Long Island Radio History

Bob Klein "Till 9.... And Again Till 10"

Bob Klein began his radio career in 1965 as a part timer at WLIR in the basement of the old Garden City Hotel. In 1966, he went over to WALK FM where he started doing evenings and overnights (at that time, WALK FM used to go off-the-air at 2 AM). When morning man Bob Dorian left in 1970 do a TV gig, Bob Klein was put on mornings from 5 to 9 AM. His show was affectionately called "Klein til Nine". After each days show, Bob would drive to Riverhead where he hosted a show on WRIV 1390 called "Klein's World". When WALK changed ownership and format in 1980, Bob’s morning show pulled the Arbitron ratings up from # 6 to # 1 in 10 months. Due to commercial demand, the morning show was extended to 10 AM, thus changing his title to: "Klein till Nine and again till Ten". Eventually, with creative tweaking, the show evolved to become the WALK Breakfast Club.

Bob Klein retired from radio in 1992 having held the #1 morning position for twelve years, but hasn't retired altogether! Bob is first to admit that for the first two years after leaving WALK, he suffered from microphone withdrawal, but that is all in the past. He moved to Florida where he went to work for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Two years later, Bob was recruited by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, where he worked for six and a half years.

Bob Klein was also employed at the Saddle Brook Tennis and Golf Resort as a Concierge. He has recently celebrated his 83rd Birthday and, like the Energizer Bunny, is still going! To quote Bob Klein: "Radio was good to me, but then again, I was good to Radio"...

One little footnote about Bob, according to his radio colleagues, he's also noted for being a pretty darn good Jazz Pianist!

09/04/08 - Note From The Webmaster: Bob Recently Wrote Us With An Update On How He's Doing In Beautiful Downtown Florida. Perhaps someday soon, we might be able to convince Bob to join us as a guest radio host on 1450 WWJB Radio in Brooksville Florida! A station that is less than one hour from where Bob lives!

Once again, this is Bob Klein; Since my last report, and now at the age of 86, I am fully retired and enjoying the warmth of Florida with a watchful eye for an occasional Hurricane. I am at this point in time enjoying good health, and making an effort to not listen to radio, because I am not on it.. Talk about jealousy? Truthfully, I still miss my hours on the air, and will keep that thought until the big radio station in the sky calls and says “We need you for mornings”…

10/15/08 - Legendary Long Island Radio Personality Bob Klein Joined Rick Hall For One Hour On The Bob Penrod Show On WWJB 1450 Radio!

Click Here To Listen To The Program! Enjoy!

Rick Hall, Bob Penrod And Bob Klein On WWJB 10/15/2008

Feel free to send Bob Klein an E-Mail
suzin@halifaxfarm.com