Charlie Murdock

Charles Murdock was born in Lakeland, Florida, and he moved with his parents, to Miami, when he was 6 months old.

Murdock started his career while at the University of Florida at the school's WRUF, then, after serving in the military and serving as PD and officer in charge for Armed Forces Radio Service stations in Korea, he worked on the air at WRVA in Richmond and WQAM in Miami, beginning in 1957, where he also served as both the program and operations manager. Charlie's skills behind the mic were rewarded when he was named America's DJ of the Year in 1961 by TV-Mirror Magazine.

Charlie is playing records at WQAM in April, 1962. [ LISTEN ]. (9:38), The date is October 22, 1964, the station is WMAQ, and Charlie is the DJ. [ LISTEN ]. (33:09), This scoped aircheck is dated January 14, 1965, and Charlie is still behind the mic at WMAQ. [ LISTEN ]. (33:37)

Charlie's last WQAM survey

June 5, 1965

In the summer of 1965, Morton "Doc" Downey Jr. was on WFUN, directly opposite Murdock on WQAM. Murdock was #1 in the ratings, and Downey was determined to dethrone him, any way he could - so he launched a dirty tricks campaign that would have made Nixon and his gang proud. Downey was fired, and Murdock left WQAM the very same week.

Shortly thereafter Charlie was named FM at WSAI in Cincinnati, and then moved to crosstown WLW as Vice President/General Manager in 1967.

Charlie and the Tiger Mustang in 1965.

In 1976, Murdock's Queen City Communications bought WLW and WSKS, selling the stations in 1983. He later produced television programming airing on ESPN, Lifetime, USA Network and local Cincinnati CBS affiliate WKRC-TV and ABC affiliate WCPO-TV.

Charlie passed away in his home state of Florida on January 16, 2011. He was 78 years old.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: All Access Music Group.