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 Exec VP 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 recorded 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!

K-101 offices and studios were at the extra cool San Francisco intersection of Columbus, Washington, and Montgomery Streets, across the street from the iconic Transamerica Pyramid. 

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The drive was just under 500 miles from our home on Highway One, Del Mar, California to our new small A-Frame I'd found us on an oceanfront hillside in Half Moon Bay. (How about that new view below?  The ocean, Half Moon Bay Airport and more from our living room way up the hill. :-).  Moving was 8 hours up Interstate 5...nope!  I told Mrs. Gardner "We're driving up Highway 1 on the California coast all the way!"  Best decision I ever made.  What sights, through Malibu, Big Sur, Morro Bay, Carmel and Monterey, and all those sights you've seen for years on TV, film, and commercials.   .

At K-101, I had some great air talent already like Jack Kulp and Bob Malik, but I hired KFRC's Chuck Browning, San Diego's J. Craig "Danny Wilde" Collins, and CKLW and WLS vet Greg Aust.  We set my gigantic plans in motion, including a $25,000+ cash call, SF 49er QB Matt Cavanaugh for morning sports, and got to work trying to make K-101 the biggest ever!

Hope you can zoom in on trade publication stories on our first ratings!  My team and I knocked over every other music station in the Bay Area, and K-101 San Francisco had the biggest successes ever!  I'm proud to say they'd never been that big before, and even now, forty years later, have never equaled these ratings or rankings since.  Maybe you saw that Billboard Magazine article up top here. The General Manager hoped we'd elevate K-101 from a "good radio station to a great station."  Mission accomplished!

An example of a cool "perk" of living in Las Vegas.  Mrs. Gardner got us "comped" this week to a $120 per person five course special dinner with five different wines at the Palace Station's Charcoal Room!  Absolutely fabulous and delicious!  .  

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 took George's lessons to heart.

Started watching a new daily TV show called "Crime Expose with Nancy O'Dell."  Even if the stories aren't fun to look at, Nancy O'Dell is!  :-)  Nancy is proof that ladies are gorgeous at all ages, including Nancy's age....59.