They say his name "Arthur Penhallow,
BABY," with the emphasis on the last word, an octave lower, the way he says it to
them. They listen to his program as much for the music as the between-the-lines stories he
dangles over the air waves about Detroit's rock and roll heavies.
Before he signed WRIF on the air in 1971 Art had toured with a band that played with the
Mamas and the Papas, among others. Being born in Honolulu had not kept him away from
California, Oregon, Washington or the great Southwest, where he met many of the rock and
roll stars he's still friends with today. Ultimately a rock and roll friend led him to
Detroit, where he got off to a roaring - not to mention controversial - start in radio.
Although rumors of his fabled salary never quite die down, his popularity never does
either. Or curiosity about him.
Art himself is somehow immune to all the attention, if he does perhaps find it flattering.
His own taste is rather basic. "I like all sports, especially women," he says.
"I love girls with long blonde, brown, red or black hair. And I love the great
outdoors, and drinking in rowdy rock and roll bars, which of course brings to mind his
second home, where he can regularly be found discussing life, lust and rock and roll.
Arthur Penhallow owns afternoon drive in Detroit. He has held court in the same time slot
on WRIF's airwaves for over 30 years, a reign that is virtually unrivaled anywhere in
contemporary radio.
Penhallow's trademark growl and legendary party animal spirit are the key to his
uncontested success. His rock and roll battle cry "BABY!"
is one of WRIF's most popular bumper sticker slogans and is imitated by Detroiters of all
ages.
Musicians respect Arthur. Artists like Creed, Metallica, and Peter Wolf drop in for
exclusive on-air interviews with the "Grand Poobah."
Arthur P. knows rock and roll and the people who make it... He understands his listeners
and gives them the music they want to hear. . . He lives the lifestyle both on air and
off.
Afternoon drive on WRIF vibrates with the energy, power, and excitement of Arthur
Penhallow's rock and roll world . . . BABY! |
