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Much has been written about Giant Gene Arnold in biographies such as the Wikopedia Encyclopedia, The Disco Hall Of Fame, and The Philly Radio and TV Hall Of Fame.
Gene has been heard or seen on Philadelphia Radio/TV Stations: WIFI-FM 92.5, WEEZ-AM, 1420, WCAM-AM 1310, WCAU-AM-1210,WIBG-AM-99, WZZD-AM,1000 WPEN-950AM-(Hosting PCTalk-Fred Sherman Show) WTAF-TV-29, WPHL-TV-17. Syndicated Programs: Gene Arnold's Superstar Concerts, Gene Arnold's American Scene(CBS)"The History Of Disco" Series
Gene Arnold was first partnered with Ron Joseph, on WIFI-FM 92.5 in 1968(now WXTU Country). One day Gene forgot his record-case and "accidently" discovered progressive rock by finding a pile of records on the station floor that "nobody wanted to steal, so they sat there). He began playing them nand the 'phones went wild. After that show, he and RJ were at odds over the music each liked, and the pair split the show into RJ's "oldies" nights and the beginnings of Gene's "Progressive Rock Scene..Giant Step..
Gene Arnold's AM Underground"" "Dance" (equaled soul" then) music was about the only type they agreed that they both loved. Dance music as such grew into "Disco" by 1972,(with the area's first appearance of Gloria Gaynor singing "Honeybee" on our dance TV show, and both of their efforts helped pioneer that genre of music.
RJ opened the area's first actual "Disco" at 40th and Market on the U of P Campus, and both appeared there regurlaly, with Gene later becoming a huge force at D'Scene, a 3,000 person dance club with a city-block long lit floor and a sound system to rock it.A live drummer was an added feature that really drove the dance crowd to a further frenzy. To this day, Gene say's the only time he was happy is when his crowd left "so sweaty, nothing could dry them off." Those comments are part of the "Experience Music",exhibit, A Decade Of Saturday Nights" at the New York Public Library from February through May of 2005.
Gene originally created "Gene Arnold's AM Underground" launching..the birth of Progressive Rock's actual popularity in the Philadelphia area. Gene hosted and MC'd the first English Rockers to visit the area in 1966, when he brought the "Blues Magoos" in to play live at one of his "Be-In" style teen dance-concerts at Jardel Rec Center.The girls tore them apart, and the boys tried to beat up the handsome, long-haired singers from Liverpool.
Gene has also MC'd major concerts with superstars like the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, Bloodrock, Stevie Wonder, Steppenwolf, Frank Zappa and The Mothers, Cat Stevens,The Byrds, and hundreds of rock, pop and disco shows and dances in the Philly area, as well as on college campuses and at clubs throughout the region.
"GIANT GENE'S ELECTRIC MACHINE" WIBG,990 AM, PHILADELPHIA
Sunday Afternoon Hard Rock In The City..From CCR to Hendrix, to the American Premiere of "Jesus Christ Superstar" direct from England, this show had it all on AM in Sunday afternoon drive. The "top40" dee-jays at the station hated it, AND the 12,000 names on a huge petition Giant Gene fans sent the station saying "WE LOVE GIANT GENE ON WIBG". You can figure out the rest of the story.....(not a pretty ending!)
"GENE ARNOLD'S AMERICAN SCENE" WCAU-1210 AM
A 4 hour nightly talk show in which Gene's unique abilities to attract younger listeners (and their parents) along with major rock and entertainment superstars made this show a big hit coast to coast. Gene was fired for helping create "Earth Day" in April of 1970, and driving a "propane" car that was pollution free to the event on Philly's Belmont Plateau, telling his listeners they could see the car there. Uh..oh..
the BIG WIGS didn't like that, or his asking about "Air America" at a time when listeners wanted to know what it was.
