Title
Honoring the Life and Legacy of legendary jazz host Bob Perkins
Body
WHEREAS, Bob Perkins has become a fixture of the Philadelphia jazz community during his more than 40 years of service in radio; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia native, born December 6, 1933, was one of five children and grew up in a rowhome near 19th and Reed Street in South Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Perkins was first exposed to jazz at the age of five when his older brother took him to a concert at the Fays Theater in West Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, He inherited his love for radio from his father and knew that he wanted to be a radio jazz deejay when he saw his father tinkering with an AM radio and antennae allowing him to hear stations in Detroit and Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Perkins first broke into the radio business in 1964 when he landed an on-air job in Detroit; and
WHEREAS, Perkins later returned to Philadelphia in 1969 where he was offered a job at a rhythm-and-blues station WDAS, where he worked for the next nineteen years; and
WHEREAS, After years of working at WHYY, he joined WRTI in 1997, becoming their evening drive-time jazz radio personality; and
WHEREAS, Outside of radio, Perkins wrote columns and commentaries on jazz for Philadelphia area publications as well as hosting concerts at jazz clubs and regional festivals; and
WHEREAS, Perkins briefly worked a editorial director for The Philadelphia Tribune, where he wrote columns on government, society, and public affairs; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, he wrote editorials and other articles for the former Philadelphia New Observer, and he independently produced a radio documentary on the life of Paul Robeson; and
WHEREAS, Perkins received numerous awards for his contributions to Philadelphia music and culture including the 2002 Mellon Jazz Community Award and in 2007, he was honored with a proclamation for his outstanding contributions to Philadelphia's jazz community from Mayor John Street, Philadelphia City Council and t...
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