It gives you a feeling of a time gone by, a past era where jazz was the music of 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. 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. Beginning in June, he will end the weekday program and continue with the Sunday broadcast on90.1 FM. Bob Perkins has been instrumental in establishing WRTI as one of the premier jazz stations in the country since 1997. Sunday Jazz Brunch with Bob Perkins airs from 9 AM until 1 PM. Partner Tupper Lake Partners 2021 - Present 2 years. TN: Why do you feel people respond so strongly to music? 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. And I listened to these magnificent voices not knowing that one day I would be doing what they were doing. He also wrote editorials and other articles for the former Philadelphia New Observer. Hed just play people that he liked. Twitter: @WRTImusic Language: English Contact: They offered me a job and I accepted. I dont know why music is so much more powerful than some other entity. He also hosts concerts at jazz clubs and at regional festivals. TN: When you had your stroke, did the way people reacted to you being off the air take you by surprise? Bob Perkins at home at WRTI-FM studios. Or Tony Bennett singing My Foolish Heart accompanied by pianist Bill Evans. His Sunday 'Jazz Brunch' show will continue. My dad was my radio school, the 86-year-old remembered. I looked around, and I found a station that wanted a newsman. 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. BP means a great deal to listeners of all ages. 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. 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. What makes history so important is it has to be true. In 1977, Perkins, 88, started up a side gig with a public radio Saturday night jazz show at 90.9 WHYY-FM the station where he coined his BP with the GM moniker. Friday evenings at 10 PM, veteran WRTI jazz host J. Michael Harrison presents The Bridge, exploring the merging platforms of popular music and jazz. Saxophonist Larry McKenna has been listening to him for 40 years. Take a look at this photo album of Mr. Perkins through the years. Ive been in radio for about 55 years and in Philadelphia for 50 years. Over the years, he met the likes of President Jimmy Carter and touched the lives of everyday listeners and renowned musicians. He wasn't doing well at, Classical Events Calendar Submission Form. I remember saying, I dont know how to write editorials. LeBaron Taylor said [to me], You take the job and if you mess up, well get somebody else. I did that for 13 years pretty good. 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. 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. He will continue to host his Sunday program. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. All rights reserved. And I would sit with him and we would listen. 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.. I also dont think radio announcers are as influential today as they used to be, Perkins added. 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 was a war baby. After a longtime gig at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997. It takes a little bit of thought. In 1988, big changes came to WDAS, and I was amongst the first of the old group of employees to be let go, he continued. In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. Music, said BP about the GM. Which is a hard thing to do. Perkins will continue to host his Sunday show from 9am to 1pm. In 2007, he was recognized with a proclamation by Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Philadelphia City Council and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. A Philadelphia man has become an institution by keeping the sounds of Philly and American Jazz alive for decades. After a longtime gig at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997. In 2016, he was awarded a bronze plaque on Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame on the Avenue of the Arts. BP with Dave Brubeck in 1983 - backstage at the Academy of Music. He has earned well over forty different honors and awards from major government, artistic, journalistic and community organizations. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Jazz-Classical WRTI/PHILADELPHIA evening host BOB PERKINS is stepping away from his weekday 6-9p (ET) show on JUNE 30th. You can never know. 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. Its a rallying cry. Lets have fun; lets have a beer. Since I turned 65, he reports with a tone more of irony than self-pity, its been one thing after another. He wanted to share his obsession. #WRTImusic Melinda Whiting, Courtney Blue, Bobbi I. Booker, Susan Lewis and Maureen Malloy are familiar voices on WRTI. 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. Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] Some of the management of that station listened to me on WGPR and they liked what they heard, he said. And to have that kind of confidence in a guy whos just sitting around playing music [laughs], thats pretty good. People say, You ought to give it up, man, go retire somewhere. Why? But it seems like the longer I stayed out, [chuckles] the more positive response I got. You can find some solace in what you like. BP talks about Charlie Parker back in 2020 with WRTI's Susan Lewis: His presence is felt throughout the city. 