RIP Philly Radio Legend Joe 'Butterball' Tamburro...

[House4Life]

PHILADELPHIA - July 27, 2012 (WPVI) -- Legendary Philadelphia radio personality Joe "Butterball" Tamburro has died at the age of 70.

According to a statement from WDAS-FM Radio, Tamburro died at 10:00 a.m. Friday. The cause of death was not immediately released.

Tamburro grew up in South Philadelphia and began working at WDAS in 1964 as an advertising salesman. The nickname "Butterball" was given by then-program director Jimmy Bishop. Tamburro eventually became a part-time and later full-time disc jockey. His oldies show soon became a hit.

Tamburro went on to became Program Director for WDAS and is credited with giving many R&B artists their start.

In addition to his contributions to broadcasting and the music industry, Tamburro was also known for his work on behalf of the Philadelphia-area civil rights movement, offering the airwaves to leaders including the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Cecil B. Moore.

He was honored for his work on the air by Philadelphia Mayors William Green and W. Wilson Goode, the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, Philadelphia City Council, the Pennsylvania legislature and others.

Officials from WDAS-FM said the station was in the process of planning a 50th anniversary retrospective of his career in broadcasting at the time of his death. The station was honoring his memory Friday by playing "the music and the artists that he broke."

WDAS-FM Program Director Ken Johnson said in a statement, "I have met and worked with quite a few legends in my career. Butter was the pinnacle. He will be missed but never forgotten."

Tamburro is survived by his wife, five children and five grandchildren.

[cleodine velvet jackson]

"It's choice, not chance, when you make it to a Butterball dance." ~~ Joe "Butterball Tamburro



Butterball is the only DJ I know that has ever played the 15+ minute version of "Doing It to Death/Funky Good Time"...THE ONLY ONE!!! A memory of a hot summer night driving with my home girl from Germantown to South Philly just having fun dancing and singing. And then to stop at lights on Broad Street and witness other cars blasting the song, dancing and singing was a great time!!!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhuckssssssssss!!!! What a party!!! Thank you, Butterball!!! ♥♥♥♥♥

[Mike Barnes]

House4life, Butterball and Joe(Too Cool Calari)used to mix at the Phoenix(7thst and Arch st in Center City Philadelphia), During the late 80's/mid 90's, My man, My condolences to the family of, 'Butterball'.

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[cleodine velvet jackson]

House4life, Butterball and Joe(Too Cool Calari)used to mix at the Phoenix(7thst and Arch st in Center City Philadelphia), During the late 80's/mid 90's, My man, My condolences to the family of, 'Butterball'.

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

Mr. Barnes, Butterball was also the force behind Unity Day, a once annual concert/music festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for many years.

I hope a BOP party on the Parkway and/or Art Museum steps will be organized to CELEBRATE the life and career of Mr. Joseph "Butterball" Tamburro!

May he Rest In Peace!!!

[Mike Barnes]

Cleodine, It would be very nice for the city of Philadelphia to have a tribute or at least build about the contributions of EC La-Rock too, Since EC-La-Rock was one of the first cats to have a dance music show(House music), On the radio in Philadelphia during the late 80's to late 90's, Along with EC-La-Rock mixing at the Limelight(10thst and Arch st by the Trailways bus station), During the mid 80's to early 90's, Along with the work EC-La-Rock put in bringing hiphop to the radio in

Philadelphia on DAS during the early to late 90's too(Dj Ran and Brusier came up under EC-La-Rock on the hiphop and Dance music circuit in Philadelphia during the late 80's to late 90's too.

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[House4Life]

Yea Butterball was to Philly as Hal Jackson was to NY.
WDAS is the only Urban station left in Philly that has the original jocks from 20+ yrs ago!

Him & EC reunited once again....