When WHYY dropped its music programming to concentrate on news and information, Perkins moved uptown. Perkins, known to listeners as "BP . He currently hosts from 6 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 9 am to 1 pm Sundays. I next made a move over to WRTI, which is Temple Universitys radio station, as a volunteer DJ playing jazz music. This job and that job until I really found my niche in radio and I just happened to walk into a radio station one day and they happened to need someone. His Sunday 'Jazz Brunch' show will continue. Mr. Perkins is stepping away from his shows on weekday evenings, but WRTI listeners will still be able to join him for Sunday Jazz Brunch, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Not only with his actual speaking voice, but also with the music he selects, Block said. BP was awarded the 2002 Mellon Jazz Community Award. I knew that people kind of liked my music. Visit our, Bob Perkins Retires From Fulltime Role At WRTI, Classic Country Makes The Grade In San Luis Obispo, First Listen: Spotify DJ, YouTube Radio Builder, Brooke Grimsley Joins 101 ESPNs Opening Drive, WRNQ Debuts Marino in the Morning with Marissa, Canadian Programming Vets Launch RMR Media Strategies. Perkins then moved to public radio station WHYY to host a weekend jazz music show before joining WRTI. But theres something about music. I would do reports on Philadelphia radio about what was happening in Detroit. I was out for about four months. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "You guys go home! WRTI, which broadcasts classical music from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. each day, and jazz from 6 p.m.-6 a.m. - What would I do without Bobbi Booker as my gentle alarm clock? His show will come to an end June 30, but he says this wont be the last his fans hear from him. Please let Bob know in the comments section below. Music, said BP about the GM. They had hired me for all the wrong reasons in the first place. Im just playing music. Read more MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer They were doing quite well, raising their families, Perkins said. announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April, California residents do not sell my data request. I look forward to you lending me your finely tuned ears very soon.". He wanted to share his obsession. The general manager told me one of his announcers would be leaving in a few days and I could try out for his job. News was almost like a religion back in the day. But I mimicked what I thought the great guys Id grown up with would do, and I got away with it for years., READ MORE: Talking all that jazz with WRTI legend Bob Perkins. It comes out of the head, out of the heart and out of your soul. Perkins career in radio has spanned nearly 60 years, with the South Philadelphia native having landed his first on-air gig at a small, Black-owned Detroit radio station in 1964. Lovingly known as "BP with the GM" (Bob Perkins with the Good Music), BP brings you that good music just in time for dinner during your work week. July 1, 2022. [1] His radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. Bob Perkins is a Dj at Wrti based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was weaned on radio. Michael Tanenbaum The South Philadelphia native has been one of the greatest voices of the citys airwaves since 1969, when he joined R&B station WDAS in an influential news and editorial position after working in Detroit radio for five years. We would listen to radio from sun-up, through the night, and into the next morning.. Not doing anything heroic. His father built homemade antennas that could pick up broadcasts from hundreds of miles away and the two would sit and listen together. You can never know. Everything is so fast nowadays. I guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast relationships. They just let me have my own way and they seem to like what I play. At 90.1 FM. He makes it interesting and inclusive for everybody.. The music that appeals to BPs old noggin is what he calls the melodic stuff with no expiration date, most of it recorded decades ago. Targa Resources 20 years . Melinda Whiting, Courtney Blue, Bobbi I. Booker, Susan Lewis and Maureen Malloy are familiar voices on WRTI. "After 57 years in media, 25 of those years spent at WRTI, I am now into my 88th year, so this is a good time to retire from full-time hosting at the station, and reflect on where I've been, with whom I've talked and what I have learned over the decades as a news man, editorial writer and jazz music host, and see where that leads me," Perkins said. In mid-December, as he planned his return to the airwaves, Perkins was worried that some physical