He is best known as the morning drive anchor of radio station KVIL, on the 103.7 frequency. From 1965 to 1968, Chapman hosted a television dance show for teens called "Sump'N Else." In 1969, he moved to KVIL, where he spent 32 years. An announcement in this newspaper heralded his arrival, along with the promise that KVIL would play music that was "always in good taste, but contemporary in all ways" -- a rather unwieldy slogan. Ron Chapman's legendary $20 announcement from March, 1988. According to Tony Garrett. I have the same type of personality, just not as much discipline. No sexism, period. And yet, he would never ask me to be one of the [featured] dancers. Between his junior and senior years, he interned at The Washington Post during "the Watergate summer" of 1973. KVIL TIDBITS: Ron Chapman's radio show was simulcast live with video on KXAS-TV as a 30-minute daily program (mid-1970s.). Then it became Jane Fonda for a while. Charlie Brown), playing records and providing character voices as stars of the popular Charlie and Harrigan Show. He graduated from Samuell High School in Pleasant Grove in 1970 and from Southern Methodist University in 1974. My wife made me admit it publicly: yeah. Be sure to wear a hat. the magic morning man takes a deep breath, raises his index finger before his eyes, and does what Ron Chapman does best: KAY he breathes, low and confiding, in a voice that mirrors the softest, kindest, deepest, afterglow moments of romantic love. We dont do that here. And because he spanned KLIF and "Sump'n Else" to KVIL -- he WAS the history of Dallas radio . But Im serious when I tell you that I learned a great deal from it. But off-mike, in what employees call his little Come to Jesus talks, that mouth can get hot enough to melt pig iron. A ratings war is brewing between two oldies stations, and a controversial gadget might decide who wins. When he started hosting SumpN Else, I was a kid, and we loved to dance, and I would go over there to dance. In 1989, KVIL reigned supreme for three consecutive quarters, reaching 10.5 ratings points in the July Arbitrons, 3.1 points ahead of runner-up KSCS. On the mike, butter wouldnt melt in his mouth. I prayed for her to have a lot of success, and I prayed that she get a wonderful starring part-and stay in New York forever.. When Ron met Nance twenty years ago at a charity telethon, he was immediately struck by her good looks, he says, recalling that he trotted out a bunch of glib compliments before saying, By the way, Im Ron Chapman. Her reply: Oh. So why should you go on the air and tell people who love living here that the town is a piece of crap? But they werent really buying the station. By now, everyone knows the story about how, in 1988, Chapman asked his KVIL listeners to send in $20 each, without ever saying why, and took in $240,000. He claims more listeners than any DJ in Texas. The things that attracted Marilyn to me in the first place were the things that drove her crazythe drive, the ambition, the living in the eye of the tiger eventually drove her crazy. To this day I still get the shakes whenever I hear Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now," Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line"and anything by Anne Murray or Barry Manilow. And we stayed in touch over the years. "And that means something," Mike Rhyner said Thursday morning. Because of my vast admiration and liking for this protean man, I was shocked beyond dismay when he publicly stated that inviting me to roast him was the worst mistake hed ever made. Legendary radio host Ron Chapman has passed away. In 1959, as "Irving Harrigan" he joined the staff KLIF/Dallas, where he teamed up with Jack Woods (a.k.a. One infamous incident occurred during last years gala for the National Craniofacial Foundation. For all time, at the moment, 2023 year, Ron Chapman earned $73 Million. He also hosted a televised series from Northpark Center in the 1960's for a three-year stint. The following obituaries have been provided by local funeral homes. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. After working for two years with the Voice of the United Nations Command in Korea , Chapman moved to Connecticut and station WHNC/New Haven. But suppose, suddenly, a rogue meteorite comes falling out of the sky and mashes him into a puddle at the corner of Mockingbird and Central? There is no way that Vince Lombardi could coach football in todays world. Consultants studied and copied KVIL, launching dozens of lite-rock imitations across the country. He always has some grand scheme bubbling up to the surface, she says, and hes always looking for some way to convince the rest of us that its a good idea. Theyre gone. Ron was a longtime morning host at our sister station KVIL 103.7, where he worked with KRLD's Mitch Carr. Suite 2100 The maddest he ever got at me were those times that I delivered less than the best. The program, based on "American Bandstand . Ron Chapman, a Dallas - Fort Worth radio legend, has died at the age of 85, according to CBS 11 KTVT in DFW. I froze. Honestly, I thought everyone knew that hed started out in radio with a program called Tips for Teenagers.. A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. Theyre over. Chapman targeted that audience for several reasons, and he lists them the way he says almost everything, with unflappable confidence: a) they are the purse strings; b) there are a lot of them; c) they tend to be very faithful and build an allegiance; and d) they were underserved in this market, and nobody was paying them any respect. From Haverhill, Mass (also Ed McMahon's first rad - 2 years ago. He was No. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Mess with Ron and I might become an ape in heat and jump all over you. In a 1985 issue ofBillboard, the music industry's trade publication, a radio consultant called it "dominant" -- "the best-run radio station in Dallas" among a pile of worthy contenders, including K104. There was some serious speculation for a while in Haverhill about the Ghost Tuba Player. And I want you to know that Leonard jerked the plug out from the wall. Net Worth Inspector Menu. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News; . 