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U.S. Morning Man Dies While His Show Is Still On The Air
It's still not entirely clear what happened, but a legendary disc jockey in Memphis radio died suddenly on Tuesday - while he was doing his show. It didn't happen on air, but all of a sudden, there was music where a guy named Bobby O'Jay used to take listener phone calls. It wasn't until later that the station confirmed he had, figuratively, died with his boots on.
What a sad and weird story. And it doesn't happen often. I believe Tom Fulton passed away at AM740, but only after his show was finished. And if I recall correctly, CFRB legend Gordon Sinclair died two days after suffering a massive heart attack on the stairway of the station, having just done what would be his final commentary. CKEY newsman Tom Gould had a heart attack when he turned on his mic to do a 5PM major, although he survived.
But this is the first time I've heard of someone literally going while they were still in the middle of a show.
Perhaps the saddest part is he was only 68.
Memphis radio DJ Bobby O’Jay passes away at 68
- Dale Patterson
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Re: U.S. Morning Man Dies While His Show Is Still On The Air
Former WMCA "Good Guy" Jack Spector died on the air while doing his show on WHLI in 1994.
Last edited by Dale Patterson (May 3, 2022 8:22 pm)
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- Paul Jeffries
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Re: U.S. Morning Man Dies While His Show Is Still On The Air
Jane Dornacker, a traffic reporter at 66 WNBC New York, was doing a live report during the Joey Reynolds show on October 22, 1986 when the blades of the helicopter she was riding in seized up, causing the chopper to clip a chain link fence and crash into the Hudson River. Dornacker could be heard yelling, "Hit the water, hit the water, hit the water!" as the sound of the blades malfunctioning could be heard in the background, just before the feed went dead. She was pronounced dead on her way to the hospital. The pilot in the helicopter managed to survive the crash.
This was actually the second helicopter crash she was involved in while working at the station, having survived an earlier crash in April of that year.
PJ
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Re: U.S. Morning Man Dies While His Show Is Still On The Air
Paul Jeffries wrote:
Jane Dornacker, a traffic reporter at 66 WNBC New York, was doing a live report during the Joey Reynolds show on October 22, 1986 when the blades of the helicopter she was riding in seized up, causing the chopper to clip a chain link fence and crash into the Hudson River. Dornacker could be heard yelling, "Hit the water, hit the water, hit the water!" as the sound of the blades malfunctioning could be heard in the background, just before the feed went dead. She was pronounced dead on her way to the hospital. The pilot in the helicopter managed to survive the crash.
This was actually the second helicopter crash she was involved in while working at the station, having survived an earlier crash in April of that year.
PJ
This recording of the crash is fairly famous and it's extremely eerie, as you hear her go from a normal traffic report to panic - to a literal dead silence. The WNBC announcer is Buffalo's own Joey Reynolds, who is clearly rattled.
Really chilling to hear it.
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Thread Starter- 67GreenRambler
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Re: U.S. Morning Man Dies While His Show Is Still On The Air
Sadly another occurrence, this across the Pond.
- John D
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Re: U.S. Morning Man Dies While His Show Is Still On The Air
I toured WDIA in Memphis. So many famous DJs went through that building including Bobby O'Jay. I'm saddened that he has passed on; but dying while on air brings back the old saying, "Died with his boots on."
RIP.