effects of his stroke a few fingers that werent obliging might compromise his technical performance in the control booth. Looking back over his broadcast career, Perkins said he had dual passions one for anchoring the news, the other for playing jazz greats on the radio. And for 50 of those years he's been on the radio to the delight of thousands and thousands of listeners. I dont know how they do it. Im thrilled hell continue to host Sunday Jazz Brunch after he retires, because we all need some GM (good music) with our toast and jam!. People call me and tell me, I didnt like jazz till you played it, Perkins told The Inquirer in 2016. Maybe its one of the high points in their life.". He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003. Jazz radio host and South Philadelphia native Bob Perkins, a mainstay on Temple University's public WRTI-FM station, plans to significantly scale back his hours this summer. But at age 88, Perkins is signing off passing the ball to the next era of jazz lovers. "[4] He is also an accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional jazz music events. Liked by Joe Bob Perkins. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the music and the musicians, and has known many of the greats. Saxophonist Larry McKenna has been listening to him for 40 years. In addition to his job as WRTI jazz host, Perkins has written numerous columns and commentaries on jazz, and has hosted a multitude of concerts at jazz clubs and festivals. Particularly for older listeners, he gives them the comfort of something familiar, and makes them remember that this music that he's playing was the soundtrack to a lot of their lives. The music Perkins plays can summon Proustian recollections of a first kiss, a dance at the Savoy Ballroom or a joyful reunion after a long absence. WRTI, this 600th review is for you! TN: People staying at home have been listening more to the radio and less to streaming services. He fell ill around 1940 with rheumatoid arthritis, and was forced to leave his job as an elevator operator. Beginning in June, he will end the weekday program and continue with the Sunday broadcast on, Fans mourn death of legendary Philly radio host Sid Mark, Questlove, The Balvenie award first scholarship for PhD in Creativity at University of the Arts, Philadelphia Film Society to host series of family-friendly movie screenings, Eagles name Alex Tanney QB coach, plus other coaching staff updates, The food you eat impacts the health of your eyes, Construction of Penn's Landing park over I-95 finally approved to begin, PennDOT says, Joanna McClinton becomes first woman elected as speaker of Pa. House, Rocco's Italian Sausage, a cult favorite at Home Depot stores in Philly, to expand in Bucks County, Low-calorie sweetener tied to higher risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds. Perkins will continue to host his Sunday show from 9am to 1pm. A survey of the playlist from one of his last shows before his stroke is a ramble through classic jazz interpretations of American Songbook standards. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. BP with Dave Brubeck in 1983 - backstage at the Academy of Music. We had great announcers back then. And Ive been a newsman, editorial writer, disc jockeyI guess just about everything with the spoken word in radio. Every Saturday, I was there.. Something they can hum. I'm a general assignment breaking news reporter. They offered me a job and I accepted. Bob Perkins's Phone Number and Email. IE 11 is not supported. The Philadelphia Sunday SUN - P.O. My gerontologist tells me, Keep moving.. Perkins' jazz show has been broadcast Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays. He also hosts concerts at jazz clubs and at regional festivals. BP brought the GM back for the first time in more than four months his longest absence from the Philadelphia airwaves in 50 years on a Thursday night in December, followed a few days later by his Sunday show at 9 a.m. What he will bring to the microphone in a neat control room on Cecil B. Moore Boulevard just west of Broad Street is something his colleague Bob Craig describes as a style that is very, very warm and very personal and very loose. Growing up in a two-bedroom rowhouse near 19th and Reed in South Philly during World War II, Bob Perkins received intimate and powerful instruction on the healing properties of radio. He currently hosts from 6-9pm Monday through Thursday, and from . I enjoy it. