If I was lucky enough to get a radio gig in the boonies without any experience, Id be lucky, I was told. It's kind of an honor when you are played on his program., For Lovett Hines, Artistic Director and Founder of the Music Education Program of the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, BP represents a sense of history. Mr. Bob Perkins ("BP with the GM") WRTI jazz host extraordinaire turns 80 years old today. We listened sometimes to WGN in Chicago that was like 650 miles away. Perkins's CEO profile on Targa Resources's website states that he has both an engineering and a business background when it comes to his education. I think it would be silly to have me programming for a jazz historian.. Courtney Blue, KLN '12, hosts Late Evening Jazz, The Jazz Request Show and Nouveau Jazz Showcase. I couldnt leave Mom Perkins to go chasing after radio, he said. But his well-honed approach to the music would remain unaffected. The general manager told me one of his announcers would be leaving in a few days and I could try out for his job. 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!". People say, You ought to give it up, man, go retire somewhere. Why? He said yesand hes been here ever since. (Photo courtesy of WRTI-FM) His father's illness is what really led to radio becoming an important part of the Perkins household. 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. Take a look at this photo album of Mr. Perkins through the years. 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.. He went on to work for WDAS and while in Philadelphia, [2] in 1997, he joined WRTI-FM Temple University Radio. Liked by Joe Bob Perkins. Philadelphia,PA19122 USA. (Photo by WRTI). Saxophonist Larry McKenna has been listening to him for 40 years. Pianist Orrin Evans believes BP is vital to Philadelphias jazz scene. Ive got high mileage on my odometer, Perkins wrote. Scroll down to see recent playlists. I knew that people kind of liked my music. 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. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphia's airwaves for 50 years. He made his own antennas and we could sit and listen to Chicago, Detroit. He goes way back and he studied by listening to some of the great commentators and broadcasters over the years, he said. We werent sure at first when hed be back, so we didnt say anything. Finally, in mid-November, a post went up on the WRTI web page. 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. 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. 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. From 1988 to 1997 he hosted a well-known jazz program on Saturday nights on WHYY-FM before moving to WRTI. 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. 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's last WRTI weeknight shift is on Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 9 PM. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. You should hear this guy.. WRTI's legendary jazz host, Bob Perkins, is surrounded by his cd collection of jazz recordings in his home in Wyncote in 2019. 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. BP talks about Charlie Parker back in 2020 with WRTI's Susan Lewis: His presence is felt throughout the city. They can take you away. Its almost like were trying to do too much. 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. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the music and the musicians, and has known many of the greats. Radio was drilled in my head.. 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. All rights reserved. Thanks! The Philadelphia Sunday SUN - P.O. Classical 6am-6pm, and Jazz 6pm-6am. Ive met a lot of good people, a lot of entertainers, musicians, and politicians along the way. He began his career at WGPR Detroit. 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. Detroit was wide open. 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. He was known for his laid-back and mellow style. WRTI, which broadcasts classical music from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. each day, and jazz from 6 p.m.-6 a.m. - What would I do without Bobbi Booker as my gentle alarm clock? I [then] looked up and I saw a sign that read WGPR-FM. ABOVE PHOTO: The Legendary BP with the GM (Photo courtesy of WRTI-FM). It has to be accurate. I like melody. 1101 W. Montgomery Avenue READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. Not doing anything heroic. He wasn't doing well at, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form. 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. But I didnt really visualize the response that I got. Maybe its one of the high points in their life, Perkins told The Inquirer in 2020. 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. Maybe its one of the high points in their life.". "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.. 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. 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 never knew exactly how my father came to love radio so much, but he was an avid radio listener, Perkins recalled. I program most of the music on the station, said Maureen Malloy. It took Perkins a little while to break into radio. 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. Have Your Say - WRTI's Bob Perkins 97 views Aug 17, 2020 4 Dislike Share Save MLTV - Main Line Network 2.72K subscribers Hosts Anne Minicozzi and Diana Robertson welcome radio personality. 