PHILADELPHIA — After more than 48 years on the air, the man who brought the “Morning Zoo” to the Delaware Valley and who has been ensconced at Beasley Media Group-owned WMGK-FM 102.9 for the past 21 years said his final goodbyes to his morning show audience on Friday.
With that farewell, John DeBella entered retirement, with Beasley Chief Executive Officer Caroline Beasley present to congratulate him on his career.
To commemorate his final month on the air, the station ran a special tribute segment to celebrate DeBella’s legendary career entitled “41 & Done!”, where DeBella recounted some of his favorite stories on the air. He’s been on the air in Philadelphia since 1982.
As part of its remembrance of DeBella, WMGK aired old live performances from the WMMR Morning Zoo broadcasts in Atlantic City he led decades ago, and clips from the yearly shows the legendary personality would do in London. He also read a few tear-jerking emails from longtime listeners.
In addition, numerous artists and comedians, including the Who’s Pete Townshend, E Street Band Guitarist Steven Van Zandt, Joan Jett, Graham Nash, the Eagles’ Don Felder, James Young of STYX, YES’ Lead Singer Rick Wakeman, and Carl Palmer from Emerson, Lake and Palmer were featured in recorded goodbye and thank you messages to DeBella in the “41 & Done!” flashback segments.
The public got to say their farewells, too. On June 21 WMGK hosted a special party with listeners at Parx Casino, where fans could have a photo taken, hang out and chat with DeBella one last time. In addition, on Monday another Philadelphia rock radio icon, WMMR middayer Pierre Robert, spent the entire 8am hour of DeBella’s show recounting old stories with him from their time together on the air at WMMR, now a sibling.
DeBella first gained popularity at WMMR, where he hosted the morning show from 1982 to 1993; Howard Stern’s arrival on the former WYSP gave DeBella serious competition. Today, DeBella is hanging up his headphones while Stern has been absent from terrestrial radio for some 17 years.
In addition to his daily on-air work in Philadelphia, DeBella created comedy for The National Lampoon Radio Hour, the syndicated radio program that starred John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and many others. He also heads Husky Productions, a local TV production company.
In June 2023, DeBella was named among the finalists for the National Radio Hall of Fame and was officially inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame this past April.
“Being on air 48 years in a business where someone else usually decides your retirement date, I was happy to decide this on my own,” said DeBella. “I have been blessed over the years with so many talented coworkers and managers- all of whom helped me be my best and had my back when I needed it. Combine that with a very supportive audience, I leave grateful to them all.”
Beasley Media Group Vice President of Talent Development and station Program Director Bill Weston said, “John’s desire to win and his efforts in prepping each and every show have never diminished. DeBella is just one of a kind and I’ve been fortunate to be his PD.”
Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase added, “In typical John DeBella style, he’s leaving on a high. He spent his last few shows raising hundreds of thousands for Veterans, gets a nomination for the National Radio Hall of Fame and maintains top ratings in the Philadelphia market. Congratulations John, you will be missed by everyone here at Beasley!”