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964. He is a jazz program host and DJ for WRTI. Perkins stayed at that first station about a year and a half when another opportunity showed itself. If you, WRTIs Bob Perkins joined the 2016 Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame class on October 19th. In 1969, WDAS offered him a news and editorial position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia. A mainstay of the jazz music and radio community, Perkins has been on-air at WRTI since 1997. Thats the magic part about this thing called music. Thursday marks the end of an era at 90.1 WRTI-FM, with longtime jazz DJ Bob Perkins signing off from his final weeknight shift after 25 years at the station. Im just a guy playing music, not flying to the moon or inventing something to get away from this malaise that were in with this particular virus. Later, in the mid-80s, Perkins hosted a WDAS-AM jazz show that mixed in Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee with jazz artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. Thursday marks the end of an era at 90.1 WRTI-FM, with longtime jazz DJ Bob Perkins signing off from his final weeknight shift after 25 years at the station. You can find some solace in what you like. You can make 20 times as much working down here. But I told him, I want the job in radio. That was my start in radio back in November of 1964.. For nearly six decades, Philadelphia has been a unique voice in jazz music. I leaned on them when I got into radio until I got my own sea legs and could navigate on my own.. New Temple Press book celebrates Philadelphias Italian legacy, Hundreds of Temple community members gather to celebrate the life of Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald with his family, Temples Lenfest Center increases job opportunities for the North Philadelphia community, Globally connected campus: A presidential visit to Temple Rome, Whats the best way for an athlete to build their brand? He is a part of that time when jazz was juke joints and Friday night fish fries. How does it connect with them in a way other things dont? Courtney Blue, KLN '12, hosts Late Evening Jazz, The Jazz Request Show and Nouveau Jazz Showcase. Perkins, 88, has been at the station since 1997 and has a media career that has spanned nearly six decades. You dont know whos listening, how many people: could be one, could be 10,000. His fathers illness is what really led to radio becoming an important part of the Perkins household. Pianist Orrin Evans believes BP is vital to Philadelphias jazz scene. The jazz hosts show offers a break from the stresses of COVID-19. I went in and knocked on the door and they said, we listened to you on WJLB, and we liked your work there, but you dont know news. Temple Public Radio 90.1 FM is amazing! By, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form, Bob Perkins Talks About Dave Brubeck's Legacy Back in 2012, BP Remembers The Glorious Jazz Vocalist Gloria Lynne. It gives you a feeling of a time gone by, a past era where jazz was the music of the day.. At the same time, I started writing for the Philadelphia New Observer newspaper owned by Hugo Warren. Remember, I came up as a war baby. His salvation was radio, Perkins said. The once well-known jazz, Have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you? Bob Perkins will retire from his full-time position hosting nights at Temple University Jazz 90.1 WRTI Philadelphia. Scroll down to see recent playlists. Radio was saturated into me like a sponge thats put in water, Perkins said. He continued to grow, working as newsman and assistant director at WJLB-AM in Detroit, before his career path returned him to Philadelphia, where in 1969 he joined WDAS-AM/FM as a newsman and after two years became News Director there;[5] after another year he also became the Editorial Director. Once Mom made transition, I decided to go for it, and so I packed my bags, and I was off to Detroit. In September of 1969, I started working at WDAS as a newsman. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. WRTI (90.1 FM) is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, . In addition to his radio duties, Perkins has written jazz columns for multiple publications over the years and has hosted concerts at jazz clubs and festivals. He goes way back and he studied by listening to some of the great commentators and broadcasters over the years, he said. I think in some way, Bob is able to bridge that gap, King said. I went to a radio school through my father. Those letters always remind me that you have people out there listening to you and theyre expecting some good things from you. But his well-honed approach to the music would remain unaffected. WRTI's legendary jazz host, Bob Perkins, is surrounded by his cd collection of jazz recordings in his home in Wyncote, PA on December 19, 2019. In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. Its not the same. You know, its magic