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. Bob Perkins: I do itand Im not trying to be funnybut I do it really by braille, a feel. Particularly for older listeners, he gives them the comfort of something familiar, and makes them remember that this music that he's playing was the soundtrack to a lot of their lives. The music Perkins plays can summon Proustian recollections of a first kiss, a dance at the Savoy Ballroom or a joyful reunion after a long absence. 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. People call me and tell me, I didnt like jazz till you played it, Perkins told The Inquirer in 2016. Lance also advises stations, talent and brands on digital content strategies, programming integrations, and brand extensions. Joseph V. Labolito. 1054. It was typically BP in tone. 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. He currently hosts from 6 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 9 am to 1 pm Sundays. Maybe were getting back to that today. I was out for about four months. The once well-known jazz, Have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you? 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. Mr. Perkins is stepping away from his shows on weekday evenings, but WRTI listeners will still be able to join him for Sunday Jazz Brunch, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Some of the management of that station listened to me on WGPR and they liked what they heard, he said. Perkins had a five-year relationship with The Philadelphia Tribune, where he wrote commentary on government, society and public affairs. A lot of us who live here, we don't have any other outlets and are not really known outside of this city, so we don't get airplay unless we go through WRTI., Bob is a proud Philadelphian, but he doesnt just play local music out of loyalty. I always felt like they hired me because they wanted to get back at WDAS. BP means a great deal to listeners of all ages. He also hosts concerts at jazz clubs and at regional festivals. Sunday Jazz Brunch with Bob Perkins airs from 9 AM until 1 PM. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964. I had also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. He has earned well over forty different honors and awards from major government, artistic, journalistic and community organizations. Perkins. He will continue to host his Sunday program. His stories are not secondhand.. In September of 1969, I started working at WDAS as a newsman. In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. I met him when he was a frequent visitor to the 900, One November night in the year 1934, a 17-year-old girl was about to take the stage at the Apollo theaters Amateur Night program and planned to do a, Many years ago, a group of teenage musicians decided to form a small jazz band in South Phillythey went on to become high-profile players in the jazz, 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, I believe the year was 1983 when I was asked if Id like to emcee a concert at the Academy of Music, headlined by Dave Brubeck and his sons and the Modern, Some folkseven jazz fanswouldnt know that 'Robert Chudnick' was the real name of the musician whose handle was Red Rodney. 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. WRTI listeners will still be able to join him for Sunday Jazz Brunch, from 9 AM to 1 PM. It seems like our attention spans are so divided in this new age of technology. I'm a general assignment breaking news reporter. 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. [8] Philadelphia honored him in 2017 when he was inducted in Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.[9]. At the same time, I started writing for the Philadelphia New Observer newspaper owned by Hugo Warren. Hes one of the last purveyors of our actual history. Bob says that it was Joe who first introduced him to jazz. I went to a radio school through my father. I enjoy it. By, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form. The thing I liked about what Bob did was that he didnt call it a jazz show. 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. [citation needed], Perkins is also a first-call jazz MC. Bob in the mid '60s - a seasoned veteran on the job for one year at WGPR in Detroit. 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 . We spoke with him about his show, the power of radio and the beauty of jazz. TN: It sounds like being a DJ is something you were always meant to do. Bob has always taken that part of his life very seriously and gives credit where credit is due. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphias airwaves for 50 years. Fivedays a week, on WRTI, BP with the GM (thats Bob Perkins with the Good Music), plays jazz with a connoisseurs ear and an infectious sense of joy. July 1, 2022. 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. announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April, California residents do not sell my data request. Box 18869, Philadelphia, PA 19119 - Phone (215) 848-7864 - Fax (215) 848-7893 My gerontologist tells me, Keep moving.. I know Ive been very blessed. All the girls belong to me!". It takes a little bit of thought. 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. They were doing quite well, raising their families, Perkins said. The 88 year old Perkins has been on the air in Philadelphia since 1969 with stints as News Director at WDAS-FM and a Jazz host at WHYY before joining WRTI in 1997. Hear Bob on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Sunday Jazz Brunch. Music they danced and romanced to when they were young people.. We had great announcers back then. He is a jazz program host and DJ for WRTI. 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. 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.. 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. 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