Jackson Armstrong
Jackson Armstrong has been at over 20 radio stations during his career in radio. He started out in Chapel Hill, NC in the early 60's and worked his way around the country. He made a major splash at Buffalo's WKBW from 1970 to 1973. During his stay in Buffalo, he was cast into the roll of the DJ on WKBW Radio's memorable 1971 remake of H.G. Wells' War Of The Worlds. As Jefferson Kaye has said about him, "Exciting, charged up, a rating grabber, works like a brute and exciting as hell and believe me when I say there is no other like him". Jack was again heard on WWKB when it returned to rock 'n roll in 2003 doing a superb, seamless voice-over show from 3-8 pm weekdays.
WCHL (Chapel Hill,NC) 1961, WSSB (Durham,NC) 1962-1963, WCDJ (Edenton,NC) 1962-1963, WSMA/WDJK-FM (Smyrna,GA) 1964, WCOG (Greensboro,NC) 1964, WAYS (Charlotte,NC) 1965, WIXY (Cleveland,OH) 1966, WKYC (Cleveland,OH) 1967, WMEX (Boston,MA) 1968, CHUM (Toronto,Canada) 1968, WPOP (Hartford,CT) 1969, KTLK (Denver,CO) 1969, WKBW (Buffalo,NY) 1970, WKTQ (Pittsburgh,PA) 1973. KDKA (Pittsburgh,PA) 1975, WHYI (Miami,FL) 1975, WIFE (Indianapolis,IN) 1976, KTNQ/KHTZ (Los Angeles,CA) 1978, KFI (Los Angeles.CA) 1980, KFRC (San Francisco,CA) 1982, KKHR (Los Angeles,CA) 1984, KBOS (Tulare,CA) 1988, WMQX (Winston-Salem,NC) 1997-2004, WWKB (Buffalo-voice over) 2003-2006.
Air Check
Artie & Armstrong perform
the infamous "Rats In My Room"
Armstrong "Meets The Beatles"
Armstrong with Chuck Berry
Armstrong was famous for his nightly signoff. He recited the following at the end of each of his radio programs. This daily practice made him quick, very quick. In fact, Armstrong has been timed at 690 words a minute. In case you can't keep up, here is the text:
"Don't get that on ya...do it twice...be nice...very nice to be important...but more important to be very nice...let it all hang out...drag in the sand and make a deep rut...people in glass houses shouldn't...a bird in the hand makes it hard to blow your nose...one good turn takes most of the blanket...you can lead a horse to water but don't push him in because if you do nothing smells any worse than a wet horse...you can lead a horse to water, push him in, teach him the backstroke, then you really got something...wash face in the morning...neck at night...love is life...life is love...and your LEEEEEEADER !"
Armstrong Talks of Returning
WKBW Radio (2/27/73)Armstrong's final goodbye to WKBW fans
Jackson Armstrong (John Charles Larsh)
December 4, 1945 - March 23, 2008Armstrong's daughter Devon described her father's legacy best in this message posted on Jack's MySpace page: "If you knew him at all, you would know that he wouldn't want you to be sad for a moment. He would want you to remember all the good times, what he gave to radio and to the world. He would also want you to help fight to bring back the personality in radio if at all possible. He loved being a DJ almost as much as he loved being a father and that says a lot. He put his blood, sweat and tears into both and never gave up what he believed in. He was honest, brave and could tell a joke like no other! He was the best at everything he did and I know that he touched each and every one of us. Please remember him in all that you do, pass on kindness, be true to yourself and to those you love."
