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Drew, a Detroit native, started his radio career in Atlanta in 1961 at WAKE where he would cultivate his audience by visiting high schools gathering names to air on his show. He went on to become VP of Programming for RKO Radio in New York. Merlin Media CEO Randy Michaels said, "There has never been a finer technical program director, or one who paid more attention to detail. If there is a hotline in heaven, Paul is on it with some advice on how to tighten up." Drew died of natural causes at the age of 78.
Drew hired some of radio's greatest names, including Jerry Clifton, Les Garland, Dave Sholin, Guy Zapolean, Bob Hamilton, Rick Bisceglia, Don Kelly, Harry Nelson, Rick Dees, Dave Martin, Gary Berkowitz, Walt "Baby" Love, and Charlie Van Dyke.
Les Garland told Radio Ink, "I feel a very deep loss this night like a close family member has passed. Paul Drew transformed my life. No one loved great radio more than Paul. I loved Paul and his wife Ann Drew. Please be reminded that once upon a time Paul Drew was the most important cat in the music business and he walked the top
of that mountain with a great deal class. I'm feeling the past come rushing back right now and a bit like a young radio programmer dream of meeting Paul Drew. That dream came true for me. Paul was my friend. I will miss him for the rest of my days."
Bob Hamilton told Radio Ink he worked for Drew twice and it was the best 10 years of his career. "Paul Drew was my true hero. No one will ever be like him. A true pro who was so smart. Loved the biz and was so cool. Once you got him, you loved him. We lost a real radio hero."
About his good friend, Jim Davis says, "Paul Drew was the game changer for my career. I was 21 when he hired me from Toledo for CKLW. From the get go, I knew he was a force to be reckoned with. He trained me on the all night show, actually sitting across from me with his Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio while he critiqued every single set. He made it clear he would not accept mediocrity (just ask the many engineers who ?bit the dust? because of a bad layover, or loose segue). He walked fast, worked incredibly long hours and was (sometimes) brutally honest. I never made a mistake on that station that he didn?t point out through a ?batphone? call. However, as demanding of perfection as he was, he was also fair and treated his talent with great respect. He trounced the Detroit competition within 6 months. Later, I worked for Paul as his voice over talent at WIBG and then as air talent at KHJ and PD at KLIF, Dallas. Rarely does time pass without my thinking ?what would Paul do?. What he taught me is burned into my being like the veins in the back of my hands. I will truly miss him."
In 1963, Drew moved to WQXI in Atlanta as host of the 7 p.m.-12 midnight shift. One online history of Drew says he introduced Atlanta to, and later toured with, the Beatles. He eventually became program director of WQXI in Atklanta, a position he held until 1967, when he left to program CKLW in Detroit, KFRC in San Francisco, and KHJ in Los Angeles before moving on to RKO.
(5/17/2013 10:29:57 PM)
I actually worked as a Receptionist/Secretary in 1958 til 1961 at Radio Station WGST in Atlanta which was owned and operated by Georgia Tech. Paul Drew was a major DJ during that time and hosted many teen Hops
(5/17/2013 5:05:25 PM)
Rich, nice story. But they didn't ever beat WABC, not even close. Clifton was soon fired.
(5/17/2013 5:04:58 PM)
Rich, nice story. But they didn't ever beat WABC, not even close. Clifton was soon fired.
(5/17/2013 4:39:44 PM)
1974 WXLO New York. Brand new sales guy. I have my first encounter with Paul and Jerry Clifton who Paul had just hired to program XLO. Paul, sharply dressed in suit & tie. Jerry in a "I wanna hump " t-shirt with a camel on it. They went on to beat WABC and the rest is history. I am lucky to have known him and see his amazing work. His kind is lost forever I'm afraid. RIP Paul. (Rock In Peace).
Rich marston
(5/17/2013 9:56:03 AM)
The proper way to respect him is to send a donation today to the BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA which helped ease his life at the end. http://www.broadcastersfoundation.org/
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