Language: English Contact: WRTI-FM 1509 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19121 Website: http://www.wrti.org/ Email: Bob@wrti.org Episodes In September of 1969, I started working at WDAS as a newsman. For nearly six decades, Philadelphia has been a unique voice in jazz music. TN: People staying at home have been listening more to the radio and less to streaming services. Bob Perkins: I do itand Im not trying to be funnybut I do it really by braille, a feel. Some of Bob Perkins' major honors and awards for career accomplishments include: The Kal Rudman Milestones in Radio Award; The Mellon Jazz Community Service Award, 2002);[6] Inducted to the Philadelphia Broadcast Hall of Fame, 2003 and the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia [1] Hall of Fame (Enshrined with Philadelphia Broadcast Legends John Facenda, Larry Kane, Dick Clark, Herb Clarke and Ed Bradley, to name a few); City of Philadelphia Proclamation by Mayor John Street for Outstanding Contribution to Philadelphia Jazz, 2007;[7] State of Pennsylvania Proclamations at the State House of Representatives and the State Senate for Outstanding Contribution by a Pennsylvania Resident to Jazz, 2007; U.S. House of Representatives Proclamation by Congressman Chaka Fattah for Outstanding Contribution by a Pennsylvania Resident to Jazz, 2007 (pictured above). A Philadelphia man has become an institution by keeping the sounds of Philly and American Jazz alive for decades. Take a look at this photo album of Mr. Perkins through the years. Lovingly known as "BP with the GM" (Bob Perkins with the Good Music), BP brings you that good music just in time for dinner during your work week. Bob Perkins has been instrumental in establishing WRTI as one of the premier jazz stations in the country since 1997. 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. 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 know Ive been very blessed. Targa Resources 20 years . He was too ill to work; he had rheumatoid arthritis. Im just playing music. And you had to visualize this man who could make himself invisible. Happy Birthday BP! But the idea stayed in the back of my mind., To work in radio, I was told Id have to go work in the boonies (the boondocks) and get the mistakes out, Perkins continued. Especially jazz music. I guess I couldnt help but love radio, because from the time I was a little boy, radio was very much a part of my day every day growing up in South Philadelphia.. It gives you a feeling of a time gone by, a past era where jazz was the music of the day.. That was 25 years ago.. By Bob Perkins | WRTI-FM (Philadelphia, PA) One November night in the year 1934, a 17-year-old girl was about to take the stage at the Apollo theater's Amateur Night program and planned to do a dance routinebut changed her mind and decided to sing a song instead. He loved radio programming, and since I was the last kid at home, we listened together to all the great voices John Facenda and Edward R. Murrow anything that was on the radio, from Jack Benny to the Philadelphia Athletics games. He made his own antennas and we could sit and listen to Chicago, Detroit. The host entered the Philadelphia radio world in 1967 with WDAM, where he served as a news and editorial director. Music. Perkins was born and raised in South Philadelphia and currently lives in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with his wife Sheila. My dad was my radio school, the 86-year-old remembered. Also known as "BP with the GM," (translation: "Bob Perkins with the Good Music"), Mr. Perkins has been in the broadcasting industry for more than five decades as an on-air host, and is now commonly referred to as a Philadelphia jazz radio legend. Please let Bob know in the comments section below. We love your GM ("Good Music . He was known for his laid-back and mellow style. Experience Board Chair Orennia 2021 - Present 2 years. Listen to BP's last weeknight shift on Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 9 PM. "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 I've helped keep jazz music alive in Philadelphia, and beyond.. One day in late summer last year, his familiar and congenial voice the aural equivalent of a cup of hot chocolate and a soft blanket went silent. Twitter: @WRTImusic Language: English Contact: In addition to his radio duties, Perkins has written jazz columns for multiple publications over the years and has hosted concerts at jazz clubs and festivals. July 1, 2022. I program most of the music on the station, said Maureen Malloy. For the last 25 years, hes become known for his warm, personable on-air style, extensive knowledge of jazz, and thoughtful, wide-ranging music mix. He grew up in South Philadelphia and fell in love with radio as a child. Lance also advises stations, talent and brands on digital content strategies, programming integrations, and brand extensions. After establishing himself on Detroit radio in news and jazz, Perkins returned to Philly in 1969 and became WDAS-FM's news/editorial director while hosting a jazz show at WHYY-FM. Contact. 