Joe Grady (September 23, 1918 – October 10, 2000) was an American radio personality.
He was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
and grew up in
Broomall, Pennsylvania
Broomall is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,789 at the 2010 census.
History
This crossroads community was renamed for the post office established to hon ...
. Grady's first radio job was with
WIP while attending
La Salle University
La Salle University () is a private, Catholic university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle.
History
La ...
. He landed his first full-time broadcast job as a radio announcer at
WHAT (AM)
WHAT (1340 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by VM Broadcasting.
History Founded as WHAT (1922–1944)
On October 17, 1922, a new Philadelphia radio station was authorized by ...
, later becoming program director. In 1945, he joined
WPEN, to do staff announcing but became a full-time radio announcer within a few months. In 1946,
Ed Hurst
Ed Hurst (July 16, 1926 – October 30, 2020) was an American radio and television personality. He referred to himself at one time as the "Stone-age Dick Clark".
Early years
Hurst was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and graduated from Atlan ...
joined WPEN, and with Grady originated the "950 Club". The show became Philadelphia's top rated radio program for the next decade. The show ran until 1955 and was a predecessor of ''
American Bandstand
''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pro ...
''.
In 1958, Grady joined WRCV radio and TV, now known as KYW on "The Grady and Hurst Show" morning radio program. Grady and Hurst rejoined WPEN in 1981, for a two-week reunion hosting "The 950 Club." The show became so popular again that they remained there until 1987 when Grady retired.
He and Hurst were inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance in 1993 and have a star on the Walk of Fame. The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted Grady into their Hall of Fame in 1996 and named him Person of the Year in 1990, along with his broadcasting partner,
Ed Hurst
Ed Hurst (July 16, 1926 – October 30, 2020) was an American radio and television personality. He referred to himself at one time as the "Stone-age Dick Clark".
Early years
Hurst was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and graduated from Atlan ...
.
External links
Broadcast PioneersPhiladelphia Music Alliance
American radio personalities
Radio personalities from Philadelphia
1918 births
2000 deaths
People from Marple Township, Pennsylvania
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