Dan Ingram
Encyclopedia
Daniel Trombley "Dan" Ingram (born September 7, 1934 in Oceanside, New York
) is an American Top 40 radio
disc jockey
with a forty-year career on radio stations such as WABC
and WCBS-FM
in New York
. "Big Dan" started broadcasting at WHCH Hofstra College, Hempstead, New York, WNRC, New Rochelle, New York, and WALK-FM
, Patchogue, New York.
Ingram is regarded by many as the best Top 40 DJ of all time. He's noted for his quick wit and ability to convey a humorous or satiric idea with quick pacing and an economy of words--a skill which has made him uniquely suited to, and successful within, modern personality-driven music radio. He is among the most frequently emulated radio personalities, cited as an influence or inspiration by numerous current broadcasters. One of Ingram's unique skills was his ability to "talk up" to the lyrics of a record, meaning speaking over the musical introduction and finishing exactly at the point when the lyrics started.
Dan was well known for playing doctored versions of popular songs. The Paul McCarney & Wings song My Love Does it Good became My Glove Does it Good. The stuttering title refrain of Bennie and the Jets went from three or four repetitions to countless. In the same vein, the distinctive refrain added to Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede, Ooga-ooga-ooga-chucka would start repeating and listeners would never know when it would end.
Dan's longtime closing theme song was "Tri-Fi Drums" by Billy May
. An edited version of the song was used for broadcast.
Dan is not related to Clarke Ingram
, another top 40 radio personality in New York City who worked at Z-100
during the early 1990s. Clarke has said that he was reluctant to use "Ingram" (his real name) because of Dan's prominence, but that Z-100 encouraged him to do so because at the time Dan was not on the air at any station. About six months later, Dan returned to the air, doing weekends at WCBS-FM
, and the two occasionally competed in the same time slots. Some listeners mistakenly assumed that Clarke was Dan's son, or another relative. (A photo of Dan and Clarke meeting each other for the first time appeared in the radio trade publication FMQB
in 1997.) However, Dan's son, Chris, is currently a DJ at WVOS-FM
in Monticello, NY.
Dan commented occasionally about the pronunciation of his name: jingles often are heard pronouncing his last name as "Ing-ram," but Dan has said it is correctly pronounced "In-gram." As a tribute to Dan in later years, ESPN
's Chris Berman would do the same when saying the name of New York Giants
wide receiver Mark Ingram, pronouncing it "Marrrrrk In-gram".
Dan was interviewed about his career by Mark Simone
on WABC Post-Rewound show on May 29, 2006. While discussing a lawsuit filed against him by another person who used his name, he said "shit
". While the dump button managed to erase that profanity from the air, his second profanity ("fuck
") accidentally went on the air due to a delay problem.
Oceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
) is an American Top 40 radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
with a forty-year career on radio stations such as WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
and WCBS-FM
WCBS-FM
WCBS-FM is a CBS-owned radio station in New York City. The station's studios are in the combined CBS Radio facility at 345 Hudson Street in Manhattan, and its transmitter is located on the Empire State Building....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. "Big Dan" started broadcasting at WHCH Hofstra College, Hempstead, New York, WNRC, New Rochelle, New York, and WALK-FM
WALK-FM
WALK-FM, known on-air as "WALK 97.5," is a radio station on Long Island with an adult contemporary format. Located on 97.5 FM, the station is licensed to Patchogue, New York...
, Patchogue, New York.
Ingram is regarded by many as the best Top 40 DJ of all time. He's noted for his quick wit and ability to convey a humorous or satiric idea with quick pacing and an economy of words--a skill which has made him uniquely suited to, and successful within, modern personality-driven music radio. He is among the most frequently emulated radio personalities, cited as an influence or inspiration by numerous current broadcasters. One of Ingram's unique skills was his ability to "talk up" to the lyrics of a record, meaning speaking over the musical introduction and finishing exactly at the point when the lyrics started.
Dan was well known for playing doctored versions of popular songs. The Paul McCarney & Wings song My Love Does it Good became My Glove Does it Good. The stuttering title refrain of Bennie and the Jets went from three or four repetitions to countless. In the same vein, the distinctive refrain added to Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede, Ooga-ooga-ooga-chucka would start repeating and listeners would never know when it would end.