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. TN: Have you made any changes to your playlist, in light of whats happening? The once well-known jazz, Have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you? The general manager told me one of his announcers would be leaving in a few days and I could try out for his job. Happy Birthday BP! We would listen to WAR in Detroit, which is 500 miles away. Lets sit around and gab, whatever the case may be. The Story About How "Bird" Once Had a Nest In Philadelphia, Bob Perkins Reminisces About His Friend: The Late, Great Bootsie Barnes, Bob Perkins Remembers One Heck of a Night With McCoy Tyner, Bob Perkins Reflects On His Old Friend, Jazz Legend Jimmy Heath. He later joined WHYY with a weekend jazz show before landing at WRTI. Hes introduced thousands, if not millions, of listeners to this music over the course of his career, delighted young and old with his signature sound, and been a tireless advocate for jazz appreciation and education. This net worth approximation does not reflect any other investments that Mr. Perkins may own. Temple Now:The official source for Temple news.Copyright 2015, Temple University. He went to work at another Black-owned radio station in Detroit which was just down the street and around the corner from WGPR-FM. Classical music and jazz public media. Eventually, Perkins moved to Detroit at the suggestion of his older brothers who already lived there, having moved from Philly after World War II, he said. They were very kind at WDAS, and they also allowed me to moonlight at WHYY-FM. People know what is going on. BP means a great deal to listeners of all ages. But his well-honed approach to the music would remain unaffected. He wasn't doing well at, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form. Radio started I think, in 1920 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bob Perkins reflects on his memories of Philadelphian tenor saxophonist Sam Reed, who passed away earlier this month.. So when I came back I got these emails saying, Oh, were glad youre back. I save all my emails. A mainstay of the jazz music and radio community, Perkins has been on-air at WRTI since 1997, helping to establish the station as one of the countrys leading jazz music broadcasters. Jazz host Bob Perkins in his office at WRTI. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphias airwaves for 50 years. 12 of 12. I had a mild stroke. I try to ameliorate that and take the rough edges off if I can, with the music. In 1969, his hometown of Philadelphia beckoned him back with a gig at rhythm-and-blues station WDAS, where he worked for the next 19 years. Perkins. 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. Maureen Malloy, the director of jazz programming at WRTI, says there was an insane amount of listener response to Perkins unexplained absence. BP with jazz pianist McCoy Tyner at WRTI in 2015. His show appeals to me in that way. Music they danced and romanced to when they were young people.. In this new age of music streaming, where a service like Spotify uses neural networks, big data language analysis, and artificial intelligence machine learning techniques to winnow songs that are channeled down a high-tech digital assembly line to listeners, Perkins relies on a soft, squishy computer that he admits is a bit more unreliable since his stroke and which he refers to in his characteristic parlance as the old noggin. In other words, he plays what he knows and likes. Joseph V. Labolito. Mr. Perkins in 2006. [1] His radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. 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.. Bob Perkins, age 8. Who knows what lies behind that smile? He currently hosts from 6 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 9 am to 1 pm Sundays. For 50 years he has been one of the great voices of Philadelphia radio, starting in 1969 with a nearly 20-year stint as a news and editorial reader for WDAS, known in those days as The Voice of the Black Community. Remember, I came up as a war baby. ), I remember telling my friends about it, McKenna adds. But I didnt really visualize the response that I got. Read More. Or when times are not tight and everythings loose? And I listened to these magnificent voices not knowing that one day I would be doing what they were doing. Perkins spoke about the evolution of radio. Thats our savior, man.. Bob has always taken that part of his life very seriously and gives credit where credit is due. I looked around, and I found a station that wanted a newsman. