National Radio Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2007

National Radio Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2007

Jerry Coleman, Jimmy Durante, Richard Durham, Dan Ingram, Marian McPartland to be inducted November 3

CHICAGO, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One has broadcast baseball for more than 40 years, one is a legendary radio comedian, and the others a rock radio pioneer, a jazz icon and a groundbreaking African-American writer/producer. Although with different backgrounds, these radio legends all share a common connection -- they are all upcoming inductees into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago.

"This prestigious and diverse quintet was elected from a highly competitive field of nominees and we are excited to honor them," said MBC President Bruce DuMont. "A nationally broadcast ceremony on November 3rd will spread word of their life long accomplishments to radio lovers all across America."

   The 2007 inductees into America's only National Radio Hall of Fame are:    JERRY COLEMAN  

Jerry Coleman has been broadcasting baseball for more than 40 years. The former New York Yankee infielder has been the voice of the San Diego Padres on XPRS/San Diego for 32 seasons, the last 23 consecutively. Known for his concise play-by-play and trademark calls, such as "Hang a Star" and "Oh, Doctor!", Coleman was also a regular announcer for the CBS Radio Game of the Week.

JIMMY DURANTE (deceased)

A legendary vaudevillian turned 1940s radio comedian and singer known for his mangled English and raspy voice, Durante began as a piano player on Coney Island. He was a welcome and regular guest on many radio programs. After filling in for Eddie Cantor on The Chase and Sanborn Hour in 1933, he was offered his own program. The Jimmy Durante Show enjoyed success both as a solo act and as a comedy duo, with Garry Moore serving as Durante's on-air sidekick from 1943 to 1947.

RICHARD DURHAM (deceased)

Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Richard Durham wrote and produced the groundbreaking radio drama Destination Freedom. Durham began his career during the Depression with the Writers Project of the WPA and later wrote for CBS affiliate WBBM/Chicago. As sole writer and producer for Destination Freedom, his goal was to combat the negative stereotypes of blacks in the media. The series debuted on WMAQ/Chicago in June of 1948 and included 91 episodes showcasing the lives of prominent black Americans.

DAN INGRAM

Ingram was a rock radio pioneer and is considered by some as the best Top 40 DJ of all time. Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, he mixed humor with an edgy, irreverent style and spent more than 40 years behind the microphone beginning at WNRC/New Rochelle, NY. He rose to fame in the 1960s as a rock DJ on WABC/New York where he stayed for 20 years until the station changed formats. He spent the last 12 years of his career at WCBS-FM/New York before retiring in 2003.

MARIAN MCPARTLAND

Host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz for more than 25 years on National Public Radio, McPartland taught herself how to play piano at age three. Since 1978 the English born jazz musician has hosted one of the longest running weekly programs on NPR. McPartland is revered for her own talent and welcomes a wide range of guests to her program, including legendary jazz artists and fledgling jazz talents.

Sean Hannity of ABC Radio and Fox News Channel will host the one-hour induction ceremony on Saturday November 3rd at 10pm (ET). ABC Radio will produce and distribute the live program from the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. State Farm Insurance will sponsor the broadcast and American Airlines and the Renaissance Chicago Hotel will provide promotional support.

Tickets for the black-tie induction gala and broadcast may be purchased online at http://www.radiohof.org/ or by calling toll free 866-860-1640.

Votenet Solutions, Inc., an online vote tabulation firm, tabulated the National Radio Hall of Fame ballots. To learn more about and hear past inductees into the National Radio Hall of Fame, please visit http://www.radiohof.org/.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications, home to the National Radio Hall of Fame, is scheduled for opening in 2008 at State and Kinzie Streets in downtown Chicago. The state-of-the-art 70,000 square-foot museum will include the Radio Hall of Fame Rotunda, a working radio and television studio and interactive exhibits that will showcase broadcasting's leading personalities and historic trends. The new MBC will be the first public museum in the nation built to a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction standard.

Source: National Radio Hall of Fame

CONTACT: Gina Loizzo of Museum of Broadcast Communications,
+1-312-396-0103

Web site: http://www.radiohof.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment