Title
Proclamation recognizing Mr. Craig "Porky" Chedwick for his pioneering efforts in radio broadcasting the "oldies but goodies" and thanking him for bringing joy and happiness to the residents of Allegheny County.
Body
WHEREAS, on July 15, 2006, the Borough of Homestead, County of Allegheny, will honor Mr. Craig “Porky” Chedwick, affectionately known as “The Daddio of the Raddio” at their annual Community Day celebration; and
WHEREAS, on August 1, 1948, Porky, from Homestead, Pennsylvania, became the first Caucasian DJ on the east coast to present an exclusive program of African-American rhythm & blues, jazz and gospel artists. For 53 of his 88 years he has entertained Pittsburgh audiences with his shows of regional and non-traditional oldies; and
WHEREAS, his career began on WHOD AM 860, in a little studio situated behind a Homestead candy store, and “The Porky Chedwick Show” became a fixture on the station. The records aired on WHOD were ones he had collected over the years and had been playing at record hops around Pittsburgh, using a single turntable and a borrowed guitar amp. The songs he played spoke of the problems of poor people and he quickly gained a loyal following; and
WHEREAS, WHOD was sold to Dynamic Broadcasting and the new owners renamed the station WAMO with a country format, except for “The Porky Chedwick Show” where he continued to play what he referred to as his “dusty discs”; and
WHEREAS, in 1965, Esquire Magazine named Porky “Pittsburgh's Favorite DJ” while station sales flyers called him a “legend in his own time” and he remained WAMO's top advertising draw through the end of the decade. WAMO publicly honored Porky for his many years of service but let him go in 1984, thereafter joining WEDO in nearby McKeesport followed by a return to AM 860 with “Porkstock” becoming a yearly part of Pittsburgh summers; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio recognized Porky's sta...
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