REMEMBERING BILL DIEHL (1926-2017)
Bill Diehl was a prominent figure in Minnesota's media landscape, with a career spanning over five decades as a newspaper columnist, radio broadcaster, and television personality. He began his journalism career at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch, starting as a paperboy at age 15 and eventually becoming the paper's lead movie critic. Diehl's tenure at the newspaper lasted 53 years.
In radio, Diehl's career commenced in 1948 at WMIN, where he filled in for a vacationing DJ. He later worked at WDGY from 1956 to 1966, where he gained fame as "The Rajah of the Records," "The Deacon of the Discs," "The Purveyor of the Platters," and "The Wizard of the Wax with all the musical facts". Diehl concluded his radio career at WCCO, where he spent 26 years on the air.
Beyond broadcasting, Diehl was a popular emcee for musical acts, including Buddy Holly. Notably, he introduced The Beatles on stage during their only Minnesota concert at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington on August 21, 1965.
Diehl passed away in 2017 at the age of 91.
WTCN-AM (1280)
1/10/1957
"Twin Cities at Night" interviews by Bill Diehl on Sputnik 1 with calls from listeners including one listener playing audio from Sputnik 1 as heard on his shortwave radio. Sputnik 1 audio can be heard about 4:20 into the recording. 5 MB. (provided by Helen Diehl)
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on October 4,1957, orbiting for three weeks before its batteries died, then silently for two more months before falling back into the atmosphere.
WDGY-AM (1130)
1/6/1958
Bill Diehl Show - 9 MB (provided by Helen Diehl and Tom Oszman of TCMediaNow). Includes commercials for Hi-Spot Lemon Soda from Canada Dry, Dodge Dealers and Red Devil Soot Remover.
1/6/1961
Bill Diehl - 23 MB
7/10/1963
Bill Diehl - 8 MB (provided by Phil Kitchen)
February 1964
Bill Diehl interviews Bob Reed and Tony Andreason from The Trashmen (a popular 1960s Twin Cities rock & roll band) - 5 MB
5/30/1964
Bill Diehl - 5 MN (provided by Curt Lundgren)
1972
Bill Diehl Interviews Frank Fontaine - 3 MB
5/14/1972
Bill Diehl Calls His Mother on Mother's Day - 2 MB
12/30/1977
Announcement of the death of Halsey Hall with Bill Diehl interviews with Calvin Griffith, Paul Giel, Charlie Johnson, Rollie Johnson and Dr. E.W. Ziebarth. #1 28 MB - #2 28 MB (provided by Bill Lund, Digital on Location, Woodbury, MN)
6/16/1979
Bill Diehl - "The Class of 1969" - 10 MB
12/20/1981
Viking Feedback (post-game show) with Bill Diehl, Paul Flatley, Paul Giel & Dick Enroth - 20 MB (provided by Kurt Rosselit)
5/13/1984
Bill Diehl Calls His Mother on Mother's Day - 3 MB
10/19/1985
Bill Diehl - Wally McCarthy's Lindahl Olds Commercials - 7 MB (provided by David Ocar)
6/15/1986
Bill Diehl Talks with his Father-In-Law for Father's Day - 4 MB
1988-1989
Bill Diehl broadcasting from Wally McCarthy Oldsmobile - 2 MB
KLBB-AM (1220)
7/21/2017
A tribute to Bill Diehl that aired on the Stan Turner Wolf Brewing All Request Show. This show aired a few days after Bill's passing. Stan's guests included Rick Shefchik (writer/author), Don Effenberger (journalist), Tony Andreason (The Trashmen), and Bob DeFlores (DeFlores Film Project). Plus airchecks and interviews with Bill.#1 21 MB - #2 21 MB