Blog: King George
I received a sad call this Xmas Eve morning, from a friend informing me of the passing of Radio & TV Icon George Michael.
George Michael WABC
Lots of people know him primarily from his syndicated and ahead-of-its-time "Sports Machine" tv show or for his decades of work in the Washington DC market as sports anchor of WRC-TV, and his shows with Redskins coaches and QB's.
Lots more people know him as "King" George Michael, from WFIL/Philadelphia or WABC/New York.
He was, one of the best disc jockeys I've ever heard. He had the unique ability to translate energy, passion, warmth and professionalism into his air shifts on old time top40 radio.
He was the first radio guy (and about only REAL screamin top40radio jock) to transition to sports on tv, and he did it with the same qualities that made him such a success in radio.
George and I first met in 1981 in Los Angeles. I was working at KIIS-FM. doing 7-12pm. George's former PD, Jay Clark, was the group PD for Ganett, KIIS's owners at the time.
About 9:00pm the studio door opened, and in bounded Jay with George. They had been out to dinner, listening to the radio, and came on down. Before I know it, Jay had called Gerry De'Fran, the KIISfm PD, and I was sliding down one seat as the great George Michael did a half hour of radio. Somehow, I was able to finish my shift after they left. Hard act to follow!
By 1985 I had moved back to DC, and on my very first show in afternoons at WAVA (even before Bart was born), who called on the request line? George.
He was jacked I was back and he gave me a great treat on my first show back in town by staying on the line for 15 minutes and giving me a nice plug on channel 4.
Of course, for years he was on both the Morning Zoo and the Don & Mike show, doing everything from "straight" sports reports when WAVA had a broadcast line put into his house so he could have studio sounding audio, to taking over our show on a special April 1st, to always being there to chat about whatever Redskins moment was dominating headlines.
I also had the pleasure of having dinner with George at several Super Bowls. I was just a hack deejay hanging out for the weekend when the rest of the gang had jetted back home, and he'd always grab me to tail along and I always had a great time. Most evenings with George ended up with each of us talking up records in the car. (That's a deejay thing.)
There never was a time when George wasn't a pal to me. The day after Freda died, he called me at home right before the 6:00 newscast to say that channel 4 was going to cover it with the class and dignity she deserved. We ended up having a very emotional discussion about what in life was really important, then he went on tv and did his job, cause that was what he did. And I thought then, as I do now, what a special person he is.
George was one of those people who lived up to the hype. I had heard him and knew of him long before we ever met. The fact he was a part of my radio show, and a friend still blows my mind. George Michael! Famous 56 W-F-I-L!
Radio guy first, sports guy second.
Great guy always.
My prayers are with his family this Holiday.
d.
12.24.09
