Harry Nelson — WRKO Jock and (later on) Program Director, 1973 to 1979

Harry's main chore was afternoon drive at the BIG 68.  He was one of the crew hired to shake up the station after its 1972-1973 foray into AOR, joining Jack O'Brien and J. J. Wright. He began jocking at WRKO in October of 1973, following the format change from hybrid-AOR to high-energy Top 40, where he followed Jack O'Brian doing 2 to 6 PM.  RKO General upped him to Program Director in 1978, a title Harry kept until he left the station in October, 1979 to move to San Francisco's KFRC as Assistant program Director.

As one can see by his timeline below, Harry's had a full and varied career, qualifying him as the Radio consultant he is today.  He lives in Maine.

Click here to hear a quickie aircheck of Harry exciting 'em in '74!

 Harry Nelson in 1975
Harry Nelson in 1975

Harry Nelson's Timeline

Station

Freq.

 Location

Years

 Position
WXXX 1310 Hattiesburg MS   Country jock
WRBC 1300 Jackson MS

1973

  
WRKO 680 Boston MA 10-1973 to 8-1979  
KFRC 610 San Francisco CA 1979 Assistant Program Director
WROR 105.7 Boston MA   Program Director
WODS 103.3 Boston MA    
WZOU 94.5 Boston MA    
WJBQ 97.9 Portland ME 1982 Rock Jock
WBCS 96.9 Boston MA    
WKLB 105.7 Framingham-Boston, MA   Program Director
WCKT 100.1 Fort Myers, FL 2004 Country jock
WPOR 101.9 Portland ME 2005 Program Director (Country format)

If you can fill in the blanks, please let us know. Thanks!

(Bio provided by Harry Nelson)

Harry got into Radio in his home state of Mississippi. He started playing the hits in High School, and his career led him to air personality stints In Denver, Miami, Boston, San Francisco, and New York.  As He puts it, "I was just a kid that got a lucky break by having a hot tape."

Harry hosted Afternoon Drive at 50,000-watt WRKO in Boston from 1973 to 1977… He was recommended for the programming job at WRKO by departing Program Director Les Garland (one of the founders of MTV) in 1977.

Many successful years of ratings battles started at WRKO, from where Harry moved to the legendary KFRC/San Francisco, WAPP/New York, and then back to Boston, programming WZOU, WODS, WKLB, and WROR.  Harry currently is an Air Personality at CBS outlet “Oldies 103.3” in Boston and has also appeared on WCBS-FM in New York.

Harry Nelson entered the world of Country Radio in the early 90’s beginning with a consultancy at “The Big Dog” 92.5FM in Denver, then successfully programming WKLB in Boston. Harry is totally involved in the world of Country music from Radio to Promotion. He helped Country Artist Steve Azar score a Top 5 hit with “I Don’t Have to Be Me Until Monday” and has acted as Sr. Program consultant for “Music Match Radio’s” on-line Country channels.

Harry's philosophy of life and work is simple. “Lift everyone around you up, and you will lift yourself in the process.” Harry resides in Southern Maine, just North of Boston, with his beloved Mirabelle the Cat. Life is Good!!