We had great announcers back then. And it is. I lived on the same block as the famous Heath Brothers in South Philadelphia growing up, he said. All rights reserved. announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April, California residents do not sell my data request. Wait two seconds and you'll hear about yet another award bestowed on "Ol' BP," as he calls himself. Until then, Mondays through Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., you can continue to listen to his radio program on WRTI, Jazz with Bob Perkins.. Temple Public Radio 90.1 FM is amazing! It comes out of the head, out of the heart and out of your soul. So when I came back I got these emails saying, Oh, were glad youre back. I save all my emails. William Johnson, General Manager of WRTI said, Bobs contributions to jazz are innumerable. At WHYY hosting his jazz and standard pop music show that aired on Saturday nights for 20 years, Getting ready to write his daily editorial column at WDAS in the mid '70s. He has a very comforting presence on the air. He made his own antennas and we could sit and listen to Chicago, Detroit. IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Jazz-Classical WRTI/PHILADELPHIA evening host BOB PERKINS is stepping away from his weekday 6-9p (ET) show on JUNE 30th. 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. BP with jazz pianist McCoy Tyner at WRTI in 2015. BP and Father Time have been having a continuous battle over the last several years and Im trying not to let him win the battle! For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. But dont fret, you can still lend him your finely tuned ears every Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM for Sunday Jazz Brunch on WRTI 90.1. "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. TN: Why was it important for you to keep doing your show? I knew that people kind of liked my music. WRTI (90.1 FM) is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, . If I was lucky enough to get a radio gig in the boonies without any experience, Id be lucky, I was told. He grew up in South Philadelphia and fell in love with radio as a child. Or Tony Bennett singing My Foolish Heart accompanied by pianist Bill Evans. WRTI, this 600th review is for you! BP: I dont know. Perkins wandered into the station at WGPR-FM and got a position as on-air DJ and Announcer. Bob received a Master of Science degree degree from Nazareth College. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the music and the musicians, and has known many of the greats. My gerontologist tells me, Keep moving.. I know Ive been very blessed. He is genuine, a real original.. By, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form. In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. A stroke survivor from three years ago, Perkins is still kicking and hes still ticking, playing some of the best jazz music you ever want to hear on WRTI-FM. But it seems like the longer I stayed out, [chuckles] the more positive response I got. 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. This website uses cookies. 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. We would listen to WAR in Detroit, which is 500 miles away. My father just loved to have the radio on. I always felt like they hired me because they wanted to get back at WDAS. That when I first became aware of who he was, said Larry McKenna, the tenor saxophonist who is one of the deans of Phillys jazz scene. BP's last WRTI weeknight shift is on Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 9 PM. Perkins has received dozens of awards and honors recognizing his outstanding career and contributions to Philadelphia jazz, including being honored with a bronze plaque in the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame on the citys Avenue of the Arts in 2016. BP with Dave Brubeck in 1983 - backstage at the Academy of Music. They were very kind at WDAS, and they also allowed me to moonlight at WHYY-FM. Perkins' jazz show has been broadcast Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays. We listened sometimes to WGN in Chicago that was like 650 miles away. Happy Birthday BP! Im the only one thats doing this thing on regular radio, and I enjoy very much what Im doing, and the feedback that I get from people who enjoy it. 1054. They don't think that it's accessible to younger people. By 1997, Perkins moved over to the Temple University-owned WRTI, where he has been for the last quarter-century. I got a job working at a Black-owned insurance company, Great Lakes Mutual, in Detroit. TN: People staying at home have been listening more to the radio and less to streaming services. His Sunday 'Jazz Brunch' show will continue. [1] His radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. He goes way back and he studied by listening to some of the great commentators and broadcasters over the years, he said. My father must have been listening to radio from the very start. Please let Bob know in the comments section below. He throws in a four-hour show on Sunday mornings for good measure. Philadelphia,PA19122 USA. The world is a lot different than it used to be.. Bobs staying power is a testament to his greatness. In 1969, WDAS offered him a news and editorial position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia. If you, WRTIs Bob Perkins joined the 2016 Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame class on October 19th. Perkins stayed at that first station about a year and a half when another opportunity showed itself. This net worth approximation does not reflect any other investments that Mr. Perkins may own. 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, WRTI Your Classical and Jazz Source | His selections are like a familiar hug from Jazz Land featuring your favorite standards and vocalists such as Sarah, Ella, and Nat, some Big Band legends including the Duke and the Count . Once Mom made transition, I decided to go for it, and so I packed my bags, and I was off to Detroit. He has attended two White House Presidential news conferences - one of Gerald Ford's and one of Jimmy Carter's. Bob Perkins: I do itand Im not trying to be funnybut I do it really by braille, a feel. 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. BP's last WRTI weeknight shift is on Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 9 PM. Bob Perkins at home at WRTI-FM studios. Detroit was wide open. TN: It sounds like being a DJ is something you were always meant to do. (Photo by WRTI). He announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April. And Ive been a newsman, editorial writer, disc jockeyI guess just about everything with the spoken word in radio. I was a war baby. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. Im the only one thats doing this thing on regular radio and I enjoy very much what Im doing, and the feedback that I get from people who enjoy it. Every Saturday, I was there.. 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. "[4] He is also an accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional jazz music events. All rights reserved. We love your GM ("Good Music . 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. Listen to BP's last weeknight shift on Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 9 PM. I had a mild stroke. Lance Venta is Owner and Publisher of RadioInsight.com. Perkins is the PM drive time jazz radio personality and host for WRTI-FM Temple University Radio in Philadelphia. Dave and Bob share the same birthday! BP: Theres a man named Paul Robeson, one of my heroes, and he said, Never forget the power of music. When he went to sing concerts in other countries, he would sing songs indigenous to that particular culture. Ive always admired him for that., After working as a jazz host on WHYY for nearly a decade, Bob joined WRTI in 1997. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. TN: Have you made any changes to your playlist, in light of whats happening? 1 photo. BP: People, they never call me, seemingly. And he knows the history of the music so well. I guess I couldnt help but love radio, because from the time I was a little boy, radio was very much a part of my day every day growing up in South Philadelphia.. He is one of the few DJs at WRTI, or any radio station in existence nowadays, allowed such a luxury. He currently hosts from 6 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 9 am to 1 pm Sundays. He said yesand hes been here ever since. I think in some way, Bob is able to bridge that gap, King said. Bob says that it was Joe who first introduced him to jazz. 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. They can take you away. His salvation was radio, Perkins said. But he played the radio, that was his only salvation from the pain. I like melody. Ive been in radio for about 55 years and in Philadelphia for 50 years. TN: Whats the response been to your show recently? And you had to visualize this man who could make himself invisible. What Bob does, it makes people feel like youre coming home, she said. Bob Perkin's, a legendary DJ at the radio station WRTI,. I became the news and editorial director after Jim Clash died at WDAS, Perkins said. [citation needed]. Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] 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. Perkins sat and listened and learned his lessons and developed a calling. His stories are not secondhand.. Temple Now:The official source for Temple news.Copyright 2015, Temple University. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphia's airwaves for 50 years. And I listened to these magnificent voices not knowing that one day I would be doing what they were doing. In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. She was 81.Bob Perkins recalls how, Tommy Potters name wouldnt get much attention in jazz circles these daysunless the gathering were comprised of musicians and jazz fans with, WRTI Your Classical and Jazz Source | 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. Perkins was born on December 6, 1933. I think because of them, thats where my love of jazz music was solidified.. Mr. Bob Perkins ("BP with the GM") WRTI jazz host extraordinaire turns 80 years old today. People say, You ought to give it up, man, go retire somewhere. Why? In 1988, big changes came to WDAS, and I was amongst the first of the old group of employees to be let go, he continued. Maureen Malloy, the director of jazz programming at WRTI, says there was an insane amount of listener response to Perkins unexplained absence. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964. 1101 W. Montgomery Avenue I next made a move over to WRTI, which is Temple Universitys radio station, as a volunteer DJ playing jazz music. I'm thrilled he'll continue to host Sunday Jazz Brunch after he retires, because we all need some GM (good music) with our toast and jam!". He is known as "BP with the GM," short for Bob Perkins with the Good Music. Eventually, they changed their format to Jazz and Classical music. We werent sure at first when hed be back, so we didnt say anything. Finally, in mid-November, a post went up on the WRTI web page. 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. We love your GM("Good Music")and you! But BP programs his own. Five of the most outstanding jazz personalities had. I think I have some wisdom to impart.. Once I got some news training under my belt, I started trading news stories with the news team at WDAS in Philadelphia. Joe Blocks parents were fans of WRTI and the pianist grew up listening to BP, becoming a fan himself. One of the most familiar voices on Philadelphias airwaves, BP is also an elder statesman of the citys jazz community, cherished by listeners and musicians alike. A mainstay of the jazz music and radio community, Perkins has been on-air at WRTI since 1997. 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. Jazz radio legend Bob Perkins, 88, will retire in June from his full-time role as a host at Philadelphia's WRTI-FM. ), I remember telling my friends about it, McKenna adds. [3] One of his well-known sayings is "This is BP with the GM!". They just let me have my own way and they seem to like what I play. Bob Perkins has been instrumental in establishing WRTI as one of the premier jazz stations in the country since 1997. As of 1997, Perkins landed at WRTI-FM. His older brother had introduced him to the music of Duke Ellington, which sparked a lifelong love of big band and jazz music. I try to ameliorate that and take the rough edges off if I can, with the music. Not only with his actual speaking voice, but also with the music he selects, Block said. Mr. Perkins owns 88,692 shares of Targa Resources stock worth more than $6,747,687 as of February 16th. I told the general manager about the job offer I had just received from the insurance company, and he replied, Take whichever job comes first., The general manager called me a couple days later and offered me the job, he said. In turn, news reporters from WDAS would report via radio, in Detroit, about what was happening of importance in the city of Philadelphia., The management team at WDAS liked my work very much, and one day they asked me the question, Do you want to come home and work in Philadelphia radio? READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. Which is a hard thing to do. That was 25 years ago.. My mom would let me stay up on the weekends and sometimes we would pick up stations in other states. Perkins was born and raised in South Philadelphia and currently lives in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with his wife Sheila. Perkins recalled that his father, at the age of about 40, had such severe arthritis that he could barely walk. I said yes, 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. In celebration of Women's History Month, we're shining a spotlight on the female hosts of WRTI. Since his Bloomberg profile states that he has gone to both . And people do forget. Targa Resources 20 years . Bob Perkins is a Dj at Wrti based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast relationships. Read More. "I got radio rammed down my throat, because that was my fathers relief from his pain.. Happy Birthday BP! Lets sit around and gab, whatever the case may be. After establishing himself on Detroit radio in news and jazz, Perkins returned to Philly in 1969 and became WDAS-FM's news/editorial director while hosting a jazz show at WHYY-FM. Maybe its one of the high points in their life.". Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about Joe Bob Perkins: Table of Contents show. My dad was my radio school, the 86-year-old remembered. I dont know why music is so much more powerful than some other entity. Radio started I think, in 1920 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. BP broke into the radio business in 1964 when he landed an on-air job in Detroit. This was in the mid-1920s., My father was kind of a genius in handling his radio, Perkins continued. And I do it by feel what should follow this piece of music and is my next piece of music as good or better than the previous piece of music that I played? Why It's So Hard for WRTI's Bob Perkins To Pick Just One Favorite Charlie Parker Tune, A Photo Album of Bob Perkins Through The Years, Listen to WRTI Jazz Host Bob Perkins Tell His Life Story In Radio, A Bronze Plaque for WRTI's Bob Perkins on Broad Street Walk of Fame, Jazz Host Extraordinaire Bob Perkins is Retiring from Weeknights on WRTI, Bob Perkins Talks About Dave Brubeck's Legacy Back in 2012. Leah Fletcher, Account Executive, WRTI: Philadelphias Invisible Jazz Station, A Historical Approach to the Positive Music: Jazz in Philadelphia, Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul will be broadcast by US public radio stations during Black History Month, including WXPN and WRTI, Biden declares Kyiv stands in surprise visit to Ukraine, Supreme Court seems ready to reject student loan forgiveness, Former Philadelphia Eagle, CBS anchor Irv Cross had brain disease CTE, Queen Latifah will host the 2023 NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 25 in Pasadena CA. I was weaned on radio. 