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. You can find some solace in what you like. I think because of them, thats where my love of jazz music was solidified.. I think it would be silly to have me programming for a jazz historian.. BP talks about Charlie Parker back in 2020 with WRTI's Susan Lewis: His presence is felt throughout the city. Perkins, 88, has been at the station since 1997 and has a media career that has spanned nearly six decades. I stayed over there about two years, but it really wasnt a good fit. Learn More about Joe Bob Perkins' net worth. On the set of his jazz cable TV show at the old Greater Media Cable in South Philly in the early '90s with guest vocalist Paula Johns. From 1988 to 1997 he hosted a well-known jazz program on Saturday nights on WHYY-FM before moving to WRTI. Bob received a Master of Science degree degree from Nazareth College. Michael Tanenbaum Each Friday at 6 PM, there's Nouveau Jazz . They can take you away. PhillyVoice Staff, Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. If theres any good thing about thisand theres very little good about itits the fact that maybe families are getting together again and eating at the dinner table again, in the kitchen or living room, and doing things together again. But theres something about music. Bob's contributions to jazz are innumerable. All the girls belong to me!". Bob Perkins's Phone Number and Email. I became the news and editorial director after Jim Clash died at WDAS, Perkins said. We have a father right now and that's Bob Perkins.. Bob says that it was Joe who first introduced him to jazz. You can also hear the GM on Sunday Jazz Brunch with BP from 9 am to 1 pm. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. You dont know whos listening, how many people: could be one, could be 10,000. In 1969, WDAS offered him a news and editorial position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia. Longtime jazz radio host Bob Perkins will retire from full-time hosting on WRTI-FM/Philadelphia in June, the public radio station of Temple University in Philadelphia announced Tuesday. Previously, Bob was a Board Member at Jazz Bridge and also held positions at Data Site, Unisys, WDAS Fm. One of the most familiar voices on Philadelphias airwaves, BP is also an elder statesman of the citys jazz community, cherished by listeners and musicians alike. TN: It sounds like being a DJ is something you were always meant to do. BP: I dont know. WRTI, this 600th review is for you! I told the general manager about the job offer I had just received from the insurance company, and he replied, Take whichever job comes first., The general manager called me a couple days later and offered me the job, he said. The estimated net worth of Joe Bob Perkins is at least $6.75 million as of November 2nd, 2022. He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003. If I was lucky enough to get a radio gig in the boonies without any experience, Id be lucky, I was told. Friday evenings at 10 PM, veteran WRTI jazz host J. Michael Harrison presents The Bridge, exploring the merging platforms of popular music and jazz. When Bob Perkins was growing up at 19th and Gerritt Streets in South Philadelphia during the Great Depression, his father, Deforrest, was stricken by arthritis at age 39 and could no longer work at his job as a freight elevator operator. In 2007, he was recognized with a proclamation by Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Philadelphia City Council and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is a gentleman, a kind soul, and every bit as nice in person as you hear on-air. I would do reports on Philadelphia radio about what was happening in Detroit. He continued to grow, working as newsman and assistant director at WJLB-AM in Detroit, before his career path returned him to Philadelphia, where in 1969 he joined WDAS-AM/FM as a newsman and after two years became News Director there;[5] after another year he also became the Editorial Director. But he played the radio, that was his only salvation from the pain. News was almost like a religion back in the day. Not really fair to the jazz side, IMO, since most people sleep 8 hours of that half, but if you hook yourself up through the website, you can get streaming of whatever . Mr. Perkins owns 88,692 shares of Targa Resources stock worth more than $6,747,687 as of February 16th. They had hired me for all the wrong reasons in the first place. His distinctive deep voice and progressive points of view became an on-air signature for the fast-growing FM and AM operations at WDAS over 19 years during the 1970's and '80's. Radio was drilled in my head.. It seems like our attention spans are so divided in this new age of technology. June is observed nationally as Black Music Month, and so it seems fitting that someone who has worked in radio for almost six decades the last 20+ years playing jazz music would close out their career in June. 1054. All rights reserved. Went to Texas A&M University. [citation needed]. What makes Bob so incredibly important to our music history and the history of Philadelphia is: he was there. I think hes been very good to all the local jazz musicians who have recorded music, McKenna said. Mr. Bob Perkins, WRTIs own BP with the GM," is retiring from full-time broadcasting after 25 years at the station and 57 on the air. (Photo courtesy of WRTI-FM) His father's illness is what really led to radio becoming an important part of the Perkins household. The thing I liked about what Bob did was that he didnt call it a jazz show. In addition to his job as jazz host, BP writes numerous columns and commentaries on jazz for local publications in Philadelphia. I think its magic, the music I play. Its a rallying cry. He is genuine, a real original.. He is a part of that time when jazz was juke joints and Friday night fish fries. 