Rock Radio Heaven (P-Q)
GARY PALANT
Died: October, 2002
Stations worked at: KTKT, KAIR, KIKX Tucson, Ariz., KPOI, KORL Honolulu, KDAY Los Angeles, WBBQ Augusta, Ga., KQOE Albuquerque, N.M., WKAZ Charleston W.Va., CKFH Toronto, WNEW-FM New York.
Notes: Former PD at 'FH and 'NEW. Died at age 61 of melanoma and is buried in Tucson, Ariz.
JIM PAULSON
Born: January 10, 1940, Edmonton
Died: February 13, 2007, Mississauga, Ont.
Stations: CJCA Edmonton, CKRC Winnipeg, CFUN Vancouver, CKEY, CHFI-FM Toronto, CKQT Oshawa, Ont., CING-FM Burlington, Ont., CHWO Oakville, Ont.
Notes: A highly sought after voice talent, Paulson was also a track announcer at the Toronto Molson Indy and auto racing events at Mosport International Raceway in southern Ontario. Interviewed many stars like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sophia Loren and Lou Rawls. His late wife, Kitty Meredith, was a celebrated performer known as Diamond Lil. One of radio's true "nice guys", Paulson was 67 when he died after collapsing at an on-air event for CHWO.
DICK PEPLOW
Born: 1944
Died: July 13, 2007
Stations: CJIC, CKCY Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., CKJL Kirkland Lake, Ont., CKPR Thunder Bay, Ont., also worked at stations in St. Thomas, Ont., Sudbury, Ont., Dawson Creek, B.C., Winnipeg and Yellowknife.
Notes: Enjoyed a five-decade career in broadcast, print and online media, beginning and ending in Sault Ste. Marie but with much travelling in between. Was in Grade 12 at Sault Collegiate Institute in the early '60s when he started deejaying at CJIC. Was elected as a city alderman in Yellowknife. Started what is now known as SooToday.com in 2000 - it has become one of Canada's most popular online community news services. In 2003, Peplow launched BayToday.ca, serving North Bay, Ont. Died at the age of 63.
DAVE PERKINS
Born: 1954
Died: 1995
Stations: WJDX-WZZQ Jackson, Miss., WNAT, WQNZ-FM Natchez, Miss.
WILLIAM PFIEFFER
Born: 1956
Died: September 1, 1999
Notes: Pfieffer founded the Airwaves Journal and its accompanying discussion forum, Airwaves Online. Launched in 1991 when Pfieffer lived in Springfield, Mo., it was one of the first electronic bulletin boards devoted to radio. A true radio buff, Pfieffer would drive all over looking for broadcast towers and stations to aircheck. He was killed in a car accident near Stanton, Minn., aged 43.
DEWEY PHILLIPS
Born: May 13, 1926, Crump, Tenn.
Died: September 28, 1968
Also known as: Birth name was Dewey Mills Phillips
Stations: WHBQ Memphis, Tenn., WHHM Millington, Tenn., also worked in Little Rock, Ark.
Notes: Gained everlasting notoriety when, in July 1954, he became the first deejay to play an Elvis Presley record, "That's All Right, Mama" and for good measure also interviewed on the air. Began hosting WHBQ's "Red, Hot and Blue" R&B show in October, 1949 and it became so popular that the competing station in town didn't even schedule a deejay against him in the 9 p.m.-midnight slot. Had a TV show, Phillips Pop Shop, later renamed Night Beat.
MIKE PHILLIPS
Died: October 16, 2006, Portland, Ore.
Stations: KAYO, KJR Seattle, KISN, KGW Portland, KNBR, KYUU, KIOI, KFRC, KOIT San Francisco, WXLO New York, WWDJ Hackensack, N.Y., WTMX Chicago, KTRH Los Angeles
Notes: One of the legendary jocks during KJR's golden years in the '60s, Phillips also programmed the highly-successful oldies station K-EARTH Los Angeles in the 1990s. He was also VP Programming at KYUU and WMTX. Died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 64.
DON PIETROMONACO
Born: September 15, 1935
Died: April 18, 1997, Westwood, Calif.
Stations: KROG Sonoma, Calif., KXOK St. Louis, KAFY Bakersfield, Calif., KRIZ Phoenix
Also known as: Johnny Rabbit, the Purple People Eater
Notes: Prior to being Johnny Rabbitt, Pietromonaco worked as a child actor in 37 Hollywood productions. Known as the Purple People Eater at KRIZ. Was Johnny Rabbitt on KXOK from 1963 to 1969. inviting listeners to phone in and "blab it to the Rabbitt". One of the famous drop-in voices he used was Bruno J. Grunion, the Rabbitt's alter-ego. Raised millions for medical research through his shows. Taught film production and voiceovers in Hollywood after his radio days ended, and also worked in film, TV and stage. Inducted into St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame in 2001. Died of complications related to emphysema.
BARNEY PIP
Died: 1994, Indianapolis
Stations: WJET Erie, Pa., WEEP Pittsburgh, WCFL Chicago, WPIX-FM New York, WGLI Babylon, N.Y., WOKY Milwaukee, WIFE Indianapolis, WHHY Montgomery, Ala.
Notes: Listeners to his show were known as "Pip People". Died in a car crash.
PETER POTTER
Born: April 14, 1905, Henryetta, Okla.
Died: April 17, 1983
Also known as: Birth name was William Mann Moore.
Stations: KMPC, KFWB, KLAC, KVFM Los Angeles, KCHV Palm Springs, Calif.
Notes: Creator of the "Platter Parade" and "Juke Box Jury" radio and TV shows. Worked in Los Angeles radio for a quarter-century. One of the legendary "Big 5" deejays at KLAC along with Dick Haynes, Alex Cooper, Gene Norman and Bob McLaughlin. Married singer Beryl Davis. Won Best Entertainment Emmys in 1953 and 1955. Was living in Palm Springs, Calif., at the time of his death, of a heart attack.
DAVID PRITCHARD
Born: October 18, 1944, London, England
Died: February 27, 2005, Toronto
Stations: CHUM-FM, CILQ (Q-107) Toronto, CFNY-FM Brampton, Ont.
Notes: CHUM-FM's all-night man from 1968 to the mid-1970s. Later, was program director at CFNY-FM. Also produced several well-received rock music documentaries. Was also a musician, the first North American artist signed by Island Records which had U-2 and Bob Marley on its roster.