Philly's Best and Most Legendary Local Radio Stars - The Names Behind the Voices

Sid Mark "Friday with Frank" and "Sunday with Sinatra" Often credited with single-handedly preserving and promoting the Sinatra legacy and mystique, this Philadelphia radio institution had recently celebrated his 50th year in the broadcasting industry, starting in the 1950s on what would become a talk radio institution in itself, WWDB-FM, and continuing with the only music program on the station until its end in 1999 before his shows were picked up by another all-talk station, WPHT 1210 AM, where it can still be heard Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays from 7 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 8 to 11 a.m. Sid's programs are syndicated and can be heard on approximately 200 other radio stations. www.soundsofsinatra.com www.thebigtalker1210.com

Irv Homer "Irv Homer Show" Another legendary alumnus of the defunct WWDB-FM, Irv is a man who "lives by the sword" and hosts probably the best live radio talk show in the world. A powerful debater and conversationalist, Irv started his broadcasting career on small suburban radio stations like WEEZ-AM and WXUR-AM while still in the bartending business before graduating to the major-market

WWDB-FM, where he remained from its beginnings in 1975 until its "self-destruction" in early November, 1999. Although he's now known internationally and regarded as a local broadcast pioneer, his current on-air career has been relegated to "minor-market" WBCB, (1490 AM weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) which can only be received in the Levittown/Trenton area, but archived recordings of recent programs can be heard on the internet at www.irvhomer.com or www.wbcb1490.com

Jerry "The Geator" Blavat "Jerry Blavat Show" a/k/a "Geator Gold Radio" One of Philly's first rock 'n roll and R&B dee-jays and to date one of the hardest-working on-air personalities in the area, "The Geator" continues to spin the golden oldies of the '50s and '60s on the best-known classic rock 'n roll stations in the Delaware Valley. Can be head weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. on WPEN 950 AM; 5 to 7 p.m. on both WVLT 92.1 FM and WPEN; and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday thru Thursday on WWZK 94.3 "Slammin’ Gold 94" www.geatorgold.net www.wvlt.com www.wpen.com www.94slammingold.com

Sally Starr "Sally Star's Country Classics" Classic Country and Western music as it used to be, hosted by

Oklahoma-born cowgirl and former WFIL-TV (now WPVI) children's show hostess Sally Starr. Playlist is tight featuring classic C&W hits by George Strait, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline, but also includes newer hits by more current artists. Program always begins with the Pledge of Allegiance being recited by children of a local school followed by Lee Greenwood's classic God Bless the USA and the show also includes banter between Sally and her on-air assistants, which may be amusing and entertaining to listeners who had seen Sally's TV show when they were children. Can be heard on WVLT 92.1 FM Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. www.sallystarr.net www.wvlt.com

RJ Ron Joseph "RJ's Disco USA" One of two Philadelphia radio legends honored in the Disco Hall of Fame, RJ has been hosting disco and dance programs on local radio and TV at various times over the past four decades. Current show can be heard on WVLT 92.1 FM Friday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is syndicated on stations like WMPH-FM and KXGQ GQ-92, which simulcast RJ's Disco USA online. www.wvlt.com www.kxgq.com:9000/listen.pls www.shoutcast.com www.geocities.com/jrmiller20022000/rj.html

Jon Solomon "Rock with Jon Solomon" Best all-around mix of new, indie and small-label punk, thrash, metal, old-school rap, hip-hop and nearly everything else by one of Philly's most dedicated radio program hosts and one of the area's youngest broadcast legends. One of the best-known DJs on the area's most progressive music stations, Solomon holds the unofficial record for most and most consecutive 24-hour on-air marathons, having hosted the WPRB-FM "Holiday Marathon" (December 24 and 25) from 1988 to 2004. Jon is also founder of My Pal God Records, whose artists are occasionally showcased on the show's weekly "recorded live" segment at 8 p.m. WPRB 103.3 FM Wednesday 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. www.keepingscoreathome.com www.wprb.com

Jay Lamont "All About Real Estate" Host of Philadelphia's longest-running real estate program, real estate educator Lamont was born into the real estate business and has a near encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, which he shares with listeners each Sunday morning, occasionally adding commentary about prominent current events. Lamont, who "can talk the balls off a brass monkey" is also the founding director (and professor emeritus) of the Temple University Real Estate Institute, which has produced some of the nation's best-known and highest producing real estate brokers and Realtors. Heard on WPEN 950 AM Sunday 10 a.m. to noon www.wpen.com

