Rock Radio Heaven (T)
JIM TABER
Died: March 15, 1993
Stations: KOSI Denver, WABB, Mobile, Ala., WSGN Birmingham, Ala. (PD), KLIF Dallas, KROQ Los Angeles, KINT-FM El Paso, Tex., KZZO-FM Clovis, N.M.
Also known as: The 'Bama Boy
Notes: Program director at WABB and WGSN. Owner of KINT-FM. Did 9 p.m.-midnight in the late '60s-early '70s at KLIF, where he was also music director. Died of brain tumor.
JIMMY TAPP
Born: 1918
Died: November 20, 2004, Oakville, Ont.
Stations worked at: CHNS Halifax, CBC Radio, CJAD, CKGM, CFQR, CFCF Montreal, CHWO Oakville, Ont., CFCF-TV Montreal, CBC-TV
Notes: Was station manager at CJAD and general sales manager at CKGM. Hosted "The Tapp Room" on CBC in the 1950s, then "Carte Blanche" on CFCF-TV. Also appeared nationally on CBC-TV with the "Flashback", a panel-quiz show on CBC-TV. Was also the lead cartoon voice of "The Mighty Hercules". Died at 86 eight days before he was to be inducted into the CAB Hall of Fame.
ROBIN TAYLOR
Stations: WLTW New York
Died: October 13, 2003
Notes: Spent 14 years in overnights at WLTW after working in Long Island, Charleston, S.C., and New Jersey. Thomas suffered from heart problems.
FRANK TERRY
Born: July 5, 1938, Rapid City, S.D.
Died: June 20, 2007, Sonora, Calif.
Also known as: Birth name was Terrence Francis Crilly
Stations: KMEN San Bernadino, Calif., KMAK Fresno, Calif., KHJ, KFI, KGIL Los Angeles, KSFX, KFRC, KSAN-KNEW San Francisco, KFGY (Froggy 92.9) Santa Rosa, Calif.
Notes: Was a first-generation Big-610 man at KMEN and an early Boss Jock at KHJ. Used to help break in the jocks at KHJ, often going months without a day off.
JACK THAYER
Stations: WOL Washington, D.C., WTCN, WDGY Minneapolis, WGAR, WHK Cleveland, KLAC Los Angeles, KXOA Sacramento, Calif., WNEW-AM New York
Notes: Was president of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association. Manager at KLAC. Vice-president and GM at WNEW. GM at WGAR during the Don Imus era..
MARY THOMAS
Born: October 6, 1943, Bergenfield, N.J.
Died: January 24, 1999
Nicknames: Birth name was Mary Felt.
Stations: WBLS, WRKS, WQCD, WQHT, WKTU New York, WKJY Garden City, N.Y.
Notes: Retired from radio in 1995 at age 52 to sail around the world. Died of brain cancer at age 55.
BILL TODD
Died: May 13, 2007
Also known as: Was Johnny Williams at WMID and WRKO and Cat Simon on KHJ.
Stations: WBUX, WIBG Philadelphia, WAAT Trenton, N.J., WMID Atlantic City, N.J., WRKO Boston, KHJ, KMET Los Angeles, WKRQ Cincinnati, WDAI Chicago, KRLY Houston, KPRI San Diego
Notes: Died of Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). In 2005, had his own Internet business with 30 employees and planned to retire in 2008.
BOBBY TRIPP
Died: July 19, 1968
Also known as: He was Bobby Mitchell at KFRC, birth name was Michael Guerra
Stations: WMSN Raleigh, N.C., WIBG Philadelphia, KHJ Los Angeles, KYA, KFRC San Francisco
Notes: Did afternoon drive at KYA. Died of a chronic blood disorder.
PETER TRIPP
Born: June 11, 1922, Port Chester, N.Y.
Died: Jan. 31, 2000, Northridge, Calif.
Also known as: The Curly Headed Kid in The Third Row (early in his career called himself The Bald Kid in the Third Row)
Stations: WEYL Royal Oak, Mich., KUDL, WHB Kansas City, KYA San Francisco, WMGM, WHN New York, KGFJ Los Angeles, WOHO Toledo, Ohio
Notes: Perhaps best known for involvement in the payola scandals and a 201-hour broadcasting marathon he did while at WMGM. Died at age 72 of a stroke.
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