It takes a little bit of thought. He currently hosts from 6-9pm Monday through Thursday, and from . WRTI has not yet put a new DJ in Perkins usual weeknight spot, which will temporarily be filled by station associate general manager Josh Jackson, KYW Newsradio reported. 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. I next made a move over to WRTI, which is Temple Universitys radio station, as a volunteer DJ playing jazz music. Bob Perkins: I do itand Im not trying to be funnybut I do it really by braille, a feel. READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. Bob Perkins on Trumpeter Red Rodney, an Overlooked Philly Great! TN: It sounds like being a DJ is something you were always meant to do. 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. Saxophonist Larry McKenna has been listening to him for 40 years. Do you have any anecdotes about BP you'd like to share? 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. Perkins has received a number of accolades for his decades-long career, including an induction into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003. I went in and knocked on the door and they said, we listened to you on WJLB, and we liked your work there, but you dont know news. Meaning "Bob Perkins with the good music. Bob Perkins' Recollection of the Late Sam Reed, BP Tells a Little Story About Ella Fitzgeralds Connection to Orphaned Children, Bob Perkins Reflects On Oldtime Philly Legends, Including 2021 NEA Jazz Master Albert "Tootie" Heath, Bob Perkins Talks About Dave Brubeck's Legacy Back in 2012. ", BP going one on one with the audience shows a very strong kinship, said Craig, himself a 40-year veteran of local radio. Thats our savior, man.. 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. 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. 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. BP with jazz pianist McCoy Tyner at WRTI in 2015. The great alto saxophonist and jazz icon Charlie "Yardbird" Parker was only 34 years old when he died in 1955. Maybe its one of the high points in their life.". BP: Yes, it really did. Perkins is currently engaged for the annual Cape May Jazz Festival Concert Series and the Tony Williams Jazz Festival Concert Series. Bob Perkins is a Dj at Wrti based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. TN: Whats the response been to your show recently? This was in the mid-1920s., My father was kind of a genius in handling his radio, Perkins continued. Since I turned 65, he reports with a tone more of irony than self-pity, its been one thing after another. Im the only one thats doing this thing on regular radio and I enjoy very much what Im doing, and the feedback that I get from people who enjoy it. 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. 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.. She was 81.Bob Perkins recalls how, Tommy Potters name wouldnt get much attention in jazz circles these daysunless the gathering were comprised of musicians and jazz fans with, WRTI Your Classical and Jazz Source | Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. We had great announcers back then. I became the news and editorial director after Jim Clash died at WDAS, Perkins said. Classical 6am-6pm, and Jazz 6pm-6am. This music conjures up some beautiful memories. His selections are like a familiar hug from Jazz Land featuring your favorite standards and vocalists such as Sarah, Ella, and Nat, some Big Band legends including the Duke and the Count . He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003. Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 01:44, promotes the subject in a subjective manner, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Art of Aging: Bob Perkins, a Philly Institution", "Talking all that jazz with WRTI legend Bob Perkins", "Bob Perkins: The Art of Listening article @ All About Jazz", "Meet the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame's Class of 2017", Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Perkins_(radio_personality)&oldid=1140642424, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 01:44. #WRTImusic They were doing quite well, raising their families, Perkins said. They can take you away. And the only way you can make it accurate is you have to be there, he said. 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. In 2016, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame as part of the Philadelphia Music Alliances all-jazz class of that year. I think in some way, Bob is able to bridge that gap, King said. Language: English Contact: WRTI-FM 1509 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19121 Website: http://www.wrti.org/ Email: [email protected] Episodes IE 11 is not supported. At the end of this Black Music Month, Bob Perkins will be retiring at the ripe young age of 88. Lance Venta is Owner and Publisher of RadioInsight.com. A lot of people, at least in my experience as an artist, associate this music with their grandparents' music or their parents' music. Perkins spoke about the evolution of radio. Bob Perkins at home at WRTI-FM studios. At one time, you could hear him from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and. By, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form, Bob Perkins Talks About Dave Brubeck's Legacy Back in 2012, BP Remembers The Glorious Jazz Vocalist Gloria Lynne. Perkins was honored with a bronze plaque in the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame on the citys Avenue of the Arts in 2016 and was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003, among other awards and accolades. Its a rallying cry. By 1997, Perkins moved over to the Temple University-owned WRTI, where he has been for the last quarter-century. People know what is going on. For nearly six decades, Philadelphia has been a unique voice in jazz music. I'm thrilled he'll continue to host Sunday Jazz Brunch after he retires, because we all need some GM (good music) with our toast and jam!". Our beloved BP with the GMBob Perkins with the Good Musicis turning off his mic on weeknights starting on June 30th after a long and storied career. PublishedDecember 6, 2013 at 5:49 AM EST. He announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April. Eventually, they changed their format to Jazz and Classical music. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the music and the musicians, and has known many of the greats. Happy Birthday BP! 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. Im just playing music. Joseph V. Labolito. But it seems like the longer I stayed out, [chuckles] the more positive response I got. It seems like our attention spans are so divided in this new age of technology. 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. My father must have been listening to radio from the very start. 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. 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. Friday evenings at 10 PM, veteran WRTI jazz host J. Michael Harrison presents The Bridge, exploring the merging platforms of popular music and jazz. "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.. Learn More about Joe Bob Perkins' net worth. Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] 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. Maybe were getting back to that today. Pianist Orrin Evans believes BP is vital to Philadelphias jazz scene. That was 25 years ago.. 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. announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April, California residents do not sell my data request. Jazz also captivated Perkins at a young age. I think its magic, the music I play. I enjoy it. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphias airwaves for 50 years. Listener-supported. "[4] He is also an accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional jazz music events. He is genuine, a real original.. The estimated net worth of Joe Bob Perkins is at least $6.75 million as of November 2nd, 2022. I did what I could, he said, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. He was too ill to work; he had rheumatoid arthritis. BP broke into the radio business in 1964 when he landed an on-air job in Detroit. I was out for about four months. I guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast relationships. His salvation was radio, Perkins said. I went to a radio school through my father. - regular airs Philadelphia Youth. Sunday Jazz Brunch with Bob Perkins airs from 9 AM until 1 PM. All the girls belong to me!". In 1969, WDAS offered him a news and editorial position and asked if he might be interested in moving back to Philadelphia. I always felt like they hired me because they wanted to get back at WDAS. I looked around, and I found a station that wanted a newsman. His father built homemade antennas that could pick up broadcasts from hundreds of miles away and the two would sit and listen together. 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. You can also hear the GM on Sunday Jazz Brunch with BP from 9 am to 1 pm. I knew the Athletics batting averages like they were my own name. The mix of music was an image of the man who chose it: smart and warm and nostalgic, displaying impeccable taste and a steady, low-key, and almost offhand hipness. We would listen to radio from sun-up, through the night, and into the next morning.. He grew up in South Philadelphia and fell in love with radio as a child. Previously, Bob was a Board Member at Jazz Bridge and also held positions at Data Site, Unisys, WDAS Fm. Experience Board Chair Orennia 2021 - Present 2 years. The once well-known jazz, Have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you? 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. Believe it or not, I next ended up at Power 99. I was weaned on radio. WRTI. I met saxophonist Sam Reed well before he became a legendary figure on the Philadelphia jazz scene. The jazz hosts show offers a break from the stresses of COVID-19. But I had some qualifications, too, because my dad got into radio back in the 1920s, when radio was in its infancy. An accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional jazz music is! Divided in this new age of 88 First Call Master of Ceremonies regional. The last quarter-century anecdotes about BP you 'd like to share on the Philadelphia jazz scene fast,. 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