Clarke Ingram dies
November 25, 2023*Editor’s note: A correction has been made. WPXY was initially named as WPXZ.
**Another Editor’s note: For a full tribute to Clarke, please see Scott Fybush’s tribute here.
Radio has lost a great friend in Clarke Ingram who passed away Saturday at the age of 66. Ingram had been battling multiple health issues for several years at the time of his death.
A Pittsburgh native, Mr. Ingram was a renouned program director in top-40 radio including stints at WXKX (96.1) during it’s 96KX days and WBZZ (93.7) when it was B-94. During his days at 96KX he would drive back and forth between Pittsburgh and Central PA working for some smaller market outfits.
He was a master at the microphone in addition to his programming duties. Outside of Pittsburgh he worked at WHTZ (“Z-100) in New York City, KZZP in Phoenix, Arizona, and WPXY in Rochester, New York.
Clarke eventually returned to Pittsburgh to care for his mother and, for a time, programmed “The Beat” WJJJ (104.7) for Chancellor Media Corporation which eventually became iHeart after a few different names. After 104.7’s “Jammin’ Oldies” began to wane, he made his way across the hall to WWSW (94.5) where he did some evening oldies programs still using the fast-talking, friendly style he was known for on air.
Mr. Ingram would often say, “I may be the only person who started out on FM radio and worked my way backward!” After being let go from 3-W-S, Clarke went to work at Broadcast Communications, Inc. where he programmed and imaged WKHB (620 Irwin) and WKFB (770 Jeannette). His voice can still be heard on those stations at least once per hour. After some time away due to his health, he would eventually image and create urban oldies programming for WZUM (1550 Braddock) for Ed DeHart.
His awards included landing at #38 of the “40 Top 40 DJs of All Time” by Decalcomania in 1995, and “Program Director of the Year” from a couple of respected broadcasting organizations. Ingram was also an authority on the defunct DuMont Television Network and maintained a very informative website on the subject.
Mr. Ingram was preceded in death by his mother, Alys Wild, who died in 2004. His beloved Golden Retriever, Brinkley – who started out as a companion for Wild – passed in 2014. He is survived by cousins and a whole host of friends in the radio business who admired and loved this gentle giant – one of the “nice guys” of the radio business.
Sad news about Clarke. I think anyone who had anything to do with Pittsburgh radio knew of Clark and his affinity for the industry. He also helped author an amazing website history of UHF Television with radio consultant KM Richards. https://www.uhfhistory.com/index.html I never met Clarke, but his name -even in the 80s-was legendary in the hallways at WTAE/WHTX. Rest in Peace, Clarke.
Clarke LOVED radio more than any guy I ever worked with. He was a good guy…Rest in His peace old friend.
YOU WERE A TRUE RADIO PRO, MY MAN. I KNOW YOU’RE IN RADIO HEAVEN CLARKE, PLAYING WHATEVER YOU WANT TO PLAY ON THE AIR,
AND NEVER WORKING WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS EVER AGAIN!!
AM not, nor never have been in radio, but a “geek” I am. First heard him on Hot 99.9 with their wonderfully buried LID “WHXT Easton” between two ads. Clarke was afternoon drive-PD as I can remember from a lost tape of the time. Such energy and passion! I don’t know why, but reminds me very much of Big Ron O’Brien. Just a working radio-holic! Gone too soon. May he Rest in Peace.
Correction: WPXY in Rochester. 98PXY. On-air talent and PD.
A huge loss for the industry 🙁
[…] WXKX as well as top 40s in Phoenix and Rochester, NY, died Saturday at the age of 66, according to Pittsburgh Radio & TV Online. Ingram had been battling multiple health issues for the past several […]
Really sorry to hear this. I know he had struggled with his health in recent years. RIP.
Very nicely written. Despite his health problems, when we re-connected earlier this year, he said he was “in good spirits” and I spent some time visiting in late June, where he played me some mono singles that he’d made stereo, and talked about KOAI, and that he still wanted a consulting job.
Clarke, you are the only person that loved radio more than I. Keep a place at the table for me. You were truly a pro. R.I.P. my friend.