Rock Radio Heaven (M)
BYRON MacGREGOR
Born: March 3, 1948, Calgary
Died: January 3, 1995, Detroit
Also known as: His birth name is Gary Lachlan Mack
Stations: CKLW Windsor, Ont.
Notes: At 19 was the youngest news director in major market radio. At 22 recorded 'The Americans" a narrative recording that sold threee million copies. He gave all of the profits to the American Red Cross. His wife, Jo-Jo Shutty MacGregor, was the first female helicopter traffic reporter in North America at CKLW and was still doing traffic in Detroit in the 2000s. Died of complications from pneumonia.
PHIL MacKELLAR
Died: January 26, 1983, Mississauga, Ont.
Also known as: That Feller MacKellar
Stations: CKFH, CKEY, CKFM, CJBC Toronto
Notes: Hosted "All That Jazz" for years at CKFM. A 34-year broadcast veteran, his career all-but ended when - thinking the microphone was off - he repeated a racist remark on the air at CKFM on July 31, 1982. A broken man, he died a few months later of a heart attack.
DON MacKINNON
Born: January 2, 1934
Died: June 24, 1965, Malibu, Calif.
Stations: KIOA Des Moines, KDEO San Diego, KROY Sacramento, Calif., KABC Hollywood, Calif., KEWB San Francisco, KLAC, KFWB Los Angeles
Notes: Native of Yonkers, N.Y. Don Imus said he was inspired to get into radio by listening to MacKinnon. Died when his car went over a cliff in Malibu, Calif., following a personal appearance.
BOB MacRAE
Born: November 2, 1949, Buffalo, N.Y.
Died: December 4, 2007, Vesper, N.Y.
Also known as: Birth name was Robert Henry Zdrojewski
Stations: WKBW, WBNY, WGRF-FM (97 Rock), WBEN, WZIR Buffalo, N.Y.
Notes: Probably best-known for his time at WKBW in the 1970s and 1980s. Was program director at WZIR and WGRF. Owned production company called Limelight Productions. Did voice-over work after moving to Central New York in 1990. Semi-retired following a heart valve replacement in 1992.
JOHN MAJHOR
Born: November 28, 1953, San Bernadino, Calif.
Died: January 23, 2007, Young America, Minn.
Stations: KKLS Rapid City, S.D. (as Curt Martin), WAPE Jacksonville, Fla., CHUM, CJEZ, CITY-TV, CFMT-TV Toronto, KLAC, KCBS Los Angeles, KSFQ Santa Fe, N.M.
Notes: Spent 11 years at CHUM - mostly in drive shifts - from 1975 to 1986. A pioneering veejay, he played videos on his "Video Singles" show on CFMT in 1983. From 1984 to 1986 he hosted the "Toronto Rocks" video show on CITY-TV. Was one of the original anchors of the "E" Network in the U.S. Known as the "barefoot disc jockey" because he liked doing his shows without shoes or socks. Was 53 when he died of cancer.
JOHN MANZI
Died: July 18, 2010, Providence, R.I.
Also known as: Big Ange, Andy Jackson
Stations: WJAR, WPRO, WICE Providence, R.I., WHIM East Providence, R.I., WKRI West Warwick, R.I., WINR Binghamton, N.Y., WELM Elmira, N.Y., WASY Gorham, Me., WZON, Bangor, Me.
Notes: While at WPRO, he described himself as the "Cadillac of PRO radio." Died of cancer at the age of 68.
TERRY MANN
Born: December 21, 1936, Wingham, Ont.
Died: June, 1973
Also known as: His real name was Bill Henning.
Stations: CKLB Oshawa, Ont., CKFH, CHUM Toronto, WKBW Buffalo, N.Y., WNDR Syracuse, N.Y.
Notes: Died of diabetes-related complications.
HARRY MARTIN
Died: January 5, 2009, Point Loma, Calif.