Now, Gene does his "talking" on WPEN on sitting in with Rich Levin on "PC TALK" or hosting for The legendary Fred Sherman with Steve and Terry on WPEN-SPORTS 950 when Fred is on one of his many worldwide trips. He's also heard as a frequent guest on the IRV HOMER show heard worldwide at www.wbcb1490.com at 1 PM weekdays, in addition to Gene's educational and historic "Sounds Of Philly" musical broadcasts taken from his historic 1970's programs, digitized by Rich Levin, Bob Davis,or Dave Skalish and updated with new info on what's happening with your favorite Philly stars of the past.
WZZD-"WIZZARD 100" Gene Arnold's "Home station" for his nationally syndicated Gene Arnold's Superstar Concerts" and "History Of Disco" series. THe old WIBG now was WZZD, and the signal reached the dance crowd all across Delaware and Lehigh Valeey's and The New Jersey shore. Lot's of fun, and "history" making programs emerged from that series, although one certainly did not know the interest would remain so strong 25 years later, and earn him a coveted spot in "The Disco DJ Hall Of Fame", now hosted by The Library Of Congress. Gene was recently voted the "Number 25 Top Disco DJ" in a poll taken by Europe's leading Music and DJ Magazine, DJ Portal. What a great honor. Thank you all.
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Rockin' At The Carousel..Gene Hosts The BIGGEST stars LIVE on
WIFI-92.5 FM from Philly's Famed Hunting Park Carousel, with
thousands of teens and young adults city-wide in weekly attendance. Selected by the City Of Philadelphia to host the shows, all part of "Giant Gene's Summerscene" concerts. Gangs were considered a huge problem at the time by the City Recreation Department, and Gene volunteered to bring in Supestars, let the kids dance, and have a great time in general. Gene and Terry solved the "gang" problem by having the girlfriends of different gang leaders on-stage to "babysit" their son Jody, and new baby Frank. It was the MOST fun possible for us, and the kids. Gene and Terry also wrote and produced an audio/visual show for the City's Tourism department.
"WILDWOOD DAYS....AND NIGHTS" WCMC-FM, WILDWOOD, NJ
Many of the biggest names in Rock came to hang with Gene and
Terry (his wife) at the station, take calls from listeners,
and even play live on the air in this late night fun capital
of the sea. Gene's shows also eminated live from the Diamond Beach Club, with stars like Vanilla Fudge and Iron Butterfly.
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The picture above shows Gene in the outfit he wore to introduce Jim Morrison and The Doors. Many of the newly emerging "hippie" fashion shops made him special outfits to wear on-stage from 1968 through 1980.
Giant Gene and RJ (Ron Joseph) created the Number One FM Sound in the city, with dances and record hops everywhere. They also hired one of the most popular dancers on the "Ed Hurst Steel Pier" TV show, Bob Nixon, to dance with the girls at our hops. They loved it. RJ is still playing "Darling Forever" by the Marvelletes to close every show heard all across the country in syndication, and live on Friday nights at 7 PM in the Delaware Valley on 92.1 FM where his "suaree" never ends. It's a great blend of Disco, oldies, and all the music you love.
Being "true radio and TV personalities" and "individualists" never earned either Gene or RJ points with area program directors, especially when "control" of the formats became so vital to them under the "Drake-Chenault" and "Boss-Radio" packages that swept ratings nationally. Copy-cat broadcasting is today's way of life. That's why you don't hear great new music on most popular stations, and legend's like old friend Jerry Blavat own their time to play what they love.
Giant Gene's NEW Philly Soul Shows with the stars who sang your favorite hits welcoming you personally are now available worldwide at www.soul-patrol.net radio, the world's first black owned and operated site of it's type.
Webmaster's note: the link immediately under this text pointing to "Use Our Voices" does not work correctly. The links next to it, and all at the very BOTTOM of this page DO work correctly and will take you through all 5 scrapbook pages. WE ARE WORKING ON REPAIRING THESE LINKS. THANK YOU.
This site constantly updated with new shows photos, and facts. Come back and listen often.
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