The 68-year-old radio personality passed away on Tuesday morning before the start of his 9am show, according to WREG.. A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own . Thomas continued to work at WDIA until he died in 2001. King joined WDIA in early 1949. 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. [9] Originally, the fund provided transportation to school for disabled black children. 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. 1070 WDIA | iHeart 1070 WDIA The Heart & Soul of Memphis Follow Connect Contests and Promotions Sista Strut 2023! A cause of death has not been released by authorities. [I] stayed the 30 days, havent touched drugs and alcohol since, he said. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. 1070 WDIA is the heart & soul of Memphis! Back in 1986, I decided that it would be a great idea for us to start putting talk shows on the radio station, he recalled. If you post anything unrelated to WDIA it will be deleted. Even though there have been some ups and downs, its been more fun than anything.. 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. He was 68. Stan Bell Host, WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) Memphis U.S. Humbled, OJay came home to Batesville for a visit. And we just started calling him Hollywood Fred Hollywood Moore. The station also publicized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s visits to Memphis and served as a leading source of news and information for the black community following Dr. Kings assassination. One of the stations most well-known personalities, Bev Johnson, told, that Moore was kind of laid back and real smooth., We have lost a gentle giant in the radio industry. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. The original frequency was 730kHz. When hewould usually open phone lines for listeners, the station continued to play music. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. Hes going to be missed and I know a lot of us in the industry looked up to him. Listen For Your Chance To Win! All they did was just pray for me. [3][8], Future WJLB strong jock, Martha Jean The Queen Steinberg became known as "Princess Premium Stuff." Listen To Podcasts That Examine The Passion, Perseverance, And Power Of Black Culture! Born in Batesville, Mississippi on August 8, 1953, OJay began his dream career as radio host in 1972 in Milwaukee. On Wednesday, WDIA took phone calls from Memphians who grew up listening to and talking to OJay on his morning radio show. Nat was a history teacher and the first black radio DJ at WDIA in Memphis. Listen to the radio in the background. WDIA radio station, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee, has been active since 1947 and has an amazing history. He was moved by the Hall of Fame announcement. Download the "WDIA 1070 Radio Station" radio app to enjoy the best programming in town - FREE! 1070 WDIA - WDIA is a broadcast radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, providing Top 40 and Oldies R&B and Soul music. A segue to an on-air gig in Montgomery, Alabama, was followed by a return to Milwaukee prior to landing at WDIA, where he also served as program director, During the course of his estimable tenure at the station, OJay interviewed a whos who in Black music and culture, including Whitney Houston, Muhammad Ali and Temptations members David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. He was 68. Dyana Williams is one of the earliest and most influential female air personalities in Black radio. 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. 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. 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. May God Bless his family, his spirit, and his legacy., Black Developers Housing Summit headed to Memphis to educate & empower, Ken Moody makes move from city government to the U of, For the childrens sake, let us not allow our history to, City Council edges forward with measures for police reform and oversight, A selection of books with African-American History Month in mind, Ekpe Abioto brings solid message with Dont Touch A Gun, WLOK Black Film Festival salutes Black History Month with Poitier-directed A, PREVIEW: Thank you Katori Hall for TINA The Tina Turner, Talking Black AF (And Fearless) takes root at town hall, Angela Davis reaction to a big reveal was the most priceless. Radio proved to be a rocky road. In February 1983, he joined WDIA in Memphis, America's first Black radio station. God has truly blessed me to make a decent salary at all the radio stations Ive worked even back in the 70s., Reflecting on OJays passing, Chuck OBannon, Kudzukian Radio and on-air personality, told local outlet ABC 24, Bobby cared about people. (Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage), Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Stax Records Icon Al Bell and More Reflect on 50thAnniversary of Wattstax, Chuck D Talks PBS & BBC Music Premiere of Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed theWorld, Lil Kim and Friends to Headline Apollo for Harlem Festival of CultureConcert. Listen online or on your phone with our free app! WDIA moved its home to Radio Center, the former home of WMPS, in 1985, then to a suburban office park in 2004. He had a brief on-air stint in Montgomery, Alabama, but returned to Milwaukee prior to landing the hosting gig at WDIA in 1983. What remained constant was his kooky smile and the genuine respect we had for each other. 