DON IMUS

Don Imus brought irreverence to radio. His Imus in the Morning radio show on WFAN/New York and in syndication is a blend of cultural satire, personal insults and ribald humor. Behind his on-air acid personality is a man dedicated to helping youngsters through extensive charity work.

Imus was born in Riverside, California, and began in radio as a disc jockey at small stations in his home state. His brazen humor and penchant for on-air gags got him fired on at least one occasion, and perhaps a lot more.

However, at KXOA/Sacramento, his pranks, such as calling up a restaurant and ordering 1,200 hamburgers to go, made his show immensely popular and raised ratings. In 1970, at WGAR/Cleveland, his program was also a ratings winner.

In 1971, Imus began broadcasting on WNBC/New York and while there, he gained national recognition. The format was a mixture of rock and roll records, coarse jokes, and banter with listeners. By the late 1980s, Imus moved away from playing music and concentrated on discussing current events.

In addition to national radio syndication, Imus is seen mornings on MSNBC.

Don Imus was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.

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