SoFla radio legend dies
DJ Rick Shaw spent nearly half a century on the air.
Legendary South Florida disc jockey Rick Shaw has died. He was 78.
If you grew up in South Florida, Shaw’s voice was a voice you knew.
Shaw retired in May 2007 after 51 years on the air, the final 47 on South Florida stations, including MCKR 610AM (later WIOD), WQAM 560AM, WAXY 106.7 and as the longtime morning host at Majic 102.7.
“He saw the magic of radio; he recognized it before most people did and understood the impact that it could have when it was done properly,” said Ellen Jaffe, now a DJ on Easy 93.1, who worked 11 years with Shaw from 1979 to 1990 at WAXY. “He really believed that you could pretty much reach through the radio dial and touch people, and because he believed it, that’s what he did.”
Along the way, Rick also hosted two television shows, “Saturday Hop” and “The Rick Shaw Show,” both on Channel 10. He also was president of the Majic 102.7 Children’s Fund.
The Sun Sentinel confirmed Shaw’s death through numerous friends and loved ones who said he died Friday morning at his Cooper City home.
Condolences, memories and tributes poured onto Shaw’s Facebook page Friday night.
Among them was voice-over artist David Scott, 63, of Fort Lauderdale. Shaw gave him his first on-air radio job at WAXY.
“He allowed me creative freedom that few, if any, would tolerate today, but he encouraged it. He defended me against people who were humor-challenged,” Scott wrote. “He was so much more than a boss, a personality, a legend. He was my mentor, my champion, my friend. Rest In Peace. And turn it up!”
Shaw grew up as Jim Hummel in East St. Louis where he landed his first radio gig in 1956. After stints in Omaha and Denver, he settled in Miami as Rick Shaw.
He played songs kids danced to, made out to, cruised to, walked the beach to and mated to.
He played Top 40 before it was formatted to death. It was radio without precedent, and it was suited for exuberant, instinctive disc jockeys like Shaw.
His favorite song, “Goodnight My Love,” recorded in 1959 by Ray Peterson, was his sign-off signature at 11 each night.
Fred Adler, 51, of Plantation, said he was a “loyal listener” throughout Shaw’s career.
“He was like part of the family,” Adler said. “My parents used to listen to him back when they were in high school in the ’50s and ’60s, and I grew up listening to him as well through the ’70s and ’80s right on up until his retirement.”
Joe Johnson, 59, of Plantation, now works at WLRN. But before that he spent eight years working side-by-side with Shaw at Magic 102.7. Their friendship grew from there, attending Dolphins games together and frequenting Shaw’s favorite bar in Davie.
“What you heard on the radio, the warmth, the love, and the sincerity, and the emotion, that was him in reality,” Johnson said.
In a 1996 interview with the Sun Sentinel, Shaw was modest about his successes.
“I’m fortunate that the radio stations I’ve been associated with have been a success,” he said. “I’ve had stability in an industry not known for stability. I’ve been in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.”
Jennifer Dunn, a bartender at Shaw’s favorite post-retirement hangout, the Quarterdeck on University Drive in Davie, said Shaw was usually her first customer of the day. He had his regular spot and his picture on the wall, she said.
“Whenever he would go to leave, he would always take my hand and say ‘it’s been a musical treat, as always,’ and he would give my hand a little kiss … that was our little thing,” Dunn said. “Anytime you were with him you felt special.”