(from Bud on WTIT: The Blog archives during 2007) We do not know why this question popped into our brain today, but it did. We thought it would give me a chance to tell you something about some of our friends, besides me, who were or are WTIT DJs.
Most of my close friends, have recorded on WTIT. Now while his is NOT a list of my closest friends, these were the most talented guys on Tape Radio during WTIT Tape Radio’s first forty-five years. To add perspective, if you check out WTIT. net you’d count close to 33 DJs have been considered staff, with probably another ten having recorded with WTIT some even listed at times. Let’s give it a go!
JUMPING JOHNNIE WALKER started recording in 1968 and
Along with Bud, navigated all the changes to our group to make what it is WTIT today, into our 50th year. Johnnie could do it all. He was our WTIT News Anchor from 1985 to 2015. His biggest talent, besides just having a great sense of humor, were his dialects. Johnnie could literally do ANY accent. My
favorite example of this was in a show called “The Horrid Experiment”. Johnnie, playing a female & introduces himself as “Juanita” to a guy she meets. In the middle of the bit, his accent shifted from Spanish to Italian. Without missing a beat, Johnnie said, “I donno wotts going on. Sometimes I’m Spanish and sometimes I’m Italian. I think I’ll be Italian.” To which Billy, playing the part of the boy she just met, merely said, “I do like meatballs”.
When Johnnie left us to be nearer to family, everyone
understood. Johnnie returned for our 50th in April of 2017.
It would be the last time any of us saw
him. Johnnie passed away from a heart problem on July 4,
2018. We will never be the same. We love you, Big Guy! Top
shot: 2015 Bottom: 1970:
THE COSMIC COMMANDO joined WTIT in 1985. He was on the first tape of what we now call “the modern era”, so he met Bouncing Billy during that recording session. He then really took over Bill’s spot in our new line-up. Cos became the weather reporter (as was Billy) during our newscasts. My favorite line of his was, “Tomorrow will be so bad that a hole will open in the planet that will suck every living creature into the molten lava in the center of the Earth. The outlook for this
weekend: Sunny and pleasant.” Cos also called himself the WTIT Science Editor. He would always tell us a scientific equivalent for the tape number on which we were recording.
Cos’ last appearance was at the 50th Anniversary Party in 2017. Cos attended Bud’s 60th birthday party and his wedding to Kathy on October 20, 2012. He is in our yearly photos (in addition to his years recording) in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2011, 2012. Cos returned in 2017 for our 50th Anniversary Show & Party. That would be his last session with us. Top shot: 2012 Bottom: 1986
Galloping Gary was with WTIT from its second recording in 1967 to our 15th Anniversary show in 1982. (and has returned for numerous events, including the 50th Anniversary Party) Gary was one of the brightest people I have ever met. He could be deadly serious when talking politics or about life. He was very clever, as well. One of my favorite series of lines Gary wrote was in a show called “The Bounty Hunter.” Gary had become sheriff in a small town when, of course, the shit hit the fan. Another character (played by Billy) asked, “What are we going to do?” Gary replied, “How should I know? I knew I shouldn’t have taken this job. For that matter, I shouldn’t have taken this role.” Gary has appeared in WTIT Staff Pics for celebrations in 1995, 2011 and 2012. In July 2014 Gary read on our Facebook page (facebook.com/WTITRADIO) when we were recording that month. So for the first time since 1982, The Galloping Gary Garage returns to WTIT. He drove up from DC. with his son, Gary Jr., to see his 92-year-old dad. Bud said it was one of the biggest surprises of his life. When Gary knocked on the door, he simply said, “We’re recording tonight, no?” (left shot 2014, right shot 1970) Gary’s last recording was on Tape 600, the 50th Anniversary Show.
