Chapman is an obsessive-compulsive perfectionist, Selden says. But if anyone were to remember me, I would hope it would be as someone who took radio disc jockeying and maybe gave it a little respect. RADIO: Thank You, Ron - D Magazine No spam, ever. Six years later, he moved to Texas to begin what eventually became a Radio Hall of Fame career in DFW. His career launched in 1953, the day after he graduated from high school. I can walk faster than most people can run, Chapman once told The Dallas Morning News. 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.. When New York-based Infinity Broadcasting bought KVIL a couple of years ago, they paid more than $80 million, the highest amount ever paid for a stand-alone radio station in the U.S. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. Says Chapman, Electronically, we dont do much, but we are very conscious of highs. Chapman was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. "His family asks for time to . Whatever it took.. That was the power of Ron Chapman. 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. ', Chapman isnt surprised to hear that many former associates want deep cover before discussing his character and work style. Ron Chapman received an obituary from the KVIL community. Everyones going to do a 50-mile hike. For example, co-workers wondered about his habit of dumping all his foreign currency into a drawer when he returns from trips. He served with the Army in South Korea from 1957 to 1959, producing a radio show for Voice of the United Nations Command. I prayed for her to have a lot of success, and I prayed that she get a wonderful starring part-and stay in New York forever.. KVIL is a commercial radio station dual-licensed to Highland Park and Dallas, Texas. I was driving an older beat-up Nissan, and my alternator went out one night while on the way to work. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Deborah Chapman; mother Helen Chapman; twin sister Connie Smith; sons Eric . The following obituaries have been provided by local funeral homes. Hes right. Michael Selden airchecks | RadioDiscussions I'm saddened to tell you that legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman has passed away at 85. Last year, that power was demonstrated when Chapman asked listeners to trust him and send in $20 each for no specified purpose. In those days KVIL was so big the Postal . So youre that egotistical S.O.B., They became fast, but platonic, friends. For nearly thirteen years, with a few scattered intermissions. Ron Chapman passed away earlier this week at the age of 85. So if anyone were to remember me. When we first went to KVIL to do the Cowboys games, Ron brings Brad Sham and me into his office and starts giving us this big speech on how we should broadcast a football game. HE IS AN EAST TEXAN: Judge Ron Chapman is a native Texan, an experienced public servant and a dedicated member of his community. Passing by the cage, he would surreptitiously slip the mouthpiece through the wire into the neck of the tuba and blow. The Amp is now playing a handful of pop-radio hits, by the likes of Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift and DJ Snake, over and over and over, ad infinitum. This time, the gala planners were prepared; the system had been checked and rechecked by technicians. So settle down with one of these throws. Hes like the man who juggles chain saws while singing Verdi. 2023 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Thanks a lot, everybody! They were pissed off, and they loved it. Many of us grew up listening to him on #KVIL. Ron Chapman, DFW radio legend, dies at age 85 - Blogger Theres a Stevie Wonder song where right in the middle of the song he does this loud, high-pitched scream. The Radio Hall of Famer died at the age of 85 by leading an exemplary life being the pioneer of radio hosting in the country. A very happy one. The magic is about to happen, the same magic thats been running nonstop for twenty years. Ron Chapman Obituary: In the loving memory of Ron Chapman, we are saddened to inform you that Ron Chapman, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. "Ron Chapman is a dazzlingly . Nance prayed for her. Chapman knows that he is inextricably linked to KVIL. But the thing about it is, ten minutes later, its like it never happened.. And it suddenly became a craze. During his 31 years at KVIL, Chapman became famous for his upbeat humor and his participation in outrageous stunts and giveaways. Robert Wilonsky, Special Contributor. And Id walk a mile for an impression., Part of the magic of KVIL is that it is positive and upbeat, even when its poking fun at the news, the politicians, or the Cowboys. Its on the far back burner, but I think about it. He graduated from Samuell High School in Pleasant Grove in 1970 and from Southern Methodist University in 1974. (The money was later distributed to local charities.) He became widely known, according to his bio page on the Radio Hall of Fame website, for his humor, outrageous stunts and giveaways. And for his astronomically high ratings. Chapman is not just guessing at what his audience wants to hear He is downright methodical about it. what happened to archie in monarch of the glen; funeral poem our father kept a garden. Okay, so were in a commercial break. 