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 corporationsKNUS 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!

Florida radio is well known for pay "in sunshine," or really low. But I combined both jobs, or Morning Show host AND Program Director and voila..everybody was happy!  Above,that's two of my two sided, double fold out BJ105 cards.  And a slice of our advertising along main route Colonial Drive below.  

It wasn't my first time on a billboard, (that was KVIL in 74 and KLZ-FM in '65), but many other firsts in Orlando.  My first time as Program Director.  I'd been Assistant Program Director at KVIL Dallas. First CAT we adopted, "Charlie."   First time I worked with my brother Al who was already working there and would help me on the morning show as "Lee Simpson."  First time we ever bought a house!  Still remember, 601 Bonita Road, Winter Springs, Florida.  And although we arrived from Toronto in our Volksagen Rabbit, it was the first time we stepped up for a luxury car and bought a brand new red 1981 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz and felt rich.  :-)  Even the first time I'd run my own control room board in awhile after CFTR Toronto.   But maybe the most important "first," especially to our owner Mr. Rounsaville, could I make those on-air changes, reverse the downward rating trend, and make BJ105 #1 again from #5 and an 8 share? 

I found this relic this week.  An on air schedule I'd written of the on air super team.  Written on something ancient, called a "typewriter." . 

I made some wonderful friends at BJ105 and years later in 2007, we'd still get together each time I visited Orlando.  That's BJ105 icon, the late Bill Barber on the left, who did afternoon drive.  Up front, wacky Delta Airlines employee Jack "Elvis" Dyer who made many on air morning show "visits" with me.  This 21st century visit was at Bill Barber's favorite, Red Lobster on Colonial Drive Orlando.  

Arbitron radio ratings are a little hard to read, but if you can zoom in, you'll see WE DID IT!  The first ratings after my arrival we jumped back up 6 1/2 points, almost double, to a 14.7 share!  Mornings were even better with a 16.1.  Proud to say "never before" and "never since."   

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. 

Sorry.  No name.  But this pretty lady showed up in the margins during one of my Internet visits this week on behalf of someone selling something.  :-)  I thought she was SO classy and pretty that she deserved this weeks spot on my website regardless.  You agree?  .     .