Tommy Conwell "Loud and Local" One of Philly's best known rock stars of the 1980s and now host of the weekly program (formerly hosted by Mel "Toxic" Taylor), showcasing some of the area's best young and up-and-coming local rock bands. Heard on WYSP 94.1 FM Sunday 10 p.m. to midnight. Conwell also follows Howard Stern from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, previously hosted by Taylor and John DeBella (see below) on the same station www.mpprojects.com/tc/ www.94wysp.com

Michael Tearson "Psychedelic Psupper^TM" Friday 5 to 6 p.m. and "The Attic^TM," Friday 10 to 11 p.m.; (both on WBZC Z88.9 FM), early morning Saturday (6 to 8 a.m.) WMGK 104.5 FM ; "The Bob Dylan Radio Hour" on Sirius Satellite Radio's Folk Town (Channel 38 ) Sunday 10 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. The Baltimore-born Tearson came to Philadelphia in the mid 1960s and started his radio career at WXPN (then 88.9 FM) During his tenure there, he helped revolutionize college radio before moving on to commercial radio, where he became a local broadcasting superstar, interviewing and hobnobbing with the biggest rock acts of the day, including Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. As music tastes changed, Tearson career remained hot as he moved on to classic rock radio and even returned to broadcasting on college radio. Tearson, still one of hardest working men on the Philly music scene, manages to make appearances at concerts featuring local rock legends like Robert Hazard, all while doing at four radio shows on three different stations. http://staff.bcc.edu/radio/Michael_Tearson.htm www.z889.com www.wmgk.com www.sirius.com/FolkTown

Pierre Robert "Pierre Robert" One of the city's most popular and well-like rock DJs and on-air personalities, Robert (pronounced ro-BARE) has spent most of career at 'MMR 93.3, spinning records through the post-Beatles, glam rock, new-wave, grunge, rage-rock/rap-metal and nu-metal eras. Robert, recognizable by his long brown hair and beard, has also hosted locally-aired rock concerts in 'MMR's "Gorilla Theater" series and has interviewed many rockers along the way WMMR 93.3 FM weekdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.wmmr.com/jock_pierre.shtml www.wmmr.com

Mel "Toxic" Taylor 1980s Pop/rock/post-modern radio pioneer and DJ credited with bringing national recognition to local Philadelphia-area bands that played their own music, getting a younger demographic to listen to classic rock stations like WYSP-FM, and bringing WPST-FM and WXTU-FM into the 1980s. Taylor was last heard on WYSP on May 6, 1998, leaving the air following negative comments made toward local bands and toward Taylor himself by then-morning co-host John DeBella. Taylor is currently producing a syndicated DVD version of RJ's mid-to-late 1970s TV series "Disco USA" www.meltoxic.com *

Bob Pantano "Saturday Night Dance Party" on WOGL 98.1 and WWZK "94 Slammin' Gold" Saturday 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Pantano, one of two area radio legends honored in the Disco Hall of Fame, has been broadcasting the Dance Party on FM 98 for the past 28 years and has actually logged more on-air hours than Regis Philbin! Bob is one of Philly's hardest-working disc jockeys, spinning 70s dance and disco oldies five nights a week at various clubs around the area, as well as hosting a weekly television show on WMCN-TV and running his own production company. www.bobpantano.com www.wogl.com www.94slammingold.com www.rpctv.us www.happeningstv.com

Rollye James "Rollye James Show" Former WWDB-FM talk show host now heard on WPHT 1210 AM

weeknights 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. and syndicated nationally www.rollye.net www.thebigtalker1210.com

(note: Rollye also hosts and maintains both her own website and Jerry Blavat's www.geatorgold.net website)

Doctor Cosmo "Nocturnal Transmissions" The best and most eclectic college radio since WXPN's Diaspar

The Doctor (he really is, with a PhD in astronomy) playa a wild and weird mix of electronic, prog rock and avant-garde stuff, including Eno, Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream, as well as live performances by his weekly musical guests, some of whom he joins during their live in-studio performances WPRB 103.3 FM Friday nights 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. www.doctorcosmo.com www.wprb.com