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. And for 50 of those years he's been on the radio to the delight of thousands and thousands of listeners. ABOVE PHOTO: The Legendary BP with the GM (Photo courtesy of WRTI-FM). I wondered to myself, could I get hired for two jobs in one day?, I went upstairs in the building where the radio station was located and I met the general manager, Perkins continued. Domain Insight 2/27: The First Audacy Atlas Divestiture Will Go To. This job and that job until I really found my niche in radio and I just happened to walk into a radio station one day and they happened to need someone. 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. Thats the magic part about this thing called music. Lance Venta is Owner and Publisher of RadioInsight.com. PERKINS, 88, has been hosting at WRTI for 25. William Johnson, General Manager of WRTI said, Bobs contributions to jazz are innumerable. Partner Tupper Lake Partners 2021 - Present 2 years. His knowledge of jazz programming was instrumental to a significant increase in weekday Jazz listener-ship and a doubling of the Sunday Jazz audience for his time slot. Black Music Month means heritage, he said. I had WDAS and WHYY, doing all of those things simultaneously for about 10 years. This website uses cookies. I [then] looked up and I saw a sign that read WGPR-FM. Jazz Host Extraordinaire Bob Perkins is Retiring from Weeknights on WRTI Our beloved "BP with the GM"Bob Perkins with the Good Musicis turning off his mic on weeknights starting on June 30th after a long and storied career. For younger listeners who might not be as familiar with jazz and are exploring the genre, BPs show is an introductory primer: Jazz 101. BP with Dave Brubeck in 1983 - backstage at the Academy of Music. It comes out of the head, out of the heart and out of your soul. Classical 6am-6pm, and Jazz 6pm-6am. You had to wear earphones to hear whatever stations you were lucky enough to hear that would come through. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. In celebration of Women's History Month, we're shining a spotlight on the female hosts of WRTI. When WHYY dropped its music programming to concentrate on news and information, Perkins moved uptown. In mid-December, as he planned his return to the airwaves, Perkins was worried that some physical effects of his stroke a few fingers that werent obliging might compromise his technical performance in the control booth. I did what I could, he told The Inquirer in 2020, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. People say, You ought to give it up, man, go retire somewhere. Why? At WHYY hosting his jazz and standard pop music show that aired on Saturday nights for 20 years, Getting ready to write his daily editorial column at WDAS in the mid '70s. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964. Anybody who wants to hear jazz on the radio, you have to tune to WRTI and theres Bob Perkins. He also champions local musicians and music. I got a job working at a Black-owned insurance company, Great Lakes Mutual, in Detroit. Perkins was born on December 6, 1933. Melinda Whiting, Courtney Blue, Bobbi I. Booker, Susan Lewis and Maureen Malloy are familiar voices on WRTI. READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. My mom would let me stay up on the weekends and sometimes we would pick up stations in other states. He went on to work for WDAS and while in Philadelphia, [2] in 1997, he joined WRTI-FM Temple University Radio. Robert Bob Perkins (born December 6, 1933) is an American radio personality. They were a great family of jazz artists. Perkins recalled that his father, at the age of about 40, had such severe arthritis that he could barely walk. He had his own antennae that he had drilled into his table model radio. 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. But it seems like the longer I stayed out, [chuckles] the more positive response I got. I dont know how they do it. He has been with the station since 1997. Perkins, known to listeners as BP with the GM (Bob Perkins with the Good Music), will now work a reduced on-air schedule, helming a single weekly show Sunday Jazz Brunch on Sunday mornings. Until then, Mondays through Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., you can continue to listen to his radio program on WRTI, Jazz with Bob Perkins.. But dont fret, you can still lend him your finely tuned ears every Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM for Sunday Jazz Brunch on WRTI 90.1. 2/17/2019. Discovery, curation, community, performance, preservation. He has a very comforting presence on the air. Things change, he said, but there's always someone that's going to keep us on the right track., We're not a fatherless community. Thanks! In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. WRTI (90.1 FM) is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, . Courtney Blue, KLN '12, hosts Late Evening Jazz, The Jazz Request Show and Nouveau Jazz Showcase. Jazz host Bob Perkins in his office at WRTI. Which is a hard thing to do. "People say, You ought to give it up, man, go retire somewhere. Why? TN: When you had your stroke, did the way people reacted to you being off the air take you by surprise? Bob is jazz radio, David Conant, former general manager at WRTI, told The Inquirer in 2016. The Philadelphia Sunday SUN - P.O. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. [citation needed], Perkins started his radio career in Detroit over five years, from 1964 to 1969. As of 1997, Perkins landed at WRTI-FM. He got his first job in radio during a trip to visit his two brothers in Detroit in 1964. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Jazz-Classical WRTI/PHILADELPHIA evening host BOB PERKINS is stepping away from his weekday 6-9p (ET) show on JUNE 30th. Mr. Bob Perkins, WRTI's own "BP with the GM," is retiring from full-time broadcasting after 25 years at the station and 57 on the air. His last weeknight show on WRTI is Thursday, Jun 30, from 6 to 9 p.m., but he will continue to host Sunday Jazz Brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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. Maybe its one of the high points in their life. Thats our savior, man.. About to host his talk show on WDAS in the mid '70s. Talking all that jazz with WRTI legend Bob Perkins, Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), California residents do not sell my data request. [3] One of his well-known sayings is "This is BP with the GM!". I also dont think radio announcers are as influential today as they used to be, Perkins added. And for 50 of those years he's been on the radio to the delight of thousands and thousands of listeners. 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. Since I turned 65, he reports with a tone more of irony than self-pity, its been one thing after another. Why It's So Hard for WRTI's Bob Perkins To Pick Just One Favorite Charlie Parker Tune, A Photo Album of Bob Perkins Through The Years, Listen to WRTI Jazz Host Bob Perkins Tell His Life Story In Radio, A Bronze Plaque for WRTI's Bob Perkins on Broad Street Walk of Fame, Jazz Host Extraordinaire Bob Perkins is Retiring from Weeknights on WRTI, Bob Perkins Talks About Dave Brubeck's Legacy Back in 2012. Bob Perkins will retire from his full-time position hosting nights at Temple University Jazz 90.1 WRTI Philadelphia. New Temple Press book celebrates Philadelphias Italian legacy, Hundreds of Temple community members gather to celebrate the life of Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald with his family, Temples Lenfest Center increases job opportunities for the North Philadelphia community, Globally connected campus: A presidential visit to Temple Rome, Whats the best way for an athlete to build their brand? I next made a move over to WRTI, which is Temple Universitys radio station, as a volunteer DJ playing jazz music. And for 50 of those years he's been on the radio to the, Our very own "BP with the GM" shared his story, going back to childhood, with a large audience at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia on Feb. 22, 2019. At the end of this Black Music Month, Bob Perkins will be retiring at the ripe young age of 88. TN: Whats the response been to your show recently? They were doing quite well, raising their families, Perkins said. Ive met a lot of good people, a lot of entertainers, musicians, and politicians along the way. Not only with his actual speaking voice, but also with the music he selects, Block said. Apple Tea Whats Cookin? Im just about 90% recovered and the letters that they sent, it was embarrassing to me because of the flattery that they gave me. Bob Perkins, WRTI DJ has been spinning music in Philadelphia since 1969. After a longtime gig at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997. The radio station was owned by the Black Masons of Detroit. Copyright 2022 RadioInsight / RadioBB Networks. Later, in the mid-80s, Perkins hosted a WDAS-AM jazz show that mixed in Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee with jazz artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Mr. Bob Perkins ("BP with the GM") WRTI jazz host extraordinaire turns 80 years old today. It was always in the back of my mind, like a latent dream, that maybe one day, Id get into radio.. But BP programs his own. The music that appeals to BPs old noggin is what he calls the melodic stuff with no expiration date, most of it recorded decades ago. Perkins credits his father for being the one who gave him the love for radio. You had to sit around the radio and visualize. The South Philadelphia native has been one of the greatest voices of the citys airwaves since 1969, when he joined R&B station WDAS in an influential news and editorial position after working in Detroit radio for five years. 1 photo. This music conjures up some beautiful memories. 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. 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