Legendary radio figure, Gary Stevens, passed away on Monday (2/17) in Delray Beach, FL, at the age of 84. Stevens succeeded in a number of phases of the radio business from being a major star DJ on groundbreaking top 40 outlet WMCA, New York in the 60s as one of the iconic “Good Guys” to achieving influence as a radio company manager, program distributor, media investment banker, and station broker (where he profitably rode the consolidation wave). He was known for his innovation in all these fields. He served as president of Doubleday Broadcasting in the late 70s, investments advisor with Wertheim Schroeder & Co., Inc. in the late 80s and as the head of his own firm, Gary Stevens & Co. in the 90s. During his stellar career, he served on a number of boards at major radio organizations including Saga Communications, where he briefly served as interim chairman upon the death of Ed Christian in 2022, and industry associations including the NAB and RAB. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison comments, “Although Gary Stevens’ accomplishments and influence on the radio industry stretched over more than half a century and was quite profound – kids of my generation, who had the opportunity to grow up in New York during the swingin’ sixties, will always remember him as one of the glorious WMCA Good Guys. His passing truly marks the end of an era.”
Noted industry historian and video chronicler, Art “Radio’s Best Friend” Vuolo reports to TALKERS, “Gary was the last of the WMCA Good Guys still alive, I took a fantastic B&W film from NYU’s film department that I guess ran on WNET Channel 13 in NY back in 1967 and added titles (a.k.a. supers) so each DJ would be identified and put an opening slate (in color) at the start. Gary Stevens is probably the most prominently featured in this film with some great behind-the-scenes insight as to how top 40 radio was done in America’s top market. 1010 WINS had already bowed out and gone all-news in April of 1965, so it was WMCA and WABC who were dukin’ it out in 1967. However, in the spring of 1966, WOR-FM was a new tend-setter on FM with rock n’ roll. Here’s the link (player below) to the amazing film. Enjoy every second!”
