Bill Gardner

What Are TheseTrophies???

Another of America's leading radio consultants and a national name you know, (not George Johns, by the way),  humorously calls Bill Gardner "the best radio morning man in America NOT currently on the air!"  We protect his confidence, but ask and I'll whisper his name to you.

During the halcyon days at KOOL-FM Phoenix with General Manager Clancy Woods and Program Director Tim Maranville, our many number one "25-54 adults and 12+ persons" rating "books" were rewarded with these personalized trophies, still proudly displayed here at our home. Bill Gardner's ability to "remain under the radar," (amazingly sometimes even to his own consultants and management), has allowed him to "sneak into a situation," and enjoy some of the most defense- free, dramatic turnarounds, and a 100% success record as morning personality and program executive! 

An Exact Fit For Your Job Needs?

Bill Gardner has been an "immediate impact player" in Adult Contemporary, Country, Oldies, Classic Hits, and Rock & Roll radio.  There's "easy-to-document" success* as a Drive Time On Air Personality, a VP/Programming or Program Director, even President/General Manager while owner-operator of an Arizona AM/FM combo, many times assuming both senior programming and morning drive on air roles simultaneously back when doing both was thought to be impossible :-)  And this "easy-to-document success" doesn't happen some of the time...it happens every time!

( *Ask for your copy of the Arizona Republic July 31, 1999 article where with virtually no other change in KOOL 94.5 mornings other than hiring Bill Gardner, the Spring 1999 ratings "book" their radio and TV columnist detailed Bill Gardner with "the biggest gain in Valley radio," almost instantly moving from 13th to 4th most popular morning show in Phoenix")

Bill Gardner On The Air!

You've found the site for airchecks, interview samples, resume, letters of recommendation and more for legendary radio morning guy Bill Gardner, for almost a decade through 2008 the top-rated morning personality of KOOL-FM Phoenix, as well as morning personality and program director for Los Angeles area's 92.7 Jill FM through summer 2010.

And a special thank you to the many KOOL 94.5 Phoenix listeners who've sought me out via search engines and sent emails to my email address below.  Even after more than ten years, new emails continue to arrive in my inbox!  Really!  Your thoughts and loyalty are genuinely appreciated!  It's nice to be missed, especially when I wasn't given a chance to say goodbye!

 Bill Gardner IN The Air!

Jeff Schutt, our airline's Director of Flight Operations, jokes I should have TWO web sites..."Bill Gardner On The Air" and "Bill Gardner IN The Air!"   My position is as a full time Airline Captain, with 4AM breakfast in progress here.  Most of us with Grand Canyon Airlines are currently furloughed.  The announced and expected permanent layoffs never materialized, and there's even a little optimism that business may pick up sometime in 2021..



FUN Web Search?

Web site archive!  Enter billgardnerontheradio.com, or koolradio.com at www.archive.org and see posts dating back to my decade doing mornngs at KOOL 94.5 Phoenix! 

 My New, "Old Radio Picture"

 Where were you exactly forty years ago? Wow.  I thought about where I was, and remembered  WFYR-FM Chicago as morning on air dj/personality.  We were living on the 41st floor of Lake Point Tower, on the shores of Lake Michigan near Navy Pier downtown Chicago.  Every mornng at 5, I'd hop in a cab with my usual driver Washington Crump, and ride over to the Prudential Building.  Most national media ad buyers used a thick, phone book like publication called "Standard Rate & Data" for info about every radio station coast to coast and their ad rates.  What you're seeing above is the cover ad from 40 years ago purchased by my employer RKO Radio.   My Program Director was the legendary oldies disc jockey Dick Bartley, and we still communcate from time to time. Fun Fact:  Dick Bartley is an avid casino chip collector, and has asked me to pick up a set of Las Vegas Casino Chips when a new place opens here. 

 Airline News....

 Recalling some of my favorite destinations as we approach one year since most of us were furloughed by our airline on March 17th last year. That's Glen Canyon Dam in the middle above, and beautiful Lake Powell as we completed our one hour twenty minute flight from Las Vegas.   My First Officer and I would drop our passengers off at Page AZ Airport to meet their ground tour guides for a closer look at those sights and colorful and famous Antelope Canyon. Our return flight would be late in the afternoon, allowing for plenty of free time, and maybe a stop at Big John's Texas Barbecue (below), home of some of the best brisket in the West!  It's a funny place, a re-purposed former corner gas station on the main drag with a big smoker going full blast outside.   There's buckets of peanuts on the table to shell and eat until your order arrives.  "I'll have a half pound of brisket now, AND a half pound to go to take home!" .

By the way, still no news on our return, and our airline continues to run a fraction of the former schedule with  a skeleton crew.   

 Hey George Johns.... Those Beautiful Girls Keep On Coming!

 "If you want people to visit your web site, you'd better have a picture of a beautiful girl!"  One of my favorite quotes from radio consultant George Johns (www.georgejohns.com) , As always, you'll notice I take George's lessons to heart. 

Let's hear it for pretty local TV news anchors.  That's Jackie Kostek of ABC Las Vegas KTNV Channel 13.  Jackie's not just a pretty face.  She has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and a Bachelor's in Journalism and American Studies from the University of Kansas.  Jackie spent two years in the Washington DC area as a Kindergarten and Head Start teacher at a Title One school.  Wow!  That's one awesome lady!