It was your classic, stereotypical young yuppie couple from Highland Park. But, of course, its demise was inevitable, yet another casualty of shifting tastes and platforms; it's sign-off came just two months after Clear Channel dulled The Edge by making it, too, a dull shade of Maroon 5. Says Chapman, Electronically, we dont do much, but we are very conscious of highs. But it was impossible to replicate a station that made a growing big city feel like a small town. After working for two years with the Voice of the United Nations Command in Korea , Chapman moved to Connecticut and station WHNC/New Haven. And thats a problem KVIL itself will have to face one of these days. The maddest he ever got at me were those times that I delivered less than the best. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and it serves the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. He graduated from Samuell High School in Pleasant Grove in 1970 and from Southern Methodist University in 1974. So we hit the air, and Ron got it. Before SumpN Else finished its run, Fairchild had already scored her first movie credit, appearing as Faye Dunaways double in the Oscar-winning film, Bonnie and Clyde. But theyll never work hard enough.. I have the same type of personality, just not as much discipline. But certainly not unrealistic. DALLAS (CBSDFW) - The Texas Radio Hall of Fame shared the news of the passing of Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman. And because he spanned KLIF and "Sump'n Else" to KVIL -- he WAS the history of Dallas radio . Of course, back in those days, I was also given to partaking in the pleasures of cannabis and had a couple of joints with me for the ride. #1. Chapman says he and Nancy were in excellent health at that point but age was a factor for him wanting to retire. I hand it to Ron, and the little guy hops on Rons shoulder, and when the lights come up, you know, animals react. About all they had were some call letters, and not very good ones at that. But what me and Tom Murphy did was put together a morning show for teens, Murphy and Harrigan. The rest, as they say, is history. Says Littauer, Only Ron could spend two weeks on a ship, do nothing, and then get a commendation for it.. And this is, like, in the 80s. "His family asks for time to . There will never be another run like his. There will be NO service, but a public gathering of friends and colleagues is being planned.". His hard-scrabble experience inspired him to say, Ill show them. And his broadcasting career accomplished exactly that he showed them. It would be rude not to let Ron Chapman give it a proper send-off. But the youngsters came to understand their poverty., I liked applause early on, said Chapman, who took on Ron as his radio first name in 1965. Wednesday's announcement just made it official, finally. Suzie Humphreys was Chapmans on-air sidekick on KVIL from 1975 to 1995. Nevertheless, she also has to be in between her late '70s and early '80s. In 2000, as radio began to change once again, Chapman moved to KLUV, a Dallas oldies station where he stayed until announcing his retirement in 2005. So one of our sponsors was Coca-Cola. Chapman had served as emcee for a couple of years in a row and had complained both times about the sound system. *To hear some classic clips of Chapman from the old KLIF days, go to www.reelradio.com/se and www.historyofklif.com. In a 1985 issue ofBillboard, the music industry's trade publication, a radio consultant called it "dominant" -- "the best-run radio station in Dallas" among a pile of worthy contenders, including K104. He is very perfectionist about his personal things. He works on his show twelve, fourteen, sixteen hours a day. Suzie was initially an airborne reporter, but was later given her trademark "KVIL-o-Van" (bearing the vanity plate, "SOOZIE.") Her efforts were honored in 2004 as an inductee to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. The station is branded as "Alt 103.7" and airs an alternative rock radio format. I knew I was fired. In 2007, he returned to broadcasting part-time as a "permanent substitute" for legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey. 750 North St.Paul St. According to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, no public service is happening, but there will be a public gathering of friends and colleagues which is being planned at this time. Fort Worth was the butt of all the jokes by DJs sitting in Dallas talking about people over in Fort Worth. Then it became Jane Fonda for a while. As The News noted in a story: When the terrified producer charged into his room to say the ghost had just hugged her, Chapman had only a one-sentence response: Did you get it on the air?. To the multitudes who wake up with him every weekday, hes Mr. Its a trap: if you are situated in Dallas, you look at things from the Dallas perspective, even unconsciously. Charlie Brown), playing records and providing character voices as stars of the popular Charlie and Harrigan Show. It was the only way we could get a feel for the publics impressions on what we were doing. Industry critics say that while Chapman is full-tilt today, he is not really doing much to prepare his station for Life After Ron. But telling Brad after 20-plus years how to broadcastDont be talking about blitzes and the nickel defense. And Chapman was being pretty emphatic about it. He moved to Dallas in 1959 a year before the Dallas Cowboys became a team and was known for a decade as Irving Harrigan, who shared a microphone with Charlie Brown. His co-hosts real name was Jack Woods, and together the two became a radio juggernaut at KLIF, known then as The Mighty 1190. Their rise coincided with the Top 40 dynamism of the Beatles, the Beach Boys and the Rolling Stones. Incidentally, the quarterback is the guy behind the center. We just hit. One time, I finally asked him, You seem to like my dancing, but why dont you ever ask me to be one of the dancers? And he said, Well, to be honest, youre too sexy for our show. ", At that age, Fairchild said with a laugh, I didnt really know what he was talking about.. Jun 03, 2004 07:18pm. She said, How do you expect me to do a good job after all Ive been through? I said, Thats it, weve been talking too long. In 2007, he returned to broadcasting part-time as a substitute for radio legend Paul Harvey. When the drawer becomes filled with bills and change, he bundles it up and sends it to the man. "Ron Chapman is a dazzlingly . Ron Chapman made Vocal Majority . Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It almost looked like a squirrel. Robert Wilonsky, former city columnist for The Dallas Morning News, is communications director for Heritage Auctions and a frequent contributor to these pages. So when we cut away to commercial, we would turn off the lights so the studio would get cool. His family is asking for time right now to process the loss and thanks the community for their "kindness, understanding and prayers.". He likes to say he lost two-thirds of his voice then, but every so often you can hear peeks and hints of that booming voice that used to wake up Dallas every weekday morning. They were buying Ron Chapmanat something like a half million dollars a pound. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. But the laughter was tinged with something like pity. He is best known as the morning drive anchor of radio station KVIL, on the 103.7 frequency. Even after he retired, he would call and ask for help, and I was always happy to do it. Many of us grew up listening to him on #KVIL. Ron would fairly often show up while I was on the air to go in a studio and record a promo that might run overnight, only to plug something that was going to be on his show. She loved going to NorthPark to dance with other teenagers during the daily weekday broadcast of SumpN Else. Were keeping you on the payroll through October. If shed said, I f-ed up, Im on the team, shed be here still. This system is awful. Ron Chapmans the only one that talks to her that first hour, and in that hour, 1 can mold her frame of mind. It wont work for you.. According tohia bio posted at the Radio HOF website, Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. One infamous incident occurred during last years gala for the National Craniofacial Foundation. He was so popular in Dallas in the 70s, 80s and 90s that his station, KVIL, sold for more than the Dallas Cowboys. List Of Coronavirus Testing Sites In Texas, Legendary radio host Ron Chapman has passed away, Featured Image Photo Credit: Courtesy Mitch Carr, Bankman-Fried might use flip phone under stricter bail plan, Woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail, Alaska's arduous Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Snow blankets Northeast as cleanup begins from deadly storm, Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout looms. From Haverhill, Mass (also Ed McMahon's first rad - 2 years ago. [2] The individuality, the uniqueness. In terms of logistics and creativity, hes a towering genius. Chapman is a perfectionist in every way, Nance says. Please enter valid email address to continue. A lot of people on this board are so young that they have never heard of Michael Selden. We said, Okay, thats it! Ron Chapman is a dazzlingly entertaining intellect who has refreshed my life for 25 years with his insightful wit and unerring eye for the quixotic vagaries of the human kind. Now, its someone I found out of Kim Dawson headshots. The radio industry took to social media to reflect on Chapman's life and career. It was just ambition. I was driving an older beat-up Nissan, and my alternator went out one night while on the way to work. More than one KVILite also remarked that they wouldnt have had jobs at all if Chapman hadnt heard that they were down on their luck and called to offer them gigs. What followed was story after story about Chapman, who started as a DJ in 1953, and his more infamous bits. Michael Selden, a DJ at KVIL from 1974 to 1979, has gone full circle with Chapman emotionally, from admiration to loathing and back again. He served with the Army in South Korea from 1957 to 1959, producing a radio show for Voice of the United Nations Command. The hand goes higher above his head: VEE higher now, almost pleading as it keens with the anticipation of all the wonderful, warm, cuddly, sensual things to come. In 1968, Chapman joined a team that purchased KVIL-FM, a station known for pioneering the Adult Contemporary (AC) format. No spam, ever. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. Hes now an announcer and does several shows for ABC radio. I wouldnt even park near one. The obituary was featured in Dallas Morning News on May 16, 2021. I'm saddened to tell you that legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman has passed away at 85. In order for us to match the standard, the three of us guys on the floor crew went out and bought blazers. And we are going to walk all the way from the Sheraton Hotel to the so-and-so life building. They were on the same block, but nobody caught it. But would he be really pissed if we never played it at all?. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Or we could go KVIL.. A year later, he suffered a stroke. In 1969, he teamed up with local radio men Hugh Lampman and Jack Shell at the newly born KVIL.
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