life. A cause of . So, he moved back to Houston to return to radio there. Listeners heard about all the significant moments in the couple's life. Longtime WDIA Memphis personality Bobby O'Jay passes away. About 10 years ago, WDIA followed the declining trend of urban formats across the nation. Active since 1947, it soon became the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely for African Americans. Moreover, the station owners established several other successful rhythm-and-blues outlets, including KDIA in Oakland, California. WDIA was inducted in 2013. Music legends such as B.B. 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. 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. Its owners, John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, established the station and located it at 2074 Union Avenue. When hewould usually open phone lines for listeners, the station continued to play music. Mark Stansbury, on-air personality on Sunday, remembers Fred as a good brother to work with. iHeartRadio Ultimate Contest, Sweatfest Punta Cana with Keith Sweat. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 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. Description: 1070 WDIA is the heart & soul of Memphis playing Memphis' top R&B music. It reads in part: MY GOD PLEASE HAVE MERCY! . "Cannonball" Cantor, one of the few white announcers on WDIA, tells how this decision resulted not only in business success, but mirrored America's nascent awareness of African American culture and social issues. 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. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. I have met some of the biggest stars in America. 69 talking about this. He loved God and people. 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