ROCK ROLLING joined WTIT shortly after our 20th Anniversary Party in 1987. He is still with us and now has been at WTIT over 25 years himself. Rock has done some great work with us. He excels when doing the “Commentary” on the WTIT Newscasts. He general can tangle an issue to such a degree that he will asks listeners to write to him and explain his own point of view. After giving a very strong opinion he might add “but I am not really sure, and I could be wrong.” Rock has the private eye character that he named “Dain Bramage”. Naturally he is a bumbling detective and the character has been a great piece of Rock’s arsenal.
Rock is also a musician who has recorded with Jeff Pevar. Rock has written a lot of jingles that WTIT uses in its “ad spoofs”. Rock would record with us through our “Last Tape Radio Show” which was on May 7, 2022. The month Bud moved to Arizona.
Left shot: 2012 Right shot: 1987
THE MIDNIGHT PLOWBOY is Rock’s younger brother. He is simply the most talented DJ that has ever recorded with us. He can do it all. He is also a musician. Midnight is the only member who has directed shows other than I. Midnight does do accents well and almost immediately understood Tape Radio without much help. His first recording stint on WTIT was from 1988 to 1996. Here’s an example of his wit: He played a Greek visitor in WTIT’s spoof of “Bonanza”. I played Ben Cartwright and asked Hoss to make sure two of the servants were out of the guest room, implying they were having a homosexual affair. Midnight as the Greek said, “No Ben. Why don’t you and I do it? It will remind me of home.” Midnight recorded on and off with us since 1988. Midnight would record with us through our “Last Tape Radio Show” which was on May 7, 2022. The month Bud moved to Arizona.
Left shot: 2012 Right shot: 1988 Induction Inaugural
BOUNCING BILLY BREWER recorded with WTIT from its very first tape in 1967 through our first tape of what I refer to
as the modern era (or that might be error) in 1985. It was a big night. WTIT was relaunching with The Cosmic Commando.
We asked Billy to join us, either to return or just help Cos. We never heard from Billy again after that night. Or so we thought. Billy’s first go round were the years from 1967 to 1985. Billy had a ironic wit. He was the king of the “aside” joke. Sometimes it wasn’t until we heard the recording back that we realized what Billy had said. Billy was always very funny. Billy and Bud recorded WTIT’s first tape. On August 23, 2013 Billy returned. He and Bud had met for drinks a couple of weeks earlier. It was their first time together since that 1985 recording. The first “Bouncing Billy Brewer Show” was recorded in 2013, some 28 years after Billy’s last appearance. Bill missed our final show, but recorded right up till the last year of 2022. Top shot: 2015 Bottom shot: 1974: Induction Inaugural
GYPSY GRILLO actually begin to sit in for our recording sessions since we started in 1967.
That first year he would be known as our “chief engineer”. He actually
appeared occasionally, but did not become a DJ until he and Johnnie Walker officially joined in June of 1968. At that point (although we didn’t realize it for a couple of years), we became what has since been known as “the Original five” WTIT DJs. I met Joe in fourth grade. While we created comedy Gyps was one thing: silly. He’s played a woman (as he did as Juliet in “Romeo & Juliet”) and occasionally would forget to raise his register. He’d always have a quick quip to explain it, or just let the laughter of the rest of us subside and move on. Gyps’ final recording was in 1974. Thanks to facebook, we’re in touch. Gypsy Joe phoned in to WTIT’s 45th anniversary Show in 2012. In June of 2014 Gypsy invited Billy, Johnnie & Bud over for a reunion of sorts. Gypsy’s food was fantastic. It had been 20 years since Johnnie & Bud had seen him and nearly twice as long for Billy. We’re all just happy that through Facebook we are in common touch. 2014 would be our last time together, 40 years after he last recorded with us. Top shot: 2014 Right shot: 1973
It seems right here, on Gypsy’s HOF page we should share the story of what appears to be our last night with him. For the first time since 1973, 4 of the original 5 DJs partied together. It was on June 27, 2014. From left: Bud Weiser, Gypsy Joe, Johnnie Walker & Bouncing Billy! This was the last chance as it turned out as Johnnie passed away last year (2018).
