Clarke Ingram Signs Off
• We were deeply saddened this weekend to learn of the passing of legendary programmer and air personality Clarke Ingram, whose storied career had taken him to WBZZ (B94) and WJJJ/Pittsburgh, KZZP/Phoenix, KRQ/Tucson, and WPXY/Rochester, to name a few, died Saturday, Nov. 25 at the age of 66. Ingram had been battling a myriad of health issues over the past decade, including a host of complications from his ongoing battle with diabetes, which hastened his retirement from a fulltime role his beloved profession in 2011. He did return briefly as a consultant from 2013-2016. Ingram’s later years were spent primarily devoted to his longtime passion for preserving television history, as he was a recognized expert in the vintage Dumont Television Network.
Ingram also programmed WHXT (Hot 99.9)/Allentown, PA and demonstrated his impressive on-air skills at Top 40 powerhouses Z100/New York and the former WEGX (Eagle 106)/Philadelphia. Always known as a man who could never get too much radio, in June 2004 Ingram was named host of the Friday Boogie Nightsshow on Oldies WWSW (3WS)/Pittsburgh. During that same period, Ingram was also plying his trade at two suburban Pittsburgh AM outlets: 5500-watt WKHB 620, licensed to Irwin, and daytimer WKFB 770, licensed to Jeannette. “I always wanted to be an AM Top 40 boss jock,” Ingram told RAMP at the time. “Now I am.”
Legendary programmer and consultant Guy Zapoleon, who worked with Ingram and many other radio notables at KZZP/Phoenix back in the day, posted this heartfelt tribute to Facebook: “Clarke Ingram was an amazing radio programmer and air personality who spent every waking moment loving radio and he was our beloved friend. I don’t think he ever realized how much people appreciated his air work. We had some great great talent at KZZP, but Bruce Kelly, Gene Baxter and I all agreed he was the very best air personality we had, just incredible. I sure wish he could have been on our KZZP tribute Zoom call we did — he would have realized how much we loved him. R.I.P. Clarke. We loved you!”
Clarke’s many other friends and former colleagues have been rapidly filling his Facebook feed with their fond remembrances. Feel free to join them.
