Bill Gardner

Letters, from:

Former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, click here

KOOL General Manager Mark Steinmetz, click here

KOOL Program Director Shaun Holly, click here

KOOL Program Director Todd Wallace click here

KOOL Program Director Tim Maranville click here

Ron Chapman, KVIL, Dallas, click here

George Johns, consultant, click here

Bob Glasco, consultant, Glasco Media, click here

Eddie Esserman, GM KSAN-FM San Fransisco, click here

R & R "Air Personality of the Year" finalist press release, (see other amazing finalists), click here

Billboard Magazine, the three on-air Gardner Brothers, "Broadcasting All In The Family for Gardners" click here

Radio & Records,  "KOOL Takes Phoenix Crown," and "KOOL Fall For Phoenix" number one ratings, click here

Radio & Records, "It's KOOL in Phoenix," and "KOOL Trend in Phoenix," more number ones, click here

PBS/KAET-TV Channel 8, Bill Gardner's reviews of:

"Respect Yourself: The STAX Records Story," 

"Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built,"

"Chaos & Creation Abbey Rd, Paul McCartney"

"John Lennon's Jukebox"

 all available on request.

Three Bro's, On The Air  

Although both my brothers and I have all had lengthy radio careers on air in many huge American cities from New York, Miami, Seattle, San Diego,and many in between, and even interviewed one another on air from time to time, we accomplished a first.   My brother Andre (on the right, above) was doing one of his "Hometown" broadcasts on WMGK-FM from a Philadelphia neighborhood on December 1, 2017.  My wife Mike (above, second from the right) and I flew in to visit.   I also invited my brother Alan (right of me above) to join us. When Andre brought his roving microphone to our table on talked with us both, it was the very first time all three Gardner brothers were on the same radio station at the same time.   Way to pull it off, Big A!

Thanks, Airplane!



  Goodbye old friend!  You'll always be a part of me and some terrific memories. In March 2021, we sold our Beech 33A magic carpet to John and Janice, a wonderful couple from suburban Wichita, Kansas.  I flew her to her new home for a nice long last trip.
For twenty-six years, that airplane has taken Mrs. Gardner and me all over North America.  She's transported us safely at 200 MPH from my on-air radio jobs to our weekend getaways.  To visit daughter Crystal in Monroe NC, and other friends and relatives in Philly, Ohio, Texas, and California.  Sometimes from a Monday through Friday on air radio job in one city, to our home for the weekend in another city. I've round-tripped to hundreds of FAA  ATP and Flight Engineer courses I taught across the land in big cities and small for Airline Ground Schools.  Our travels went from Vancouver Canada to MIami, Orlando, and Naples Florida and the Bahamas.  From Portland Maine, Montreal Quebec and Toronto Ontario, to San Diego and Puerto Penasco Mexico, this airplane carried us safely and efficiently since 1995.  She's now adding lots of great flights and tons of new, indelible great memories for her new owners. 

The Cover Story....

"His delivery is hot and his wit is fresh...."  Put your mouse over the lower right corner of this SRDS Cover to see the rest of the nice words from RKO General and my morning show in Chicago at WFYR-FM on Dick Bartley's team.  Fun.  Mentions ace news guy Lyle Dean, as well as long time Chicago sports icon Red Motlow too. And thank you Todd Wallace for forwarding this Standard Rate And Data Service cover that went to hundreds of advertising agencies and broadcasters all over America. 

Good Friends and Victories.....

Legendary Radio Consultant George Johns was kind enough to do a headline piece on me in a recent much viewed blog.   See it at  http://georgejohns.com/the-blog/truth-is-truth/#.UbhPZAy6zj0.gmail Warning...not for the faint of heart, some of the rest of the blog has some R-rated spots, (but not the first item about me).

 #1 with a 14.7 share.  Honestly. The BEST crew ever, BJ-105, Orlando 1980

That 14.7 share was Monday-Sunday, 6AM to Midnight, total persons 12+.  It was WAY down to number two.  And that 14.7 was up from an 8.8 and #5 before I got there.  These four voices were part of my team that made it happen, with shares Orlando radio had never seen before, or since.  Left to right, Dave Edwards middays, Bill Barber afternoons, Al "Lee Simpson" Gardner news, and Jack "Elvis" Dyer.  At the time, I was Program Director and Morning Man.  BTW, Mornings posted a 16.1 12+ share :-)  This 2013 version was shot at Red Lobster on Colonial Drive, Orlando at a mini-reunion October 30th.

Long Time Friends Are Still The Best....

