They were, and are, your guide to the airwaves: the vinyl spinners, the blasts from the past, the paramount players of the platters that matter. Here are 10 of the all-time great disc jockeys:
Click on each of the audio clips to hear a sample of their chatter:
ALAN FREED
Perhaps the first legend of the genre, the “King of the Moondoggers” gets credit for attaching the phrase “rock ‘n’ roll” – a euphemism for sex – to the hybrid R&B/country and western music he played, first in Cleveland, then in New York. The payola scandal of the late ’50s ruined his career, and he died in 1965, just 43. In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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HY LIT
A leading Philadelphia DJ at a time when Philly – the birthplace of “American Bandstand” – was the center of the rock ‘n’ roll world. Lit was a big name well into the ’70s, and the kids still remember: You can hear his intro on the Marah album “Kids in Philly.”
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BRUCE MORROW
New York’s WABC Musicradio77 was the home of many legendary DJs, but the most famous is probably “Cousin Brucie,” the master of the evening shift. Morrow is still active as host of an oldies show for SiriusXM satellite radio. In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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JOCKO HENDERSON
The “Ace from Outer Space,” a pioneering African-American DJ, was known for his rhythmic patter and buttery baritone – and tireless enough to do mornings in New York and afternoons in Philly.
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WOLFMAN JACK
Though lasting fame came from his appearance in the 1973 film “American Graffiti,” the former Robert Smith first became known for being on “border blasters,” Mexico-based AM stations whose powerful signal could be heard all the way up to Canada. He later became a well-known TV personality, hosting NBC’s “The Midnight Special.” In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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ROBERT W. MORGAN
Along with the “Real Don Steele,” Morgan was perhaps the most famous of “Boss Radio” KHJ’s lineup of stars in Los Angeles. His morning show was the top rated one in town throughout the late ’60s, and he remained a dominant personality after the AM Top 40 era ended. In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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‘BIG DADDY’ TOM DONAHUE
Originally a Top 40 personality, Donahue was among the first to see the possibilities on the FM band. His San Francisco station, KMPX, is considered the first “free-form” radio station in the United States – the kind of station that would play the long album cuts and non-hits that were suddenly earning a following.
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CASEY KASEM
The former Los Angeles DJ might be the most famous voice on this list, thanks to “American Top 40,” the national countdown show he created in 1970 and hosted, on and off, for more than three decades. He was also the voice of “Scooby-Doo’s” Shaggy and of the NBC television network for a period. In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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KID LEO
The Kid, aka Lawrence James Travagliante, is credited with making Cleveland’s WMMS-FM into one of the leading AOR (album-oriented rock) stations in the country, willingly playing new bands and giving support to such mainstays as Bruce Springsteen and the Pretenders. He’s now the program director of “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” channel on SiriusXM and hosts a weekday show.
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SCOTT SHANNON
Though well-known as a voice – he’s Sean Hannity’s announcer – he’s perhaps more influential for developing the “morning zoo” style show that dominates morning radio throughout the country. He’s worked in Washington, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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HOWARD STERN
Even though he doesn’t play much music, the self-described “King of All Media” developed his persona as a DJ in Hartford, Connecticut; Detroit; Washington; and, finally, New York. He’s probably the most distinctive – and certainly unique – radio personality of the last 25 years. In the National Radio Hall of Fame.