Corky Warren "Corky's Time Machine" Rock 'n roll, R&B and doo-wop oldies from the '50s and '60s and banter between Corky and Mrs. Corky, plus "The Estrogen Explosion" featuring records by female recording artists of that era in music WVLT 92.1 FM Saturday 8 p.m. to midnight www.wvlt.com/corky.html www.wvlt.com

Gene Shay "The Folk Show" Legendary Philly DJ hosts one of the longest-running folk-and-acoustic music shows in the area on Penn's WXPN 88.5 FM Sunday 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. www.geneshay.com www.xpn.org

"Smiling" Lou Powers "Sunshine Music Memories" Great songs from the golden era of American popular music. Host Lou Powers plays selections from his library of almost 150,000 discs from the early 1900s to the mid and late 1950s. Everything from ragtime to big band to jazz and swing, along with classic Broadway show tunes and cast recordings WBCB 1490 AM Monday, Tueday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon; Wednesday 11 to noon and Friday 10 to 11 a.m. www.wbcb1490.com/loupowers.htm www.wbcb1490.com

Fred Sherman "The Fred $herman Show" Callers ask Sovereign Bank VP and chief economist Fred Sherman and co-hosts Steve van Rensellaer and Realtor Diane Williams for their advice on buying, selling or holding a specific stock or bond. Listeners are encourages to join Fred's website in order to get exclusive, non-public money-making stock advice WPEN 950 AM Sunday 8 to 9 a.m. www.fredsherman.com www.wpen.com

Chuck van Zyl "Star's End" Electronic music, space music, Kraut rock and Avant-garde from this alumnus of Diaspar, who is also a musician himself. Lots of great instrumental tracks, but at such a late hour WXPN 88.5 FM Sunday 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. www.starsend.org www.xpn.org

John DiLiberto "Echoes" Another former Diaspar host and co-founder now focuses on world music, with recorded live performances by special guests. This nationally-syndicated program also has a companion website and record label of the same name. Listeners can check playlists and buy music by the featured artists of previous shows. WXPN 88.5 FM weeknights 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. www.echoes.org www.xpn.org

Helen Licht "Philly Local" as well as the "Licht Lunch" Former pop/commercial radio personality now heard on non-commercial radio at WXPN 88.5 FM Weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., playing more local and less commercial artists. www.xpn.org/phillylocal.php www.xpn.org

David Dye "World Café" (and "Funky Friday") Another former commercial pop radio DJ gets a new lease on life on Philly's most powerful non-public radio station, broadcasting from it's luxurious new studio complex of the same name. "World Café" is syndicated nationally. WXPN 88.5 FM Weekdays 2 to 7 p.m. with repeat broadcasts from 1 to 5 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. http://worldcafe.org/ www.xpn.org

Michaela Majoun "Morning Show" One of Philly's former pop radio DJs (as with others) gets a new lease on life on Penn's WXPN 88.5 FM Monday to Thursday 5 to 10 a.m. (5 to 9 a.m. on Fridays) www.xpn.org www.xpn.org/morningshow.php

Pat O'Shea "The All Ages Show" and "The Scarlet Pumpernickel" Saturdays 1 to 4 p.m. (WPR103.3 FMB); "The World in Tune" Sundays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. WBZC Z88.9 FM Lots of fun on a rainy Saturday afternoon: kids' songs and novelty records, hosted by DJ "Pato" or "Padde" (as well as other aliases) and his puppet/alter ego Eddap. Worth the occasional listen www.wprb.com www.z889.com

Thomas Maraynick "The Worried Waltz" Eclectic pop songs from artists you thought you knew pretty well, including Kurt Weill, Bjork, Elvis Costello, The Beatles, David Sylvian, Loudon Wainwright III, Todd Rundgren, The Residents, Peggy Lee, Brian Wilson and just about anyone else WPRB 103.3 FM Sundays 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. www.wprb.com

Bonnie Lynn "Musical Odyssey" One of Philly's best (if not THE best) sources of Greek music WPRB 103.3 FM Sunday 1 to 3 p.m. www.bonnielynn.org/greekmusic.html www.wprb.com

Maria Tessa Sciarrino "Two States" One of the few places where bands from Southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey get the airplay they deserve, on WPRB 103.3 FM Tuesday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. http://herjazz.org/maria/ www.wprb.com

