(WSB Radio) One of Atlanta's funniest and most popular ex-radio personalities has died. "Skinny" Bobby Harper passed away at Emory Hospital around 1:30 Tuesday morning, losing his bout with cancer.
Bobby Harper had made a name for himself in Cincinnati when he made the move to Atlanta in the late 60's. Hugh Wilson was an Atlanta ad man then; he would later go on to create "WKRP in Cincinnati," and Harper was his inspiration for Dr. Johnny Fever.
In 1997, Harper told WSB's Condace Pressley, "He went on record as pointing out which ones, including myself, that he based the characters on. It was a nice little thing. You know? That was nice. I appreciated that."
Harper began his radio career in Shenandoah, Iowa in 1960, but it was in Cincinnati and Atlanta in the 60's and 70's where he gained fame as a rock jock, famous for his quirky character voices. Harper used to chuckle over one of his quirkier radio interviewswith a man who had a giant weightlifting bullfrog.
"He laid on his back, and then this guy would put this little barbell in his front legs, and he would lift up these barbells," Harper laughed.
Harper worked at News/Talk 750 WSB from 1985 to 1991, hosting the morning show, and later for Delta, MARTA, and Underground Atlanta.
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