Bill Gardner

What Are These Trophies???

Not long ago, well-respected National Radio Consultant Mike McVay told me, "You have done it all.  Bill Gardner understands radio more than most ever did.....or will." Thanks Mike!  The amazingly humble HRHOF Inductee Mike McVay said "YOU are the one who should be in the National Radio Hall of Fame.  Seriously!"  Thanks again Mike.

Legendary radio programmer and former Exec VP NBC-FM Stations  Walter Sabo just told me, "Mike Phillips said you were the best AC jock alive, and he was right!"  Thanks Walter!  (On the air as Walter Sterling, currently national talk show personality by the way).

Another of America's leading radio consultants and a national name you radio guys know, (not George Johns, by the way), humorously calls Bill Gardner "the best radio morning man in America NOT currently on the air!"  We protect his confidence.  Ask and I'll whisper his name to you.

During the halcyon days at KOOL-FM Phoenix with General Manager Clancy Woods and Program Director Tim Maranville, our many number one "25-54 adults and 12+ persons" rating "books" were rewarded with these personalized trophies, still proudly displayed here at our home. Bill Gardner's ability to "remain under the radar," (amazingly sometimes even to his own consultants and management), has allowed him to "sneak into a situation," and enjoy some of the most defense- free, dramatic turnarounds, and a 100% success record as morning personality and program executive! 

 

An Exact Fit for Your Job Needs?

Bill Gardner has been an "immediate impact player" in Adult Contemporary, Country, Oldies, Classic Hits, and Rock & Roll radio.  There's "easy-to-document" success* as a Drive Time On Air Personality, a VP/Programming or Program Director, even President/General Manager while owner-operator of an Arizona AM/FM combo, many times assuming both senior programming and morning drive on air roles simultaneously back when doing both was thought to be impossible :-)  And this "easy-to-document success" doesn't happen some of the time...it happens every time!

(*Search or ask for your copy of the Arizona Republic July 31, 1999, article where with virtually no other change in KOOL 94.5 mornings other than hiring Bill Gardner, the Spring 1999 ratings "book" their radio and TV columnist detailed Bill Gardner with "the biggest gain in Valley radio," almost immediately moving from 13th to 4th most popular morning show in Phoenix."  Soon after to be #1 25-54!)

Bill Gardner On The Air!

You've found the site for airchecks, interview samples, resume, letters of recommendation and more for legendary radio morning guy Bill Gardner, for almost a decade through 2008 the top-rated morning personality of KOOL-FM Phoenix, as well as morning personality and program director for Los Angeles area's 92.7 Jill FM through summer 2010.

And a special thank you to the many KOOL 94.5 Phoenix listeners who've sought me out via search engines and sent emails to my email address below.  Even after more than ten years, new emails continue to arrive in my inbox!  Really!  Your thoughts and loyalty are genuinely appreciated!  It's nice to be missed, especially when I wasn't given a chance to say goodbye on air!

 

 Bill Gardner IN The Air!

I enjoyed a wonderful forty-five-year radio career in some of America's biggest radio stations and greatest cities.  (See the list by clicking "resume" at the top of the center column if you like).  But when bottom-feeding corporations slashed radio salaries and replaced most of us with lower cost people or recorded or out of town recorded voices, I'm SO fortunate to also have that Airline Transport Pilot license and join a small airline here in Las Vega- for almost nine years.   Until my recent retirement, my position was as an Airline Captain, with 4AM breakfast in progress pictured below. It was fun to be in a profession where gray hair and plenty of experience are actually appreciated!  :-)  But when I realized it wasn't as much fun anymore, I'm gone!

 

FUN Web Search?

Web site archive!  Enter billgardnerontheradio.com, or koolradio.com at www.archive.org and see posts dating back to my decade doing mornings at KOOL 94.5 Phoenix!  There's different stories and different radio stations each week.  See some fun posts you may have missed!

 

After trying unsuccessfully before to put it together to work at CKGM in the beautiful city of Montreal, this time we did it!  I was going to be on the air at CFTR Toronto and we were moving from Dallas to Canada.  The first thing required is becoming a Canadian citizen!  It took three months and working with the Canadian Consulate in Dallas, but we became Canadian Landed Immigrants, complete with our Social Insurance Cards, like U.S. Social Security.  Pardon the redactions below, but here they are  It's official.  We're dual citizens!         

   

Canada's Broadcaster Magazine announced the story, and as usual, I was a wise guy, and they printed my words.  If you need a closer look, it's the second pic below. 

  

    

Toronto is an amazing, clean, and beautiful city.  We rented a condo in "The Beaches" section of the city, and I'd ride the Queen Street streetcar to work each day.  Our house was also a five minute walk from Greenwood Raceway and it's trotter horse races!  I still remember saying to Mrs. Gardner, "There's nothing good on TV right now.  Let's walk over to the track and bet a few races," which we did regularly :-)   In those days, I'd bought my first airplane, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, and kept it at Toronto Island Airport adjacent to downtown Toronto. But no road to the airport.  You'd get there by ferry boat!  

 

The task at CFTR was clear.  With a strong signal at 680 on the AM dial, we covered and won all the outlying areas, but usually trailed big time CHUM. If we could win the ratings battle in the city, we'd win....period!   I'd always drop my love of Toronto into my words on the air as frequently as I could.  The music was tight, bright, and terrific, and yes....CFTR was fun and became the champ!    

Cool Pic of the Day....

You're looking at the brain trust from my time at CFTR, Reg Johns!  I'd worked with Reg's older brother George Johns in Dallas, Boston, and Philly but hadn't learned yet about the incredible REG Johns.  Shrewd, intelligent, a great strategist, an almost boundless amount of energy, and to top it off, a great guy too!  Truly one of the best I've worked with.  Now that corporate radio has downsized most of us, we're usually content to retire, relax, and reminisce.  Not Reg Johns!  He's paired up with two other visionaries currently, to once again create a company marketing this!  Drone shows!  Hang on to your seat and have a look:  https://youtu.be/9hLK6df9ppg

 

Those Beautiful Girls Keep On Coming! . 

 "If you want people to visit your web site, you'd better have a picture of a beautiful girl!"  One of my favorite quotes from my friend and radio consultant, the late George Johns.  I had a fun and excellent 40+ year radio career with plenty of it following good advice from George, so here we go again.  :-)

Yes it's almost beach weather again here in Las Vegas and maybe where YOU are.  With some incredible good fortune, maybe you and this gorgeous lady will cross paths next time you're there.  :-)