Bob Perkins (radio)
Encyclopedia
Bob Perkins is an American
radio personality. He is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-area Jazz
program host and (DJ) for WRTI
, and has been on-air for more than 30 years. His radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. He went on to worked for WDAS
and WHYY in Philadelphia. In 1997 he joined WRTI-FM Temple University
Radio. Known for his laid-back and mellow style, Bob is a favorite of night-time Jazz listeners in the Philadelphia area. One of his well-known sayings is "This is BP with the GM!" meaning Bob Perkins with the Good Music. He is also an accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional Jazz music events. He has earned well over forty different honors and awards from major government, artistic, journalistic and community organizations. Information about his on-air schedule may be found at WRTI's website. Bob recently announced that he expects his personal website project to go online in late 2009 or 2010.
Radio in Philadelphia. He has been with the station since 1997. His knowledge of Jazz Programming was instrumental to a significant increase in weekday Jazz listenership and a doubling of the Sunday Jazz audience for his time slot. Previously (1988 to 1997) Bob hosted a well known Jazz radio show Saturday nights on WHYY-FM
. Starting in Philadelphia Radio in 1969, Bob joined WDAS/WDAS-FM
as a Newsman and became the News Director after two years. He also became the Editorial Director after another year. His distinctive deep voice and progressive points of view became an on-air signature for the fast-growing FM and AM operations at WDAS/WDAS-FM
over 19 years during the 70's and 80's. Bob got his career started in Detroit radio over five years from 1964 to 1969. After breaking in as a DJ and Announcer at WGPR-FM, he then expanded to news at WCHB-AM while also working as Jazz Program Director for its twin, WCHD-FM. Then he continued to grow working as Newsman and Assistant Director at WJLB-AM in Detroit before his career path returned him to Philadelphia.
Bob is also a first-call Jazz MC. He regularly serves as Master of Ceremonies for major annual and special concert events in the region such as the previous and very popular Mellon Jazz Festival Concert Series. Bob is currently engaged for the annual Cape May Jazz Festival Concert Series and the Tony Williams Jazz Festival Concert Series.
, who was born in the region and spent his last years living in [Philadelphia]. Bob has an independent website project under construction and he expects it to launch by early 2010.
News Conferences - one each in the presence of Presidents Gerald Ford
and Jimmy Carter
. Bob was born and raised in South Philadelphia and currently lives in Glenside
, Pennsylvania
with his wife Sheila.
, Larry Kane
, Dick Clark, Herb Clark
and Ed Bradley
, to name a few); City of Philadelphia Proclamation by Mayor John Street
in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution to Philadelphia Jazz; Philadelphia City Council Proclamation in 2007 for Outstaniding Contribution to Philadelphia Jazz; Two State of Pennsylvania Proclamations in 2007 at the State House of Representatives and the State Senate for Outstanding Contribution by a Pennsylvania Resident to Jazz; U.S. House of Representatives Proclamation by Congressman Chaka Fattah
in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution by a Pennsylvania Resident to Jazz (Pictured Above).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio personality. He is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-area Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
program host and (DJ) for WRTI
WRTI
WRTI is a public radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a service of Temple University.WRTI began in 1948 as an AM carrier current station. It was founded by John Roberts, professor emeritus of communications at Temple and long-time anchorman at WFIL-TV . He'd helped found the School...
, and has been on-air for more than 30 years. His radio career began in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. He went on to worked for WDAS
WDAS-FM
WDAS-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station that features R&B and Classic Soul, and is licensed to the city of Philadelphia. The station is widely regarded as one of the originators of the Urban AC format which mixes R&B oldies with non-rap contemporary R&B and is now found in many major...
and WHYY in Philadelphia. In 1997 he joined WRTI-FM Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
Radio. Known for his laid-back and mellow style, Bob is a favorite of night-time Jazz listeners in the Philadelphia area. One of his well-known sayings is "This is BP with the GM!" meaning Bob Perkins with the Good Music. He is also an accomplished radio news journalist and a First Call Master of Ceremonies for regional Jazz music events. He has earned well over forty different honors and awards from major government, artistic, journalistic and community organizations. Information about his on-air schedule may be found at WRTI's website. Bob recently announced that he expects his personal website project to go online in late 2009 or 2010.
Radio Career Summary
Bob is the PM drive time Jazz Radio Personality and Host for WRTI-FM Temple UniversityTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
Radio in Philadelphia. He has been with the station since 1997. His knowledge of Jazz Programming was instrumental to a significant increase in weekday Jazz listenership and a doubling of the Sunday Jazz audience for his time slot. Previously (1988 to 1997) Bob hosted a well known Jazz radio show Saturday nights on WHYY-FM
WHYY-FM
WHYY-FM is an NPR member station serving the Delaware Valley area, which is the metro area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is located in Philadelphia. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.-History:...