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. I have met some of the biggest stars in America. 1070 WDIA is an Urban Contemporary radio station serving Memphis. Many shared how his sudden death had touched them, like losing a family member. 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. During her career she has worked with celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Cheryl . MEMPHIS, Tenn Legendary Memphis radio icon Bobby O'Jay has passed away. When WDIA went on the air in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948, its white owners, Bert Ferguson and John R. Pepper, were anything but blues aficionados; however, deejay Nat D. Williams was. Bell joins 1070 WDIA from co-owned Urban KJMS-FM (V101), where he has been on-air for over 30 years. A.C. Williams, a former WDIA disc jockey, helped create the Goodwill Fund in 1954. I have a huge family. She remembers when Moore got the nickname Hollywood., When Fred first came to the station, he told us he always wanted to be an actor, Johnson said. The station went on the air on June 7, 1947, from studios on Union Avenue in downtown Memphis. When I was a rookie, he gave me advice and always a good laugh. In 1972 Chuck Scruggs became its first black general manager and vice president, serving for 12 years. O'Jay, who had been with WDIA since 1983, was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. King and Bobby Blue Bland. I know his legacy will continue through WDIA., Im very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby OJay. degree in English literature from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and her M.S. WDIA midday personality Bev Johnson confirmed to local CBS . WDIA is the first radio station in America that was programmed entirely by African Americans for African Americans. degree in educational media technology from Jackson State University. 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. [14], "Celebrating 65 Years of Goodwill & Good Times." 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. 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. Simple and modern interface. But before he came to the station in Indianapolis, Fred worked at a station in St. Louis. Remembering Bobby O'Jay. r'n'b. soul. Thaddeus Mathews says that he is the reason that WDIA has fallen to the 12th best station in Memphis, TN. 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. In 1996 Clear Channel Communications bought WDIA. This callsign, however, is now assigned to an unrelated Christian-programmed station. 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. All Rights Reserved. Many grieved in 2017 with the devastating loss of Sharon after 30 years of marriage to O'Jay. Radio Hall of Fame Announces 2022 Legends of Radio Inductees. I wanted us to be able to talk to our listeners every day about what was going on every day.. His son, WDIA-AM 1070 radio personality Kylan Hunt, 54, died two years ago from natural causes. I had a drug problem back then, OJay openly admitted. Notable U.S.radio disc jockeys of the period include Alan Freed, Wolfman Jack, Casey Kasem,[25]and their Britishcounterparts such as the BBC's Brian Matthewand Alan Freeman, Radio London'sJohn Peel, Radio Caroline's Tony Blackburn, and Radio Luxembourg's Jimmy Savile. Cam Mtenzi posted an extended tribute to Moore on Facebook. 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! Bobbyology is my thought pattern. [1] It featured black radio personalities; its success in building an audience attracted radio advertisers suddenly aware of a "new" market among black listeners. After Milwaukee, OJay crisscrossed the nation with DJ stints in multiple cities, from Houston to Dallas to Chicago, but as his popularity rose, so did temptations. The Legendary Fred Hollywood Moore. At the time, most stations had one talk show per week. SIDEBAR. 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. RADIO ICON Bobby O'Jay dead at 68: WDIA host and 'King of Memphis radio' dies before his morning show as fans pay tribute. Music News Former WDIA radio personality Mr. Fred Hollywood Moore transitioned Saturday morning. I have eight brothers and sisters. 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. Its been fun more than anything, said OJay. February 10. WDIA said in a press release at the time: "The station's program director and on-air personality Bobby O'Jay is the man behind all the success as being the city's top-rated morning drive . Ive always had just the radio job. The station did not do well until Ferguson learned about "targeted programming" and realized there was one audience in Memphis no other radio station served. It was Memphis WDIA.. [4], Nat D. Williams, a syndicated columnist and high-school teacher, started Tan Town Jubilee on October 25, 1948. Fans of the radio legend, known as the "King of Memphis radio," took to Twitter to mourn him and celebrate his life. Its a process.. 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