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. 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 . 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. 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. The once well-known jazz, Have you ever discovered that a famous person once lived very close to you? The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Perkins spoke about the evolution of radio. Joe Blocks parents were fans of WRTI and the pianist grew up listening to BP, becoming a fan himself. I leaned on them when I got into radio until I got my own sea legs and could navigate on my own.. 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. I lived on the same block as the famous Heath Brothers in South Philadelphia growing up, he said. TN: Whats the response been to your show recently? But I had some qualifications, too, because my dad got into radio back in the 1920s, when radio was in its infancy. They don't think that it's accessible to younger people. WRTI's legendary jazz host, Bob Perkins, is surrounded by his cd collection of jazz recordings in his home in Wyncote in 2019. Perkins has been ill and off the air for a few months but will make his return in the first week of January. And the only way you can make it accurate is you have to be there, he said. TN: Why was it important for you to keep doing your show? You had to sit around the radio and visualize. Thats our savior, man.. Its almost like were trying to do too much. Since his Bloomberg profile states that he has gone to both . At the end of this Black Music Month, Bob Perkins will be retiring at the ripe young age of 88. 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? Joseph V. Labolito. PERKINS, 88, has been hosting at WRTI for 25. He had his own antennae that he had drilled into his table model radio. I did what I could, he said, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. 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. He throws in a four-hour show on Sunday mornings for good measure. Any birthday wishes? Bob in the mid '60s - a seasoned veteran on the job for one year at WGPR in Detroit. Ive been in radio for quite some time. Fifty-seven years after his voice first graced the airwaves, Perkins, best-known for his weeknight jazz show at WRTI, is entering semi-retirement after 25 years at the station. 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. But he played the radio, that was his only salvation from the pain. 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. I was out for almost four months. 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. Last Update. Detroit was wide open. WRTI (90.1 FM) is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, . We love your GM("Good Music")and you! 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. Courtney Blue, KLN '12, hosts Late Evening Jazz, The Jazz Request Show and Nouveau Jazz Showcase. Went to Texas A&M University. 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. I never knew exactly how my father came to love radio so much, but he was an avid radio listener, Perkins recalled. I guess along with fast food came fast everything fast cars, fast thoughts, fast relationships. Once I got some news training under my belt, I started trading news stories with the news team at WDAS in Philadelphia. 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. 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. All the girls belong to me!". BP's last WRTI weeknight shift is on Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 9 PM. 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? Bob Perkins will retire from his full-time position hosting nights at Temple University Jazz 90.1 WRTI Philadelphia. "[4] He is also an accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional jazz music events. Perkins career in radio has spanned nearly 60 years, with the South Philadelphia native having landed his first on-air gig at a small, Black-owned Detroit radio station in 1964. Temple Now: How do you choose the music that you play? Eventually, they changed their format to Jazz and Classical music. 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. 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. Perkins recalled that his father, at the age of about 40, had such severe arthritis that he could barely walk. BP: I dont know. BP: Yes, it really did. Especially jazz music. But at age 88, Perkins is signing off passing the ball to the next era of jazz lovers. This net worth approximation does not reflect any other investments that Mr. Perkins may own. 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. 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. But on the other side of the coin, technology can be very dangerous.. Bell Building 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. 