2023 Billboard Media, LLC. So, he was no novice when he came here to us.. WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. His cause of death is currently unknown. He was such an important part of WDIA and the City of Memphis, words cannot express how truly missed he will be.. It featured black radio personalities and its black listeners constituted a new market for radio advertisers. WDIA: Black Music Mother Station. Hes going to be missed and I know a lot of us in the industry looked up to him. We want to hear from you! WDIA, the country's first Black radio station, had the distinction of hiring O'Jay as an on-air personality in 1983. All Rights Reserved. Born in Batesville, Mississippi. Please include the headline. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Angela Bassett Says Potential Oscar Win Would Be A Childhood Dream ComeTrue, Kelly Rowland To Judge Audibles Breakthrough, The First Audio-Only SingingContest, De La Souls Trugoy The Doves First Posthumous Release Is A GorillazCollab. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. OJay was open about his own struggles, including his struggle with drugs in the 1980s. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. All they did was just pray for me. I started opening the phone lines on my show in the morning for people to respond to things, all kinds of things, about kids and relationships and politics, and all the things going on in the world that affect our lives. Radio proved to be a rocky road. Stormy has been in the radio industry for over 29 years. www.mywdia.com; John Hopkins, Radio Center: A Landmark of American Not only did the station feature black radio personalities, but it also brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. Let's treat everyone with respect. WDIA 1070 Memphis - Bobby O'Jay - December 19 2019Bobby O'Jay was one of the most iconic voices in Memphis Broadcasting. I know my mother and father knew I was on drugs. WDIA Memphis mainstay Bobby OJay passed away of unknown causes on Tuesday (May 3). 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 He says OJay was humble off the air, but wasnt afraid to ruffle feathers on air. [13] In addition, he contributed to the redevelopment of Beale Street and Soulsville, USA. 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. Tuesday morning, iHeart Radio confirmed the death of O'Jay at age 68. 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. Hear the conversation on my podcast at mywdia.com. Fred had a very good voice, said Stansbury. 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. One of the iconic voices of Memphis broadcasting, Bobby O'Jay, has died. He landed some roles in stage plays in the city. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. He was 68. Johnson remembers that Moore came here to the Memphis market from Indianapolis. Fred was real smooth on the air, and he had that infectious laugh. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. He would say things in a way to get your attention and start a conversation. English. 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. Stan is also a Shelby County Schools Careers and Technology instructor. When I returned to Memphis as the citys music commissioner, the acknowledgment and respect he showed me were priceless. Memphians continue to remember WDIA radio host Bobby OJay, who died Tuesday morning. King and Rufus Thomas got their start by working at WDIA. After a switch to all-black programming, WDIA became the city's top station. And I got a phone call, he remembered. Born in Batesville, Mississippi on August 8, 1953, OJay began his dream career as radio host in 1972 in Milwaukee. WHAL Sat.. Stormy Taylor 1070 WDIA - WDIA is a broadcast radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, providing Top 40 and Oldies R&B and Soul music. In 1963 she . Ive always had just the radio job. And we just started calling him Hollywood Fred Hollywood Moore. WDIA, where OJay worked for decades, issued this statement: It is with great sadness we share the passing of the Legendary Bobby OJay. He said, man, you sound just like him. He said can you come by the radio station?. 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. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. Its a process.. The next year he took a DJ position on an afternoon show previously hosted by Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert. 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Community Efforts Discover Tuesday's shows for 1070 WDIA in Memphis, TN. "We have raised over $900,000 over the years," A.C. Williams says. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! B.B. He was a kind and good man with a super smooth voice and infectious laugh. Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred "Hollywood" Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. Bobby was a trailblazer in the industry as well as a legacy in the community for multiple decades. Music legends such as B.B. So, he moved back to Houston to return to radio there. 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. 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 In 1996 Clear Channel Communications bought WDIA. Please rotate your device. The Heart & Soul of Memphis! M-F 6am-3pm & Sun. Mike Evans and the Memphis Morning Show with Earle & Stormy. By age 17, OJay remembered walking the halls of his high school, using his radio voice.. When WDIA first went on air June 7, 1947, it was owned by John Pepper and Dick Ferguson, both . 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! So, that day, OJay walked into the St. Joseph Rehab Center. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - He's the king of Memphis radio, the one and only Bobby O'Jay. Vote Now For Your Favorite Artists! Website. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to OJay on his morning radio show. A.C. Williams, a former WDIA disc jockey, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954. Johnson received her B.A. WDIA reached 10% of the African-American population in United States. 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. A builders' merchant with a branch in Slough has been awarded a prestigious national award. degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. She remembers her longtime friend as a visionary, teacher and game changer. Condolences to his family, colleagues and all who loved him. Blues legend B.B. America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. 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. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy.. What remained constant was his kooky smile and the genuine respect we had for each other. Talking to TV outlet Fox 13/Memphis prior to his induction, OJay said of his 49-year career, Ive never had this job and that job. 1070 WDIA Podcasts Playlists from 1070 WDIA Latest News See All Advertise With Us For You In addition to providing specialized programming, through the years the station led and supported projects to benefit the community. At the end of everything, they had given me this fat contract. AKWAABAWelcome Home! Colleagues and family friends took to social media as news spread that former WDIA radio personality Fred Hollywood Moore died Saturday (Jan. 9) morning. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise. 14. He began his teaching profession at Northside High, (his alma mater), where he taught English and Applied Economics. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. My wife Melyne and I offer condolences to his family, to his radio family at iHeart and his loyal fans. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. 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. 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. Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. [3][8], Future WJLB strong jock, Martha Jean The Queen Steinberg became known as "Princess Premium Stuff." Close Modal Win Tickets to New Edition at FedEx Forum! America's first black radio station, playing classic R&B. The trailblazer's voice and personality have helped make up the fabric of the Bluff City for decades as part of the historic legacy of the Mid-South's first African American radio station, WDIA. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. "I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise.. As program director, he hired two other on-air personalities, who are still working: Bev Johnson and Mike Evans. He currently teaches Broadcasting @ Wooddale High. 1070 WDIA | iHeart 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Follow Connect Contests and Promotions Sista Strut 2023! When I was a rookie, he gave me advice and always a good laugh. It's Relationship Day on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio and the topic of conversation is "It's Valentine's is it Love, Like, Lust, Must or a Fuss" with Psychologist/Mental Health Specialist Dr. Dorothy Jeffries. [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. 29 Apr. One of the station's most well-known personalities, Bev Johnson, told The New Tri-State Defender that Moore was "kind of laid back and real smooth." A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own . She was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and attended public schools. Bobby O'Jay became a popular host and was a mainstay until his death on May 3, 2022. Among other notable personalities were Maurice "Hot Rod" Hulbert, Theo "Bless My Bones" Wade, and Ford Nelson, who continued as of 2013 as an active gospel DJ on WDIA. WDIA is a radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee. 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