Posted by Bud on May 28, 2010 at 20:54:00:
National Radio Hall of Fame Chairman Bruce DuMont announced the 2010 list of nominees in the public voting categories. Of the sixteen nominees in four categories, many have direct or in-direct Chicago radio connections.
In the category of "Local or Regional - Active," Chicago's amazing Terri Hemmert is nominated. "Aunt Terri," the Queen of Chicago radio and the long-time staple of WXRT is clearly worthy of this honor. This is the second year in a row she has been nominated.
In the category of "Local or Regional - Pioneer," another longtime Chicago favorite gets the nod: Steve Dahl. This is the third nomination for one of the most influential radio personalities of this generation. Also nominated in this category is Gary Burbank, who has gained some Chicago press lately as the man behind the "Earl Pitts" character, who was hired this year by the Tribune Company to do TV "commentaries" on WGN America.
In the category of "National - Pioneer," the "WLS National Barn Dance" gets its second nomination. This important radio show ran for almost 35 years on WLS until the station switched formats to contemporary music, at which time it aired for many years on WGN. The syndicated program, "Music and the Spoken Word" is also nominated in this category. It started in 1929 and still airs to this day. It can currently be heard in the Chicago area on WTMX-FM on Sunday mornings and WCEV-AM on Sunday mornings and Monday nights.
In the category of "National - Active," NPR's Carl Kasell is nominated. Kasell, though retired (he retired from NPR at the end of last year), is continuing to be an active part of the Chicago Public Radio weekly show, "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!" Also nominated in this category are: Bob Brinker, whose syndicated show is heard on WLS-AM Saturday & Sunday afternoons, Bob Kingsley, whose syndicated show is heard on WUSN-FM Saturday mornings, and Howard Stern, who has had his syndicated radio show on a number of Chicago stations over the years and can still be heard on Sirius/XM radio.
Here now is the complete list of nominees and their descriptions, as shown in the official NRHAF press release from today:
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NATIONAL - ACTIVE
*** Bob Brinker - the knowledgeable host of Money Talk on Citadel Media Network's for over 20 years, Brinker shares investment advice and analysis with his audience and frequently is first to identify important economic trends.
*** Carl Kasell - a 50 year plus broadcasting veteran, Kasell was news anchor on NPR's Morning Edition for 30 years, and now appears weekly as official judge and scorekeeper for NPR's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!
*** Bob Kingsley - known as the syndicated voice of Country music, Kingsley began countdown hosting in 1978 and starting in 1987, Billboard magazine named his show the top syndicated country program for 16 straight years. Distributed by Jones Radio Network, it is now called Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40.
*** Howard Stern - one of the most talked about and controversial radio hosts of all time, Stern began his career as a disc jockey in the Northeast but gained national prominence at WNBC/New York and then at WXRK-FM/New York. Stern moved to Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006 after bitter battles with the FCC over content limits.
LOCAL OR REGIONAL - ACTIVE
*** Leslie Fram - known to many as the First Lady of Modern Rock, Fram is Program Director at 101.9 WRXP-FM/New York and co-hosts the morning drive show with Matt Pinfield. In 2000 and 2001, she was named Program Director of the Year by the Gavin Report and also by Radio & Records.
*** Terri Hemmert - a disc jockey known for her encyclopedic knowledge of music and especially of The Beatles, the civically-active Hemmert made Chicago radio history in 1981 when she became the first female morning drive personality on WXRT-FM.
*** Luther Masingill - serving as the morning personality on WDEF/Chattanooga, TN since 1941, Luther Masingill is a broadcasting institution in the Tennessee Valley. Also an original member of WDEF-TV broadcasts, Masingill's radio show is a mixture of music, comedy and local information and has entertained listeners for 65 years.
*** Ronn Owens - a versatile talk show host on KGO/San Francisco since 1975, Ronn Owens covers discussions ranging from local issues and international issues to politics and pop culture. His highly rated show has been referred to as the "ultimate town meeting."
NATIONAL - PIONEER
*** Barry Farber - known for his Southern drawl, intensity, and conservative views, Farber began his on-air career at WINS/New York in 1960 and moved to WOR/New York in 1962. After an unsuccessful run for mayor, it was afternoon drive time on WMCA/New York for ten years, before moving into national syndication with ABC.
*** Music and the Spoken Word - a program of inspiration and music, featuring The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Music and the Spoken Word is the longest-running radio broadcast in America. The Choir, which first started broadcasting on July 15, 1929, is made up of 360 volunteer members and is heard from coast-to-coast.
*** Tony Roberts - the voice of The Fighting Irish on Mutual and Westwood One starting in 1980, Roberts had already established his play-by-play credentials at Indiana University, Navy and the Washington Senators before bringing his unbridled enthusiasm to the Notre Dame booth at college football's flagship university.
*** WLS National Barn Dance - the program debuted on April 19, 1924 during powerhouse WLS/Chicago's first day on air and became an instant hit, preceding the Grand Ole Opry, and first introducing country music to the masses with a heavy dose of down-home comedy.
LOCAL OR REGIONAL - PIONEER
*** Gary Burbank - a Cincinnati radio legend at WLW-AM until late 2007, Burbank -- who took his professional name by combining broadcasting icon Gary Owens with Burbank, CA -- dominated Queen City radio for over four decades with wit, innovation, a loveable cast of characters and a love for his city.
*** Steve Dahl - famous for his biting song parodies, impressions and daily observations about his personal life, Dahl first hit the big time in Detroit before moving to Chicago in 1979, changing radio there forever. One of the industry's first "Shock Jocks," Dahl has spawned many imitators and continues to innovate.
*** Ralph Emery - a country music icon, Emery began his career as the late-night disc jockey on country music's flagship WSM/Nashville. The station reached much of the southern and central U.S. and the show became a launching pad for promising country artists. A move to television and two best-selling books moved him to icon status.
*** Charles Laquidara - Laquidara's The Big Mattress was a pioneer effort in FM broadcasting, on WBCN/Boston for over 30 years. It was one of the first FM shows to feature a shifting on-air cast, including producers, writers and a production team. Known for his eclectic musical tastes, the outspoken Laquidara was never bashful about his criticism of corporate governance and right-wing politics.
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The online balloting process to vote for the above nominees begins June 14th and ends on August 1st. Votenet, an online vote tabulating firm, will supervise the balloting. Voting is free and open to the public. (Voters must register first.) More information can be found on the National Radio Hall of Fame website on June 14th.
The NRHOF is part of the Chicago-based Museum of Broadcast Communications. The nominees to the 2010 Class of America's only National Radio Hall of Fame were selected by the 23 member National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee. This committee also has its fair share of Chicagoans sitting on it.
The Steering Committee will meet again on August 4th to ratify the voting results and will then select additional 2010 inductees, including the posthumous and non on-air individuals awards.
The National Radio Hall of Fame inductions will take place during a live national radio & Internet broadcast from Chicago on Saturday, November 6th at 9:00pm.