Dan's longtime closing theme song was "Tri-Fi Drums" by Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
. An edited version of the song was used for broadcast.
Dan is not related to Clarke Ingram
Clarke Ingram
Clarke Ingram is a United States radio personality and programming executive.Ingram is best known in his home market and hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, he was employed at Pittsburgh-area stations WKHB and WKFB , which program a mixture of talk shows and oldies...
, another top 40 radio personality in New York City who worked at Z-100
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
during the early 1990s. Clarke has said that he was reluctant to use "Ingram" (his real name) because of Dan's prominence, but that Z-100 encouraged him to do so because at the time Dan was not on the air at any station. About six months later, Dan returned to the air, doing weekends at WCBS-FM
WCBS-FM
WCBS-FM is a CBS-owned radio station in New York City. The station's studios are in the combined CBS Radio facility at 345 Hudson Street in Manhattan, and its transmitter is located on the Empire State Building....
, and the two occasionally competed in the same time slots. Some listeners mistakenly assumed that Clarke was Dan's son, or another relative. (A photo of Dan and Clarke meeting each other for the first time appeared in the radio trade publication FMQB
FMQB
Friday Morning Quarterback is a trade magazine which covers the Radio and Music industries in the United States. Its coverage includes programming, management, promotion, marketing, and airplay for music formatted radio. The magazine was founded in 1968 by Kal Rudman and is read by over 10,000...
in 1997.) However, Dan's son, Chris, is currently a DJ at WVOS-FM
WVOS-FM
WVOS-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Classic Hits format. Licensed to Liberty, New York, USA. The station is currently owned by Watermark Communications LLC and features programming from ABC Radio .-History:...
in Monticello, NY.
Dan commented occasionally about the pronunciation of his name: jingles often are heard pronouncing his last name as "Ing-ram," but Dan has said it is correctly pronounced "In-gram." As a tribute to Dan in later years, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Chris Berman would do the same when saying the name of New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver Mark Ingram, pronouncing it "Marrrrrk In-gram".
Dan was interviewed about his career by Mark Simone
Mark Simone
Mark Simone is an American radio personality. Currently heard on WABC in New York, he also fills-in for ABC Radio hosts such as Don Imus, Mark Levin, and Sean Hannity.Simone occasionally appears on CNN, MSNBC and PBS....
on WABC Post-Rewound show on May 29, 2006. While discussing a lawsuit filed against him by another person who used his name, he said "shit
Shit
Shit is usually considered vulgar and profane in Modern English. As a noun it refers to fecal matter and as a verb it means to defecate or defecate in; in the plural it means diarrhea...
". While the dump button managed to erase that profanity from the air, his second profanity ("fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
") accidentally went on the air due to a delay problem.
History
- 1958 — WICC, Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
(under the name Rae Tayler) - 1958 — WNHC, New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
- 1959 — KBOX, Dallas
- 1960 — WIL, St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
- July 3, 1961 — May 10, 1982 WABCWABC (AM)WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He and Ron LundyRon LundyFred Ronald "Ron" Lundy was a popular radio announcer in New York City from the early-1960s to his retirement from WCBS-FM in 1997...
were on-air as the station switched to TalkRadio. - April 1984 — December 1986 Hosted CBS Radio's "Top 40 Satellite Survey"
- 1984–June 1985 — WKTU-FM, New York City
- October 1991–June 2003, September 16, 2007 (New York Radio Greats) — WCBS-FMWCBS-FMWCBS-FM is a CBS-owned radio station in New York City. The station's studios are in the combined CBS Radio facility at 345 Hudson Street in Manhattan, and its transmitter is located on the Empire State Building....
, New York City - June 1998 - KRTH-FMKRTH-FMKRTH is a U.S. oldies radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles Area. Its signal covers an extremely large area, due in part to height upon Mt...
, Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. One week as "guest DJ," ostensibly a tryout for the morning drive spot recently vacated by the retiring Robert W. MorganRobert W. MorganRobert Wilbur Morgan was an award-winning morning radio personality best known for his work at several stations in Los Angeles, California, in particular KHJ-AM....
. The job went to Charlie Van DykeCharlie Van DykeCharlie Van Dyke is a former radio disc jockey who is best known for the voice work he has done for numerous radio and television stations....
. - February 8, 2004 (Fab-40th Weekend) — WAXQWAXQWAXQ is a radio station with a classic rock format in New York City. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-WFDR:...
, New York
Quotes
- Does that sound particularly slow to you?....Everything sounds like it's running in slow motion....The lights are dimming in the city; you wouldn't believe what's going on in this studio, folks!....The electricity is slowing down; I didn't know that could happen! — Ingram on the air, minutes before the great Northeast Blackout of 1965Northeast Blackout of 1965The Northeast blackout of 1965 was a significant disruption in the supply of electricity on November 9, 1965, affecting Ontario, Canada and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey in the United States...
, as decreasing electrical frequency caused the music he was playing to run slow - I just got some terrible news. I read the ratings, and WABC is only the 13th ranked station…in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! — On WABC in 1971
- "WABC, the station that loves you, because your ears are a saleable commodity!"
- "Hi Kemosabe"
- "Roll your bod"
- "The word of the day is…"
- "You're in the honored group of the day"
- "The boys in blue are looking for you, with radar."
- About Cass Elliot: "I love the chunky Mama."
- "The Teeny Weeny Brass" — for the Tijuana BrassHerb AlpertHerbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
- "on the Ingram Flingram"*
- "on the Ingram Travesty" (occasionally "the Ingram Catharsis")
- " zay gezunt" — a Yiddish expression, meaning "be well." Upon hearing this, many listeners believed him to be Jewish. (He is actually Presbyterian, of English and French-Canadian heritage.)
- "Jeg elsker dig" — a Danish expression, meaning, "I love you." Used nearly always as a sign off, he would pronounce it "Yay hoolska day."
- Sometimes preceding a weather forecast: "Peter the Meter Reader and his Weather Machine aided by his lovely wife, Fats Pontoon, her mustache, beard and orchestra" or "Peter the Meter Reader and his Weather Machine aided by his lovely wife Fats Pontoon and her weather balloon" or "... her pearly green skin and her orchestra."
- Sometimes during a weather forecast: "Chance of brief showers… watch out for those briefs…"
- Introducing Howard CosellHoward CosellHoward William Cosell was an American sports journalist who was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. Cosell said of himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these...
's Speaking of Sports segment: "And now it's time to broach the coach." - "Big Dan here, laughin' and scratchin"
- "[...the Dan Ingram show] might start off slow, but you can be guaranteed it'll slump off from there."
- Following a pre-recorded commercial which he had voiced, "Thank you, me!"
- He frequently "doubled" the voiceover of a pre-recorded commercial or station promo, voicing it live on air while the recorded version was playing, perfectly matching the pacing and inflection of the recorded version, to sound as if there were two of him speaking.
Quotes from last WABC shows before the 1982 format change
- "So basically I'm taking seven weeks off. With pay heh heh." — at the end of Dan Ingram's final Friday afternoon on the air. Ingram was expecting to move to an upcoming satellite oldies service named Superradio (however, the service did not sign up enough affiliates to launch).
- "But the honor group of the day, my friend, is you. Because if you hadn't listened, I would've never have been here. Thank you." — Dan Ingram at the end of his final afternoon show Friday before the format change
- "There is one thing that I want to say that will be probably the last time that I will ever be able to say this, on WABC, and the last thing I am going to say is…This is WABC, New York. I can't say that anymore, can I?" — Near the end of the final broadcast on May 10, 1982
- "We would like to play a couple of things to nail it down. Let's have that." (Three chimes ring, from John Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over," then Lennon's "Imagine" plays. After the song, the familiar WABC "chime" jingle is heard, then a moment of silence before the first Talkradio jingle. This marked the end of WABC's 22 years as a Top-40 station.)
Awards
- Edward R. Murrow Award for an anti-smoking campaign
- Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews for public service announcements
- National Radio Hall of Fame nominee in 2004 (although not inducted)
- National Radio Hall of Fame inductee in 2007
- New York Achievement In Radio (A.I.R.) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005
- Hofstra University Estabrook Alumni Award given to less than 1% of honored graduates