1-2-13
Bob Grant is being called the father of conservative talk radio, a radio pioneer, and a racist in the coverage of his death. Certainly he was successful and controversial in the number-one market in America. The radio industry learned yesterday that Grant had died on Tuesday. Grant moved to New York in 1970 to host a talk show on WMCA-AM, where he spent seven years steadily building his audience. Leaving WMCA in 1977, Grant worked his first stint at WOR, and later moved to WWDB in Philadelphia before returning to New York as the cornerstone of WABC's new Talk format in 1984. He remained at WABC until his much-publicized firing in 1996. Ten days later, he was hired by WOR.
Mike Thompson is now the program director at ESPN L.A. Thompson was one of Grant's producers at WMCA and a colleagues at WABC. He tells Radio Ink much will be written about Grant's career. "My hope is that people will remember Bob not as a 'conservative talk show host' as the present genre of 'no hope' radio is perceived. Bob made people think and laugh. He wanted everyone to listen, no matter their affiliation. He was an entertainer whose cynical and sometimes bitter outlook on life made the show about HIM ? not about anything going on externally. Many people that listened to him didn?t agree with anything he said ? but they did learn and LAUGH. He never was predictable about positions ? for those who worked with him and those who listened ? he was one of a kind. I am sure others will agree with me it was the best part of their career to have worked with Bob Grant."
Grant graduated from the University of Illinois and landed his first radio job at WAOK in Oak Park, Illinois. He moved on to WBBM in 1949 in Chicago as a newsman, and as an actor in the early days of television. Ten years later, Bob moved to Los Angeles to work at KNX as a radio personality and television talk show host. In 1962, Bob was hired by KABC as sports director where he met the legendary Joe Pine, who pioneered controversial talk on radio. After substituting for Pine on several occasions, Grant was chosen to take over The Joe Pine Show at KABC in 1964. For Bob Grant and his loyal listeners, the rest would be history.
More coverage on the death of Bob Grant from Long Island Newsday, NJ.com, The Wrap.
(1/2/2014 7:12:44 PM)
Bob Grant was fine company in our small business offices during the afternoon, and the ever welcome dinner guest on the radio.
Auperb host. Astute reporter. Kind friend. Wonderful mentor. Thank you, Bob.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Mil-Spec Communications
Manasota Key, Florida
Great man, RIP.
ML/NJ (aka "Mike from North Caldwell)
I LEARNED POLITICS DRIVING EVERY DAY HOME FROM LONG ISLAND FROM GRANT. AT TIMES HE WAS SIMPLY HYSTERICAL. MY FAVORITE BOB GRANT LINE WAS... HEY YOU JERK...HERE COMES THE GARBAGE TRUCK...JUMP IN!
HE WAS AN ORIGINAL. AND I THANK HIM FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, CONSERVATIVS AND LIBERALS. REST IN PEACE,AND THANK YOU
(1/2/2014 1:54:54 PM)
Bob Grant was the greatest talk show host of all time on New York City radio...rest in peace Mr. Grant from a long-time listener!!!
(1/2/2014 1:49:59 PM)
A true patriot, very few left with us.
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