Remembering Gary Stevens
• Gary Stevens, a pioneering force in the radio industry, whose lengthy career spanned from “WMCA Good Guy” to station management to media broker, died Feb. 17 in Delray Beach, FL, at the age of 84.
According to a lengthy remembrance posted by his daughter, Kris Sexton, Stevens was born April 5, 1940, in Buffalo, NY, and launched his radio career in 1959 at WWOW/Conneaut, OH, while on break from the University of Miami. While in sunny South Florida, Stevens also worked at 610 WCKR, 1260 WAME (“Whammy in Miami”), and WFUN 79. In 1961, Stevens joined WIL/St. Louis before making a name for himself at the legendary WKNR (Keener 13)/Detroit two years later.
Stevens became a household name in April 1965 when he joined the iconic WMCA/New York as one of the “Good Guys,” the station’s beloved group of high profile on-air personalities, hosting a weeknight show from 7-11pm.
In September 1968, Stevens hung up his headphones and relocated to Switzerland and London, where he launched a company selling American TV programs to broadcasters across Europe and the Middle East. After starting a family abroad, Stevens returned to the U.S. in 1971 when Nelson Doubleday Jr. recruited him to manage KRIZ/Phoenix. In 1975, he moved to Minneapolis to oversee KDWB 63 AM and played a pivotal role in acquiring its FM counterpart at 101.3, creating one of the first-ever simulcasts across both bands. He later served as President of Doubleday Broadcasting from 1977 to 1985, overseeing a portfolio that included the legendary WLLZ/Detroit, KWK/St. Louis, KPKE/Denver, WAVA/Washington, DC, and WAPP & WHN/New York.
When Doubleday sold off its broadcast assets in 1986, Stevens transitioned into media investment banking as Associate Managing Director at Wertheim Schroeder & Co., Inc., where he brokered major radio transactions. Stevens later branched out on his own as President & CEO of Gary Stevens & Co., specializing in radio station investments. He also served on the boards of the NAB, RAB, the MRC, and Saga Communications.
Stevens is survived by his wife, Frankie; his children, Kristin (Stevens) Sexton, Christopher Stevens, and Victoria (Stevens) Chapman; and his grandchildren, Georgina and David Chapman III.
• Special thanks to “Radio’s Best Friend,” Art Vuolo, who has come through — yet again — by sharing key excerpts from his extensive video and audio archives. This link is to a vintage WMCA profile from NYU’s film department that aired on WNET/New York in 1967. Art took the extra effort to superimpose jock IDs and insert an opening slate (in color).
Art also included this bonus aircheck he recorded in 1964 of Stevens doing afternoon drive on the legendary WKNR (Keener 13)/Detroit.
