Talent: JOE O'BRIEN
Station: WMCA New York
Date: February 24, 1965
Time: 18:55
He was one of the most popular morning men of the rock 'n' roll era. But Joe O’Brien’s radio roots date back to the time of the big bands.
O’Brien entered the medium as actor looking for work in 1934. After short stints at WNYC and WHN in New York, he started as an announcer at WMCA in 1936.
O’Brien would spend more than 30 years at WMCA - a stint interrupted only when he worked for Armed Forces Radio during the Second World War. After the war, he teamed with Roger Gallagher at WMCA in the morning show, later moving to afternoons.
Then rock ’n’ roll arrived. Undaunted, O’Brien made a seamless move to Top 40, regaining the morning show in 1960 with his imaginary sidekick, Benny. He was part of a memorable Good Guys lineup that included such legends as Harry Harrison, Jack Spector, Dan Daniel and B. Mitchel Reed.
O’Brien moved to WNBC as morning man in 1969. In 1972, he signed on at a station that was just starting up, WHUD in Peekskill, New York. He remained morning man there until 1986, when he retired from weekday duties. He was doing a weekend show at WHUD as late as 2000, meaning he was on the air for eight consecutive decades!
O’Brien died July 24, 2005 in a car accident in Lenox, Massachusetts. He was 90 and left behind an unmatched radio legacy and untold numbers of fans and admirers. Rest In Peace, Joe.
Hear Joe
O'Brien on WMCA here. 
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