Porky Chedwick, "Daddio of Raddio" died this morning at age 96

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The Legendary Pittsburgh radio personality "Daddio of Raddio", Porky Chedwick, died this morning at age 96.  Chedwick was the first white DJ to present a racially diverse audience in a major eastern American city at Homestead's WHOD AM 860.  Called "race records", Chedwick's original playlist was comprised of old R&B and gospel records that he had collected over the years, making him the world's first bona fide oldies DJ.  Porky  was also known as "The Platter Pushin' Papa, " "The Bossman," and "Pork the Tork".  George Jacob Chedwick, was born on February 4, 1918, the son of a Lithuanian-born steel worker, in Homestead, Pa.  His mother nicknamed him "Porky". 

Chedwick is given credit by many R&B and rock and roll legends for breaking their records including Bo Diddley, Smokey Robinson, Little Anthony, The Drifters, The Moonglows, Laverne Baker, the Midnighters.  He also introduced the music of Pittburgh artists the Marcels, the Skyliners, the Del-Vikings, Lou Christie and the Smoothtones.  WHOD was sold and changed its call letters to WAMO in 1956.  Porky was on the air at WAMO for 24 years until 1972 when he moved to KQV for a weekend show.  He returned to WAMO staying there until 1984.  He was on the air at WNRZ from 1985 to 1986. Porky returned to WAMO in 1996 after a 10 year retirement. Porky worked on WWSW in 1998 and moved to WLSW in 2000. At the age of 88 in 2006 he appeared on WFKB. After retiring to Sarasota Florida area in 2008, Porky returned to Pittsburgh in 2011. He launched another show on Sept. 2, 2011 airing from 11 a.m. to noon on Fridays on WEDO.

"Porkstock",  A two day festival was held on August 15th and 16th 1998 at Three Rivers Stadium to celebrate Porky's 50th anniversary in radio.  The concert was headlined by Little Richard and Bo Diddley. Other artists included Johnnie & Joe, The Skyliners, The Marcels, the Four Townsmen, the El Capris, Richie Merrit, Pure Gold, The Holidays, Johnny Angel and the Halos, and The Vogues.  A second Porkstock was held on September 11, 1999, at Three Rivers,  headlined by the Four Tops it also featured Lou Christie, Gene Chandler, Eddie Holman, the Jaggerz, the Chantels and Pure Gold. 
Esquire Magazine named Porky "Pittsburgh’s Favorite DJ" in 1956.  Visitors to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can find Porky Chedwick among other radio icons.  

View the official Porky Chedwick website

Check out this edited reel to reel Tape recording of legendary D.J. Porky Chedwick while he was at WEDO 810 AM out of McKeesport Pa. in late 1973

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Porky's Classic Tunes