Robert W. Morgan

Robert W. Morgan (July 23, 1937 – May 22, 1998) was a renowned disc jockey who was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1999. He did most of his work in Los Angeles, California at stations such as KHJ, where he was known as one of the "boss jocks" that dominated the Top 40 market in Southern California during the late 1960s. One of his trademark greetings to listeners during his morning drive shift was "Good Morgan!!"

After doing shows at several stations in the Los Angeles area, he finished his career with KRTH-FM, where he retired for health reasons in 1997. He died from cancer on May 22, 1998.

He also has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

(The following excerpted from the Robert W. Morgan Boss-Ography)

In 1937 Arthur and Florence Morgan gave birth to a bouncing baby boy named Robert W. Even then, their new son was destined to be in radio. After all, his parents initials were AM and FM.

Robert & his younger brother Art Jr. grew up in the small Mid-Western town of Galion Ohio, where as a boy he listened to the hits of the day on Cleveland’s KYW. It was there his interest in radio began.

Robert’s radio rollercoaster ride really began in 1955 at Wooster College on WWST & WWST-FM…where he worked for one dollar an hour!After college Robert moved to California to do the all night show on KACY, hosting "Kegler’s Spare Time with Bob Morgan" live from the Wagon Wheel Bowl.

1959 brought a stint at Fort Ord as a member of the United States Army. Using his mouth as effectively as his rifle…It was here where Robert got both his sharpshooter and sharp tongue medals. After his tour-of-duty was complete, he headed South to Carmel where he worked a two-man classical show with Marine Corps Heavyweight Champion Bob "K.O. Bailey" Elliot, on 500-watt KTEE.

After six months of symphonic stop sets it was on to do Morning Drive at Monterey's KMBY, where he also ran the board for the Arthur Godfrey Show. Shortly thereafter, Morgan jumped to Watsonville's KOMY'but only for a day. When he gave out KMBY's request number, his former station was flooded with calls and they offered him his job back for five times his salary!

Then, it was on to the raisin Capitol of the world...Fresno, California where he first worked with the legendary Ron Jacobs...the eventual co-architect of what was to become "Boss Radio".

Following K-MAKE, he spent eight months at KROY, Sacramento before he wound up on San Francisco’s KEWB. It was here where he met long-time friend and partner-in-crime, The Real Don Steele.

The Year Was 1965...The war in Vietnam was raging…Black nationalist leader Malcom X was shot to death in New York…The Beatles were a worldwide sensation…Sandy Koufax leads the LA Dodgers to a World Series Victory over the Minnesota Twins…And, Robert W. Morgan arrives in Los Angeles as the original morning "Boss Jock" on RKO’S, Drake-Chenault consulted, 93 KHJ. His signature "Good Morgan" has awakened Los Angeles ever since. And, if you needed a bit of good luck for a trip to Vegas…an upcoming algebra exam, etcetera… Robert W. was the man to give you that extra-added boost...ZAP, you're Morganized!

During the next five years on KHJ, Robert W. Morgan commanded unparalleled 20 shares in the Arbitron Radio Ratings Survey. Translated, that means 20 percent of all the radios in the greater Los Angeles area were tuned to Robert W. Nowadays, the number one station in LA doesn’t even get a seven share. It’s not an exaggeration to say…No radio station before or since has ever had such an impact.

Robert was not just the morning man…he WAS the sound of the station, voicing the majority of Boss Radio…93 KHJ’s station promos and imagery…Robert’s voice went beyond the "City of Angels"…He co-produced and narrated the 48-hour HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL…the definitive on-air encyclopedia of Rock ‘N Roll. The first-ever "rock-umentary" aired worldwide… and,it received an unbelievable 60 share in the Los Angeles market!

In 1967 he received Billboard Magazines "Air Personality Of The Year Award"…Later that year, Robert W. learned a little more about the power of the microphone. He and his fellow boss jocks were surprised by a poll taken at a local teenage fair held at the Hollywood Palladium. It asked the kids…"Who were they most influenced by?"…Disc Jockeys came in THIRD, just behind parents and teachers. After that, Robert took his on-the-air responsibilities a little more seriously.

Morgan’s career was on fire. When he made the transition to television, his fans now had a face to put with the voice. Robert hosted a variety of TV shows including "Morgan’s Alley", ABC’s "In Concert", NBC’s "The Helen Reddy Show", and KHJ-TV, Channel 9’s "Groovy Show", which he hosted with teen model and certified private pilot, Kam Nelson.

In 1970, Morgan left Los Angeles for greener pastures at Chicago’s WIND. Another radio icon, Wolfman Jack was a guest on his last show on KHJ before Robert left for the Windy City…While Chi-town turned out to be too cold for Morgan…his show was still hot…

In November 1970, he married his wife Shelley, who he met while she was working for KHJ Program Director Ron Jacobs. Lured back by the California sun he returned to KHJ in 1972, much to the delight of the Los Angeles listening audience…and quickly regained his throne as King of morning-drive radio in LA!

It's 1974......Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. President to resign from office...Patty Hearst is kidnapped…And, the drive-time duo of Morgan and Steele move down the street to K-100 FM. Just like 93 KHJ, this station was managed and programmed by Drake-Chenault…this time bringing their successful sound to the FM dial.

AUGUST 24, 1974, his daughter Susanna Morgan is born...and now the Boss Jock is a Boss Daddy...

When he’s not entertaining Los Angeles, Robert W. loves to bass fish on California’s Sacramento Delta and listen to the Four Freshmen. He’s a voracious reader, an avid chess player and likes to collect Americana.

In October 1975, a once-in-a-lifetime job opened up at legendary [http://www.710kmpc.com 710 KMPC ] . One of the two staff announcer positions on the station had just become available.

Robert’s first assignment was a split-shift on the weekends, and filling in for the superstar weekday staff. Although, on the surface, it seemed strange that this major market morning man would accept such a position, his hunch certainly paid off. On August 6, 1979 Robert W. took over for another 30-year morning radio legend, Dick Whittinghill.

Appropriately enough, He started his first show with station owner Gene Autry’s signature song, "Back In The Saddle Again"…It was there at KMPC that he formed the GOOD MORGAN TEAM…an ensemble group of full service radio professionals, featuring music, news, weather, traffic and sports. During that same period of time, Robert W. simultaneously co-hosted KNBC-TV Channel 4’s "Everywhere" show…A program that spoke with and to EVERYONE…EVERYWHERE.

His first stay at KMPC provided several format changes… including an unlikely transition to talk radio in the early 80’s. A consummate professional, Robert W. met the challenge… proving to be one of the best "talkers" in the biz, and had the best ratings on the station.

His perfect pipes and extensive musical knowledge made him the ideal announcer on Paramount’s "SOLID GOLD"…A position he held for seven successful seasons.

You didn’t have to be an Angelino to hear Robert W. He also hosted a number of nationally syndicated radio shows including; "Record Report", and ABC/Watermarks "The Robert W. Morgan Special Of The Week" where he interviewed the hottest music personalities in the world. In 1982 it was time for a change. So Robert and his cohort, sportscaster Scott St. James returned to music radio on Emmis Broadcasting’s MAGIC 106 FM. It was here where he discovered and hired his long-time sidekick Joni Caryl. He’s been the voice of thousands of radio & TV commercials, movie trailers and documentaries and regularly hosts the KCET-TV Public Television pledge drives.

In 1985 Robert W.’s alma matter KMPC was about to undergo yet another format change…this time to music that was close to Robert’s heart. Of course, he was invited back to wake up Los Angeles to the great stars and the great songs…

Over the years, Morgan has interviewed celebrities, politicians, newsmakers and sports legends. When it comes to "working the telephones"...nobody does it better.... Shortly thereafter, it was time for KMPC to attempt something never tried in the LA market…All sports…all the time! In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff…Martin Luther King Day is celebrated for the first time as a National Holiday…The Statue Of Liberty celebrates its 100th birthday…And…93 KHJ signed off the air. For the historic last broadcast of this one-time radio giant, Robert W. Morgan sent it off with style…

Years after his introduction to Los Angeles, Robert produced the Silver Anniversary Of Boss Radio held in Century City…May 9, 1990, on opening night of the Radio and Records convention ....The energy in the room that night was unbelievable.

