Spider Harrison

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Spider Harrison is a national radio personality and an active member of the Screen Actors Guild. Spider also owns an independent record label Spido Records[1] in association with Stones Throw Records in Los Angeles, Ca.


Contents

[edit] Biography

Spider Harrison (born Bernard Harrison in Hempstead, Long Island, New York) is an African American radio disc jockey who first rose to prominence in the 1970s, replacing the rhythm and blues legend "John R" on WLAC-AM (1510) in Nashville, Tennessee, a 50-thousand watt radio powerhouse. Today, WLAC-AM is owned by Clear Channel, Inc. Spider Harrison is also the syndicated creator and host of the urban radio feature “What Ever Happened To ..?”[2]

According to the Life and Casualty Insurance Company, then owners of WLAC, Spider Harrison became one of the most popular night-time radio personalities in the USA shortly after replacing "John R" (John Richbourg, a member of the Rock Roll Hall of Fame). In succeeding "John R," who occupied the evening shift on the airwaves for 32-years, the spirited Spider Harrison began to receive steadily-advancing mounds of mail from old and new fans of the station, which soon put Harrison ahead of even the "John R" legend.

Harrison believed strongly in the synchronization of broadcasting with community activities, which reportedly encompassed 85 – 90 percent of his life's activities.

Moving in a new direction, WLAC was looking to expand its night-time audience with the Top 40 music flow that was popular nationwide. Harrison was chosen for the job and created the station's unique "Rock n' Soul" sound at night. Harrison accented contemporary rock numbers into a soul-type format with a black upbeat. He could play a Bachman Turner Overdrive song or Fleetwood Mac cut followed by James Brown, Barry White, and / or the Sugar Hill Gang - and he made it work for millions of listeners. Harrison's secret was that he could talk "jock style" in the same key as most songs were recorded, with commentary that was candid and personal but nonetheless "hip." For years, radio listeners thought Spider Harrison was white, and prior to him millions thought John Richbourg was a black man.

[edit] Early history

Harrison became "Spider" Harrison while attending Hempstead High School, where he was a running back on the football team. Catching the eyes of a coach because of his size and speed, Harrison became known as "Spider" for the remainder of his high school days and carried the handle into his radio career. Other great alumni who attended Hempstead High was television actor Ray Heatherton, John Mackey All Pro Football player and 2008 Governor on New York State, Gov. David Patterson.

Spider Harrison grew up listening to New York radio personalities and during his high school summers worked with a New York concert promoter. Through that arrangement, Harrison met with radio personalities from WABC-AM (770) and WWRL-AM. Taking classes at C.W. Post College, Harrsion worked several "fill in" air shifts on WCWP-FM and created a show called “An Introduction To Soul.” He also interned at WWRL in Woodside Queens and filled in on Sundays, setting up gospel "remotes" for churches in Brooklyn and Harlem.

[edit] Radio, Records and Hollywood

Spider Harrison's first professional radio stop was at WTLC-FM in Indianapolis. There, as an afternoon drive personality, Harrison also became program and music director, prior to his WLAC years. In 1980 when AM radio began moving toward talk and news emphasis, Harrison relocated to Los Angeles, working part-time in radio. Later, he became the west coast promotions director for Sugar Hill Records. It was the beginning of Hip Hop as it is known globally today. Also in Hollywood, Spider joined the Screen Actors Guild after working as an extra in numerous feature movies and television shows. The column “What Ever Happened To..?" was created in BRE (Black Radio Exclusive Magazine) in Hollywood in 1986.

[edit] References

[1] What Ever Happened To..? Radio show http://www.whateht.com
[2] Spido Records Website http://www.spidorecords.com


[edit] External Links

What Ever Happened To..?
Spido Records - Record label site
Stones Throw Records
Urban Insite