Morning Madness: Bob Wall on WGCI Chicago | January 1984
Once again, it’s back to the Robyn Watts collection for this bit of Morning lunacy from Bob Wall at WGCI - before ‘GCI was playing hip hop and R&B! Its 80s CHR to the max as Wall is a man of many voices. This partucular morning he’s taking your calls to see who is today’s school fool
This aircheck comes to us on a collection which was entitled “Morning Madness” from MIDWEST Aircheck (and you thought we came up with all these wonderfully creative titles!). The source cassette is in excellent condition, and no audio restoral or processing was necessary to render this one listenable, it sounds great all by itself!
Rate This Aircheck
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading ...
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...
Loading ...
Bob Wall was one of my radio heroes. Absolutely one of the greatest talents I ever met. He later did mornings on KARN in Little Rock… one of the greatest.
Bob was such a marvelous talent. Remarkable radio broadcaster. Sadly, he died a few years ago. I spoke at his funeral. He is missed by everybody who ever knew him.
Radio is such a harsh and unforgiving business. Bob could have used a bit of compassion. I wish I knew what to say.
It was pure pleasure to hear him. His call of Arkansas Traveler baseball games was a treat. He had so many talents!
Thanks for posting my friend Bob.
Pat Lynch
I grew up listening to Bob Wall on WGCI here in Chicago, IL. The I remember he used to bring his daughter’s doll(I think it was a clown) in that had the craziest laugh. It used to crack me and my sister up!! I also remember he got suspended for the un-cut Marvin Gaye song that had very suggestive lyrics. Bod was so crazy that the station had a billboard posted on the Dan Ryan expressway apologizing for whatever Bob said in the morning. I along with some of my friends were saddened to hear of his death a few years ago. I’m gald that you have still have recordings of this morning show.
Is this really a CHR? It appears to be a very-polished Urban of the 1980’s with use of CHR formatics and personality approach. WKYS-93.9 in DC was similar but for the use of the term ‘disco’ on KYS in some years, not heard on this WGCI aircheck. It probably morphed into a more-overtly ethnic sound over the years as music and radio continued fragmentation.
My God, does this take me back! Having met Bob Wall in ‘85, he was a genuinely nice guy in person and on the air. It’s unfortunate that his transgressions tarnished an otherwise stellar stint on Chicago radio. It’s also very sad that he chose his own path to leave this Earth. There won’t ever be another Bob Wall that will impact any radio market the way he did.
I love Bob Wall. I remember when he was fighting to get a commerical version of Erotic City by Prince to play on the radio. When WGCI refuse to play the record that just made the kids go out and purchase the original version due to curiousity…I know Bob is up above still dee jaying…
what a talent he was!
Robert Feder (Chicago Sun Times) just recently did a article about happenings in 1987. What caught my attention was a paragraph about Bob Wall hoping to get back on the air …
It was great to see his name. After discovering some of his airchecks a few months ago, I kept wondering about him, not realizing that he has been dead since 2003 … What a shock … A read that article a few days ago and I can’t get it out of my mind. Namely because he made you want to listen to WGCI … But now — and for the last several years– except for the move of Steve Harvey’s syndicated morning show to this station, I wouldn’t listen to if you paid me.
Bob played a variety of music and was good at it. For a long time, I had no clue that he was Caucasion. And what ever his sins, I wish that somehow he could have been given a real second chance in our market. Ironically, years later, morning host, Crazy Howard McGee was accused of domestic abuse, but he was given a second chance, including an opportunity to take calls on the air dealing with his fans’ anger. Anyway, Bob Wall and his morning crew will always have a special section in my childhood memories.
Well…I was born just a few months too late to enjoy my father, Bob, on the radio. This is great to be able to listen to his shows online. He truly was a great talent. His voice forever lives inside me. And also in others. That makes me so proud of my father.
This brings a great deal of comfort to me. I am so happy that he brought such great joy to so many people. I am also happy to see that the memories he has left with people are greatly cherished. Thanks.
Well, I’ll be. This is Bob’s oldest daughter. Dad was a great talent and it’s truly amazing to see such positive memories of him. I second everything my kid sister said.
I’m working on an album of my dad’s parody songs from the WGCI days. If you’re interested in staying updated, drop me a line at jamikath@aya.yale.edu
THIS IS AMAZING, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS ONE THE BEST RADIO TALENTS OF ALL TIMES. AS A DJ I MUST SAY HE WAS THE ABSOULTE BEST, EVEN TODAY I STILL MISS, HIM HE WAS A COMIC ON THE RADIO LONG BEFORE STATIONS STARTED USING THEM.REST IN PEASE BOB…………JOKE OF THE DAY………
Man that was so long ago. I had forgotten all about it. That was me 25 years ago. What a treat.