The History of Black Radio in Milwaukee With Dr. O.C. White And Jim Frazier, WAWA 1590 | February 10, 1987
June 17, 2009 
28 Comments
Here is one of the most interesting airchecks I’ve heard in a long time. Dr. O.C. White and Jim Frazier talk about the history of Black radio from the days of 1590 WAWA about a year before the station went dark. The old jocks… where are they now and what stations were they heard? How did Black radio start? These questions are answered on this one hour recording.
it’s a MUST LISTEN for anyone who wishes to know about Milwaukee area Black radio!
* Information corrected as of 6/22/09
“For the sound that’s right, it’s Dr. O.C. White; at this time of day on WAWA; West Allis.”
“Early in the morning, late at night, what’s his name? O.C. White”
“WAWA, West Allis, Wisconsin, with studios and transmitter in Elm Grove, now leaves the air to return tomorrow morning at 6:00AM with yours truly O.C. White. WAWA is owned and operated by Suburbanaire, Incorporated and operates on a frequency of 1590 kilocycles with a power of 1000 watts as authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. Portions of our programming have been mechanically reproduced. This is O.C. White wishing you Good Night for the entire staff of WAWA.”
Great stuff. I remember O.C. White growing up in Milwaukee. He was something.
I worked with Jim Frazier at WNOV in Milwaukee from 74-75. Was glad to hear Jim and O>C> on this segment…very informative. Hey Jim e-mail when you get a chance.
Leo Jim pass away sometime in the early 90′s just before O.C. White.
I remember the both of them. I started radio at WAWA and WNOV. I was OC White’s DJ at the Eagles Club. It was the after party for the Bud Superfest. I cut my first spot with Jim Frazier at WNOV. It was a :30 sec commercial and I read it at 30 1/2 sec and made me read it all over again. “Jerry it’s still too long” lol…. Damn the was good radio!
hey, Jerry this is Fro, Eric’s sister. Email me or either call me. I have been looking for you.
what ever happened to Doc Jones and Steve Hegwood. I thought they were the same person???
I grew up in Milwaukee and remember OC White & Jim Fraizer they were the reason I have been working in radio for the past 40 years with out them I would not b in radio GOD bless these great pros they don’t make ‘em like this anymore
C.Erwin Daniels
KSYB am Shreveport
THAT’S BOB COLLINS ON THE SPOTS IN THIS BROADCASTING!
Jim frazier did a recording called “Biscuit”. It was done to the music of Cannonball Adderly’s “Country Preacher”. Where can I get a copy of this recording. It done in the late 60s or early 70s.
I May Have It I have To Look For It I Work Close To Jim And OC In The 70′s And 80′s
If you the song “Biscuit” by Jim Frazier
I would appreciate a copy I have on a 45 rpm but own a record player.
Thank in Advance,
ANY WANT A COPY OF Jim frazier Biscuit”.
SEND ME AN E-MAIL AND I WII SEND IT TO YOU
MY E MAIL IS jamesedwards1590@sbcglobal.net
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Trying to find the original hymn the wonderful Dr. Bop closed his show with every noc, what an inspiration he was to me. Thanks
Can’t believe that was so long ago!
Shouts out to Mr. C, James Edwards, Johhny and Jerry B!
Worked with all of you at various outlets at various times. No longer in the biz..disabled by lupus and fibromyalgia. Last gig in Chicago.
“we meet again” was the closing song at the end of the dr bop radio show on wawa 1590 milwaukee in the 60′s and 70′s
I believe the closing song on the Dr. Bop show was “Down the Aisle” by Patti Labelle and the Bluebells. I grew up listening to WAWA and late at night we could get a radio station out of Nashville that played all the Memphis sounds and other great R&B singers.
ANY WANT A COPY OF Jim frazier Biscuit”.
SEND ME AN E-MAIL AND I WII SEND IT TO YOU
MY E MAIL IS jamesedwards1590@sbcglobal.net
HERE’S A LINK TO MY ON LINE RADIO STATION A LISTEN!
http://streamingpulse.tv/sc10/tunein.php/jamsmith/playlist.pls
I remember visiting WAWA in the early 1970′s. A friend and I used to hang out by the nearby Menomonie River in Elm Grove (Grave?)
We met both Mr. White and Dr. Bop. We even were allowed to record a promo “Swing on Milwaukee with Dr. Bop!”
The early 70′s in Milwaukee were a great time for music and radio.
“How now brown cow!
Dr. Bop Show on the air!
Mr. Fine, everywhere!”
He made the drive to school each morning a blast!
I am wondering if any of you had the chance to meet Sam Cooke in the 50s or 60s, or if he visited WAWA. I am doing a project on him with Lou Rawls’ son. Please email me!
bgrhule@gmail.com
God bless.
Vallery Young
I worked with Jim at WNOV 1980, 1981. He was my guy who taught me alot. He was very encouraging when I wanted to do news but Jerel Jones wanted to keep me in sales but every chance I got, I was up in that DJ booth & we did ads together or live broadcast. really loved him, good friend. I grew up listening to Dr Bop & OC White. WAWA was the only black radio station on the air at that time. Late at night, you could get wolfman jack but to this day, my music taste were shaped by Milwaukee;s early black radio & those fantastic DJ’s.
valleryyoung@yahoo.com
I’ve been looking fir copy of Jim frazier’s biscuit where can I find it?!!! Searching for years.
Well alreeeta !!! Here’s another stack of shellac for your record machine !!! Wow, this brings back SOOOO many memories.
I’m 50 now and remember wawa as a kid. I remember at 14 when dr. bop died people had their headlights on. This is b4 white kids were wiggers for listening to black radio. The black music of the day was great no ganster rap BS. al green. EW& Fire, ohio players, ect. And OC White had a 9 year old son in about ’93 or so my kid used to play with on 50th and burleigh. Small world. I thank the music of wawa that shaped my music knowledge, and somehow led me to Hendrix, floyd, Zeppelin.
Oh and dr. bop was a stone cold lover and X golden glover. Too cool!
I was known as Larry O’Jay when O.C. hired me @ WAWA in the 80′s. He was a father to me figure and taught me so much about Radio and Life. I served as a pallbearer at Bop’s funeral and O.C. made me WAWA’S Music Director and Afternoon Drive host,later promoting me to Program Director when I was 21 years old, making me the youngest PD in the country at that time. What a privelege and pleasure to have worked w/TWO Radio Legends/Icons at the same time! RIP O.C.and Bop! Much Love and Respect.
Its been a ball but the clock on the wall says its time to go now. My mom has been singing that song to my siblings and myself since we were small kids. She says Dr. Bop used to close his show with some song that included that so i’m looking for that song. If anyone knows what song that is or how i can get a copy of it, i’d be appreciative. Thank you in advance!
Can someone please put my brother in me in contact with someone who can get us the record: Please pass the biscuit. Jim Frazier did a remake of the Jimmy Dean song. It used to always come on during the holiday. I think it was Thanksgiving. If you have any reliable information please contact Joyce or Tony at keysjoyce@yahoo.com Thank-you very much! Joyce