"Giant" Gene Arnold "The Sounds of PHILLY" Online only. Classic, Philly-based late '50s, 60's and '70s pop, R&B, rock 'n roll, soul and disco get 24/7 exposure on this online radio station operated by legendary Philadelphia based DJ. Also includes photos, backstories, trivia and memorabilia about local-based pioneers from the early days of the rock era. www.giantgene.com

Gene Godfrey "Classic FM" Local progressive-rock aficionado plays some of the best prog-rock records ever recorded, including works by Yes and Supertramp, as well as doing interviews and giving occasional airplay to local music legends like Robert Hazard and Kenn Kweder. Can be heard on WBZC Z88.9 Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. sandwiched between Michael Tearson's two Friday-night shows.

http://staff.bcc.edu/radio/Gene_Godfrey.htm www.angelfire.commusic2/classicfm/ www.z889.com

Greg Gaughan "Roots Rock Review" Gives exposure to local singer/songwriters like Nik Everett as well as to other folk, roots rock and acoustic music acts not likely to be heard on the big commercial stations. WBZC Z88.9 Wednesdays 6 to 10 p.m. http://staff.bcc.edu/radio/GregG.htm www.z889.com

Art Andrews "Your Saxophone is My Guitar" Nice mix of indie, small-label, unsigned and local rock bands and lesser-known artists that don't normally get airplay on big corporate radio. WPRB 103.3 FM Thursdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. http://ysimg.blogspot.com www.wprb.com

DJ Arico "Contacting Extraterrestrial Beings" Progressive hip-hop mixmaster plays some of the hottest and best tracks ever (or never) heard in this area, including his own world-class dance mixes. WPRB 103.3 FM Thursday Midnight to 2 a.m. www.jeffreyarico.com www.djarico.com www.wprb.com

John Weingart "Music You Can't Hear on the Radio" Some of the best (or most eclectic) acoustic and folk music you're likely to hear. Guests hosts fill in for the summer months, however, but also provide an interesting and exciting assortment of songs that would never get airplay on most commercial radio. Can be heard on WPRB 103.3 FM Sunday, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. www.veryseldom.com www.wprb.com

Hotrod Scott and Professor Ouch "Roots Rockabilly Roadhouse" Two local good 'ol boys play '50s and early '60s style rock 'n roll: everything from Link Wray to Elvis (Presley) to Brian Setzer to Eugene Chadbourne. Wild but fun. Tuesday, 1 to 4 p.m. on WPRB and 9 to 11 p.m. on WVLT "Cruisin' 92.1 FM" www.rootsrockabillyroadhouse.com * www.wprb.com www.wvlt.com

Money Guys "The Money Guys" Good financial advice from these Wachovia securities brokers/financial consultants on how not to go broke before and during retirement Heard on WPEN 950 AM Sunday, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. www.themoneyguys.wbsec.com * www.wpen.com

Bob Diamond "The Bob Diamond Real Estate Show" Philadelphia real estate and consumer protection lawyer, along with Realtor wife Rebecca, dispense some of the best local real estate and investment advice this side of Jay Lamont. Occasionally features interesting and informative guests who've made it investing in the real estate foreclosure market. WPEN 950 AM Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. www.bobdiamond.com www.wpen.com

Mary Mason "The Mary Mason Show" For urban black Philadelphia what Irv Homer is for the suburbs

WHAT 1340 AM weekdays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. www.what1390i.com/what.m3u

Bryan Walsh "The Witching Hours" Some of the newest and best in Goth and Industrial music from around the world by this Ivy League grad student. Saturday 3 to 6 a.m. on WPRB 103.3 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheWitchingHours www.wprb.com

Links followed by an asterisk (*) may currently be under construction or are no longer operational.

If you find any inaccuracies on this page, feel free to e-mail me at jrmiller20022000@yahoo.com

This directory compiled and copyright © 2005 by J.R. Miller, who has personally heard at least one complete program by all but one of the above mentioned names. The order in which individuals mentioned above have been listed was determined by a proprietary system that takes into consideration a combination of seniority, significance, recognition and reputation in the local radio broadcasting market and requires that each must either be alive and broadcasting or be actively involved in some area of the local broadcast community.