Remembering Bob Slade
• Our thoughts are with the family, friends, fans and colleagues of 48-year New York radio icon “Big”Bob Slade, creator and host of the venerable Open Line public affairs show on Emmis Urban AC WBLS/New York, who has died after a longtime bout with kidney disease.
RAMP reached out to WBLS PD Skip Dillard, who said of Slade, “Bob was truly one of NYC’s radio legends. A journalist, musicologist, activist and sports enthusiast, Bob brought a love of reading, watching and listening to the masses. We learned so much from his stories and are better off because of his love for the people of New York and New Jersey. We are forever thankful for him.”
The tribute on WBLS.com described Bob Slade as “Husband. Teacher. Mentor. Friend. Bob Slade defined each of those words and more as he dedicated his life to delivering the news — straight up, no chaser.” Fatiyn Muhammad, Executive Producer and co-host of Open Line recalls a conversation with Slade when he described his uniquely intimate on-air style, saying, “I talk the news like I’m having a one-on-one conversation with someone.” That’s Slade (center), bookended by co-host Bob Pickett (left) and former co-host James Mtume (right).
Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Slade (affectionately known as “BBS”) had initially dreamed of becoming an actor. He studied acting at Queens College and was a member of the Negro Ensemble Company and the Harlem YMCA Theater Group. He developed an interest in radio while performing in off-Broadway shows and began his radio career in 1971 — after stints doing news radio on Long Island, Slade moved to New York City as News Director at WRKS (98.7 Kiss-FM)/New York. It was there where he developed Open Line, which grew into one of the most politically and socially conscious talk radio shows in the country. The show migrated over to WBLS in 2012 when WRKS changed format.
“RIP, to my brother, friend, and partner, Bob Slade,” tweeted the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose own radio show also airs on WBLS. “For a quarter of a century we struggled together, you are irreplaceable. Thanks for everything.” Lenny Green, host of the Quiet Storm on WBLS tweeted, “My Heart is ‘HEAVY’ on this day. May he R.I.P & Comfort. My dear Brother will be missed tremendously.”
Jim Ryan, SVP of Programming for Entercom and PD of WNEW/New York, shared his thoughts on Slade, telling RAMP, “I got to know Bob when I was breaking into radio while in high school and he was doing the news at WBLI. There was nobody in our business with more integrity than Bob… I learned a lot about life from him back then.” The New York Daily News also has some nice coverage of Slade’s career. [Photo courtesy of Skip Dillard]
