Miami Icon Rick Shaw Signs Off
We’ve lost another one — Miami radio legend Rick Shaw, whose unique voice and personality graced the airwaves of WCKR (later WIOD), WQAM, WAXY and WMXJ (Magic 102.7) for 47 years, died Friday, September 22 at the age of 78, just over a decade after the red light went off for the final time and he retired.
Shaw, whose given name was James Hummel, worked in St. Louis, Omaha and Denver before arriving in Miami in 1960, and a legend was born… along with a new name — market vet Joe Johnson, who spent nearly 15 years working with Shaw recalls that when James Hummel first came to Miami, his new boss told him, “From now on you’re Rick Shaw.” That’s Shaw (pictured), circa 1964, around the time he became the first jock in Miami to play The Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Johnson, who now hosts The Morning Edition on WLRN and the syndicated Beatle Brunch, said of his longtime friend, “What you heard on the radio, the warmth, the love, and the sincerity, and the emotion, that was him in reality.”
Many of Shaw’s former colleagues expressed their warm sentiments about him, like longtime Magic personality Mindy Lang, who posted on her Facebook page, “It’s not very often you meet a legend in your lifetime. It’s so special when that legend turns out to be one of the nicest people on the planet.” Ellen Jaffe of WFEZ (Easy 93.1), worked with Shaw at WAXY from 1979 to 1990. She said, “He saw the magic of radio; he recognized it before most people did and understood the impact that it could have when it was done properly,” said “He really believed that you could pretty much reach through the radio dial and touch people, and because he believed it, that’s what he did.”
Then, in 2006, midway through his show on Magic 102.7, Shaw surprised his listeners by announcing his impending retirement. His final broadcast on Magic 102.7 was on May 11, 2007. He signed off with the song he had closed every show with — the 1959 Ray Peterson classic, “Goodnight My Love.”
“Rick was a true pro and a Miami icon,” said consultant Bob Hamilton, who worked with Shaw at RKO in his capacity as National Music Director, and in 1999 was named PD of Magic 102.7. That’s Hamilton, left, with Dick Clark, Shaw and Magic 102.7 Promotions Director Joe Nicholas at Shaw’s retirement party.
Hamilton continued, “He could not go anywhere without someone approaching him. He was a true talent, a PD’s dream to work with and a superb human being. He raised thousands of dollars for the Magic Children’s Fund dealing with many causes… I will miss my friend.” Shaw leaves behind two sons — Rick and Sean.
• The Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel have excellent coverage of Shaw’s storied South Florida career.
