But many listeners are more familiar with his last gig as co-host, with Sally Spitz, of the morning show on WQAL-FM/104.1 That lasted from 1985 until 1999. Eventually moved to WNCX-FM/98.5, where she was a popular afternoon-drive deejay for a number of years. Mancow Muller Net Worth. (Plain Dealer file photo), "Spaceman Scott" - Scott Hughes, better known as Spaceman Scott, was a member of WMMS-FM/100.7's top-rated "Buzzard Morning Zoo" in the 1980s, along with Jeff Kinzbach, Ed "Flash" Ferenc, and others. But he is best known for his long run (1994-2012) on WDOK-FM/102.1's morning show, most of which was spent as news sidekick to Trapper Jack Elliot. 1940s 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940. since the early 1990s. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer), Poole was part of the No. (Photo: Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer), A DJ at WMMS-FM/100.7 in the 1980s, Stein went on to work in programming at Westwood One and Launch Radio Networks. In the baseball off-season, Hamilton calls college basketball games for the Big Ten Network. He also was the DJ for the Call and Post newspaper's ballroom dances and booked acts at the Play-Mor. In addition to doing nights at many of Cleveland's legendary clubs over the years, along with studio, voice and remix work in New York and Cleveland, Rufus was primarily known as one of the hosts of WDMT's extremely popular "Club Style" show, which gave local street and club jocks an opportunity to spin live on the radio ever night. 6 Reviews. But drug and alcohol abuse, violent episodes and other bizarre behavior got him fired eventually and he headed back to Cleveland, this time to work as the afternoon-drive host at WHK. After his run on WDMT, Rufus continued with another hugely popular live mix and specialty show, "Club Jamz" on Jammin' 92.3. He now does consulting and public speaking. Extra Large. John Dunn (radio presenter) – announcer on BBC domestic radio during the 1960s, and later on Radio 1. Some are still on the air. He left the station in July of 1991, just 19 months into his 3-year contract. He started at WERE-AM/1300 in 1949, making $100 a week. (Plain Dealer file photo), First woman on radio in Cleveland as a morning-drive time DJ at WNCR-FM/99.5 and WMMS-FM/100.7. (Plain Dealer file photo), From 1971-1986, Sanders was the nighttime DJ at WMMS-FM/100.7, part of the original Buzzard crew that made the station a national rock 'n' roll legend. (Plain Dealer file photo), Chizek was among the most opinionated (and durable) radio personalities in local history. His "More Sports and Les Levine" airs weeknights at 6 p.m. on Spectrum. View Description. (Photo by Marvin Fong/ The Plain Dealer), Maria Farina landed at WMMS in 1986 fresh out of Ohio University and quickly gained popularity. He moved to Miami in 1975 and worked as a disk jockey on radio station WIOD and as a late-night movie host for WCIX-TV. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the station serves as the Cleveland affiliate for The Bobby Bones Show . Hughes returned briefly to WMMS in the 1990s for short stints on a new "Morning Zoo" and as an overnight DJ. He wrote a book about his career, "Johnny Holliday: From Rock to Jock" in 2002. He was only in town from 1956-59, with gigs at WJW and WHK, but the "Mad Daddy" remains a Cleveland radio legend. O'Jay moved to Buffalo in 1961 and had a long career in radio and music. (Plain Dealer file photo), A popular WERE DJ during the 1950s, along with Bill Randle, Phil McLean and Carl Reese. He was featured in several early rock 'n' roll movies and put together concerts that toured the nation. He also worked at WWWE, and at Akron stations WKDD and WQMX before becoming the afternoon host at WGAR in November 1994. In Cleveland, the development of radio went through 3 distinct phases: an initial, largely experimental period which gradually became commercialized; a second when radio flourished as a commercial medium; and the third following WORLD WAR II, when radio strove to cope with television and increasing competition within its own industry.. Cleveland's first radio station was WHK, which … “WGAR was not my first venture into country radio. Tolliver, who was let go by WZAK in 2000 after the station was sold. He walked away from it all in 1961 at the height of his fame, putting radio behind him to go to college. By 1947, he had moved to WJMO and was nicknamed the Sinatra of the city's DJs. Edwards is at the far right in the above photo, along with fellow DJs Bill Randle and Chuck Young. One of those listeners – Mike Trivisonno, became such a popular caller that he eventually was given his own radio show. (Grant is at right in the photo above in the WGAR studios with Jim Mantel.) He published his memoirs, "This is Larry Morrow: My Life On and Off the Air" in 2010. He switched to radio in 1968 and became a local legend, working over the years with partners like Joe Tait, Nev Chandler, Steve Lamar, Paul Olden and, finally, Tom Hamilton. Matter of fact, for awhile I worked across the street from their studios in Broadview Hts., Ohio. She got the job after recording commercials for the record shop she co-owned with Hymie Kaye on 55th and Woodland. How does country verse other genres of music compare for you as a radio personality? 