Another fun radio pros lunch in Scottsdale Arizona October 2015.  Around the table left to right, it's Bill Gardner, Todd Wallace, the late Jim Taszarek, Bruce St. James, Gary Edens, John Sebastian, and Jerry Del Colliano.  It was a kick to be back in the Zip Code where I lived for almost ten years.  Next two pictures below are from the return flight to Las Vegas....the Grand Canyon at sunset, and landing at North Las Vegas Airport with the Las Vegas Strip behind, from the Captain's seat.  Put your mouse over the lower right to zoom any photo.  

 "Philly Legends Radio Reunion," WOGL-FM Philadelphia, 1996

I received an e-mail from a Philadelphia resident and long time radio listener asking the whereabouts of not only me, but several other former Philadelphia radio guys.  Caused me to look at the 1996 "Philly Legends Radio Reunion" at CBS's WOGL-FM.  Sadly, many are no longer with us.   As a radio personality on both WIBG and WFIL, I got to work with, admire and know the great on air staffs at both stations.  Most of the WFIL "Boss Jocks" in these pictures as well as my good friend and WIBG co-worker Ken Matz are gone.  But that weekend of wonderful memories remain.  You can slide your mouse over the lower right corner of each picture for a closer view of these Philadelphia radio legends as they were that weekend in May 1996.

  Above, Ray Gilmore, Dave Parks, me in the back, Dr. Don Rose, J J Jeffrey,  Ed Hurst, and Dick Heatherton between in front of two folks I don't know. 

Almost 30 Years Ago! 

It was 1991, and my long time KVIL team mate Bruce "Jim Edwards" Buchanan called and told me they needed a third crew member to help move Jerry Eskew's sailboat from Clear Lake City, Texas to Key West, Florida.  That's Jerry on my right as we headed that way.  Bruce forwarded this never before seen picture recently. Did you know the Gulf of Mexico is well over 2,000 feet deep in spots?  I'd never seen that on a depth gauge before, and 2000 was it's maximum reading on the gauge.

Farewell Pal.

Popoki, 1-1-97 to 12-19-16

Heavy hearts at the Gardner household as we lost our companion of almost twenty years over Christmas 2016.  Popoki is the Hawaiian word for "cat."  We usually called him "Poke." This picture as he concluded his investigation of my office trash can at our home in Scottsdale AZ  ten years ago.  He leaves many memories and two aching hearts.....still.

 More Long Time Pals

During the January 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I had a nice surprise phone call from two old pals, and an invitation to come over and join them at the Palace Station.  "Shotgun Tom" Kelly and I first worked together at the legendary KCBQ San Diego.  Joey Reynolds was the star of WIBG Philadelphia when we were on the air together.  Great fun to see both! 

And below, the 2023 CES and a home visit from "Radio's Best Friend" Art Vuolo, and my long time old friend Joey Reynolds.







That's lovely LinDee Rochelle's enjoyable new book, seen above.  Lots of names we know from coast to coast are included, with pictures, wonderful new stories, memories, and even "where are they now," whenever possible .  Wolfman Jack, "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly,  Joey Reynolds, Tom Donahue,  "Rich Brother" Robbin, Dr. Don Rose,  and dozens others from America's radio stations who helped shape radio back when it was fun.  Yep, even Bill Gardner, in words and pictures, makes several appearances on the pages.  It's 191 pages and $15.95 at Amazon.com.  I learned lots of  funny and amazing new things about my radio peers, for instance "Wolfman Jack" once sold Colliers Enyclopedias door to door, just to name ONE!   Can you imagine THAT?

 

B.G., Magazine Writer?



I've successfully dabbled at writing magazine articles, mostly with aviation magazines.  This one?  "America's First Rock And Roll Station on FM." I proudly launched that radio station in Denver Colorado over 50 years ago in August 1965!  My original freelance story was 7000 words long with more classic pictures and many more stories; and I told the magazine editors three times that "classical music was not "relegated to the AM dial" after a staff writer added that line to my story, but hey....Denver's 5280 Magazine purchased my article, sent the check,  and sort of ran it!  :-)   Thanks "5280!"  To see the "highly abridged version," click this link:   http://www.5280.com/cultureandevents/theater/magazine/2015/07/denver-rock-city

Here's two vintage pics they chose not to use from 1965:  It's a Denver Post ad we ran to break the news of the new format.  And below that, Max Floyd and me awarding one of those "shocking and space aged new FM portable radios" to a happy winning listener.  Put your mouse in the lower right corner of any photo to zoom on any photo. 



 Know Why These Two Pictures Go Together?

