Bill Gardner
ATPBill
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!
Over the next 4+ years, I did my best to get to know and reflect the Upstate area, be me and be positive off and on the air, and continue to learn about and respect country music. And it went well. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal did this wonderful write up with a personal note up top from the WESC General Manager.
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And below, one of the coolest honors of my radio career when the readers of the Greenville News voted me Best Radio Personality in their annual "Best of the Upstate" polling over local long time radio favorites and even Don Imus, also heard locally every morning!
During community appearances and visits to local schools, I'd pass out these buttons to the crowd's most enthusiastic. Wonder if there's any left from the late 1990's? Check those South Carolina landfills!
Oh yeah, after four and a half years and a return to #1, Clear Channel Broadcasting, (now IHeart Media), decided I was making too much money and canned me, two weeks before Christmas 1998. Turned out to be a terrific thing, since we ended up in Phoenix, and I began a ten year run as morning man at KOOL 94.5!
Cool Pic of the Day....
There was a country song out back then in my Carolina radio days by Rick Trevino called, "I Only Get This Way With You," about a man truly enraptured in love! And I remember coming out of that song saying, "I only get this way with you....AND when Channel 7's Pamela Graham wears those short skirts during the evening news!" :-) I mentioned lovely Pamela many times over the years and got to know her, and these are a couple notes she sweetly sent my way.
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.
I think this one came up when I searched the Internet for a "beautiful lady on a beach in Rio." Search engine really nailed it, huh?
Bill Gardner
ATPBill