Harry Nelson ― October, 1973 to August, 1979

Airchecks Photos Timeline

Harry Nelson'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.

Here's his "official" bio, sent to us by Harry, himself:

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.

Nelson re-entered the world of Country Radio in the early 90s 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 Radios 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!!

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.  Interestingly, he has always used the name "Harry Nelson" on the air. After all, it is his real name!

You'll find his Website, here.

Radio Timeline
APD = Assistant PD MD = Music Director MH = Morning Host NX = News NXD = News Director OM = Operations Manager PD = Program Director
Station Freq. Location From To Notes
WKBH 1380 Hattiesburg MS 1966   Country
WXXX 1310 Hattiesburg MS 1967    
WBSR 1450 Pensacola FL 1968    
WRBC 1300 Jackson MS 1969    
KTLK 1280 Denver CO 1971    
WRBC 1300 Jackson MS 1972   PD
WRKO 680 Boston MA 10-1973 8-1979 became PD in 1976
KSLQ 104.5 St. Louis MO 1981   PD
KFRC 610 San Francisco CA 1982    
WJBQ 97.9 Portland ME 1982    
WAPP 103.5 New York NY 1984    
WZOU 94.5 Boston MA 1986   PD
WODS 103.3 Boston MA 1988   PD
WROR 105.7 Framingham-Boston MA 1989   PD
KFRC-FM 99.7 San Francisco CA 1990   MH
Premiere Radio Networks, Boston MA 1992   Consultant
WBCN 104.1 Boston MA 1994   PD
WKLB 102.5 Framingham-Boston MA 2007   PD
WCKT 100.1 Fort Myers FL 2004   Country
WPOR 101.9 Portland ME 3-2005   Country, PD
WODS 103.3 Boston MA 2007   Oldies
If you can help fill in the blanks, please let me know!

Photos
Harry Nelson, May, 1974 Harry Nelson, 1975 Harry Nelson, March, 1975 Harry Nelson, 1007
May, 1974 In 1975 March, 1975 Harry Nelson, 2007

Airchecks
  April, 1974