Bill Gardner

What Are These Trophies???

In February 2024, well-respected National Radio Consultant Mike McVay told me, "You have done it all.  Bill Gardner understands radio more than most ever did.....or will." Thanks Mike! 

Legendary radio programmer and former EVP NBC-FM Stations  Walter Sabo just told me, "Mike Phillips said you were the best AC jock alive, and he was right!"  Thanks Walter!  (On the air as Walter Sterling, currently national talk show personality by the way).

Another of America's leading radio consultants and a national name you radio guys 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.  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!

(*Search or 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 immediately moving from 13th to 4th most popular morning show in Phoenix."  Soon after to be #1 25-54!)

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 on air!

 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 part time Airline Captain, with 4AM breakfast in progress here. Most radio salaries have been stripped to the bone or positions eliminated, and it's really enjoyable to be in a profession where gray hair is actually appreciated!  :-) 



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 mornings at KOOL 94.5 Phoenix! 

22 years!?!?  My record was almost ten years doing mornings at KOOL 94.5 Phoenix; and coming up on nine years at Grand Canyon Airlines. 22 years?  Well done, brotherman! Below, a black and white flashback almost fifty years ago to my office and both of us at WIBG Philadelphia while I was Morning Man and Program Director.  I could even tell back then that being on the radio was his passion.  He loved just being around radio broadcasting! 

Andre is already a Philadelphia icon and has eclipsed any radio acclaim there that I ever had! 

As i was walking towards my airliner to fly some folks to Grand Canyon West last Saturday, I noticed several were from the Philadelphia area.  I told them I too was from Philly, and my brother Andre is the afternoon guy at WMGK-FM. My 30'ish male passenger's jaw literally dropped open!  He was amazed, saying, "Wow.  Andre Gardner's brother!"  Yep. 

Andre not only plays the classic rock afternoons, but produces a weekly "Beatles Minute" podcast.     

 

 Above and behind us, that's that same former WIBG Philadelphia building in Lafayette Hills PA from that black and white pic above during a visit we had in December.         

   

Airline Stuff....

Finally got called in to fly a round trip this past weekend to Grand Canyon West Airport, home of the Grand Canyon Skywalk seen above.  You're about a mile above the bottom of the canyon when you walk out on that plexiglass!  Among my passengers, those two ladies and the policeman from Bucks County PA who were so amazed that my brother was Andre Gardner!  :-)     

   

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.

Yes, she's beautiful!  I think I Googled "hot brunette," and boy did the search engine come through.  I like to try to imagine what words the photographer said to the model right before he snapped this picture.  Any guesses?