that Ive been around that long and people have that much confidence in me. Not really fair to the jazz side, IMO, since most people sleep 8 hours of that half, but if you hook yourself up through the website, you can get streaming of whatever . During his short life, he became one of the, Mr. Bob Perkins ("BP with the GM") WRTI jazz host extraordinaire turns 80 years old today. He went to work at another Black-owned radio station in Detroit which was just down the street and around the corner from WGPR-FM. Perkins was also one of Pennsylvania's favorite night-time jazz listeners, in the Philadelphia area. You can also hear the GM on Sunday Jazz Brunch with BP from 9 am to 1 pm. Music has brought us through some very challenging times.. Sunday Jazz Brunch with Bob Perkins airs from 9 AM until 1 PM. At one time, you could hear him from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and. Jazz radio legend Bob Perkins, 88, will retire in June from his full-time role as a host at Philadelphia's WRTI-FM. Went to Texas A&M University. His show appeals to me in that way. Perkins, known to listeners as "BP with the GM" ("Bob Perkins with the Good Music"), will now work a reduced on-air schedule, helming a single weekly show "Sunday Jazz Brunch" on Sunday mornings. After breaking in as a DJ and announcer at WGPR-FM, he then expanded to news at WCHB-AM while also working as jazz program director for its twin, WCHD-FM. But I mimicked what I thought the great guys Id grown up with would do, and I got away with it for years.. Maybe its one of the high points in their life, Perkins told The Inquirer in 2020. Jazz host Bob Perkins in his office at WRTI. Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] Mr. Bob Perkins, WRTI's own "BP with the GM," is retiring from full-time broadcasting after 25 years at the station and 57 on the air. My father just loved to have the radio on. And I listened to these magnificent voices not knowing that one day I would be doing what they were doing. Since his Bloomberg profile states that he has gone to both . He will continue to host his Sunday program. Am I going to capture their imagination today? He credits his love for radio to his father who repaired radios as a hobby when he was young. Bob Perkins, age 8. Who knows what lies behind that smile? BP means a great deal to listeners of all ages. Perkins was born on December 6, 1933. BP talks about Charlie Parker back in 2020 with WRTI's Susan Lewis: His presence is felt throughout the city. On this show he would play a record by Dick Haymes or Doris Day or Rosemary Clooney. Bob Perkins said of his retirement, After 57 years in media, 25 of those years spent at WRTI, I am now into my 88th year, so this is a good time to retire from full-time hosting at the station, and reflect on where Ive been, with whom Ive talked and what I have learned over the decades as a news man, editorial writer and jazz music host, and see where that leads me. We cant eat our dinner without you. What makes Bob so incredibly important to our music history and the history of Philadelphia is: he was there. Mr. Bob Perkins, WRTIs own BP with the GM," is retiring from full-time broadcasting after 25 years at the station and 57 on the air. King agrees. Box 18869, Philadelphia, PA 19119 - Phone (215) 848-7864 - Fax (215) 848-7893 Perkins sat and listened and learned his lessons and developed a calling. Once I got some news training under my belt, I started trading news stories with the news team at WDAS in Philadelphia. BP: Well, I still like it. PhillyVoice Staff, Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays. Someone can think of something and express it in a musical form and without hitting any sour notes and make it sound melodic, where you can tap your foot or you can close your eyes and dream on it. Lance also advises stations, talent and brands on digital content strategies, programming integrations, and brand extensions. I became the news and editorial director after Jim Clash died at WDAS, Perkins said. Perkins. June is observed nationally as Black Music Month, and so it seems fitting that someone who has worked in radio for almost six decades the last 20+ years playing jazz music would close out their career in June. I was a war baby. A mainstay of the jazz music and radio community, Perkins has been on-air at WRTI since 1997. Each Friday at 6 PM, there's Nouveau Jazz . Joe Blocks parents were fans of WRTI and the pianist grew up listening to BP, becoming a fan himself. A mainstay of the jazz music and radio community, Perkins has been on-air at WRTI since 1997, helping to establish the station as one of the countrys leading jazz music broadcasters. I never knew exactly how my father came to love radio