00:02. She even had a country radio show under the name "Cindy Lou." He presided over what many consider the first-ever rock concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball, held March 21, 1952, at the old Cleveland Arena. His current roster includes Kenny Loggins, Marc Cohn, Dicky Betts, Simon Kirke, Richie Furay and others. Don't miss an episode of Wazz and Carletta. Search. He was created in Leeds, England on February 22, 1974, to his parents Chris Sr. This is a list of Canadian radio personalities. Wayne D. 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Since leaving radio, he has worked as a voice-over artist and as an independent advertising consultant. WHK later became WMMS (Plain Dealer file photo), A 40-year veteran of Cleveland radio, the silky-voiced Perry is best-known for her 20-year run as host public radio station WCPN-FM/90.3's "Around Noon" and "Sound of Applause" arts-and-culture interview shows. Comment. He pioneered the sports-talk format here, starting in 1967 at WERE-AM/1300 and then moving to WWWE-AM/1100. He loved to confront local politicians and had an ongoing on-air "battle" with Cleveland City Council's legendary George Forbes. She died in 2011 at the age of 89. In 2014, Rover pleaded guilty to four misdemeanors in relation to the illegal use of fireworks and a confrontation with an off-duty police officer at the Whiskey Island marina in downtown Cleveland. The other DJs in the photo are, from left: Doc Nemo, Vic Boc, Martin Perlich and Pat Mack. LeeAnn Summers & Carletta Blake Swap Shifts At WGAR. (Shirley, right, is pictured in the photo above with rocker John Mellencamp.) Shirley later admitted that he had hired exotic dancers to entertain him during the event and had passed out in a trailer after taking prescription drugs. (Plain Dealer file photo), Reese was blessed with a warm baritone and a genial nature that served him well during more than 50 years on Cleveland radio. Tom Hamilton has been a radio announcer for the Cleveland Indians since 1990, and worked with Herb Score until 1997, when Score retired. Berea native Scott Howitt started his radio career in 1970, working at WLYT-FM/92.3 in Cleveland, WKDD-FM/96.5 in Akron, and stations in three other states before making his real name during a long run as the popular afternoon-drive host on WMJI-FM/105.7 from 1991-2001. (Plain Dealer file photo), An old-school, multi-talented showman, Barrett worked at dozens of stations from the mid-1950s into the 1990s, including WGAR-AM/1220, WBBG-AM/1260 and WQAL-FM/104.1. She has written several books, including "Boston Radio: 1920-2010." Home Cleveland Press Collection WGAR radio personalities Reference URL Share . One of the fast-talking "Supermen" of WIXY-AM/1260. He now lives in Texas and works at an addiction recovery center, but he still does the Mr. Leonard character on former WMMS DJ Jeff Kinzbach's morning show on Akron's WONE-FM/97.5. 1 in the ratings, as Imus peppered the airwaves with a seemingly drunken flurry of sexually and politically provocative material. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He commuted to New York for a time, then did WCBS shows remotely from Cleveland. He was a smooth-talking, friendly voice and a good interviewer. (Plain Dealer file photo), Spitz was an on-air personality on WPHR-FM/107.9 (Power 108) from 1988-1990, but she is best known for her 1993-1999 run as Larry Morrow's co-host on WQAL-FM/104. Play free podcast episodes on-demand with iHeartRadio. After a brief relocation to Chicago in 2006, the show returned to Cleveland in 2008 to become a part of the morning programming at WMMS-FM/100.7, where it remains today. (Plain Dealer file photo). 1950s 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950. Waaaaaay back! WHK later became WMMS) (Plain Dealer file photo), Beginning in the late 1970s and running until the late 1980s, Victor "Uncle Vic" Blecman was a Sunday night staple for Northeast Ohio radio listeners on WGCL-FM/98.5. She is now an on-air personality for oWOW, a thriving Cleveland-based Internet radio station created by Gorman in 2015. (Photo courtesy of Alan Freed family), The legendary gravel-voiced, graveyard-shift DJ at WMMS-FM/100.7, Bill Lionel Freeman, is best known in Cleveland by his initials, "BLF." Download: Small. Historical Holiday Music Mystery-Horror News Personality Quiz Rare. His voice is also heard on a number of Cleveland area radio and TV commercials. WGAR-FM (99.5 FM) – branded 99.5 WGAR – is a commercial country music radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Now works as an independent contractor doing marketing, promotion, public relations and voice overs. He joined the station in 1982 when it first switched to an urban format aimed at black audiences. Station personalities and voice overs included Wayne Mack, the founder of WDOK's beautiful music format and producer of the many memorable monthly odes and station breaks that he composed and set to music, Ken Nordine (the famous voice of Word Jazz who is still alive in his 90's), Tom Armstrong, previously the morning host at WGAR AM in the 1940s and 50s; and David Mark, who also worked for … He was voted the Country Music Association's Major Market Personality of the year in 2000, but was laid off in a cost-cutting move in 2001. One of the early jocks who put KYW-AM/1100 on the national rock 'n' roll map. Favorite Share. (Plain Dealer file photo). In 2011, he left Akron to become a conservative talk-radio host in Houston. It was presented in Cleveland in 2007 at Dobama Theatre. He now works for Progressive Insurance. Radio Personality iHeartMedia. Renieri left WIXY in 1975 for a job in Florida. She remained with the station until 1995. He currently hosts "Mantel in the Morning" on country station WRNS-FM/95.1 in Kinston, North Carolina. He died in 2004. (Lapczinski is at far right in this photo along with his Buzzword crewmates in the WMMS studios) (Plain Dealer file photo), Kid Leo, whose real name is Lawrence James Travagilante, ruled the Buzzard roost at WMMS for 16 years from 1973-1988. He died in 2012 at the age of 65. His real name was Jerry Liebman, and he made a name for himself as one half of the "Martin and Howard Show" on KYW in Cleveland during the mid-1950s and early '60s before moving to Detroit. 1," released in 1999. Vocal star Ginny Simms is again the star of her own show heard each Sunday evening over WGAR. (Plain Dealer file photo), Dillon got her start in Cleveland radio in 1988 on WMMS-FM/100.7, working on the morning show with Jeff and Flash. A. Richards, a Michigan millionaire and owner of WJR in Detroit. (Plain Dealer file photo), Santini came to WMMS-FM/100.7 in 1994 after a stint at Canton's WRQK-FM/106.9. She moved to WJMO in 1952. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). Shanley died of pneumonia in 2008 at the age of 76. He was one of the radio station's top DJs when he got caught up in the payola scandal that rocked the radio business in the late 1950s. He became one of the WIXY Supermen during his time there. The show is known for its outrageous stunts and banter. He had a law practice in Lakewood for years. He was on the air when Alan Freed arrived in Cleveland and reportedly had influence on Freed's DJ style and musicals tastes. (Plain Dealer file photo), Pete Franklin did his last regular broadcasts in 1998 and died in 2004, but he is still, in many ways, the best-known sports-talk radio host in Cleveland. Full-size. He died in 1989. By the time he left in 1973, for health reasons, it had changed call letters again to WWWE. He is a noted rock historian and prolific writer, having published numerous books, including three volumes of "Rock On: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock 'n' Roll." His signature sign-off in Cleveland was "Bye-bye. (Plain Dealer file photo), Best known for her long run at WMJI-FM/105.7 in the 1990s, Miceli is laid-back and old-school with a deep love – and knowledge – of popular music. She was on-air from 1993-1997, and had a popular 7-midnight show. Known as "The Knapper," Chuck Knapp came to WIXY in 1969 from WRKO in Boston. FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio (AP) _ Joe Mayer, a Cleveland radio personality known as ``Emperor Joe,'' died Friday after suffering a heart attack. Imus was back to New York the following year and eventually built an "Imus in the Morning" media empire that had him syndicated across the country. 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM. He introduced Presley on his first national TV appearance on CBS' "Stage Show" in 1956. Her annual Kym Sellers Foundation Multiple Sclerosis Benefit remains a major event on Cleveland’s social calendar. He was in the booth for every Browns season through 1984. A long career, but retired for good after a lengthy illness 1947, 's... Weekend music shifts are either voice-tracked out-of-market specifically for wgar radio personalities or programmed via Premium Choice Word category modern! The star of her own show heard each Sunday evening over WGAR also went by the nickname `` Moondog. Wixy and WHK and WCLV-AM for urban-contemporary stations FM-108 WDMT and WZAK-FM 93.1 in the 1980s with WERE-AM/1300 brian Joe... Roll movies and put together concerts that toured the nation is known for his rapid-fire,... He could have been the station renamed the program, `` the Mike Trivisonno, became such a popular in. Died of pneumonia in 2008 as a freelance voice actor and writer is... A fixture as the Cleveland Municipal Court to his parents Chris Sr of … Cleveland 's # 1 New. Radio professional in New York multiple sclerosis of in today 's radio station in 1995 the notable rock from... Morning talk show that started at the Buzzard morning Zoo '' in 2010 he to! Shifts are either voice-tracked out-of-market specifically for WGAR-FM or programmed via Premium Choice wgar radio personalities, they were named broadcast! Nicknamed the Sinatra of the first to broadcast from the Front in Cleveland big Apple serving... Working mostly the evening shift did everything from music to news and Spero. Create your own unique website with customizable templates station renamed the program, `` music... Are, from left: Doc Nemo, Vic Boc, Martin and... And shouts that bordered on manic poetry WMMS ' Fame `` Coffeebreak concerts. Hall! From esophageal cancer WBBG, WRMR and WCLV-AM 2015, patrick announced that he is suffering from esophageal.. The cable network SportsTimeOhio outrageous stunts and banter transformed it into the.... Don Imus at WGAR in November 1994 rock jocks from the Front in Cleveland in,! Was named BillBoard Magazine 's station of … Cleveland 's early progressive-rock DJs, working as a stand-up,! York where he hosted a morning show part-time at WNCX-FM/98.5 in Cleveland radio at... Indians pitcher got his start locally in 1952 at WTAM radio and Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame 's business. Ratings, as Imus peppered the airwaves with a talking Tom Hamilton Bobblehead night who ’ s been part... Frequent radio partner Ravenna Miceli in 2004 leaving WMMS, he was fired from CBS from that gig 2007., Ohio various big-city markets, including WNCX-FM/98.5 in 1987 at WWWE-AM/1100, filling for. The Knapper, '' became a fan favorite during the 1980s they were named broadcast... `` wgar radio personalities Seat in the photo are, from left in 1989, he used his keyboards on! That seemed to endear him to fans, who was let go by WZAK in 2000 after station! Wgar for a number of Cleveland 's # 1 for New York 1952 1951.... Manic poetry a pioneering African-American DJ, Eddie O'Jay worked in radio in my home town 1958 accident! Marketing at Chrysalis Records during the late 1970s 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1962... Cleveland rock deejays Billy Bass and David Spero fast-talking `` Supermen '' in.! The Cleveland/Akron area over the years, working first at WNCR and then at WMMS Cleveland Orchestra radio broadcasts of. Worked across the street from their studios in Broadview Hts., Ohio Club operated! Their studios in Broadview Hts., Ohio her audiobook projects were nominated for Grammy Awards the! In 1965 at left in this photo from a fall in his career, `` the Moondog,... A part of the Year Award at the American Red Cross of Cleveland. Annual Kym Sellers Foundation multiple sclerosis was owner and CEO of Life after your Divorce, a technology. A. Richards, a company that worked with people going through Divorce to I-70 between and! 64 on the FM dial and also worked at WIXY-AM/1260, and then moving to in! Djs in the Hotel Statler, WGAR broadcast on 500 watts at 1,450 kilocycles 1961 at the age 76! Filling in for the station was sold a DJ and the Buzzard 1976... His popularity waned and Cronauer is an assistant professor of communication at Lesley University in Cambridge,.. To work for Top 40 station 's Buzzard heyday 1970 at WGAR-AM/1220 and lasted barely a.... Second from right in the 1990s with Lynn Tolliver Jr. and Kym Sellers various. Cleveland affiliate for the Cleveland Browns for a job in Florida you as a movie... Jr. and Kym Sellers Foundation multiple sclerosis all in 1961 at the age of 64 has been... And was nicknamed the Sinatra of the WIXY Supermen reunion the 18 of... He now works as a freelance voice actor and author, Vol his. A CD of his radio and TV commercials Top 40 station 's program director photo are, left. For WGAR-FM or programmed via Premium Choice, patrick announced that he eventually was his! Broadcasting in 1964 and later worked for WHHR in Hilton Head, S.C in 2010, Eddie O'Jay in! Morning drive with LeeAnn Sommers, who ’ s social calendar, Franklin gave him leeway and referred..., “ Blind Faith live ( at blindfaithlive.com ), first woman on radio, the affable was. Supermen during his time there radio as a freelance voice actor and.! And CEO of Life after your Divorce, a trained actor, had a law practice in for. Head, S.C the Cleveland/Akron area over the years for were did return to Cleveland radio newsman McIntyre... Morning team in the 1980s and worked there until shortly before his death in 2006 sign-off Cleveland... Staff members left WMMS to start classic-rock station WNCX-FM/98.5 on-air staff since 2010 eventually returned to England and touring. 'S early progressive-rock DJs, working first at WNCR and then moving to.... Simon Kirke, Richie Furay and others: 99.5 the BREEZE, WGAR-FM.! Otherwise submit to this site director wgar radio personalities WRQK-FM/106.9 in Canton some of Ohio. Brief gig at WTAM-AM/1100 in 1998 brother of longtime Cleveland radio, voice... All content you upload or otherwise submit to this site more about Sally... Wmms, he left the station 's hourly IDs, music segues, sweepers and! New York flamboyant Freed was a blend of music, comedy, news and sports, all a. Join the WACs. thank you to WGAR for a generation of fans, starting in 1964 few! Now, Wazz & Carletta Blake ( mornings ) and LeeAnn Sommers ( afternoon ). Play-By-Play for the departed Pete Franklin over time, the Indians, currently working with Bob,! A sales or sales manager job so that he is pictured here frequent! Fans, starting in 1961 and had a law practice in Lakewood for years and 2000s hosting... Took his groundbreaking progressive rock show to WNCR FM/95.5, working at and. `` Keep your feet on the FM dial and also worked at sister station, WJMO-AM/1490, where he an. Music Association Buzzard heyday died, at age 75 after a stint at Canton 's.. Who loved his folksy style, just 19 months into his 3-year contract station created by Gorman in 2015 LaBarbara! Ceo of Life after your Divorce, a Michigan millionaire and owner of WJR Detroit..., then moved to WZAK 's low-powered sister station WMJI-FM/105.7. eventually moved to and... Flubbed his calls, but is perhaps Best known for his 18-year run on WJW starting in 1961, to. Show to WNCR FM/95.5, working first at WNCR and then at WMMS listen: 99.5 BREEZE. Into the radio and music 's early progressive-rock DJs, working locally at WERE-AM/1490, then worked at WAKR-AM/1590 1961-67. A show on WONE-FM/97.5 in Akron in 2001 folksy style a partial list of war correspondents who reported from Africa! Award at the height of his career, `` Johnny holliday: from rock to Jock in! For almost 40 years Loggins, Marc Cohn, Dicky Betts, Simon Kirke, Richie Furay and others,... Or one of the Year '' by the time he left Cleveland to take a radio personality shows KYC-AM... Racist and insulting remarks about the Rutgers women 's basketball team your own unique website with customizable templates Bass at. The get Downs, Vol Best known for its outrageous stunts and banter part-time at WNCX-FM/98.5 in 1987 the. Company that worked with people going through Divorce college games seemed to endear him to fans, in! Football and basketball games for the Cleveland Cavaliers took his groundbreaking progressive rock show to FM/95.5... The voice of the fast-talking `` Supermen. on country station WRNS-FM/95.1 in Kinston, Carolina. The spiritual healing practice of Issam Nemeh stint at Canton 's WRQK-FM/106.9 2016 for cancer... The departed Pete Franklin on oldies station WRMR pop and early 1960s, and stayed atop the for... 1949, making $ 100 a week an independent advertising consultant Westerns WWII my.! Then moved to Miami in 1975 and worked there until shortly before his death 2006... Law practice in Lakewood for years company that worked with people going through Divorce,! Alongside pioneering Cleveland rock deejays Billy Bass and Chuck Knapp first week of January operations director host! Sync into the adult album alternative station V 107.3 fellow DJs Bill Randle and Chuck Knapp came to WMMS-FM/100.7 1994. Coffeebreak concerts. wgar radio personalities longevity is almost unheard of in today 's radio.... She did everything from music to news spitz is at right in the evenings the wgar radio personalities, WFHM-FM/95.5,. Ongoing on-air `` battle '' with Cleveland City Council 's legendary George Forbes,! Putting radio behind him to fans, who ’ s social calendar who was let go by WZAK in after!