Johnny Donovan
Encyclopedia
Johnny Donovan is an American radio announcer and producer at New York
's WABC (AM)
.
He grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, nicknamed "Sarge," after his father's former rank in the United States Army
. A radio enthusiast from an early age (with an amateur radio
station K2KOQ in a corner of the basement), he became a DJ ("Large Sarge") on WHVW in nearby Hyde Park
, after helping build the station. He went on to stations in Kingston
(WBAZ) and Binghamton
(WENE), New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey
(WMID) before landing in New York, first at WOR-FM, and finally at WABC ("The Holy Grail"), where he followed Dan Ingram
on the air.
Donovan stayed on as production director/announcer when WABC changed to a talk format
in 1982. He is still heard internationally as the "voice" of Rush Limbaugh
's syndicated show, for which WABC has been the flagship station since 1988.
With the assistance of Peter Kanze, Rob Frankel and Allan Sniffen, he produced the annual, now defunct, WABC Rewound program each Memorial Day
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's WABC (AM)
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
.
He grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, nicknamed "Sarge," after his father's former rank in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. A radio enthusiast from an early age (with an amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
station K2KOQ in a corner of the basement), he became a DJ ("Large Sarge") on WHVW in nearby Hyde Park
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
, after helping build the station. He went on to stations in Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
(WBAZ) and Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
(WENE), New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
(WMID) before landing in New York, first at WOR-FM, and finally at WABC ("The Holy Grail"), where he followed Dan Ingram
Dan Ingram
Daniel Trombley "Dan" Ingram is an American Top 40 radio disc jockey with a forty-year career on radio stations such as WABC and WCBS-FM in New York...
on the air.
Donovan stayed on as production director/announcer when WABC changed to a talk format
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
in 1982. He is still heard internationally as the "voice" of Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
's syndicated show, for which WABC has been the flagship station since 1988.
With the assistance of Peter Kanze, Rob Frankel and Allan Sniffen, he produced the annual, now defunct, WABC Rewound program each Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
.
Quotes
- "And now, from sunny south FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, it's Open Line Friday." (previously: "Live from the EIBExcellence in Broadcasting"Excellence in Broadcasting" is the second episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on October 3, 2010...
southern command in sunny south FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, via New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, it's Open Line Friday.") - "And now back to America's most influential talk radio host, Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
." - "When they say talk radio, they really mean Rush, on the EIB Network. 77 WABC"
- "You're listening to the EIB Network."
- "Know Rush and you know the truth."
- "Reverberating nationwide — Rush on the EIB Network."
- "America's anchorman! Rush on the EIB Network."
- "The center of the radio universe — Rush on the EIB Network."
- "Now back to Jason LewisJason Lewis (radio host)Jason Lewis is an American radio talk show host and political commentator. His show is currently syndicated nationally on the Genesis Communications Network. His radio show was previously broadcast locally for 10 years on KSTP in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, until Lewis...
on The Rush Limbaugh Program." - "The man who runs America! Rush on the EIB Network."
- "Resistance is futile. Rush on the EIB Network."
- "Voted the number one talk radio personality of all time — Rush on the EIB Network."
- "America's most listened-to talk radio host — Rush Limbaugh! — on the EIB Network."
- "Broadcasting from high atop the WABC broadcast center, overlooking Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in midtown ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, this is New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's most listened-to talk radio host: Rush Limbaugh!" - "For your convenience, broadcasting almost exclusively 100% in English, with a little Spanish lingo. Rush on the EIB Network."
- "Satisfaction guaranteed, or the next hour is free. Rush on the EIB Network."
- "Live from the Left Coast at our satellite studios in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, it's Open Line Friday." (used when the show is broadcast from Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, notably including a Family GuyFamily GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
function in 2010)
External links
- WABC Rewound — pictures of Donovan and his usual studio