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!

I enjoyed a wonderful forty-five year radio career in some of America's biggest radio stations and greatest cities.  (See the list by clicking "resume" at the top of the center column if you like).  But when bottom-feeding corporations slashed radio salaries and replaced most of us with lower cost people or recorded or out of town voices, I'm SO fortunate to also have that Airline Transport Pilot license and join a small airline here in Las Vegas for almost nine years.   Until my recent retirement, my position was as an Airline Captain, with 4AM breakfast in progress pictured below.. It was fun to be in a profession where gray hair and plenty of experience are actually appreciated!  :-)  But when I realized it wasn't as much fun anymore, I'm gone!



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! 

I can still hear Sam's voice in my head on a liner I asked him to record, playing over the intro of "Soul Man."  "Hi, this is Sam Moore of Sam & Dave from Scottsdale Arizona.  You're listening to my friend and newest neighbor Bill Gardner!  There goes the neighborhood, ha, ha, ha!"   Wonderful people, Sam and wife Joyce joined me many times in the KOOL-FM studio.  Sam shared tons of great memories both on and off the air.  Inside stuff, like my favorite song, "Hold On, I'm Coming,"  Where he and Dave were recording and supposed to sing that title in the middle of the song twice.  But they adlibbed a third time, which surprised the Stax horn players, (explaining their momentary absence), until the fourth time they sang that title and the horns joined back in!  Off the air Sam shared that, as live club performers in Miami, they wrote and performed "Money, (That's What I Want)" many times for live audiences.  Sam said Barrett Strong heard it, took it to Detroit and Tamla Records to record, and when it was released, no credit to Sam & Dave, but Berry Gordy Jr. had a writing credit!  

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 Sam was also a huge Phoenix Suns basketball fan, and actually recorded a rewrite of "Soul Man," where instead Sam sang, "I'm A Suns Fan."  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmOdpWHVOlU   Sam was hitting all those high notes in the 21st century when he debuted it on my show! .  Even an Al McCoy "Shazam!" to start it off!  Wish I had all our visits saved, but you can hear at least one by clicking on "Bill Gardner Interviews" (above, right) and click on Sam Moore.  Miss you, pal.

First time I answered my phone one morning at KOOL 94.5 Phoenix and heard "Hi, this is Bob Uecker!" I almost didn't believe it.  Later found out that Bob spent his winters in Scottsdale and was a regular listener to my morning radio show while he was in the Valley of the Sun!  Another great guy who joined me in the studio several times.  We'll  miss you.  

When I interviewed Mike Love and Bruce Johnson of the Beach Boys on KOOL one morning, they were so delighted that I actually knew who they were, (they told me off-air that the DJ before me in another town had very little knowledge...and tried to sort of fake the interview :-)  Mike sang lead on most of their biggest hits.  This autographed pic was just one of several gifts they sent my  way.  They knew I'm a fan!  That interview also available on the "Bill Gardner Interviews" tab here.

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 my friend and radio consultant the late George Johns (www.georgejohns.com).   As always, you'll notice I always take George's lessons to heart.

Paris Hilton and the view from her former oceanfront Malibu home, among the famous who've lost their homes in the recent California fires. Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Crystal, Adam Brody, Maria Shriver, Ben Affleck, and of course many less famous and less well-heeled people are starting over.  Our hearts are with them all.