Meet Your 2024 Georgia Radio Legends
• Friends of Georgia Radio recently announced their 2024 Class of Georgia Radio Legends — please welcome Steve Craig, Bobby Ellerbee, Bob Helbush, Brady McGraw, Pete Spriggs, Howard Toole, and Wendy Williams!
• Steve Craig helped build the original 99X/Atlanta, then headed to New York City to launch Classic Alternative 101.9 RXP, returning in 2012 to help guide CMG Classic Rock WSRV (97.1 The River) to a #1 rating for the last decade. When the 99X brand re-launched on 100.5 in 2022, Craig re-joined his former station as Program Director and midday personality. [Ed. note: I was privileged to work with Steve Craig in the early ’80s at the late, legendary KYNO-FM/Fresno alongside an equally legendary airstaff that also included Kidd Kraddick, Sean Demery, and Rick Stacy]. Below, (l-r): Craig, Ellerbee & Helbush
• Bobby Ellerbee was on the air daily for 30 years throughout Georgia, including WZGC (Z93), WKLS (96 Rock), and WVEE (V-103)/Atlanta. He was Creative Services Director for WFOX (FOX 97), and was on-air in Dallas, San Francisco, and Miami. Ellerbee also ran his own creative services agency, “To Be Or Ellerbee,” voicing thousands of national spots and winning numerous awards.
• Bob Helbush has been an active Chief Engineer for many years, most notably at WKLS (96 Rock) during its heyday. He also worked in Washington, DC. Helbush later became the IT Manager for WNNX, then closed out his long career as a member of the engineering team at Cox Media Group.
• Brady McGraw’s 45-year Savannah market career began at legendary Top 40 WSGA, and later, WZAT (Z102), earning him Billboard’s OM/PD of the Year Award in 1988, while Z102 was named Radio Station of the Year. McGraw has been the morning host on WRHQ (Quality Rock Q105.3)/Savannah since February 2001, consistently voted “Savannah’s Best Radio Station” in Connect Savannah Readers Polls year after year.
• Pete Spriggs took over as PD of top-rated WSB Radio/Atlanta in 2000 and served for 19 years as Director of Branding & Programming. Under his leadership, WSB regularly boasted 10+ shares in prime time and dominated the 25-54 demo, a rare feat for News-Talk stations, making it the top-billing radio station in America for four consecutive years. Spriggs retired in 2019, leaving WSB at the top of its game
• Howard Toole began his radio career at WRDW/Augusta, GA, while still in 10th grade, working part-time and filling in during vacations. He went on to work at WALG/Albany and WBBQ/Augusta before transferring to the University of Georgia and working at WRFC/Athens. Toole later worked at WAKY/Louisville, WERC/Birmingham, and WNOE/New Orleans before moving to Atlanta, where he worked in sales and management.
Toole is currently Managing Partner for Rome Radio Partners, LLC, which owns and operates multiple stations in Rome, GA, including WRGA, (5th oldest station in Georgia); WQTU, WROM, WSRM and WGJK.
• Wendy Williams has been the General Manager and visionary leader of WCLK (Jazz 91.9) since 1994 — guiding it to legendary status as one of the nation’s most respected Jazz outlets. In 2022, Williams brought more national attention to Atlanta as Executive Producer of the first-ever Jazz Music Awards (JMA). William’s 36-year broadcasting career spans public and commercial radio and TV, and includes stints at WEAA-FM/Baltimore and WPXI-TV/Pittsburgh. She holds a BA in Communications from Bowling Green State University and an MBA in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University, where she is an Adjunct Professor of Mass Media Arts.
The 3rd Annual Friends of Georgia Radio Celebration and Legends Induction will be held on Saturday, August 24 at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center in Sandy Springs, GA. Tickets are now on sale.
