The mission of WRTI public radio is to broadcast the very best classical music and jazz recordings, and produce innovative, entertaining, and informative content that enriches the daily lives of our audience and the cultural life of Philadelphia and the tri-state region. BP: Yes, it really did. You can make 20 times as much working down here. But I told him, I want the job in radio. That was my start in radio back in November of 1964.. But I didnt really visualize the response that I got. Michael Tanenbaum WRTI (90.1 FM) is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, . We would listen to the great John Facenda out of Philadelphia and to other great broadcasters from other cities. - regular airs Philadelphia Youth. What makes Bob so incredibly important to our music history and the history of Philadelphia is: he was there. Thats our savior, man.. ", BP going one on one with the audience shows a very strong kinship, said Craig, himself a 40-year veteran of local radio. In 2007, he was recognized with a proclamation by Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Philadelphia City Council and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. And I would sit with him and we would listen. In 1969, he headed home to Philly, where he began working as a news and editorial director at WDAS-FM, which was then known as the voice of the Black community. He stayed at that station for nearly two decades. Perkins wandered into the station at WGPR-FM and got a position as on-air DJ and Announcer. Perkins will continue to host his Sunday show from 9am to 1pm. He grew up in South Philadelphia and fell in love with radio as a child. #WRTImusic I had also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. WRTI. 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Beginning in June, he will end the weekday program and continue with the Sunday broadcast on, Fans mourn death of legendary Philly radio host Sid Mark, Questlove, The Balvenie award first scholarship for PhD in Creativity at University of the Arts, Philadelphia Film Society to host series of family-friendly movie screenings, Eagles name Alex Tanney QB coach, plus other coaching staff updates, The food you eat impacts the health of your eyes, Construction of Penn's Landing park over I-95 finally approved to begin, PennDOT says, Joanna McClinton becomes first woman elected as speaker of Pa. House, Rocco's Italian Sausage, a cult favorite at Home Depot stores in Philly, to expand in Bucks County, Low-calorie sweetener tied to higher risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds. In addition to his job as WRTI jazz host, Perkins has written numerous columns and commentaries on jazz, and has hosted a multitude of concerts at jazz clubs and festivals. You can find some solace in what you like. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphias airwaves for 50 years. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. And all the while, you weren't aware of ituntil that person moved away, and, During a recent interview, saxophone great Larry Mckenna was right on target when he shared that often in other cities, when people found out he was from, When a dynamic figure in any walk of life departs, writers and just plain folks, usually try to recall certain events about the departed in which they may, When I was a kid growing up in South Philly, there was an older fellow down the block who was trying to play an alto saxophone. I got a job working at a Black-owned insurance company, Great Lakes Mutual, in Detroit. Bob Perkins is a Dj at Wrti based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can touch a button and get any answer to any question that you have. That when I first became aware of who he was, said Larry McKenna, the tenor saxophonist who is one of the deans of Phillys jazz scene. Bob Perkins at home at WRTI-FM studios. The jazz hosts show offers a break from the stresses of COVID-19. All rights reserved. He is a jazz program host and DJ for WRTI. He regularly serves as master of ceremonies for major annual and special concert events in the region, such as the previous and very popular Mellon Jazz Festival Concert Series. It seems like our attention spans are so divided in this new age of technology. Beginning in June, he will end the weekday program and continue with the Sunday broadcast on90.1 FM. His Sunday 'Jazz Brunch' show will continue. And you had to visualize this man who could make himself invisible. A few Philadelphia artists were sprinkled into the evening, including Perkins longtime friend, saxophonist Bootsie Barnes, and vocalist Phyllis Chapell, who dedicated her latest album to BP. I had an insurance license and they told me, Youre going to start in a week. I walked out the door and I was very happy. I did what I could, he said, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. The station, run by Temple University, plays classical music during the day and transforms in the evenings into one the countrys premier jazz music broadcasters. I had a mild stroke. Here's a great in-depth article about Bob from the Chestnut Hill Local. Looking back over his broadcast career, Perkins said he had