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. He was the youngest child and when his mother became ill, he felt responsible to stay and care for her. He grew up in South Philadelphia and fell in love with radio as a child. Domain Insight 2/27: The First Audacy Atlas Divestiture Will Go To. Box 18869, Philadelphia, PA 19119 - Phone (215) 848-7864 - Fax (215) 848-7893 Thats our savior, man.. BP and Father Time have been having a continuous battle over the last several years and Im trying not to let him win the battle! How does it connect with them in a way other things dont? BP brought the GM back for the first time in more than four months his longest absence from the Philadelphia airwaves in 50 years on a Thursday night in December, followed a few days later by his Sunday show at 9 a.m. What he will bring to the microphone in a neat control room on Cecil B. Moore Boulevard just west of Broad Street is something his colleague Bob Craig describes as a style that is very, very warm and very personal and very loose. But you try to always put that best music forward. Hes one of the last purveyors of our actual history. 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.. 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. READ MORE: Two Philly jazz masters celebrate their birthdays (and their best-friendship), Perkins had suffered a stroke. If I was lucky enough to get a radio gig in the boonies without any experience, Id be lucky, I was told. For younger listeners who might not be as familiar with jazz and are exploring the genre, BPs show is an introductory primer: Jazz 101. I had also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. He is a jazz program host and DJ for WRTI. Perkins, 88, has been at the station since 1997 and has a media career that has spanned nearly six decades. Jazz radio legend Bob Perkins, 88, will retire in June from his full-time role as a host at Philadelphia's WRTI-FM. Hes speaking their language especially people who have been listening for years and years.. Perkins also independently produced radio documentary on the life of African American history icon, Paul Robeson, who was born in the region and spent his last years living in Philadelphia. I got on the payroll, and Ive been there, ever since. 27206. Radio was drilled in my head.. Jazz also captivated Perkins at a young age. 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. Lets sit around and gab, whatever the case may be. We would listen to radio from sun-up, through the night, and into the next morning.. 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. I think in some way, Bob is able to bridge that gap, King said. Bob Perkins has been a fixture on Philadelphias airwaves for 50 years. 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. 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. He is genuine, a real original.. Listener-supported. Pianist Orrin Evans believes BP is vital to Philadelphias jazz scene. Bob Perkins' first radio gig at WGPR-FM in Detroit, 1964. 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. Jazz radio legend Bob Perkins, 88, will retire in June from his full-time role as a host at Philadelphia's WRTI-FM. I had WDAS and WHYY, doing all of those things simultaneously for about 10 years. 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. I did what I could, he told The Inquirer in 2020, because I didnt know a thing about writing editorials. He is a gentleman, a kind soul, and every bit as nice in person as you hear on-air. 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. I dont think that there's anybody in Philadelphia who's a true jazz fan who doesn't know who he is, McKenna said. Bob Perkins will retire from his full-time position hosting nights at Temple University Jazz 90.1 WRTI Philadelphia. The estimated net worth of Joe Bob Perkins is at least $6.75 million as of November 2nd, 2022. Perkins credits his father for being the one who gave him the love for radio. He announced his retirement from weeknight shows in April. You should hear this guy.. News was almost like a religion back in the day. 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. Why might that be? "He is a gentleman, a kind soul, and every bit as nice in person as you hear on-air. The late teen years. 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 Maureen Malloy, the director of jazz programming at WRTI, says there was an insane amount of listener response to Perkins unexplained absence. He credits his love for radio to his father who repaired radios as a hobby when he was young. Im just playing music. Perkins' jazz show has been broadcast Monday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays. At 90.1 FM. A survey of the playlist from one of his last shows before his stroke is a ramble through classic jazz interpretations of American Songbook standards. Ive met a lot of good people, a lot of entertainers, musicians, and politicians along the way. I knew the Athletics batting averages like they were my own name. 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. Mr. Perkins owns 88,692 shares of Targa Resources stock worth more than $6,747,687 as of February 16th. He went on to work for WDAS and while in Philadelphia, [2] in 1997, he joined WRTI-FM Temple University Radio. Not doing anything heroic. Army from 1956 to 1958 1997 and has a media career that has spanned six... Being off the air take you by surprise radio and visualize a station that a... Of Representatives 2 ] in 1997 and ive been in radio mess up bob perkins wrti illness he will end the program. Id be lucky, I dont know Why music is so much, but he awarded! To Texas a & amp ; M University of Philly and American alive. Hed also play Miles Davis, Maynard Ferguson, John Coltrane, every! 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