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 Vegas for almost nine years.   Until my 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!

 

It was late 1979.  I was on the air at CFTR 680 Toronto.  Life was good.  But then I heard my Program Director and the man who'd brought us to Canada, Reg Johns was leaving for a job in Boston at WVBF-FM.  Whoops.  I'd better keep my ear to the wall.  The new PD may have his own guy in mind! 

I heard from my brother Al in Orlando that once dominant WBJW-FM BJ-105 had just slipped down to 5th place in the latest ratings with an 8.5% share.  I knew VP/Programming Tom West from our time at WHB in Kansas City, so I contacted him.  I could not only take the reins as Program Director, but also provide a pretty good morning show too!  Done deal! 

   

Above, that's both sides of my fold out business card.  I'd been assistant Program Director at KVIL Dallas, but this was my first with the full PD title. Some great marketing helped our cause. In that ad below, the local Orlando Sentinel morning newspaper front page was duplicated to make this ad look a little more realistic.    

  

    

My BJ-105 Morning Show came together with my brother Al (as "Lee Simpson" news guy and side kick) and me plugging away every day, playing great music, talking to listeners on the phone, and talking about Orlando and laughing a lot!  Former morning guy and Orlando radio legend Bill Barber did afternoons.  I gave the music a complete makeover and rotation change.  We were having fun and turning things back around!       

 

After a few months...It's near the top left of this Arbitron rating page, but if you can't zoom in, that "Total Persons 12+" for WBJW-FM was back to number one with a 14.7 share!   Same for our morning ratings.  Number one with a 16.1 share!  Not even close.  We were dominating.   Like never before and never since. 

Cool Pic of the Day....

Have to admit my thoughts of Orlando were launched by the memory of one of my best friends ever, Orlando radio icon Bill Barber who passed away exactly one year ago this week at a way too soon 73.  Bill and I just clicked as immediate friends.  Even after leaving Orlando, I'd fly our little Beech Bonanza in for regular visits and Bill would pick me up at the airport.  My multi-talented late friend surprised me with this watercolor of our airplane, still displayed here at our home in Las Vegas.  How tight were Bill and me?  When I departed WBJW-FM after the owner failed a promise for "raises for all if we did good,"  Bill Barber immediately resigned after many years!  "If they don't want you, then I"m out of here too" he told me.  Bill Barber was one amazing friend and gone too soon.      

 

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.  :-)

It's already been way too long since I posted a picture of "The Price Is Right" model Manuela Arbalaez, (on the left, above).  Wow!    .