Bill Gardner 

What Are These Trophies???

Not long ago, 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!  The amazingly humble HRHOF Inductee Mike McVay said "YOU are the one who should be in the National Radio Hall of Fame.  Seriously!"  Thanks again 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 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!  There's different stories and different radio stations each week.  See some fun posts you may have missed!

It was 1971 and I was coming up on a week's vacation from my 10AM-2PM airshift at Philadelphia's WIBG 990.  Usually, they'd ask a weekend jock to fill in, but then I got another wacky idea!  Suppose I could get five different notable Philadelphians to "sit in" for me, each for one day!  And so, the first annual "Bill Gardner Sit In" was born.  :-)  Bobby Rydell would be perfect, so I contacted his "people," and Bobby loved the idea and said he'd do it. 

At the time, I was also a "booth announcer" at KYW-TV Philadelphia, back then with "live" station identifications and more, and so was my pal Ron Polao!  Ron had some local radio notoriety, his own television show on Philly's Channel 29, had been in several movies, and even interviewed Elvis!.  Ron agreed.  There's two!  

Need three more to fill the week.  I've got it!  One each, from the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Philadelphia 76ers!  My memory is usually pretty good, but the names of three local pro athletes escape me here 55 years later.  And remember, I wasn't there...I was on vacation out of town. :-)  I DO recall that the Phillie was not a player, but a third base coach.  We were locked.

The only problem would be that my guest DJ's would probably need an in-studio coach and someone to push the right buttons, play those commercials, and put the records on the turntables.  I asked my Program Director who became a lifelong friend, Jack "Jackson T" Reynolds if he was up for the challenge.  Jack agreed and we were a "go."   On my return the following week, I asked Jack how it went?  Jack smiled and said Bobby Rydell was a natural and tons of fun and laughter, but the others tried hard but maybe not a home run.  Jack then smiled and said "I'd suggest maybe 'The FIRST Annual Bill Gardner Sit In' should be the LAST Annual Bill Gardner Sit In." :-)   

Speaking of things I really miss from Philadelphia....  Maybe you recognize Philadelphia Radio Hall of Famer and my super brother Andre Gardner with wife Paige and daughter "GG" enjoying an evening at a Japanese Fusion restaurant in Philly's suburbs last week. .  .  

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.  I had a fun and excellent 40+ year radio career with plenty of it following good advice from George, so no exception here. 

She's still my favorite reason to look up each weekday morning while Mrs. Gardner watches "The Price Is Right" on CBS Television.  That's Price Is Right model Manuela Arbalaez, who makes all those washers and dryers look so much better on TV just by standing next to them, pointing, and smiling.  We're obviously catching Manuela on a SoCal poolside day off.     .