1 radio show . According tohia bio posted at the Radio HOF website, Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. The feature says Chapman and his wife, Nance, had met at a charity telethon in the late sixties and spent decades as platonic friends before both parties . Then ten to midnight. But his desire was for you to get the best out of yourself. I now think about retiring. At the end of this, the sergeant looked at Ron and said, What is your job. But her memories of her tenure at the station are not pleasant. And we walked around the corner and stopped. I hear it., I said, Yes. Nevertheless, she also has to be in between her late '70s and early '80s. Chapman invited him to come watch the show at some point. Chapman is a perfectionist in every way, Nance says. Homepage; Contact US; About US; Ron Chapman Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight. Even after he retired, he would call and ask for help, and I was always happy to do it. A man in the hotel found his passport and rushed it to the airport. Hollywood actress Morgan Fairchild first met the radio maestro when she was a student at Lake Highlands High School. *To hear some classic clips of Chapman from the old KLIF days, go to www.reelradio.com/se and www.historyofklif.com. And Id walk a mile for an impression., Part of the magic of KVIL is that it is positive and upbeat, even when its poking fun at the news, the politicians, or the Cowboys. He loved kids and teenagers and music and all that was happening in the 60s, which was a lot. Chapman is not just guessing at what his audience wants to hear He is downright methodical about it. He was so popular in Dallas in the 70s, 80s and 90s that his station, KVIL, sold for more than the Dallas Cowboys. The late Ron Chapman, who died April 26, 2021 at the age of 85, as seen in 2014. And it suddenly became a craze. Read our daily updates at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., and our complete obituaries in The Herald-Dispatch on Wednesday and (To Everything There Is a Season) by the Byrds. Garrett remembers Chapmans blowing up at him for reading the same filler story at several news slots. The Emperor is in his tower, conjuring, working on the exact wording and inflection of the incantation that will once again secure his seemingly unending supremacy. Nance (pronounced Nancy), Chapmans wife of three years, is the centerpiece of the home tour. Ron Chapman Obituary KVIL - Death : DFW Radio Legend Died: Funeral - KVIL and DFW Radio legend, Ron Chapman died aged 85, on April, 26th, 2021, with loved ones left in total devastation. A very happy one. There was dead air for, like, 10 seconds. Its a small industry. He served with the Army in South Korea from 1957 to 1959, producing a radio show for Voice of the United Nations Command. "It's a shame it's gone, but KVIL had a great history," he said. And this is, like, in the 80s. Other than that, Im real comfortable.. It gives him this ability to do separate things simultaneouslyto be charming and light and breezy and set up the next little joke-and yet never lose clear, cold-blooded sight of the target audience. Ron Chapman was born on 25 January 1936 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA. He brought, what is known in the industry as the "adult contemporary" format to FM. His talent rose above us all. Hes like the man who juggles chain saws while singing Verdi. Like a handful of other stations in town, at least until they all change formats again. RIP Ron Chapman. I dodged flying reels of tape more than once., Later, Dean said, Im sure Ron regretted a great deal of it. anyway? And Ron said, Why, I am in charge of the talent show, of which there wasnt one at the time. Warm and fuzzy was the game plan from the very beginning. So settle down with one of these throws. For full obituary please visit. And its also a public service if you use it right.. "And when he left, that was it.". If Chapman knows just what to say on the air, he also knows what not to blurt out: no jokes that have females as the butt. He was one of the greatest radio people to ever sit behind the mic. He had this real, real long tongue, and it could get into the bottle. I swear to you. Chapman was involved at the time with a woman in New York, an aspiring actress. Chapman, fifty-three, fell over laughing. But KVIL, four letters that decorated 100,000 Dallasites' car bumpers during one notable 1982 promotion,shouldn't be allowed to vanish without a proper eulogy. Though nobodyrepeat, nobodywants to take on Ron Chapman in public (even his roast at the Dallas Press Club last year was a three-hour valentine), friends and foes alike admit to a powerful fear of the man. Hes the sports anchor on ABC Channel 8. It almost looked like a squirrel. Would Stevie Wonder object if we took it out? A computerized Young Chang Grand Piano is playing Gershwin via floppy disk over near the bar. The guiding light in my life, my operational phrase, was: Ill show em. It wasnt angry. Turn! Chapman says he and Nancy were in excellent health at that point but age was a factor for him wanting to retire. Everybody bring your water. The obituary was featured in Dallas Morning News on May 16, 2021. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He remained at KVIL-FM for 32 years, serving as program . Dallas, Texas 75201. The organization said no service will be held for Chapman, but a public gathering of friends and colleagues is planned. So I went by my hairdressers, who lived in Oak Cliff. The station is branded as "Alt 103.7" and airs an alternative rock radio format. He was the Dean of Dallas/Fort Worth Radio spending 31 years hosting the morning show at KVIL, most of those in the number one position. He likes to say he lost two-thirds of his voice then, but every so often you can hear peeks and hints of that booming voice that used to wake up Dallas every weekday morning. Ron would fairly often show up while I was on the air to go in a studio and record a promo that might run overnight, only to plug something that was going to be on his show. He was an actor, known for Dallas Cowboys . We had several meetings in which we hoped to gain her attention about things we didnt feel were happening correctly on the nighttime show.