Robert W. Morgan and The Real Don Steele reunited once again in 1992 at K-EARTH 101…The "Boss Was Back" and they both sounded better than ever. Robert W. proved that he still was "The Master Of The One-Liner"…dishing out his unique style of topical humor.

In 1993 Robert W. Morgan was honored with a star on the World Famous Hollywood Walk Of Fame. No small accomplishment for the Guy once known as the "Rooster from Wooster"! Over the years, Robert W. has also opened his microphone to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for countless charities, including Danny Thomas’ St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, The California Highway Patrol’s ChiPs for Kids Toy Drive, The Variety Club "Cares For Kids" Radiothon and Permanent Charities….just to name a few. Whatever radio station Robert W. was on…the ad dollars seemed to follow. The Robert W. Morgan Show has been the "gold standard" for live radio spots nationwide. Robert’s superb salesmanship has proven effective for all involved…selling out his time slot.

In 1994 Robert was one of the first five inductees into the National Broadcasters Hall Of Fame…along with broadcasting bigwigs Larry King, Ted Turner, Art Linkletter and Gary Owens.

Don Imus, Veteran air personality and close personal friend of Robert W.’s, summed it up best..."What can be said about Robert W. Morgans's induction into the National Broadcaster's Hall of Fame?..."There’s been a terrible mistake!"

Morgan has won almost every major award the industry has to offer. In addition to his Billboard's Air Personality of the Year honor…He has received the prestigious Gavin Professional Programmer's Man of the Year Award…

A citation from the National Association of Broadcasters for "Significant Achievement in American Broadcasting"…

And unanimous election to the Ohio Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.

Samples of his work are on permanent display at the Museum of Broadcasting in New York, the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills and the International Broadcasting Congress Archives in Brussels.

In May 1997 Robert W. Morgan announced to a shocked Los Angeles listening audience that he had lung cancer. But the veteran morning man still found some humor in even the most difficult of circumstances.

"It could have something to do with the two packs a day habit I had for the last 35 years" – 1997 RWM

In an emotional on-air statement he said he was taking some time off to fight the disease full time. He continued to do broadcasts from his home studio until 1998.

On January 9, 1998 K-EARTH 101 held a retirement tribute for their star morning man at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills.

The tribute included a re-dedication of Robert’s Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and the three hour broadcast from the museum’s theatre, hosted by Gary Owens and Joni Caryl, concluded with a thirty minute retrospective on Robert’s career, narrated by the legendary Dick Clark.

The quick-witted Morgan has always been the hardest working jock in show business…arriving at work in the pre-dawn hours to scour wire services along with local and national newspapers, review prep material and gear up for the day’s performance. Like his former program director Ron Jacobs once taught him: Preparation, Concentration and Moderation is the best offense in the battle for the most competitive radio market in the country. Robert’s impeccable sense of timing, acerbic wit and his unique ability to talk one-on-one to his audience for over four decades has earned him the title of being a "jock’s jock". He has influenced generations of radio people worldwide striving to be a cut above the rest.

For the millions of Los Angeles listeners who, for over three decades, have started their day with a "Good Morgan", Robert W. Morgan's retirement marks the end of an era…and a way of life.

External links

*Excellent material on his career can be found at [http://www.robertwmorgan.com Robert W. Morgan Boss-Ography]
*Watch the Robert W. Morgan Boss Ography at [http://www.reelradio.com/morgan/reelboss.html#video Robert W. Morgan Boss-Ography VIDEO]
*Airchecks of his work can be found at [http://www.reelradio.com Reel Radio's Reel Top 40 Radio Repository]
*rhof|id=238|name=Robert W. Morgan
* [http://www.440int.com/namesm4.html#_rwmorg Robert W. Morgan 440:Satisfaction Radio Broadcasting History]
* [http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/icons/walk_directory.asp Robert W. Morgan's Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame]
* [http://www.bossradioforever.com Woody Goulart's Boss Radio Forever]
* [http://www.93khj.com Boss Radio 93/KHJ - Los Angeles Official Website]
* [http://www.710kmpc.com KMPC 710 AM - Los Angeles Official Historical Website]

One of his best shows on KMPC was on 17 March 1979 where he interviewed Tamla Motowns Marvin Gaye, this was later released on a 12" vinyl record