Big Wilson

Big Wilson (born Malcolm John Wilson Jr.; October 3, 1924 – October 5, 1989) was an American radio personality.[1] He worked as a disc jockey at WNBC AM in New York City from the early 1960s until 1974 and moved to Miami in 1975 where he worked for WIOD and WCIX-TV.[2]

Big Wilson
Born
Malcolm John Wilson Jr.

(1924-10-03)October 3, 1924
DiedOctober 5, 1989(1989-10-05) (aged 65)
Other namesBig John Wilson
Alma materIthaca College
OccupationDisc jockey, announcer, late-night movie host
Known forAnnouncer for Jack Horkheimer: Star Hustler
Spouse(s)Jody
ChildrenJohn Jeffrey Wilson

Prior to moving to NYC, Wilson and his wife Jody lived in a riverfront home in Rocky River, Ohio. He commuted to KYW (AM) Radio Cleveland where he was the leading radio personality for some years, interviewing Tim Conway and other well-known persons at their homes.

Wilson was one of the last two hosts of the NBC network radio program Monitor.

Big Wilson also served as the announcer for the weekly television program, Jack Horkheimer: Star Hustler. During the program's opening sequence, Wilson's voice was the one which was heard reading the following poem:

Some people hustle pool,

Some people hustle cars, But have you ever heard about

The man who hustles stars?

After Big Wilson's death in 1989, Star Hustler continued to use Wilson's pre-recorded voice in the television program's introduction as a "living memorial" to the man.[3] This ended in 1997 when the show was renamed Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer.

Wilson, who was 6 foot 6 tall, and weighed more than 300 pounds, died from a heart attack, two days after this 65th birthday at a hotel in Selma, North Carolina. He was sometimes referred to in advertisements as "Mrs. Wilson's little boy "Big".

References

  1. "Big Wilson, 65, Disc Jockey, Late-night Television Host". Sun Sentinel official site. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Sun Sentinel. 7 October 1989. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  2. "Big Wilson Dies at 65; Ex-NBC Disk Jockey". The New York Times. New York, New York. 7 October 1989. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  3. "ONLY IN FLORIDA - What ever happened to... Jack Horkheimer, The Star Hustler". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. 19 July 1992. Retrieved 28 February 2015.


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