Sitting at the laptop on a Sunday morning, as is my wont, when I see the news that legendary, no, make that Legendary-with-a-capitol-L Pittsburgh disc jockey Porky Chedwick passed away today at the age of 96.
The Bossman, the Daddio of the Raddio, the Platter Pushin' Pappa, the guy who introduced "race records" to the Pittsburgh airwaves has now gone to that great studio in the sky. Ironically, while having lunch at the Heinz History Center yesterday with several fellow volunteers, Jim Haller was talking about seeing Porky just last week at the final Roots of Rock and Roll show at the Benedum. It was almost like Porky held on just to make that last appearance.
He was in the news recently when a newly established Pittsburgh Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honored its first inductee. Incredibly, that person was NOT Porky Chedwick. No offense to the guy who was inducted, but, C'MON MAN, how could it not have been Porky?
Chedwick's legacy on radio and rock and roll extended far beyond Pittsburgh, and obituaries in the coming days will no doubt be filled with testimonials from scores of singers, groups, and songwriters whose careers were helped, if not made, by the endorsement of Pork the Torque. Radio, and certainly Pittsburgh radio, will surely never see the likes of Porky Chedwick again.
Do deejays like Porky Chedwick even exist in today's entertainment world?
RIP Porky Chedwick.
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