That top picture is now the number of pounds I've lost on my zero carb diet plan!  Yep, 75.  Then, the next picture is from the 1989 KVIL Dallas Ft. Worth Prize Catalog.  During that time I was flying a lot, had been flown to Miami and asked to become a pilot for Eastern Airlines, AND later was the 3-7PM personality on the legendary KVIL for my third and final "stay" at KVIL.  I LOVED that flight jacket I'm wearing in this picture, and over the years, couldn't bring myself to add it to the huge "Goodwill bag" even though I'd long since WAY "outgrown it."  Why the two pictures above go together is that I tried it on the other night, zipped it up, and.... for the first time in a LONG time, IT FIT again!

One important update.  I can rarely think of KVIL without thinking of long time team mate and friend Ron Chapman.   In early June, Ron passed along some good news.  He says he's "over the stroke, driving again, but also one year older ;-)"

A Pretty Gardner?

My daughter Crystal (nee Gardner) and husband Steve were virtual stowaways aboard our airplane, and were also several days of our wonderful visit to North Carolina.  Funniest thing was Crystal handing me some kind of computer cable she'd borrowed from Steve's junk barrel the next day, and telling me that she'd secretly removed it from the airplane, thereby grounding us, so we'd have to stay longer in North Carolina  :-)

Might Be My Favorite Street in America...

 Former Cumulus Florence SC Market Manager and long time friend Reid Reker told me recently he drives by it on his way into Atlanta.  Former KVIL Dallas team mate and buddy from Naples Florida Bruce Buchanan recommended a home on a residential airport on this street.  And my long time friend and former Greenville-Spartanburg General Manager George Francis actually stopped and took a picture and sent it my way!  Thanks for risking your life George!  Yep, it exists!  Bill Gardner Boulevard is south of Atlanta in Locust Grove, Georgia, right off Interstate 75.  What a hoot.

 Farewell To Another Radio Brother and my "Rocky" stand-in!

Been WAY too many lost over the years.  I posted farewells to my former team mates David London from KCBQ San Diego days, Jim Brady at CFTR Toronto, owners Steve Gold from KFM Las Vegas and Rick Buckley from WIBG over the last few years.  We noted  the passing of my WIBG Philadelphia team mate Don Cannon. I remember one of my very favorite Program Directors, the late Jack Reynolds hiring Don for his Philly debut on WIBG from a station in Long Island NY for the 10PM - 2AM shift.   Don went on to big things in Philly, including mornings at both WIBG and WFIL.  My brother Andre Gardner has mentioned that Don would usually take the time for a visit while Andre hosted his annual food drive broadcast on the air at WMGK-FM Philadelphia.  If you look above left, you'll see Don Cannon in the first group shot back row at the WOGL-FM Philly Legends Radio Reunion from 1996.  I've enabled the zoom feature on that picture as well as this one above from 1970 and the WIBG Basketball Team.  That's Don in the front row left, owner Rick Buckley next to Don, former midday guy Bob Gross, then me on the right.  Godspeed old friend.    BTW, we don't know the first guy in the back row, but then it's Ken Matz, John Landecker, and Jimmy "Law Books" Binns, the Buckley staff attorney. 

 My wife reminded me of one more great Don Cannon story.  Back in 1976, a self proclaimed "unknown movie director" named John Avildson called me while I was Program Director and Morning Personality at WIBG Philadelphia.  He said they were "making a movie in Philly" with a star he said "no one knows" by the name of Sylvester Stallone, who liked our radio station from his time growing up in Philly. They had no budget to pay me, but needed a recording of a guy pretending to be on the air at WIBG that they'd use in the movie! (Remember Rocky drinking the raw eggs at dawn? With WIBG playing in the background?).  Anyway, I told him it really was not something I thought I'd enjoy, but I knew my midday guy Don Cannon would probably jump at the chance, and did!





This was taken Saturday May 28, 2017, one of my weekly "New, Old Radio Pictures."    I started counting up years of on-air radio experience with my brothers Andre Gardner on the left at WMGK-FM Philadelphia and WXRK-FM New York and others; brother Al Gardner at WBT Charlotte in the middle; and me on the right with KOOL 94.5 Phoenix and many more dating back to the 1960's, and gave up when I counted well over a hundred years radio experience between us!   Al flew out to Las Vegas from Florida to join me for Memorial Day Weekend, and Andre  and I decided to surprise Al with Andre's visit from Philly.   Below, Andre and I tour the 13 mile scenic loop at Red Rock Canyon on Sunday afternoon.