The radio industry lost another great personality last week. Big Ron O'brien passed away in Philadelphia at the age of 56. Big Ron was doing nights on WCFL in the 70's when I was growing up. He was the consummate DJ, great pipes, high energy, impeccable timing, funny, witty and and he new the music backwards and forwards.Ron was a journeyman broadcaster who worked at some of the great top-40 stations around the country including, WCFL Chicago, WFIL Philadelphia, KIIS Los Angeles and more... Ron was one the people that I listened to growing up that got me excited about getting into radio. While I never met him, just like all the other greats, I felt like I new him. That's what made him so good.
Programmer, Dan Kelley of Classicrockfm did a great piece on his Blog about Ron. Read it here ==>
Airchexx.com has an aircheck of Ron from WCFL in 1976. Just as I did when I was
a kid, I still get that feeling in my stomach when I listen to the top of the hour ID and hear "Seven o'clock America, welcome to the night time with Big Ron from the Voice of Labor WCFL Chicago". This is top-40 radio at its best. Click here to listen ===>"Shotgun" Tom Kelly and Art Vuolo "Radio's Best Friend" put together this tribute On Big Ron O'brien.
