A jazz icon, a legendary radio comedian, a writer/producer are among the entrants into the National Radio Hall of Fame, which announced its Class of 2007.
Here are bios as provided by the organization:
- Jerry Coleman has been the voice of the San Diego Padres on XPRS/San Diego for 32 seasons, the last 23 consecutively. The former New York Yankee infielder is known for his concise play-by-play, and trademark calls such as “Hang a star” and “Oh, Doctor!” Coleman also was a regular announcer for the CBS Radio Game of the Week.
- A vaudevillian turned radio comedian and singer, the late Jimmy Durante was known for his mangled English and raspy voice. He began as a piano player on Coney Island. He was a welcome and regular guest on many radio programs. After filling in for Eddie Cantor on “The Chase and Sanborn Hour” in 1933, he was offered his own program. “The Jimmy Durante Show” enjoyed success both as a solo act and as a comedy duo, with Garry Moore serving as Durante’s on-air sidekick from 1943 to 1947.
- Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, the late Richard Durham wrote and produced the groundbreaking radio drama “Destination Freedom.” He began his career during the Depression with the Writers Project of the WPA and later wrote for CBS affiliate WBBM(AM) in Chicago. As sole writer and producer for “Destination Freedom,” his goal was to combat the negative stereotypes of blacks in the media. The series debuted on WMAQ/Chicago in June of 1948 and included 91 episodes showcasing the lives of prominent black Americans.
- Dan Ingram was a rock radio pioneer and is considered by some as the best top 40 DJ of all time. Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, he mixed humor with an edgy, irreverent style and spent more than 40 years behind the microphone beginning at WNRC(FM), New Rochelle, N.Y. He rose to fame in the 1960s as a rock DJ on WABC(FM), New York, where he stayed for 20 years until the station changed formats. He spent the last 12 years of his career at WCBS(FM) in New York before retiring in 2003.
- Marian McPartland has hosted “Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz” for more than 25 years on National Public Radio. She taught herself how to play piano at age three. Since 1978, the English-born jazz musician has hosted one of the longest-running weekly programs on NPR. McPartland is revered for her own talent and welcomes a wide range of guests to her program, including legendary jazz artists and fledgling jazz talents.
ABC Radio will produce and distribute the live program from the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. Tickets for the black tie event may be purchased online at www.radiohof.org or by calling (866) 860-1640.
Sean Hannity of ABC Radio and Fox News Channel will host the one-hour induction ceremony on Nov. 3.
