Johnny Holliday: From Rock To Jock (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Stephen Moore (Author), Tony Kornheiser (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In Johnny Holliday: From Rock to Jock, the pioneer Top 40 DJ retraces the steps that carried him from an "all black" R&B station in hometown Miami to his current 24 year tenure as radio play-by-play voice of the University of Maryland Terrapins. Written with his friend and journalist Stephen Moore, Johnny recalls his glory rock and roll DJ days in Cleveland, New York (where he worked with Murray the K), and San Francisco; his job as PA announcer for the Browns, Warriors, and Raiders; his live coverage of nine Olympic Games for ABC Sports; and, in a diverse career that includes creating the "Radio One-ders," the first radio station charity team, his adventures with close friends and professional colleagues like Rick Barry, Paul Hornung, Sal Bando, Joe Theismann, Joe Dimaggio, Morgan Wooten, Denny McLaine, Ted Williams, Sugar Ray Leonard, and U-MD Coaches Gary Williams and Ralph Friedgen.

About the Author

Holliday is a broadcasting legend who first gained national recognition in 1959 as a rock 'n roll disc jockey at one of the pioneer Top 40 radio stations in the U.S. Cleveland's WHK. He has been the voice of the University of Maryland Terrapins men's basketball and football since 1979. For 21 years his daily sports reports have been heard on the ABC Radio Networks and have included live coverage from Olympic games.

Moore, a University of Maryland grad and Terrapins fan, is the director of advanced research computing with the Office of Information Services at Georgetown University. A member of the Writers Guild and a veteran rock musician with 30 years' experience on the Washington, DC music scene, he has written over 100 articles for various publications.

Tony Kornheiser is a sports columnist for The Washington Post. His Style column was syndicated nationwide. He brings his knowledge, opinion, and humor to a national radio and TV audience on ESPN. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his family.

ESPN Basketball Announcer

Product Details

• Hardcover: 225 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing (August 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158261461X
• ISBN-13: 978-1582614618
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,044,958 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Radio Days, May 24, 2003

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

The age of radio seems to be past, but for sports fans, the voices of radio announcers such as Jack Buck (St. Louis), Kurt Goudy (40-50's) and Ken Coleman for the Red Sox, Johnny Most (Celtics) and Johnny Holliday (The Maryland Terrapins) are part of the enjoyment of the game.

Johnny Holliday wrote a memoir of his life in radio, from his start on an all-black R&B station, to doing a live broadcast of the Beatles, to his stint in sports. The book is laced with famous and not-so-famous names. In fact, if you are a radio buff, this book is for you, because Johnny met nearly everyone and his memory for who's who is sharp and detailed.

If you love radio or are a fan of Johnny, you will enjoy this book--a slice of radio as it was in its heyday.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A most interesting life., January 11, 2003

By	nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

"From Rock to Jock," the autobiography of Johnny Holliday, is the remarkable telling a most interesting life in radio.

Johnny was at Cleveland's WHK at the inception of the "rock and roll" format; at WINS in NYC with Murray the K when the Beatles broke; and in San Francisco at KYA during the Summer of Love.

At the right place at the right time. Many a familiar name turns up---movers, shakers, characters and bit players.

The second half tells of his Washington journey from WWDC to voice of Maryland basketball and football (over twenty years and counting).

It is a truly remarkable story, interestingly written, that will keeping you smiling and bring on a lot of good memories.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It could be titled "I didn't know!", December 4, 2002

By	InsultinSultan (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

Sports fans here in Maryland know Johnny as the energetic voice of Terp basketball and football. But I DIDN'T KNOW he had such a great run as a DJ in Rock and Roll. He was always in the right place at the right time. Cleveland in the early days of R&R, San Francisco in the mid to late 1960s, New York at Beatles time, etc. For those who remember his R&R days, they will say "I DIDN'T KNOW" when they find out about his legend status here. Actually, the book is such a terrific history of sports and entertainment, from ground level, that you don't even need to know who he is to enjoy it.