dual passions one for anchoring the news, the other for playing jazz greats on the radio. A lot of people, at least in my experience as an artist, associate this music with their grandparents' music or their parents' music. We all need that role model, that patriarch to keep it going. News was almost like a religion back in the day. A stroke survivor from three years ago, Perkins is still kicking and hes still ticking, playing some of the best jazz music you ever want to hear on WRTI-FM. BP: People, they never call me, seemingly. I enjoy it. He fell ill around 1940 with rheumatoid arthritis, and was forced to leave his job as an elevator operator. After a longtime gig at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997. Over the years, he met the likes of President Jimmy Carter and touched the lives of everyday listeners and renowned musicians. If you, WRTIs Bob Perkins joined the 2016 Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame class on October 19th. Tweet Share Pin Email Tweet Share Pin Email Related Posts AACP Philadelphia Branch Update NAACP Philadelphia Branch Tweet Share Pin Email ABOVE PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Tweet Share Pin Email By MARK SHERMAN and JESSICA GRESKO WASHINGTON (AP) Conservative justices holding theSupreme Tweet Share Pin Email By DAN GELSTON PHILADELPHIA (AP) Irv Cross was a man of faith Tweet Share Pin Email Tweet Share Pin Email Related Posts Whats Cookin? You trusted the newsperson you were listening to. WRTI's legendary jazz host, Bob Perkins, is surrounded by his cd collection of jazz recordings in his home in Wyncote, PA on December 19, 2019. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964, WRTI's own jazz legend Bob Perkins sat down with Kile Smith in December, 2012 for a wide-ranging interview about Dave Brubeck the man, his music, and his, A true jazz legend - vocalist Gloria Lynne - passed away on October 15th in Newark, New Jersey of a heart attack. Happy Birthday BP! Bob Perkins, age 8. Who knows what lies behind that smile? In 1969, WDAS offered him a news and editorial position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia. Thanks! 27206. He could pick up stations that no one else that I knew could get. Im waiting for my doc to give me clearance to return to work so that I can keep putting out that good GM . I look forward to the opportunity to pick up the mic at WRTI on Sundays to continue to serve all the listeners with finely-tuned ears who have said that Ive helped keep jazz music alive in Philadelphia, and beyond.. I was out for about four months. [8] Philadelphia honored him in 2017 when he was inducted in Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.[9]. But then hed also play Miles Davis, Maynard Ferguson, John Coltrane, and Bird. (The last being the nickname for the brilliant bebop jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. I guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast relationships. This website uses cookies. Bob Perkins, WRTI DJ has been spinning music in Philadelphia since 1969. Hed just play people that he liked. Learn More about Joe Bob Perkins' net worth. Dave and Bob share the same birthday! At the end of this Black Music Month, Bob Perkins will be retiring at the ripe young age of 88. Five days a week, on WRTI, "BP with the GM" (that's Bob Perkins with the Good Music), plays jazz with a connoisseur's ear and an infectious sense of joy. Please let Bob know in the comments section below. Eventually, they changed their format to Jazz and Classical music. Juneteenth 2022: Honoring Radio Personality Bob Perkins and Celebrating the Life & Legacy of W. Cody Anderson Temple University Libraries Join the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and the Office of Community Affairs and Engagement for a day of celebration and remembrance. And hopefully its working. We love your GM("Good Music")and you! Detroit was wide open. [1] His radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. Radio was drilled in my head.. I always felt like they hired me because they wanted to get back at WDAS. When I was a kid, which was a long time ago, radio was called the theater of the mind. There was a person named The Shadow. The world is a lot different than it used to be.. WRTIs legendary jazz DJ Bob Perkins retires at age 88, Police find ancient mummy in delivery mans cooler bag in Peru, At least 36 killed after passenger and freight trains collide in Greece, Florida 19-year-old accused of killing three, including reporter, in shootings, Lori Lightfoot concedes mayors race in Chicago, European space agency pushes for lunar time zone, College students turn to influencing as new side hustle. I did what I could, he told The Inquirer in 2020, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. Lets sit around and gab, whatever the case may be. Thursday marks the end of an era at 90.1 WRTI-FM, with longtime jazz DJ Bob Perkins signing off from his final weeknight shift after 25 years at the station. Black-Owned insurance company, great Lakes Mutual, in Detroit him in 2017 when he was recognized with a by. 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