. Starting in Philadelphia Radio in 1969, Bob joined WDAS/WDAS-FM
WDAS-FM
WDAS-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station that features R&B and Classic Soul, and is licensed to the city of Philadelphia. The station is widely regarded as one of the originators of the Urban AC format which mixes R&B oldies with non-rap contemporary R&B and is now found in many major...
as a Newsman and became the News Director after two years. He also became the Editorial Director after another year. His distinctive deep voice and progressive points of view became an on-air signature for the fast-growing FM and AM operations at WDAS/WDAS-FM
WDAS-FM
WDAS-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station that features R&B and Classic Soul, and is licensed to the city of Philadelphia. The station is widely regarded as one of the originators of the Urban AC format which mixes R&B oldies with non-rap contemporary R&B and is now found in many major...
over 19 years during the 70's and 80's. Bob got his career started in Detroit radio over five years from 1964 to 1969. After breaking in as a DJ and Announcer at WGPR-FM, he then expanded to news at WCHB-AM while also working as Jazz Program Director for its twin, WCHD-FM. Then he continued to grow working as Newsman and Assistant Director at WJLB-AM in Detroit before his career path returned him to Philadelphia.
Bob is also a first-call Jazz MC. He regularly serves as Master of Ceremonies for major annual and special concert events in the region such as the previous and very popular Mellon Jazz Festival Concert Series. Bob is currently engaged for the annual Cape May Jazz Festival Concert Series and the Tony Williams Jazz Festival Concert Series.
Print Media and Other Projects
Bob had a five year relationship with The Philadelphia Tribune where he wrote Commentary on Government, Society and Public Affairs. Bob also wrote Editorials and other articles for the former The Philadelphia New Observer. Bob is most proud of his independently produced radio documentary on the life of African-American History icon, Paul RobesonPaul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, who was born in the region and spent his last years living in [Philadelphia]. Bob has an independent website project under construction and he expects it to launch by early 2010.
Personal life
Bob was born Robert Ellis Perkins on December 6, 1933. Bob credits his love for radio to his father who repaired radios as a hobby when Bob was young. There was always a radio on in the house and the foundation for Bob's involvement with radio as a media was established then. He got his first job in radio during a trip to visit his two brothers in Detroit in 1964. Bob wandered into the station at WGPR-FM and got a position as on-air DJ an Announcer. He has attended two different White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
News Conferences - one each in the presence of Presidents Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
and Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. Bob was born and raised in South Philadelphia and currently lives in Glenside
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Glenside is a census-designated place in Abington, Cheltenham, and Springfield townships, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,384 at the 2010 census...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
with his wife Sheila.
Honors and awards
Some of Bob Perkins' major honors and awards for career accomplishments include: The Kal Rudman Milestones in Radio Award; The Mellon Jazz Community Service Award for 2002; Inducted to the Philadelphia Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2003 (Enshrined with Philadelphia Broadcast Legends John FacendaJohn Facenda
John Thomas Ralph Augustine James Facenda was an American broadcaster and sports announcer. He was a fixture on Philadelphia radio and television for decades, and achieved national fame as a narrator for NFL Films and Football Follies...
, Larry Kane
Larry Kane
Larry Kane is an American journalist best known as the only American reporter whom The Beatles let travel with them on their 1964 and 1965 North American tours. Kane authored a book about his experiences on the tour, called Ticket To Ride, and Lennon Revealed, a New York Times and Los Angeles...
, Dick Clark, Herb Clark
Herb Clark
Herbert H. Clark is a psycholinguist who serves as Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. Clark is known for his theory of "common ground": individuals engaged in conversation must share knowledge in order to be understood and have a meaningful conversation...
and Ed Bradley
Ed Bradley
Edward Rudolph "Ed" Bradley, Jr. was an American journalist, best known for twenty-six years of award-winning work on the CBS News television program 60 Minutes...
, to name a few); City of Philadelphia Proclamation by Mayor John Street
John F. Street
John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...
in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution to Philadelphia Jazz; Philadelphia City Council Proclamation in 2007 for Outstaniding Contribution to Philadelphia Jazz; Two State of Pennsylvania Proclamations in 2007 at the State House of Representatives and the State Senate for Outstanding Contribution by a Pennsylvania Resident to Jazz; U.S. House of Representatives Proclamation by Congressman Chaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah is the U.S. representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution by a Pennsylvania Resident to Jazz (Pictured Above).