- Rocky Allen
Rocky Allen (born in 1955) is an American
talk radio personality and host of the eponymous "Rocky Allen Showgram". It aired, most recently, from 3 to 7 pm ET on FM station WPLJ, New York. Allen's show, which he co-hosts with long-time on-air partnerBlain Ensley , is a mix of celebrity interviews,Top Forty music, and variety talk.Allen has previously hosted shows in
Providence ,Detroit , St.Louis, Buffalo, and Dayton.Biography
New York Radio
Allen's well-traveled career is best known for his streaks on New York radio station WPLJ, where he hosted an afternoon-drive show from 1993 until 1998, and again beginning in September 2005 until February 2008.
During his first run on the station, Allen underwent a series of surgeries beginning in October 1996 to remove calcium deposits believed to be the cause of persistent back pain. ["WPLJ's Allen on Rocky Road to Recovery after Surgery." New York Daily News. David Hinckley, 10 April 1997.] Allen was partially paralyzed following the surgeries, and required the use of a wheelchair. In October 1997, after a year of not being able to walk, doctors advised Allen to undergo full-time rehab which they said might be the only way for him to be able to walk again. ["Rocky's Bad Back Brings Samuels Back." New York Daily News. David Hinckley, 14 November 1997.] This prompted Allen to go on a five month leave of absence from radio, after which he was able to walk freely. ["Rocky: Radio's more fun than Rehab." New York Daily News. David Hinckley, 27 April 1997.]
In January 1999, Allen made an unsuccessful move to WPLJ sister station WABC. The move was designed to complement WABC's non-political morning talk lineup of
Art Bell andLaura Schlessinger . ["Is Rocky Road Leading to WABC?" New York Post. John Mainelli, 7 January 1999] The show never matched its afternoon ratings success, and was replaced 15 months later by Curtis and Kuby, who had vacated the morning show on the station to make room for Allen. ["WABC Radio's A.M. Shuffle." New York Daily News. David Hinckley, 25 April 2000.]Allen proceeded to host the morning show on WDVD, Detroit in 2001. He was joined by Blaine Ensley in 2002. Ensley had served as co-host on the
Sports Guys .Allen and Ensley returned to WPLJ on
September 20 ,2005 , nearly seven years after leaving the station. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/v-pfriendly/story/345680p-295101c.html] The show placed 15th among listeners ages 12-and-over in the Spring 2006 Arbitron book. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/435825p-367225c.html]In a cost-cutting measure by parent compant Citadel, the Rocky Allen Showgram was cancelled on 2/29/08. Race Taylor, who was bumped to midday by the return of Allen, returned to the afternoon drive with music only beginning 3/3/08.
Personal life
*"Rocky" attended St. Louis Community College and University of Missouri - St. Louis.
*Allen is married to Julie, and has two daughters.
*Allen was born in Georgia.References
External links
* [http://www.rockyallen.com/ Official Web site]
* [http://rockyallen.com/content/blogcategory/13/27/ Official bio - Mostly sarcastic]
* [http://radio.about.com/library/blprofiles/blpro-rockyallen.htm About.com - Profiles of Popular and Extraordinary Radio Personalities - Rocky Allen]
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