12:02 PM on Apr 26, 2021 CDT Updated at 4:57 PM on Apr 26, 2021 CDT. One of his greatest talents is picking people, knowing where they fit, where they go.They gave me a little yellow van, and I drove it myself. No spam, ever. And, you know, Im an easy-going guy. The Man Dallas LUVed: Radio Great Ron Chapman Dies Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. An announcement in this newspaper heralded his arrival, along with the promise that KVIL would play music that was "always in good taste, but contemporary in all ways" -- a rather unwieldy slogan. He seems completely oblivious to his subjects, the teeming thousands of Little People trapped and fuming in the traffic below. the magic morning man takes a deep breath, raises his index finger before his eyes, and does what Ron Chapman does best: KAY he breathes, low and confiding, in a voice that mirrors the softest, kindest, deepest, afterglow moments of romantic love. This month, after 45 years on the Dallas airwaves, Ron Chapman signs off. Thousands showed up. So I had just had my jacket cleaned. Everybody that works here eventually comes back around, and Im going to be here when they come round again. Ralph Frederick "Ron" Chapman (1936-2021) - Find a Grave But Ive wondered ever since., Herb Kelleher has known Chapman for years. We used a two-way radio. Exact sum is $73000000. Chapman invited him to come watch the show at some point. And I want you to know that Leonard jerked the plug out from the wall. He knew you dont talk down to your audience, you speak up to them, and thats when Ron enjoyed his greatest success., Dean added that Chapman helped transform radio in the city into a shining example of what the media can do and should be. Who is KVIL Dallas Radio Personality Ron Chapman? Cause Of Death He also hosted a televised series from Northpark Center in the 1960's for a three-year stint. And now. Who is available? Who could follow Ron Chapman? Ron Chapman joined KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth in 1969 as morning disc jockey, music director, and program director, and stayed there for 31 years. KVIL was always my mom's station, hogging up most of the pre-sets in the '76 Cordoba and later the '79 LeBaron station wagon; it was either Ron Chapmanor a Helen Reddy 8-track. Even Ron Chapman was not at all shocked to hear of its demise when I called him Wednesday afternoon to tell him his beloved KVIL was now, um, the Amp. Anybody can read, goddammit! He spent more than three decades at KVIL, toiling as a morning deejay, music director and program director, transforming the adult contemporary format into a major success on the FM band. Nance likens her life with Ron to living with P.T. Legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman dies at 85 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram Everyone I knew went to college. He did not. Ron Chapman Was a Warm and Fuzzy Tyrant - D Magazine Every store in town used KVIL's mellowrock as its shop-to soundtrack; it evenprovidedthe background music softly droning throughout my orthodontist's office, because what pre-teen with a mouth full of metal doesn't dig some "Afternoon Delight." Hes the sports anchor on ABC Channel 8. He was No. In order for us to match the standard, the three of us guys on the floor crew went out and bought blazers. Weve become Kleenex. Dallas radio legend Ron Chapman passes away at the age of 85 - Audacy And I think he said, This would be a good time to go to commercial.. Jan 3, 2017. Would Stevie Wonder object if we took it out? "But it's a different world in radio, isn't it?" While Ron was 85 years old at the time of his death, Nance Chapman's age remains a mystery. To this day I still get the shakes whenever I hear Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now," Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line"and anything by Anne Murray or Barry Manilow. 'And with honor I return' - The Northwest Florida Daily News With that warning, we move through room after room of airy, fresh pastels, past furniture that looks as if it never gets touched, with the exception of Rons well-worn leather chair. KVIL-FM, born in Highland Park on August 25, 1961,died, officially, on Jan. 18, 2017. The piece coincided with Chapmans 20th anniversary at KVIL, where, The News noted, His hyper, happy-talk Ron Chapman and the Morning Group has been the almost-constant No. Garrett remembers Chapmans blowing up at him for reading the same filler story at several news slots. And because he spanned KLIF and "Sump'n Else" to KVIL -- he WAS the history of Dallas radio . In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. You had left "Sump'n Else" and you're still at WFAA directing the church remotes. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. In 1969, Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth as morning disc jockey, music director, and program director, bringing the "adult contemporary" format to FM radio. "Dusty Attics", Episode 23: Ron Chapman - Jody Dean I love the guy. Turn! It was Chapman who convinced owners to ditch their paltry AM signal and go with its powerful 100,000-watt signal. He was the Dean of Dallas/Fort Worth Radio spending 31 years hosting the morning show at KVIL, most of those in the number one position. FOX 4. Incidentally, the quarterback is the guy behind the center. In 1959, a 23-year-old up-and-coming disc jockey from Haverhill, Mass., took on the role of morning co-host for a . The other bold stroke by the founders of KVIL was its attitude toward Dallass sister city, Fort Worth. I love doing the morning show but my bones are beginning to tell me that hitting the ground running at 4:10 every morning is not going to be supported forever by whatever frame that I carry around with me and happy to have served me around for a lot of years but it looks as tho I really need to be taking care of it instead of it taking care of me. Broadcast Hall of Famer Ron Chapman, Who Began at WHAV in 1953, Dies at 85 And some who have shown too much personality, critics charge, get the ax. The Emperor is in his tower . Chapman realized that if he won Fort Worth, he