Also known as: Happy Hare
Stations: KCBQ San Diego, WXYZ Detroit, KGBC Galveston, Tex., KLAC Los Angeles, WADO New York, KYW Cleveland
Notes: Had four different stints at KCBQ. In addition to his air work, also spent over 20 years selling air time for various stations. Teamed with Specs Howard (Jerry Liebman) on a popular morning show on KYW, then moved to Detroit where the program was successful (but Howard continued to own the legendary Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in Southfield, Mich). Inducted into Ohio Radio/TV Hall of Fame in 2006. Received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 by the San Diego Radio Broadcasters. Still active in 2008, when he hosted a weekly show at signonsandiego.com. The native of Galveston, Tex, died of liver cancer at age 81.
KEN MATZ
Died: January 23, 2010, Harrisburg, Pa.
Also known as: Ken Matts (WRAW), Gary Smith (at WFEC)
Stations: WRAW Reading, Pa., WFEC Harrisburg, Pa., WIBG Philadelphia, KYW, WCAU-TV Philadelphia, WITI-TV Milwaukee, KGO-TV San Francisco, WCIX-TV Miami, WMAR-TV Baltimore
Notes: Started broadcasting career at WRAW in 1964. Won several AP Awards and an Emmy over his long career which ended in retirement in 1997. Died of throat cancer.
BOB McADOREY
Born: July 24, 1935, Niagara Falls, Ont.
Died: February 5, 2005, St. Catharines, Ont.
Stations: CJCD Dawson Creek, B.C., CHVC Niagara Falls, Ont., CHUM, CHFI, CFTR Toronto, CFGM Richmond Hill, Ont., Global Television
Also known as: His full birth name was Robert Joseph McAdorey
Notes: Did afternoons at CHUM during its glory years of the 1960s and was music director at the influential station. Found a second career in television at Global in the 1970s, and went on to spend many years there as entertainment editor. Predeceased by his wife and two of his children. Spent his final years in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.. Read his Toronto Star obituary here.
ROGER McCALL
Stations: WCMF Rochester, N.Y.
Died: December 12, 2003
Also known as: Unkle Rog
Notes: Spent three decades at WCMF, mostly on the all-night show. A big supporter of local music talent, he recorded six albums of Rochester bands during a 25-year period. Died after he was shot during a robbery. He was 52.
LARRY McCORMICK
Died: August, 2004
Stations: KPRS Kansas City, KGFJ, KDAY, KFWB, KLAC, KMPC Los Angeles
Notes: Named 4th most popular R&B deejay of the year in 1967 by Billboard. Made successful transition to television with stops at KCOP, KABC and KTLA. Winner of many awards, including the "Torchbearer" award from the Black Journalists Association of Southern California.
ED McKENZIE
Born: January 20, 1911, Flushing, Mich.
Died: February 5, 2001, Flint, Mich.
Stations: WJBK Detroit
Also known as: Jack The Bellboy, Birth name is Edmond Thomas McKenzie
GORDON McLENDON
Born: June 8, 1921, Paris, Tex.
Died: September 14, 1986, Denton Co., Tex.
Stations: See below
Notes: McLendon is one of the co-fathers of Top 40 radio. He owned many stations including KLIF, KNUS-FM Dallas, KILT Houston, WAKY Louisville, Ky., KEEL Shreveport, La., KADS Los Angeles, KABL Oakland, Calif., WYSL Buffalo, N.Y., and WNUS-FM and WYNR Chicago. In addition to be an innovator in Top 40 radio, he was also ahead of his time in seeing the future of all-news radio. Pioneer of "beautiful music" programming at KABL. He also foresaw the advent of infocommercials at KADS. Also co-produced a couple of cult classic "B" films, "The Killer Shrews" and "The Giant Gila Monster."
JAY McPHAIL
Died: December 1996
Stations: CJJD Hamilton, Ont., CING-FM Burlington, Ont., CKEY Toronto
Also known as: Terry McPhail
Notes: Lead singer for the rock group Tenderness from 1969 to 1973. Was CHAM's all-night man from 1972 to 1974. Died of cancer in 1996.
