John Gambling coming back to NYC radio

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John-GamblingThe radio host retired from CCME’s WOR-AM in December, but is returning to the dial on Salem’s cross-town WNYM-AM The Answer on 4/14. He will be heard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, The Answer VP/GM Jerry Crowley told the NY Daily News. We wonder if WOR had also tried to get Gambling on to replace Elliot Segal, who recently left morning drive there.


Gambling left his longtime morning show at WOR-710 AM in December, saying he was ready to retire. While he had called in to his friends at 970 since he left, it surprised many people in radio — including Crowley — that he would return full time.

“I think when he left WOR he really was done,” said Crowley. “He was set to go.”

“They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse to steal a line,” said Gambling. “I heard from so many listeners that they wanted more, I hope they feel that way after April 14th!”

“When John Gambling left New York radio last December there was a void created for quality morning radio in this market, and we decided to fill it,” said Salem VP Director of Spoken Word Format Phil Boyce, who is also the regional VP for the New York market for Salem. “John had worked for me for nine years at WABC. Before and after that he worked for Crowley at WOR. Jerry and I looked at each other and thought this was something we could not pass up.” AM 970 The Answer had already found a new morning program with Joe Piscopo who began January 2nd, and Gambling was available for mid-days.

“It is rare when you have a chance to build a lineup like we are building here at The Answer, and even rarer still when you have a chance to add somebody of John’s integrity and character,” said Crowley. “Every talk radio listener in this market knows and admires John and we are sure he will do well with both listeners and advertisers. This is huge for us,” said Crowley.

Gambling’s Grandfather John B. Gambling started a morning program on WOR in 1925. He was followed by his son John A. Gambling in 1959. He brought his son John R. Gambling to the microphone in 1985 as co-host, and then the solo host starting in 1991. WABC then brought Gambling over in 2000, and he returned to WOR in 2008, where he eventually retired in December of 2013. That retirement ended up being short lived.

Ironically, AM 970 The Answer moved into Manhattan in December, into the space formerly occupied by WOR who moved to the Clear Channel building. So while Gambling will not be on WOR he will be broadcasting from the same studio location as he did before. “There has been a large amount of upheaval in the talk radio world in New York,” said Boyce. “John brings an element of stability and class to our station. And do not even think we are finished… we’re just getting started.”

Gambling’s new show will be “basically solo,” said Crowley, though he will be joined on occasion by executive producer Frank Morano, who is also heard on Piscopo’s show.

Crowley said Gambling will do his show from various locations, depending on the time of year. He spends most the winter in Florida.

See the NY Daily News story here.

 

6 COMMENTS

  1. So happy John is returning to radio!

    Elliott Segal was so awful.

    I’ll be listening on 970!

    Lydia Manley

  2. I am thrilled to hear that John Gambling will be returning to the airwaves. I feel that a long lost relative has returned.

  3. Nobody could be happier than I!!! How I missed this man. God Bless John Gamberling he is one in a million. All good wishes for many, many happy years on the radio. We need you.

  4. I am so happy that John is coming back.i just don’t care for anyone on the radio anymore.thank you john.

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