RADICAL NEW QUALIFICATION FOR BEING ON THE AIR: HAVE A 'RADIO VOICE'

[DanStrassberg]

Best TV or Radio voices In Boston past/present (not necessarily in order):

How could you have missed Ed Walsh, who is about to retire from WBZ? I realize that any list/ranking is completely subjective and therefore can never be settled, but IMHO, Ed has the best voice/most pleasant manner of any news person ever in this market.

[SonicAl]

The guy on the Bill Shea's commercials is John Carlson.

and he was a sports announcer, years ago. Bruins, maybe? Channel 56 news? Honestly, I forget

[SonicAl]

I'd add a few I don't think I've seen on this list already--

Ryen Russillo, who was on WWZN when it did sports,
Dave O'Brien, the current Red Sox announcer
Jerry Trupiano, former Sox announcer
Gene Burns
Jordan Rich

[leegart]

The guy on the Bill Shea's commercials is John Carlson.

and he was a sports announcer, years ago. Bruins, maybe? Channel 56 news? Honestly, I forget

Thank you. Now I remember him. He did sports on WEEI when it was still all-news and also broadcast the Patriots when they were briefly on WHDH.

[ArtSpooner]

Someone who hasn't been mentioned who, it literally grosses me out if I happen upon his voice, Daddy Andelman....ugh!  his voice sounds like it is full of food all the time and awful, I can't even listen to him.  And he is a prime example for a "face for radio"....but doesn't have the voice

Sports Radio may have started the no-radio-voice movement.  When Eddie achieved his sucess all those years ago, I think people started to look past the voice quality and proper grammar and diction.  Listen to Chris Russo and Mike Francessa..........no radio voice there.  When the radio personality only had to read news, weather, or sports scores, the professionally trained voice worked.  However real experts in a given field may not have as great voice, so the choice became content or nice sounding quality.  Sometimes you have both like Gil Santos, but it's becoming rare.

[Jimmy128]

I can remember as a kid listening to Dick Summer on WBZ, then WMEX, he had a fantastic radio voice.
As far as now goes, I listen to Naomi Arenberg on WCRB 4:00-8:00pm, and Eric Jackson on WGBH 8:00-12:00 midnight.

[Laurence Glavin]

May I add two more?  Tom Ashbrook on WBUR, and the Jibguy.

[NHRadio]

The late John Masters on WRKO has always been one of the best IMHO.

Best TV or Radio voices In Boston past/present (not necessarily in order):

Fred Cusick
Bob Wilson
Gil Santos
Tom Ellis
Diane Stern (WBZ anchor)
Dick Summer
Jess Cain
Jordan Rich
Liz Brunner
The guy who does the Bill Shea counter top radio commercials (?)
Bill Lawrence (who co-anchored with Diane Stern on WEEI and worked at WBZ)
Upton Bell
RD Saul
Randy Price
Chet Curtis
Robin Young
Paula Street
Don Orsillo
Rod Fritz
Austin Davis (WODS's "Austin Of Boston")

[magpie]

Yes, folks, at one time, in order to get into radio, you actually had to sound better than the average person...call it a 'radio voice' if you will, but that's how you had to sound to get anywhere in the business...even in a small market situation.

Where did it all change?...especially when it comes to being on the air as a talk-show host?  Another topic on this board concerns the voice quality of a soon to be let-go WTTK personality, so it might be a good time to raise this topic.

Sorry, but voice quality does matter to some listeners, including yours truly.

What about Ira Glass of This American Life? (from PRI)  Not up there with the greatest "voices" but very successful, and beloved by TAL fans.  I think his non-radioish voice is part of the charm of the show. 
Sometimes you'll hear a "perfect" radio voice but it's got no soul.

[magpie]

How could you have missed Ed Walsh, who is about to retire from WBZ? I realize that any list/ranking is completely subjective and therefore can never be settled, but IMHO, Ed has the best voice/most pleasant manner of any news person ever in this market.
[/quote]
...and speaking of Eds, don't forget Ed Cherubino (WTKK)