BILL MEEKS
Born: March 2, 1921
Died: September 8, 1999
Notes: Founded the PAMS jingle company. Died of cancer. A tribute to Bill Meeks can be found here.
BILL "ROSKO" MERCER
Born: May 25, 1927, New York City
Died: August 1, 2000, New York City
Also known as: Rosko
Stations: WLIB, WINS, WQIV, WOR-FM, WNEW-FM, WBLS, WKTU, WBAI New York; KGFJ, KBLA, KMET, WHAT Chester, N.J., WDAS Philadelphia, WNJR Secaucus, N.J., Voice of America
Notes: First black announcer on both WINS and KBLA. Unhappy with the station's switch to a more restrictive format, he resigned on-air at WOR-FM. Soon after was hired by WNEW-FM where he spent three years. Did voice-over work for commercials and was heard in announcements for CBS Sports.
'MAD DADDY' PETE MEYERS
Died: October 4, 1968, New York
Also known as: Mad Daddy
Stations: WHKK, Akron, Ohio, WJW, WHK Cleveland, WNEW, WNEW-FM, WINS New York
Notes: His Mad Daddy show featured the sound-effect of a bubbling cauldron, representing a vat in a labratory. As Mad Daddy, he was one of the highest-energy d.j.'s in rock radio history. However, while on WNEW, he appeared as himself, the mellow Pete Myers. Unhappy with being moved to the night shift at WNEW-AM, he shot himself in his Manhattan apartment. He was 40.
GEORGE MICHAEL
Born: March 24, 1939, St. Louis
Died: December 24, 2009, Washington, D.C.
Also known as: "King" George Michael; birth name was George Michael Gimpel.
Stations: WIL St. Louis, KICN Denver, WRIT Milwaukee, WFIL Philadelphia, WABC New York, WRC, WRC-TV Washington
Notes: Replaced Cousin Brucie in the evening shift at WABC in 1974, spending five years there after an eight-year stint at WFIL. Hosted the sports highlight show "The George Michael Sports Machine" which was distributed for syndication nationally by NBC from 1984 to 2007 (it began in 1980 as a local show called "George Michael's Sports Final." on WRC-TV Washington, where he worked as a sports anchor for 28 years ending in 2008. Michael won an Emmy for "The George Michael Sports Machine." While at WABC in the '70s, he was also a sports anchor on WABC-TV and did colour commentary for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. Was also a nationally known collector of baseball cards and early baseball photos. Died of complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
JOHNNY MICHAELS
Died: February, 2002
Stations: WFAS, WOR-FM, WMCA, WCBS-FM, WNBC New York, WWDJ Hackensack, N.J.
Notes: A versatile announcer, Michaels was one of the last Top 40 jocks on WMCA and one of the first free-form announcers at WOR-FM. Also did the first shift, in mornings, when WCBS-FM switched to oldies in July, 1972. Died at the age of 60. Not to be confused with the Johnny Michaels who has worked at WTIC-FM, WDRC and WWYZ.
JOHNNY MITCHELL
Died: November 11, 1987
Also known as: Birth name was (Gerald) Edward Phillips.
Stations: WKSR Pulaski, Tenn., WBMC McMinnville, Tenn., KHJ Los Angeles, KCBQ San Diego, KFOG, KFRC San Francisco, WSIX Nashville, Tenn., WYDE Birmingham, Ala., KQV Pittsburgh, WOR-FM New York
Also known as: Sebastian Stone, Johnny Holiday and Mel Kent (WYDE). His birth name was (Gerald) Edward Phillips.
Notes: Stayed awake 195 hours at WYDE early in his career. Died of heart attack.
DICK MORELAND
Died: July 24, 1988
Stations: KRLA Los Angeles
Notes: Moreland was at KRLA from 1961 to 1969. In 1966, he won a Billboard award as the most cooperative music director, program director or music librarian in exposing new music. Started the very successful Music Plus record chain. Ended his show with "This has been a Desert Rose Production. Bye Bye. Buy Bottled in Bond. Bye Bye." Died of cancer at age 55.
