It is hard to know exactly how much Bobby O’ Jay’s net worth is. After all, his career has spanned nearly four decades. While he has a large net worth, most of it came from his radio career. He has a large family and has been married several times. In addition, his career in the music industry has given him the chance to perform with many artists.
Bobby O’Jay’s career lasted nearly 40 years
Bobby O’Jay’s career in radio began when he was just 14 years old. He worked with budding radio disc jockey Melvin Jones and soon realized that he wanted to pursue a career in broadcasting. He received formal training at the Institute of Broadcast Arts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From there, he went on to work for radio stations in Montgomery, Alabama, and Flint, Michigan, as well as Chicago and Houston.
O’Jay’s career at WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee, spanned nearly four decades. He became one of the most respected voices in the city, interviewing many famous people and helping the station remain relevant. In 2018, he was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. He joined the likes of Rufus Thomas, Nat D. Williams, and Bev Johnson in the Hall of Fame for their work in radio. O’Jay’s enduring contributions to the city’s radio industry make him a worthy candidate for induction into this prestigious honor.
Bobby O’Jay, the “King of Memphis Radio” during his nearly 40-year-long career at the historic WDIA radio station in Memphis, passed away on May 3. The cause of death is unknown. The late DJ had a long and distinguished career in the radio industry, and was one of the longest-serving radio personalities in the world. He was an iconic personality and was known for his interviews with legendary figures, such as Muhammad Ali and Whitney Houston. He was also known for his candid conversations with politicians and the public.
He earned most of his wealth from his radio career
In the 1970s, O’Jay was an up-and-coming radio DJ. In 1983, he switched stations, moving to the Black-owned WDIA. In the 1980s, he married Sharon, and the two became parents to six children. O’Jay’s wife played an integral part in his success on the air.
O’Jay’s family supported him financially by obtaining a $1,200 loan to attend broadcast school. After finishing the six-month course, he found a job as a disc jockey. The first gig was in Birmingham, but O’Jay was fired after three months. His next job was at a radio station in Milwaukee, where he’d called from high school. He was quickly promoted to program director and hired an experienced executive to help him run the station. His radio career eventually took him across the country with multiple stints in several cities.
O’Jay was born in Batesville, Mississippi, in 1953. He was helped by his cousin Melvin Jones, a rising disc jockey. Jones went on to become an executive for the station, and Bobby O’Jay began his career as a disc jockey in Montgomery, Alabama, at age 19. His career spanned 40 years, and he reached national fame in 2000.
He has children
Bobby O’Jay has six children from his first marriage, including his daughter, Kacey. Bobby is also the father of Joseph, Nicholas, and Joshua. He and his children live in Batesville, Mississippi. He was a familiar voice on the airwaves. The children were born to Bobby and his wife, Sharon.
Bobby O’jay is a famous radio personality. He is considered the “King of Memphis Radio” and was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. He was also nominated for the National Radio Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was honored by iHeartMedia Memphis.
Bobby O’Jay’s radio career was a long and successful one. He spent nearly four decades at WDIA, starting at the station as a morning show host. His steady presence on the air made the historic station more relevant. On Tuesday, O’Jay was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, joining other legends such as Rufus Thomas and Nat D. Williams. The radio star was proud of his longevity in an industry that has changed rapidly over the years.
He has performed with a wide variety of artists
A singer who has worked with a wide variety of artists, Bobby O’Jay has had a successful career spanning over four decades. He was born in 1942 in Bessemer, Alabama, and moved to Canton, Ohio, when he was eight years old. He began his musical career in gospel as a duo with childhood friend Walter Williams. Together they formed the group The Triumphs and eventually signed with Syd Nathan’s King Records.
In 2005, Bobby O’jay was inducted into the Hard Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland and received a BET Lifetime Achievement Award. During his career, Bobby performed with a wide variety of artists, from Ray Charles to Stevie Wonder. The singer has also appeared in several movies, including 2003’s “Fighting Temptations” with Beyonce. He regrets not appearing in more films.
Despite being a radio personality, Bobby O’Jay did not do interviews very often. He spent most of his time on the airwaves of WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee. From there, he went on to interview Muhammad Ali and Whitney Houston. In his later years, he returned to WDIA to serve as program director. In recent years, he was also honored by the Living Legends Foundation and iHeartMedia Memphis.