Broadcast Pioneers member Michael Tearson
Broadcast Pioneers Luncheon
Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Broadcast Pioneers member Michael Tearson has been on Philadelphia FM radio playing rock music virtually as long as rock music has been on FM in Philadelphia!

Born in Baltimore in 1948, Michael first took to the air on WXPN while still an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, a time when the University’s station was exclusively operated by undergrads. In January, 1970 Michael joined WDAS-FM’s Hyski’s Underground as overnighter.

Then in June, 1970 WMMR hired him as Music Director and weekend air talent. In September, 1970 Michael was promoted to late night personality where he enjoyed a storied run through 1976. Michael returned to WMMR in 1978 and remained, again in his legendary late night position through March, 1992.

For the next several years Michael divided his time simultaneously on WMMR (as part-timer and developing special projects including WMMR’s precedent breaking A-To-Z broadcasts and redeveloping the station’s live concert library into the WMMarchives), WXPN (late nights) and WALL (record store chain Wall of Sound’s in-store "radio station which Michael produced and voiced).

In 2002 WMGK came calling and had Michael develop the Saturday Morning 60s show (Saturdays 6-8 AM) which he produces in his home studio LynTown Sound. His newest project, also executed in LynTown Sound, is the Bob Dylan Radio Hour which airs on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Folktown channel. Michael plans to further develop the Dylan Hour into a syndicated broadcast radio feature.

In other areas Michael Tearson currently writes record reviews for the folk song magazine Sing Out! and The Audiophile Voice. He acts in films when the opportunity presents itself (48 to date, among them Blow Out, 12 Monkeys, The 13th Child and Oceans 11).

From 1999-2003 as Michael "Mad Dog" Tearson Michael penned a wildly popular pro wrestling column On The Mat for the Philadelphia Daily News. Clearly a man of many talents Michael Tearson has become a true Philadelphia icon, well-loved by both radio listeners and his readers.

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers historian Gerry Wilkinson
Bio courtesy of WMGK Radio
© 2007, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com