BUMPER MORGAN
Died: October 26, 2005
Also known as: His birth name was Frederick Merrin
Stations: WXLO, WPIX-FM, WNBC New York, WENE, WNBF, WKOP-FM Binghamton, N.Y., KAHU Honolulu, WWSW, WWNL-AM (station manager), WSHH-FM, WJJJ-FM, WCTX-FM, WHTX-FM, WVTY Pittsburgh
Notes: Was announcer for TV show "Inside Edition." Did voice work for BBC. Filled in for Casey Kasem on American Top 40. The native of Endicott, N.Y., died of a heart attack at age 57.
ROBERT W. MORGAN
Born: July 23, 1937, Galion, Ohio
Died: May 22, 1998, Los Angeles
Also known as: Early in his career used the name Bob Morgan
Stations: WWST AM and FM, Karns, Tenn., KHJ-AM, KHJ-TV, KIQQ, KMPC, KMGG, KRTH Los Angeles, KEWB San Francisco, WIND Chicago, KMAK Fresno, Calif., KACY Oxnard, Calif,, KROY Sacramento, Calif., KMBY Monterey, Calif., KTEE Carmel, Calif., KOMY Watsonville, Calif.
Notes: Named Billboard Magazine's Air Personality of the Year in 1967. Co-produced and narrated the 48-hour History of Rock and Roll, which aired on KHJ in 1969. Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994. Died after a year-long bout with lung cancer, the same disease that killed The Real Don Steele and Bill Drake. Middle name was Wilbur.
MR. MAGIC
Born: March 15, 1956, New York
Died: October 2, 2009, New York
Stations: WHBI, WBLS, WQHT New York, WEBB Baltimore
Also known as: Birth name was John Rivas
Notes: When his "Rap Attack" weekend show debuted on WBLS in April, 1983, he became the first host on a commercial station to devote a show entirely to rap. The New York Times said in his obituary that he was to rap what Alan Freed was to rock 'n' roll in terms of popularizing his genre of music. Mr. Magic was also a producer and performer in his own right who worked with the Force MD's. Died of a heart attack.
HAL MURRAY
Died: September 17, 1988
Also known as: Emperor, as in Emperor Hal Murray
Stations: KQV Pittsburgh, KDWB Minneapolis, WINQ Tampa, Fla., KFWB Los Angeles, WNEW New York, WOKY Milwaukee, WILZ St. Petersburg, Fla., WKIS Orlando, Fla., WEEK Peoria, Ill., WHKK Akron, Ohio, WHLW Lakewood, N.J., WNOE New Orleans
Notes: Listeners to his KQV show were known as "Murray's Militia" and his show was known as the "Murray Go-Round". Died at age 67.
PAT MURRAY
Stations: CKEY Toronto, CING-FM (FM 108) Burlington, Ont.
Notes: Was at CKEY during its easy-listening era. Died in 1980s.
SCOTT MUNI
Born: May 10, 1930, Wichita, Kan.
Died: September 28, 2004, New York
Stations: Radio Guam, WAKR Akron, Ohio, WMCA, WABC, WOR-FM, WNEW-FM, WAXQ New York
Also known as: Nicknamed "Scottso" and "The Professor"
Notes: The gravel-voiced Muni was one of the first major Top 40 announcers to move successfully to the album rock format. Replaced Alan Freed at WAKR, then moved on to a run of more than 40 years in the New York market. Was on the scene broadcasting live for WABC when the Beatles first arrived in New York in 1964. Over 30 of those years were at New York's legendary album rock station, WNEW-FM, where well-known musicians often dropped in to be interviewed. Hosted syndicated programs "Ticket to Ride" and "Scott Muni's World of Rock". Voice-over work included the famous "How Do You Spell Relief" Rolaids TV commercial, and promos for Monday Night Football. Died nine months after suffering a stroke in January, 2004.
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