Original Jock:  Joel Cash  —  Mid-days  —  March, 1967 to 1974

Joel first flexed his golden pipes at WKAT/1360 in Miami Beach.  After WKAT, it was up the coast to what was then WIRK/1290, a top 40 station in West Palm Beach.  After two years in the Army, he joined the "Big D" jocks at WDRC in Hartford in 1961. After WDRC, Joel filled the important afternoon drive shift at Hartford's WPOP. After WPOP, Joel was named music director and afternoon personality at WDEE, a daytime station on 1500 kHz in Hamden, CT.  Then, it was off to Boston where he worked at WCOP, WRKO, WBZ and WMEX.  Finally moving south again, he worked at WFTL/1400 in Fort Lauderdale, with the station's then-MoR format.  Today, Joel is very successful in his own non-broadcast-related business, located in South Florida.

The passage of time hasn't affected Joel very much at all.  When he took me to lunch in 1999, the very first thing I noticed was his warm smile, complemented by his equally warm, deep voice.  His voice seems to have been frozen in time...from the days when his live commercials won awards.
Joel Cash in 1968

From a 1968 WRKO publicity photo

"First let me say that being the first jock hired by WRKO, I think, was an exciting time of my life.  I really didn't  have any idea of what the magnitude of this radio station and its impact on the market would be, but  It was a job and a good one, After a month or so of hearing the reaction from listeners and other people in the business, I realized that I had landed the big one of my career.

It was fun and looked forward to going to work each day.  But as with any employment, it had its problems and it was a job.  People think being on the radio is always a glamorous position, but it has its ups and downs just like anything else. I will say there were more ups than downs in the first five or six years, but when new program directors came in, they always had different ideas and it was change again.  I went through 7 PD's, I believe."
Joel cash in 1998-9

Teeing off in 1999

"I have been asked what my favorite song was, but there really wasn't any that sticks out in my mind.  Having been there so long, I played a lot of different songs and it would be difficult to pick one.  I did like the 60's music. Unlike many of the jocks, when I went home, I didn't listen to rock 'n roll. Never really took the job home with me.   I found there were other things to talk about besides radio when I was with friends.  As a matter of fact, I probably never talked about radio with friends who were outside the business and seldom did I discuss it if  I wasn't in the broadcasting  atmosphere. Some of the people in the business couldn't talk about anything else."

"I was never really impressed with a lot of other talent.  One of the names that sticks out in my mind is Bruce Bradley (of WBZ).  I liked his style and delivery. Always thought he was smooooth.  Everyone has his own style and feels comfortable with it and that's why they do it.  Everyone has has his own tastes and either you like someone on the air or not.  One of the things that bothered me was a program director trying to change you to what he liked or his style, when it didn't fit your personality.  Then it sounded trite and forced....I've heard some of those tapes of me and don't like them..It always amazed me that one station could hire you because they liked what they heard, but when you got there, they tried to change you.  Why hire you in the first place?"

"Before WRKO, I did the morning show for WCOP.   Used to have fun with that and the ratings showed it.  I was at WBZ for a summer doing the all night show and hated the hours....I don't know how Dick Summer handled it for so many years."

"While in Connecticut (before WCOP), I worked with Dick Fatherley, a news man at a station in Hamden (the former WDEE/1500).  In my opinion, he is probably one of the best commercial announcers of all time.  His presentation of a commercial, I believe, is unsurpassed. He should be doing some network announcing."

"There are so many stories to tell.  I've met a lot of people, including celebrities, and I really enjoyed what I did.  I sometimes wonder if I should have pursued it, but I did get involved with a station to see if I still liked it and I did, but I don't think I could do it full time.  I think I enjoyed it, because my well-being wasn't dependent on it.   Over the past year I have received mail from some listeners and established a friendship with others.  If you would like to write, send your e-mail to this Website and he will forward it to me.  I will answer you personally."

"Thanks for listening and I hope this site brings back some good memories for all of you." (Joel Cash)

 

While you're enjoying the airchecks, check out the Joel Cash photo collection!