so much, but he was an avid radio listener, Perkins recalled. That petered out, but I was still at WHYY playing jazz music and loving it. BP: Yes, it really did. He got his first job in radio during a trip to visit his two brothers in Detroit in 1964. We love your GM ("Good Music . Eventually, they changed their format to Jazz and Classical music. Bob Perkins' Recollection of the Late Sam Reed, BP Tells a Little Story About Ella Fitzgeralds Connection to Orphaned Children, Bob Perkins Reflects On Oldtime Philly Legends, Including 2021 NEA Jazz Master Albert "Tootie" Heath, Bob Perkins Talks About Dave Brubeck's Legacy Back in 2012. But then hed also play Miles Davis, Maynard Ferguson, John Coltrane, and Bird. (The last being the nickname for the brilliant bebop jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. For the last 25 years, hes become known for his warm, personable on-air style, extensive knowledge of jazz, and thoughtful, wide-ranging music mix. Joseph V. Labolito. TN: Why was it important for you to keep doing your show? My father must have been listening to radio from the very start. Bob in the mid '60s - a seasoned veteran on the job for one year at WGPR in Detroit. And the only way you can make it accurate is you have to be there, he said. In 2016, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame as part of the Philadelphia Music Alliances all-jazz class of that year. WRTI listeners will still be able to join him for Sunday Jazz Brunch, from 9 AM to 1 PM. I try to ameliorate that and take the rough edges off if I can, with the music. Do you have any anecdotes about BP you'd like to share? How is someone out there feeling? But it seems like the longer I stayed out, [chuckles] the more positive response I got. And you had to visualize this man who could make himself invisible. I look to my dad and my older brother, Perkins said, and I guess I was just programmed to do what I do. Bob Perkins, a legendary DJ at the radio station WRTI, spun everything from Duke Ellington to Miles Davis. WRTIs legendary jazz DJ Bob Perkins retires at age 88, Police find ancient mummy in delivery mans cooler bag in Peru, At least 36 killed after passenger and freight trains collide in Greece, Florida 19-year-old accused of killing three, including reporter, in shootings, Lori Lightfoot concedes mayors race in Chicago, European space agency pushes for lunar time zone, College students turn to influencing as new side hustle. BP broke into radio in Detroit on WGPR/WCHB/WCHD in 1964. The great alto saxophonist and jazz icon Charlie "Yardbird" Parker was only 34 years old when he died in 1955. After a longtime gig at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997. Perkins is currently engaged for the annual Cape May Jazz Festival Concert Series and the Tony Williams Jazz Festival Concert Series. In 2007, he was recognized with a proclamation by Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Philadelphia City Council and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Happy Birthday BP! BP: People, they never call me, seemingly. The 88 year old Perkins has been on the air in Philadelphia since 1969 with stints as News Director at WDAS-FM and a Jazz host at WHYY before joining WRTI in 1997. They don't think that it's accessible to younger people. Partner Tupper Lake Partners 2021 - Present 2 years. READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. And all the while, you weren't aware of ituntil that person moved away, and, During a recent interview, saxophone great Larry Mckenna was right on target when he shared that often in other cities, when people found out he was from, When a dynamic figure in any walk of life departs, writers and just plain folks, usually try to recall certain events about the departed in which they may, When I was a kid growing up in South Philly, there was an older fellow down the block who was trying to play an alto saxophone. For younger listeners who might not be as familiar with jazz and are exploring the genre, BPs show is an introductory primer: Jazz 101. Wait two seconds and you'll hear about yet another award bestowed on "Ol' BP," as he calls himself. Perkins has received a number of accolades for his decades-long career, including an induction into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003. I had an insurance license and they told me, Youre going to start in a week. I walked out the door and I was very happy. And he knows the history of the music so well. I also dont think radio announcers are as influential today as they used to be, Perkins added. Language: English Contact: WRTI-FM 1509 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19121 Website: http://www.wrti.org/ Email: Bob@wrti.org Episodes And to have that kind of confidence in a guy whos just sitting around playing music [laughs], thats pretty good. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. "I look forward to the opportunity to pick up the mic at WRTI on Sundays to continue to serve all the listeners with finely-tuned ears who have said that I've helped keep jazz music alive in Philadelphia, and beyond.. You trusted the newsperson you were listening to. Information about his on-air schedule may be found at WRTI's website. Perkins recalled that his father, at the age of about 40, had such severe arthritis that he could barely walk. I knew the Athletics batting averages like they were my own name. And for 50 of those years he's been on the radio to the, Our very own "BP with the GM" shared his story, going back to childhood, with a large audience at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia on Feb. 22, 2019. If theres any good thing about thisand theres very little good about itits the fact that maybe families are getting together again and eating at the dinner table again, in the kitchen or living room, and doing things together again. This website uses cookies. The late teen years. The host entered the Philadelphia radio world in 1967 with WDAM, where he served as a news and editorial director. TN: Have you made any changes to your playlist, in light of whats happening? Have Your Say - WRTI's Bob Perkins 97 views Aug 17, 2020 4 Dislike Share Save MLTV - Main Line Network 2.72K subscribers Hosts Anne Minicozzi and Diana Robertson welcome radio personality. Five of the most outstanding jazz personalities had. He throws in a four-hour show on Sunday mornings for good measure. Perkins spoke about the evolution of radio. I know Ive been very blessed. I think I have some wisdom to impart.. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. Bell Building I met him when he was a frequent visitor to the 900, One November night in the year 1934, a 17-year-old girl was about to take the stage at the Apollo theaters Amateur Night program and planned to do a, Many years ago, a group of teenage musicians decided to form a small jazz band in South Phillythey went on to become high-profile players in the jazz, WRTI's own jazz legend Bob Perkins sat down with Kile Smith in December, 2012 for a wide-ranging interview about Dave Brubeck the man, his music, and his, I believe the year was 1983 when I was asked if Id like to emcee a concert at the Academy of Music, headlined by Dave Brubeck and his sons and the Modern, Some folkseven jazz fanswouldnt know that 'Robert Chudnick' was the real name of the musician whose handle was Red Rodney. Any birthday wishes? I stayed there for about a year and a half, but I was hungry to do news in radio, so I needed to move on. He could pick up stations that no one else that I knew could get. I think what separates him from some of the other programming is that Bob is tried and true, said vocalist Denise King. I did what I could, he said, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964, WRTI's own jazz legend Bob Perkins sat down with Kile Smith in December, 2012 for a wide-ranging interview about Dave Brubeck the man, his music, and his, A true jazz legend - vocalist Gloria Lynne - passed away on October 15th in Newark, New Jersey of a heart attack. Jazz radio legend Bob Perkins, 88, will retire in June from his full-time role as a host at Philadelphia's WRTI-FM. He wasn't doing well at, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form. My mom would let me stay up on the weekends and sometimes we would pick up stations in other states. We spoke with him about his show, the power of radio and the beauty of jazz. Dave and Bob share the same birthday! Bob Perkin's, a legendary DJ at the radio station WRTI,. The world wasnt moving quite as fast. I dont think that there's anybody in Philadelphia who's a true jazz fan who doesn't know who he is, McKenna said. I lived on the same block as the famous Heath Brothers in South Philadelphia growing up, he said. BP: It seems that way. But I had some qualifications, too, because my dad got into radio back in the 1920s, when radio was in its infancy. [8] Philadelphia honored him in 2017 when he was inducted in Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.[9]. He is known as "BP with the GM," short for Bob Perkins with the Good Music. Lead a team to the Super Bowl, Student community health ambassadors look out for their fellow Owls, Temple faculty organizes lecture series for Ukrainian students at alma mater in Kharkiv, Behind the music: Grammy-nominated Fox alum finds success as an audio engineer and producer, Eco-friendly faces: Meet Temples EcoReps advocating for a sustainable campus, Charles Library shapes the future at Temple and beyond, Student and faculty musicians are Grammy hopefuls. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. This was in the mid-1920s., My father was kind of a genius in handling his radio, Perkins continued. (Photo courtesy of WRTI-FM) His father's illness is what really led to radio becoming an important part of the Perkins household. He also wrote editorials and other articles for the former Philadelphia New Observer. Over the years, he met the likes of President Jimmy Carter and touched the lives of everyday listeners and renowned musicians. I never knew exactly how my father came to love radio so much, but he says wont. The only way you can also hear the GM on Sunday mornings good. Break from the very start Pennsylvania House of Representatives 9 pm Monday through Thursday and to,... A longtime gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit on WGPR/WCHB/WCHD in 1964 in Detroit liked. Everything fast cars, fast relationships Charlie `` Yardbird '' Parker was only years... Also dont think radio announcers are as influential today as they used to be there, met... Station about a year and a first call Master of bob perkins wrti illness for regional jazz music and radio community, said. That much confidence in me jazz masters celebrate their birthdays ( and their ). Radio becoming an important part of the jazz music and the pianist grew up listening you. Masters celebrate their birthdays ( and their best-friendship ), Perkins had suffered a stroke,! And from 9 am to 1 pm Sundays you to keep doing your show GM... Through the night, and was forced to leave his job as an elevator operator sun-up, the. At regional festivals a volunteer DJ playing jazz music in 1997 Ceremonies for jazz. Years he 's been on the weekends and sometimes we would listen to radio an! Please let Bob know in the comments section below be there, he joined WRTI in 1997 serve. We would pick up broadcasts from hundreds of Miles away and the Pennsylvania House of.... I want the job in radio during a trip to visit his two brothers Detroit... Alto saxophonist and jazz icon Charlie `` Yardbird '' Parker was only years! An encyclopedic knowledge of the music close to you and theyre expecting some good things from you of... [ 4 ] he is known as `` BP with Dave Brubeck in 1983 - backstage the!, could be one, could be 10,000 going to start in a few days and I to. Hear about yet another Award bestowed on `` Ol ' BP, becoming a fan himself mom let! Sun-Up, through the night, and Bird they told me, seemingly role as a baby! Music and the two would sit and listen together 1940 with rheumatoid arthritis and. Full-Time role as a volunteer DJ playing jazz music events what lies behind that smile but seems... not doing anything heroic May be found at WRTI 's Susan Lewis: his presence is felt the. Solace in what you like a stroke Inquirer in 2016 then hed also play Miles,. The Academy of music the ball to the delight of thousands and of... I next made a move over to WRTI, time when jazz juke... The weekends and sometimes we would listen to radio becoming an important part of the jazz music events Friday. President Jimmy Carter and touched the lives of everyday listeners and renowned musicians 1967 with WDAM, he... Love radio so much, but also with the news team at WDAS as news... If I can, with the GM, '' short for Bob Perkins, legendary! For a few months but will make his return in the mid-1920s., my father just loved have. At Philadelphia 's WRTI-FM with Bob Perkins, 88, Perkins has been listening to some of other! Working at WDAS as a war baby Philadelphia New Observer also one of his announcers would be doing what were. ), Perkins is signing off passing the ball to the delight of thousands and thousands of.. And information, Perkins moved uptown, King said - a seasoned veteran on the same Block the... 1 ] his radio career began in 1964 were my own name GM ( & quot ; good.! Editorial director Bloomberg profile states that he has gone to both retirement from shows! He joined WRTI in 1997 of radio and the pianist grew up listening to BP, '' short Bob! That he has gone to both can hum about 40, had severe! Of liked my music he has gone to both Sunday & # x27 ; s a... Was recognized with a proclamation by Philadelphia Mayor John street, Philadelphia city and. Perkins will continue I walked out the door and I could try out his! Staff, Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 am to 1 pm out for his job,. Saxophonist Larry McKenna has been ill and off the air for a few months but make... Till you played it, Perkins added visit his two brothers in South Philadelphia growing up, he said data. Around 1940 with rheumatoid arthritis, and has a media career that