Roby Yonge
Encyclopedia
Roby Yonge was an American radio DJ
, most notable in the 1960s. He was best known for being fired from New York
station WABC-AM
in 1969, after he reported over the air that the singer Paul McCartney
of The Beatles
might be dead.
, Yonge grew up in Ocala, Florida
. He got his first radio job when he was 15 years old. Roby's first Miami, Florida
job was as a newsman at WIOD
, which was then WCKR.
In December 1968, Yonge moved to New York and WABC. He went on the air with the Paul McCartney "death" rumor
on October 21, 1969, having heard the rumor from WKNR-FM (Detroit) radio personality Chris Randall
. Stating that he had already been fired and that at 12:39 AM, would not be "cut" because there was nobody around, Yonge began to speculate on rumors circulating about the possible death of McCartney. Callers lit up the station switchboard
. It was an hour and a half before program director Rick Sklar
got Les Marshak in to relieve Yonge. Marshak continued to do Yonge's show until a replacement was hired.
Sklar's reach did not cross radio bands, as, less than 3 weeks later, on November 14, 1969, former WABC DJ Bob "Bob-a-loo" Lewis did a full production "Paul is Dead" show on WABC-FM, putting forth many of the same assertions about McCartney's supposed death that had resulted in Yonge being yanked off the air.
Yonge was hired by WCBS-FM
, where he helped introduce the "Oldies" format of popular songs to that station. After a few years, he returned to Florida, where he served as general manager of Mother WMUM, an early FM rock station in Palm Beach. After the demise of Mother in 1972, Yonge became a morning personality on Y100 WHYI
in Fort Lauderdale/Miami. He was fired after the first day on the air, August 3, 1973. He moved to the competitor WMYQ-FM, where he spoke as a commentator with a morning show.
In 1987, Yonge did a morning show at WKAT
in Miami, then returned in 1993 to do a music/talk show on 790 WMRZ
.
Roby Yonge died on July 18, 1997 of an apparent heart attack
at age 54.
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...
, most notable in the 1960s. He was best known for being fired from 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...
station WABC-AM
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...
in 1969, after he reported over the air that the singer Paul McCartney
Paul Is Dead
"Paul is dead" is an urban legend suggesting that Paul McCartney of the English rock band The Beatles died in 1966 and was secretly replaced by a look-alike....
of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
might be dead.
Early life and education
Born in Fort Jackson, South CarolinaFort Jackson, South Carolina
Fort Jackson is a United States Army installation, which TRADOC operates on for Basic Combat Training , and is located in Columbia, South Carolina. This installation is named for Andrew Jackson, a United States Army General and 7th President of the United States.-Overview:Fort Jackson was created...
, Yonge grew up in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. He got his first radio job when he was 15 years old. Roby's first Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
job was as a newsman at WIOD
WIOD
WIOD is a news/talk formatted radio station in Miami, Florida. For over 80 years, it has been a major information station in South Florida...
, which was then WCKR.
Career
Yonge moved to Miami's WQAM, where his on-air nickname was "The Big Kahuna".In December 1968, Yonge moved to New York and WABC. He went on the air with the Paul McCartney "death" rumor
Paul Is Dead
"Paul is dead" is an urban legend suggesting that Paul McCartney of the English rock band The Beatles died in 1966 and was secretly replaced by a look-alike....
on October 21, 1969, having heard the rumor from WKNR-FM (Detroit) radio personality Chris Randall
Chris Rathaus
Chris Rathaus was an American a radio producer, program director and talk show host of radio programs in the United states. Rathaus passed on the Paul McCartney death hoax, to an associate radio dj, Roby Yonge at WABC New York.-Career:Randall started his career at WPTR/Albany, New York...
. Stating that he had already been fired and that at 12:39 AM, would not be "cut" because there was nobody around, Yonge began to speculate on rumors circulating about the possible death of McCartney. Callers lit up the station switchboard
Telephone switchboard
A switchboard was a device used to connect a group of telephones manually to one another or to an outside connection, within and between telephone exchanges or private branch exchanges . The user was typically known as an operator...
. It was an hour and a half before program director Rick Sklar
Rick Sklar
Rick Sklar was an American radio program director, who while at New York City's WABC was one of the originators of the Top 40 radio format....
got Les Marshak in to relieve Yonge. Marshak continued to do Yonge's show until a replacement was hired.
Sklar's reach did not cross radio bands, as, less than 3 weeks later, on November 14, 1969, former WABC DJ Bob "Bob-a-loo" Lewis did a full production "Paul is Dead" show on WABC-FM, putting forth many of the same assertions about McCartney's supposed death that had resulted in Yonge being yanked off the air.
Yonge was hired by 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....
, where he helped introduce the "Oldies" format of popular songs to that station. After a few years, he returned to Florida, where he served as general manager of Mother WMUM, an early FM rock station in Palm Beach. After the demise of Mother in 1972, Yonge became a morning personality on Y100 WHYI
WHYI
WHYI-FM, better known as Y-100, is a heritage FM Top 40 contemporary hit radio station that broadcasts at 100.7 MHz. Its city of license is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Y-100 broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 98,000 watts from its 1,005 foot transmitter, which is located on the...
in Fort Lauderdale/Miami. He was fired after the first day on the air, August 3, 1973. He moved to the competitor WMYQ-FM, where he spoke as a commentator with a morning show.
In 1987, Yonge did a morning show at WKAT
WKAT
WKAT 1360 is a Spanish talk radio station based in the South Florida area of Miami and Fort Lauderdale.The previous format was conservative talk radio with a lineup that resembled other outlets owned by Salem Communications: Michael Medved, Laura Ingraham, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Savage, and William...
in Miami, then returned in 1993 to do a music/talk show on 790 WMRZ
WAXY
WAXY is a radio station licensed in South Miami, Florida broadcasting on 790 kHz with a sports talk format. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications...
.
Roby Yonge died on July 18, 1997 of an apparent heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 54.
External links
- The Roby Yonge Home Page
- Musicradio77.com "Yonge's final WABC show", Music Radio 77