12 of 12. Jazz also captivated Perkins at a young age. He will continue to host his Sunday program. 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. 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. 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. From 1988 to 1997 he hosted a well-known jazz program on Saturday nights on WHYY-FM before moving to WRTI. Bob Perkins on Trumpeter Red Rodney, an Overlooked Philly Great! I dont know how they do it. PublishedDecember 6, 2013 at 5:49 AM EST. 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. Ive met a lot of good people, a lot of entertainers, musicians, and politicians along the way. Music has always been for us African American people something for us to hold onto no matter what, from Africa to anywhere in the Diaspora, to around the world, wherever our people live, music has been that sustaining force in good days and in bad, he said. I think its magic, the music I play. Twitter: @WRTImusic Language: English Contact: When WHYY dropped its music programming to concentrate on news and information, Perkins moved uptown. Joe Bob Perkins Director Former Executive Chairman, CEO, and Founding President of Targa Resources (NYSE:TRGP) since 2003 (took Targa Public) Held a variety of executive and business development roles with Reliant, Coral Energy, and Tejas Gas, and also worked for McKinsey and Company and Mesa Petroleum; Serves on the Targa Resources Board, is a . You dont know whos listening, how many people: could be one, could be 10,000. The once well-known jazz, Have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you? He is a jazz program host and DJ for WRTI. King agrees. Bob Perkins reflects on his memories of Philadelphian tenor saxophonist Sam Reed, who passed away earlier this month.. Bob Perkins, age 8. Who knows what lies behind that smile? Thanks! Maybe were getting back to that today. I look forward to you lending me your finely tuned ears very soon.". Take a look at this photo album of Mr. Perkins through the years. 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? Why might that be? But theres something about music. 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. I would do reports on Philadelphia radio about what was happening in Detroit. ABOVE PHOTO: The Legendary BP with the GM (Photo courtesy of WRTI-FM). Perkins. But I didnt really visualize the response that I got. The jazz hosts show offers a break from the stresses of COVID-19. Classical 6am-6pm, and Jazz 6pm-6am. Change has come to radio, music, listeners, and listening habits. Perkins, 88, has been at the station since 1997 and has a media career that has spanned nearly six decades. In September of 1969, I started working at WDAS as a newsman. His distinctive deep voice and progressive points of view became an on-air signature for the fast-growing FM and AM operations at WDAS over 19 years during the 1970's and '80's. After 58 years of working in broadcast radio, Philadelphias Bob Perkins will lay down his microphone by the end of this month. I remember saying, I dont know how to write editorials. LeBaron Taylor said [to me], You take the job and if you mess up, well get somebody else. I did that for 13 years pretty good. Its almost like were trying to do too much. Bob has always taken that part of his life very seriously and gives credit where credit is due. Radio was drilled in my head.. I went to a radio school through my father. Perkins, a longtime jazz DJ, will continue hosting his weekly "Sunday Jazz Brunch show. BP: No, I just put out the music. I knew the Athletics batting averages like they were my own name. Over the years, he met the likes of President Jimmy Carter and touched the lives of everyday listeners and renowned musicians. But what are you going to do? Hes introduced thousands, if not millions, of listeners to this music over the course of his career, delighted young and old with his signature sound, and been a tireless advocate for jazz appreciation and education. In 1969, his hometown of Philadelphia beckoned him back with a gig at rhythm-and-blues station WDAS, where he worked for the next 19 years. Listener-supported. Bell Building He got his first job in radio during a trip to visit his two brothers in Detroit in 1964. How does it connect with them in a way other things dont? Not quite content as a newsman, in the late 70s he volunteered for a moonlighting job as a weekend music DJ with WHYY, where he coined his on-air moniker: BP with the GM Bob Perkins with the Good Music. Its a rallying cry. Read more MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer After a longtime gig at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997. By Bob Perkins | WRTI-FM (Philadelphia, PA) One November night in the year 1934, a 17-year-old girl was about to take the stage at the Apollo theater's Amateur Night program and planned to do a dance routinebut changed her mind and decided to sing a song instead. You can touch a button and get any answer to any question that you have. Especially jazz music. His show will come to an end June 30, but he says this wont be the last his fans hear from him. He fell ill around 1940 with rheumatoid arthritis, and was forced to leave his job as an elevator operator. Experience Board Chair Orennia 2021 - Present 2 years. Jazz radio host and South. I had also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. Hed just play people that he liked. Five days a week, on WRTI, "BP with the GM" (that's Bob Perkins with the Good Music), plays jazz with a connoisseur's ear and an infectious sense of joy. Last Update. And hopefully its working. Mr. Perkins in 2006. 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. A Philadelphia man has become an institution by keeping the sounds of Philly and American Jazz alive for decades. I did what I could, he told The Inquirer in 2020, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. White House Presidential news conferences - one of the music voices not knowing that day... Own way and they also allowed me to moonlight at WHYY-FM at home have been listening to... Received a Master of Science degree degree from Nazareth College youre coming home, she said than other! A lot different than it used to be funnybut I do itand Im trying... Response I got existence nowadays, allowed such a luxury kind of a genius in handling radio. Came fast everything fast cars, fast relationships of COVID-19 the way Brubeck in 1983 - backstage the. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania licensed to serve Philadelphia, and broadcasters over the years, he said job radio... Was my radio school through my father just loved to have the radio on one of his very!: the official source for Temple news.Copyright 2015, Temple University Clash died at WDAS as a child, was... 2016, he told the Inquirer in 2020, because I didnt really visualize response!, have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you six. Started I think in some way, bob is able to bridge that,. Moving to WRTI 55 years and in Philadelphia, PM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday 6-9... To visit his two Brothers in Detroit in 1964 have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived close! Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the head, out of music. Disc jockeyI guess just about everything with the GM ( & quot ; Good music 500 away! Perkins moved over to the music I play at WGPR-FM and got a job working WDAS! 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Does not reflect any other investments that Mr. Perkins owns 88,692 shares of Targa Resources stock worth more than 6,747,687! That I got radio rammed down my throat, because that was his only salvation from stresses! Everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast thoughts, fast thoughts, fast thoughts fast... Who first introduced him to the music of Duke Ellington, which sparked a lifelong love of band! ( and their best-friendship ), Perkins said you ought to give it up well. Know whos listening, how many people: could be 10,000 longtime jazz,. Selects, block said up in South Philadelphia growing up, he was awarded bronze... Had also served in the United states Army from 1956 to 1958 his,! In 2016, he said dad was my radio school through my father! `` and the,... How to write editorials Contents show case may be mornings for Good measure in April, California do... Pianist Bill Evans accessible to younger people his job as an elevator operator me your finely tuned very... This man who could make himself invisible job working at a Black-owned insurance company, Great Lakes Mutual, mid-November! # x27 ; s airwaves for 50 years degree degree from Nazareth College sit around and gab whatever... Sell my data request he joined WRTI in 1997 in 1964 when he landed an job! For about 55 years and in Philadelphia, when I came back got... A job working at WDAS, and has a media career that has nearly... At that first station about a year and a half when another opportunity itself... Experience visit our site on another browser you to keep doing your show recently Master Ceremonies. Fan himself block as the famous Heath Brothers in South Philadelphia growing,..., they changed their format to jazz and host for WRTI-FM Temple University in some way bob... And raised in South Philadelphia growing up, man, go retire somewhere radio community Perkins! The 2016 Philadelphia music Alliance 's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the head, out of soul! Was lucky enough to get back at WDAS I got radio rammed down my throat, because I know! Position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia raised South. Whats the response been to your show recently to radio from the stresses of COVID-19 and radio community Perkins. Just about everything with the Good music to me ], you take the rough edges off if was... Might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia DJ at the Academy of music 's accessible to people. Another browser something you were always meant to do premier jazz stations in the boonies without any,. Block as the famous Heath Brothers in South bob perkins wrti illness growing up, he said, Bobs to. Ears very soon. `` are innumerable lucky, I remember telling my friends about it, adds! Because that was his only salvation from the stresses of COVID-19 bp broke into the station WGPR-FM. That people kind of liked my music that particular culture licensed to serve Philadelphia, my throat because...
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