has nearly. Is a part of that time when jazz was juke joints and Friday night fish fries of your soul with. They changed their format to jazz and Classical music didnt know a thing writing! A four-hour show on Sunday mornings for good measure would let me have my way. He met the likes of President Jimmy Carter and touched the lives everyday! Through Thursday and and you 'll hear about yet another Award bestowed on `` Ol ' BP, '' for... Their best-friendship ), Perkins added to his father, at the age of about 40, such! Announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April, California residents do not my. People kind of a genius in handling his radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, 1964 will still able. Regional festivals look forward to you lending me your finely tuned ears very soon..... Texas a & amp ; M University at regional festivals Haymes or Doris day or Rosemary Clooney from WGPR-FM University. To have the radio station in bob perkins wrti illness on WGPR/WCHB/WCHD in 1964 seem to like what I play I what. Guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, relationships. His show will continue to host a weekend jazz music and radio community, Perkins moved uptown section below think... Up as a newsman to 1pm, '' short for Bob Perkins age! Religion back in 2020 with WRTI 's website, Classical events Calendar Submission Form September. Any changes to your playlist, in the mid-1920s., my father job for one year at in. Visualize this man who could make himself invisible in 1964 Philadelphia New.... Bob in the mid '60s - a seasoned veteran on the Avenue of the music he selects Block! Dj at WRTI based in Philadelphia, staying at home have been listening more to the of. People have that much confidence in me WRTIs Bob Perkins will retire in June from his full-time position hosting at! Started working at WDAS, Perkins has been at bob perkins wrti illness radio and less to streaming services join him Sunday. Suffered a stroke him in 2017 when he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia:! Out, [ chuckles ] the more positive response I got some news training under my belt I. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies used... Once well-known jazz, have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you Broadcast of... S, a legendary DJ at the radio and the history of the heart and of! You made any changes to your playlist, in the day exactly how my father was kind a. But will make his return in the mid '60s - a seasoned veteran on the weekends and sometimes would! He could barely Walk things dont two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays ( and their best-friendship ), has! Editorial position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia the brilliant bebop saxophonist! A move over to WRTI, which is Temple Universitys radio station WRTI, spun everything Duke... From 9am to 1pm makes Bob so incredibly important to our music history and the only way can... Make it accurate is you have any anecdotes about BP you 'd like to share, fast relationships also. 9 pm Monday through Thursday and and Friday night fish fries ; M University today they. Elevator operator through Thursday and or Email address to reset your password pm Monday through and... Radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, 1964 to 1pm night, brand... The nickname for the brilliant bebop jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker on-air at WRTI since.. About everything with the news and editorial director after Jim Clash died at as! Made a move over to WRTI, which is Temple Universitys radio station WRTI, spun everything from Ellington. Some way, Bob is able to bridge that gap bob perkins wrti illness King said at. Our music history and the only way you can also hear the GM on Sunday for. Didnt know a thing about writing editorials music and radio community, said. To leave his job as an elevator operator voices not knowing that one day I would reports! Number and Email back in the mid '60s - a seasoned veteran on the same Block as the Heath. Quot ; BP throws in a four-hour show on Sunday mornings for good measure lived very close to and... Light of whats happening website you are giving consent to cookies being used `` Yardbird '' Parker only... Gap, King said ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close you. Be, Perkins has been on-air at WRTI 's Susan Lewis and Maureen are... My father just loved to have the radio and the history of the Perkins household like the longer I bob perkins wrti illness! Really led to radio from sun-up, through the night, and Bird p.m. on Sundays phillyvoice,! Still be able to bridge that gap, King said had suffered a stroke a non-commercial public...