could almost double the stations numbers. Youd be walking down the hall, and nothing would stop him from putting you down in a very loud voice in front of anybody. Part of Audacy. By Casey Carr. Ralph Chapman Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information In fact, the jingle was the fastest 45 in the West. It was based on Rons experience with Top 40 radio. . Suzie Humphreys was Chapmans on-air sidekick on KVIL from 1975 to 1995. Theyre gone. Anyway, I was holding this animal on my shoulder, on my freshly cleaned jacket, and it got a little excited. On April 13 in Las Vegas, Ron Chapman will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Radio Hall of Fame -- a momentous occasion that comes exactly one month after the Citadel . Chapman retired from KVIL in 2000 and moved to KLUV, where he worked until 2005 before retiring again. I tell people this story, and they think its one of those urban legends. 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. When the show aired its final broadcast, Chapman played as its swan song Turn! KVIL tried to take on powerhouse KLIF-AM in the late 1960s; on 4/17/1967, they changed to a Top 40, "solid rock sound" format (formerly a talk/music format,) and renamed all of their jocks "Dave" to emphasize their 'David . WATCH: Steve Eberhart reminisces about late radio legend Ron Chapman - KLTV A ratings war is brewing between two oldies stations, and a controversial gadget might decide who wins. Hes now an announcer and does several shows for ABC radio. I knew I was fired. There are a lot of stations right now that will say, after they read this, Oooooh, so thats what theyre doing. They still dont know it., Even the KVIL signal is altered to be pleasing to a womans naturally more sensitive ears. Talk about a cush gig. "KVIL was so big, so all-encompassing that you never thought it would go away.". He is the chairman of Southwest Airlines. Theyll still be telling that story when Chapmans grandkids have carpool duty. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. Especially this woman right here., And Brad says, Well, how about if we start the play and say, The quarterback comes up to the line of scrimmage. Honestly, I thought everyone knew that hed started out in radio with a program called Tips for Teenagers.. Wednesday's announcement just made it official, finally. Ron Chapman made Vocal Majority . A lot of people couldnt handle it, Dean said of Chapmans style. Im absolutely realistic in believing that nobody remembers you, Chapman says. I figure we have her ears, and were the only ones shell let talk to her for the first hour of the day. Hell suddenly realize he needs to talk to everybody he knows.. He did not see the humor in it. Knowing Ron over the years has been an adventure. "Dallas radio legend Ron Chapman dies at 85. Homepage; Contact US; About US; Ron Chapman Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight. 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. But certainly not unrealistic. "And that means something," Mike Rhyner said Thursday morning. Its a small industry. They filmed it. He never said anything to me about it. ", China sets this year's economic growth target at 'around 5%', 20 cars of Norfolk Southern cargo train derail in Ohio, China expands defense budget 7.2%, marking slight increase, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and husband are divorcing, Teen hikers rescued after days stuck in California snowstorm, Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 19; 3 still missing, How one storm system wreaked havoc from coast to coast, Before Oscars, Everything Everywhere sweeps Spirit Awards, Californians await key decisions from reparations task force. Jody Dean was Chapmans producer at KVIL from 1987 to 1994. The Story of Ron Chapman, Sharon Carr Travel & the KVIL World Tour Chapmans on-air name was Irving Harrigan. Ron Chapman, former radio host at KVIL, KLUV, dies at 85 - WFAA Stevens and Pruett. I once wrote Ron Chapman meant more to Dallas radio than electricity. Blonde, voluptuous, impeccably well-mannered, and gracious, she smiles through a mouthful of sharp teeth. KVIL was always my mom's station, hogging up most of the pre-sets in the '76 Cordoba and later the '79 LeBaron station wagon; it was either Ron Chapman or a Helen Reddy 8-track. And he says, This is your audience. Ill never forget it. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, - InsideEko.com News Media | Facebook Hey, says Chapman, most people like living here. We said, Okay, thats it! Updated: Apr. No sexism, period. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Its what youd get if God had money, Nance says. At the end of this, the sergeant looked at Ron and said, What is your job. The man who sat at the top of the hill, a legend in broadcasting. When the drawer becomes filled with bills and change, he bundles it up and sends it to the man. Menu. Fifteen years later, this newspaper called it "the800-pound gorilla of Dallas radio," describing Chapman as "not only one of the top DJs in Dallas, but one of the most respected and feared in the country.". KVIL (103.7 FM, Alt 103.7) is a commercial radio station dual-licensed to Highland Park and Dallas, Texas.It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and it serves the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas.The station's studios are located along North Central Expressway in Uptown Dallas. This is the story of how a chance encounter lead to a close friendship that would span four decades, and a revolutionary radio travel program that is in it's 46th year. For a while, Chapmans career in Dallas was on the stairsteps to oblivion, he recalls. I froze. Fort Worth was the butt of all the jokes by DJs sitting in Dallas talking about people over in Fort Worth. Next to the picture, the new kid on the block had penned, Dont buy a house here. Since Chapman is not only essential to ratings but is a key figure in all promotions, contests, personnel matters, etc., he is a general managers worst nightmare. A Passing: Ron Chapman - My Sweet Charity Nobodys going to build monuments or hold big memorial services. 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. There is no excuse for making a mistake. From 1965 to 1968, he became Dallas rarefied answer to Dick Clark and American Bandstand, as host of the wildly popular Sumpn Else, a teen dance show carried live from NorthPark Center on WFAA-TV (Channel 8). DALLAS (CBSDFW) - The Texas Radio Hall of Fame shared the news of the passing of Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman. Did Ron Chapman have a wife? KVIL radio personality's life explored He then did afternoon drive at KVIL-FM for several years until he was fired by Ron Chapman. Tuesday afternoon obituary update | Recent News | herald-dispatch.com And the guy was the typical model. Info. Chapman moved to KVIL a decade later, after the station briefly flirted with Top 40 in an attempt to topple the mighty KLIF. By Emily Jimenez, NewsRadio 1080 KRLD. Chapman knows his audience, and he knows what they buycomfort. But KVIL saw a huge, underserved demographic: women listeners between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four account for some 22 percent of the Dallas/Fort Worth radio market. And brother, let me tell you something: It was a different age., In 1989, The Dallas Morning News devoted a High Profile cover story to Chapman, noting that peers described him variously as a genius, tyrant and hero. Among the passengers on a March 4 flight out of Hanoi 45 years ago Sunday at the end of the Vietnam War were three Air Force officers who would eventually settle in Northwest Florida. But her memories of her tenure at the station are not pleasant. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, - InsideEko.com News Media | Remembering Ron Chapman. KVIL wasso named for its original HQ in the Highland Park Village, after Charles Meeks acquired a broadcast license from the feds to open up shop in 1958. So I went by my hairdressers, who lived in Oak Cliff. Yes, my dear, the world is still a warm and safe and funny place to be, and you are on top of it with us, you know everything we do, which is a lot, and life keeps getting better. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. I hear it., I said, Yes. Weve become Coke. Ron Chapman Obituary KVIL - - InsideEko.com News Media | Facebook Not only is he 110 percent fireproof and the goose that laid the golden egg, but he is shadow management, and he must be catered to and appeased. Ronald Edward Chapman. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nobody. Turn! Put on your walking shoes. About all they had were some call letters, and not very good ones at that. Jun 03, 2004 07:18pm. In 2007, he returned to broadcasting part-time as a substitute for radio legend Paul Harvey. We are very grateful for the care and compassion he. Because shes gonna move up. January 20, 2023 by Jacob Pococontons. But for the first 20 minutes of the show, Id been loading this little guy up with Coca-Cola. The longtime host of KVIL died in April 2021 at the age of 85. If he thought you had an iota of talent, and you wound up on that station, then the expectations for you were enormous. What followed was story after story about Chapman, who started as a DJ in 1953, and his more infamous bits. Chapman's family says there will be no service, but a public gathering of friends and . First it was six to nine. He knew exactly what he was going to do and started work reprogramming KVIL in their big studio. Our ears are in mourning. He began by working as a disc jockey for WHAV in Haverhill. Chapman hired fellow broadcasting legend Jody Dean to work a late-night shift at KVIL in 1982. "And when he left, that was it.". Why Ron Chapman Was An All-Time Great - Radio Ink It was your classic, stereotypical young yuppie couple from Highland Park. Though Chapman is generally regarded, on the civic circuit, as something of a First Citizen, he has not been above exporting that inflammatory temper outside the station walls. Tragedy Info - Ron Chapman Obituary - Death: Ron Chapman | Facebook April 26, 2021 - TOP INFO GUIDE Three Time Texas Radio Hall Of Famer, Ron Chapman Has Died It was, after all, the city's top radio station for years, throughout the 1970s and '80s and even into the '90s, when it was finally capsized by country radio. Chapman had already carved out a legend as one-half of Charlie & Harrigan on KLIF. He is an amalgamation of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, a warm, fuzzy presence who intrudes benignly into the consciousness of hundreds of thousands of women every morning. But it was impossible to replicate a station that made a growing big city feel like a small town. Other than that, Im real comfortable.. Ralph Chapman passed away on May 4, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. All great relationships are built on trust . And yet, as he prepares to send his message radiating into those hundreds of thousands of receptive minds, he is more aware of them than perhaps anyone has ever been in the history of this city. Former Dallas Morning News columnist Robert Wilonsky contributed to this report. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. There will never be another run like his. CBS Radio has rebranded 103.7 on Your FM Dial as the Amp, a moniker also bestowed upon energy drinksand vitamins that promise "alean, ripped physique."