| Chuck Leonard | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Charles Wesley Leonard |
| Born | March 30, 1937 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | August 12, 2004 (aged 67) New York, New York |
| Country | United States |
Charles Wesley "Chuck" Leonard (March 30, 1937, Chicago, Illinois – August 12, 2004, Manhattan) was an American radio personality at WABC (AM) in New York City during the 1960s and 1970s. His deep voice and smoothness resonated across 38 states for 14 years at ABC. During his over 40 year career in broadcasting, Leonard worked virtually every shift and played all styles of music at stations including WWRL, WABC, WXLO, WRKS, WBLS, WQEW, WNSW-AM and WJUX. He has been inducted in the Museum of Television & Radio and is known as an African-American pioneer in mainstream radio.[1]
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Leonard began his broadcasting career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as program director of college radio WPGU, while majoring in journalism.
After graduation, Leonard worked briefly for the Washington Evening Star (his boss was Carl Bernstein), while working part-time at WEBB, Baltimore.
WWRL, New York, April–June 1965 Leonard moved to WWRL (R&B) in New York in June 1965, doing the night shift. Leonard was at WWRL for just seven weeks, before WABC (AM) deejay Dan Ingram heard him and convinced WABC to hire him. He was the first African-American broadcast personality on a major market Top 40 station.
Leonard began at Musicradio 77 WABC (AM) under program director Rick Sklar in 1965. He broke the color barrier for all who followed —the first African American to cross over from R&B radio to mass appeal.
Leonard began in the 11 p.m. to midnight slot, and continued working late nights and Sundays at the station until November 27, 1979. He did the 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. shift following “Cousin” Bruce Morrow and later George Michael. He also gladly handled weekend and fill-in work.
Leonard was the voice for American Contemporary Radio's "Sneak Preview,” a late-night show, where he introduced new songs to listeners. He stayed at WABC until 1979, before moving to WXLO and WRKS.
Leonard moved to WXLO in 1979.
Leonard did mornings ("The Wake-up Club”) and afternoons in the 1980s.
Leonard played R&B from 7–11 p.m. He always kept ties with WBLS, working weekends, fill-ins and overnights.
Leonard played popular standards from the American songbook prior to the station flipping to Radio Disney.
WNSW was on the air for only two years (March 22, 1999 to March 1, 2001), offering popular standards.
Leonard did afternoon drive.
For WCBS-FM, Leonard did occasional fill in work, including on Christmas Day. He was heard on the Radio Greats weekends. He did not work full time at WCBS-FM because he was a full time employee for WBLS. CBS-FM welcomed Leonard to fill in any time he could.
Leonard joined SIRIUS Satellite Radio, where he was heard on both the Swing Street and Soul Review channels.
Leonard introduced Stevie Wonder at Radio City Music Hall.
Leonard hosted the The Muppets from Sesame Street at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden.
Leonard hosted Janet Jackson in her first New York concert at Madison Square Garden.
Leonard was the guest ringmaster of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Leonard did advertising voiceovers for Panasonic, Noxzema, Coca-Cola, The Wiz and VIM athletic store, as well as NBC’s Friday Night Videos. Leonard was also heard in Robert Stigwood's movie Times Square.
Leonard participated in WABC AM’s Rewound on Memorial Day, May 28, 2001.
"You can go through life kicking and screaming or laughing and scratching."
Chuck's trademark signoff: "Chuck Leonard, sneeeekin' it to ya!"
"The best that ever did it and got away with it."
"Get the butter and roll me outta here."
"There's one in every crowd, and I'm the one."
"Hey Mom, your son's on the radio"
"Hey Baby!"
"Layin' some heavy music on ya"
Chuck was also a weekly compere at the Roseland Ballroom introducing new club acts in the mid 1980s such as Prince and Madonna.
Leonard was a Golden Gloves boxing champion, and later served in the Vietnam War.
Leonard died on August 12, 2004, in Manhattan, following lung cancer. He was 67. He is survived by his wife, Pam, and two daughters, Kyra and Diana.
Chuck Leonard tributes: