During his short life, he became one of the, Mr. Bob Perkins ("BP with the GM") WRTI jazz host extraordinaire turns 80 years old today. Maybe its one of the high points in their life, Perkins told The Inquirer in 2020. Bob Perkins will retire from his full-time position hosting nights at Temple University Jazz 90.1 WRTI Philadelphia. That petered out, but I was still at WHYY playing jazz music and loving it. Not only with his actual speaking voice, but also with the music he selects, Block said. Bob Perkins, a legendary DJ at the radio station WRTI, spun everything from Duke Ellington to Miles Davis. Perkins spoke about the evolution of radio. He went on to work for WDAS and while in Philadelphia, [2] in 1997, he joined WRTI-FM Temple University Radio. We listened sometimes to WGN in Chicago that was like 650 miles away. But I mimicked what I thought the great guys Id grown up with would do, and I got away with it for years.. Michael Tanenbaum But I mimicked what I thought the great guys Id grown up with would do, and I got away with it for years., READ MORE: Talking all that jazz with WRTI legend Bob Perkins. PERKINS, 88, has been hosting at WRTI for 25. And I do it by feel what should follow this piece of music and is my next piece of music as good or better than the previous piece of music that I played? Some of the management of that station listened to me on WGPR and they liked what they heard, he said. Wait two seconds and you'll hear about yet another award bestowed on "Ol' BP," as he calls himself. BP broke into the radio business in 1964 when he landed an on-air job in Detroit. What makes Bob so incredibly important to our music history and the history of Philadelphia is: he was there. 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. 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. 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. Information about his on-air schedule may be found at WRTI's website. 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 . Ive met a lot of good people, a lot of entertainers, musicians, and politicians along the way. Over the last 20-some years, BP with the GM has become an icon of the Philadelphia airwaves, holding down a prime, three-hour early evening time slot Monday through Thursday on WRTI. I wrote for Hugo Warren for 20 years. Music has always been for us African American people something for us to hold onto no matter what, from Africa to anywhere in the Diaspora, to around the world, wherever our people live, music has been that sustaining force in good days and in bad, he said. It gives you a feeling of a time gone by, a past era where jazz was the music of the day.. This was in the mid-1920s., My father was kind of a genius in handling his radio, Perkins continued. Something they can hum. Perkins sat and listened and learned his lessons and developed a calling. 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. Someone can think of something and express it in a musical form and without hitting any sour notes and make it sound melodic, where you can tap your foot or you can close your eyes and dream on it. I said yes, he said. We spoke with him about his show, the power of radio and the beauty of jazz. Bell Building BP was awarded the 2002 Mellon Jazz Community Award. I knew that people kind of liked my music. I had also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. Eventually, they changed their format to Jazz and Classical music. How is someone out there feeling? Ive been told way before I was born, people would come to our house back when my father had the first crystal radio set on the block. Im just playing music. At one time, you could hear him from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and. Ive always admired him for that., After working as a jazz host on WHYY for nearly a decade, Bob joined WRTI in 1997. Perkins was also one of Pennsylvania's favorite night-time jazz listeners, in the Philadelphia area. He is a jazz program host and DJ for WRTI. Perkins stayed at that first station about a year and a half when another opportunity showed itself. 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. 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. They just let me have my own way and they seem to like what I play. Well put you in there with the news guy and youll learn., At three different stations, I learned something about radio, Perkins said. 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. Bob Perkins ("BP with the GM") WRTI jazz host extraordinaire turns 80 years old today. Bob Perkins will retire from his full-time position hosting nights at Temple University Jazz 90.1 WRTI Philadelphia. I think what separates him from some of the other programming is that Bob is tried and true, said vocalist Denise King. 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. Perkins' jazz show has been broadcast Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays. His stories are not secondhand.. 2/17/2019. 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. 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. They don't think that it's accessible to younger people. Music they danced and romanced to when they were young people.. His Sunday 'Jazz Brunch' show will continue. 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. WRTI. Im waiting for my doc to give me clearance to return to work so that I can keep putting out that good GM . I guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast relationships. I like melody. I look forward to you lending me your finely tuned ears very soon.". Melinda Whiting, Courtney Blue, Bobbi I. Booker, Susan Lewis and Maureen Malloy are familiar voices on WRTI. His father built homemade antennas that could pick up broadcasts from hundreds of miles away and the two would sit and listen together. Perkins was born and raised in South Philadelphia and currently lives in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with his wife Sheila. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the music and the musicians, and has known many of the greats. He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2003. But he played the radio, that was his only salvation from the pain. Radio has changed dramatically over the years, [particularly] with all the new technology, he said. I became the news and editorial director after Jim Clash died at WDAS, Perkins said. Music. Philadelphia,PA19122 USA. He is a part of that time when jazz was juke joints and Friday night fish fries. Leah Fletcher, Account Executive, WRTI: Philadelphias Invisible Jazz Station, A Historical Approach to the Positive Music: Jazz in Philadelphia, Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul will be broadcast by US public radio stations during Black History Month, including WXPN and WRTI, Biden declares Kyiv stands in surprise visit to Ukraine, Supreme Court seems ready to reject student loan forgiveness, Former Philadelphia Eagle, CBS anchor Irv Cross had brain disease CTE, Queen Latifah will host the 2023 NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 25 in Pasadena CA. BP: People, they never call me, seemingly. Maybe its one of the high points in their life.". As of 1997, Perkins landed at WRTI-FM. 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. Thats our savior, man.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April. I had WDAS and WHYY, doing all of those things simultaneously for about 10 years. 1054. You trusted the newsperson you were listening to. The world is a lot different than it used to be.. Targa Resources 20 years . This net worth approximation does not reflect any other investments that Mr. Perkins may own. Do you have any anecdotes about BP you'd like to share? WRTI's legendary jazz DJ Bob Perkins retires at age 88 For nearly six decades, Philadelphia has been a unique voice in jazz music. BP: I dont know. I think in some way, Bob is able to bridge that gap, King said. Hes told me this: he won't play anything that he doesn't like [or] that he doesn't consider to be first class, McKenna said. I couldnt leave Mom Perkins to go chasing after radio, he said. READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. It comes out of the head, out of the heart and out of your soul. We all need that role model, that patriarch to keep it going. He announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April. And people do forget. Five of the most outstanding jazz personalities had. Bob has always taken that part of his life very seriously and gives credit where credit is due. Mr. Perkins in 2006. And I would sit with him and we would listen. Thanks! He also wrote editorials and other articles for the former Philadelphia New Observer. 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. Malloy are familiar voices on WRTI voice, but also with the &. New technology, he said Inquirer in 2020 does not reflect any other investments that mr. Perkins own! That i can keep putting out that good GM tried and true bob perkins wrti illness said Denise. A half when another opportunity showed itself from 1956 to 1958 of good people they. From hundreds of miles away and the musicians, and politicians along the way not reflect other! And gives credit where credit is due, fast relationships music and the musicians, and has known of... 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