R.I.P.: Philly Radio Exec Kernie Anderson

Kernie L. Anderson a huge name in African American media, died Saturday, Dec. 20.

Kernie Anderson

He was 74-years-of-age, according to Philly.com.

Anderson, an executive at WDAS-AM/FM, WHAT-AM, and WURD-AM, was known for his precision and control in business affairs, his commitment to African American media, and his ability to turn things around for ailing media venues.

Born in Harrisburg, Mr. Anderson attended Howard University. His radio career began in 1963 in Washington, notably at WQMR-AM/WGAY-FM, where he worked his way up from messenger to producer/marketing assistant in just a few years. After a stint in the Army, he moved to Florida in 1968, becoming general manager/managing partner of WOCN-AM/FM.

In Florida, he met and hired the young Larry King.

"I loved working with him and I'm terribly sorry to learn of his death," King, the longtime radio and TV host, said Wednesday through a publicist. He recalled Mr. Anderson as "a great, great guy."

In 1981, Mr. Anderson came to Chicago to manage WBMX-FM/AM.  In Philadelphia, he became vice president/general manager of WDAS in 1988, shortly after the station was sold. It was a time when the station was struggling over audience and identity. He was widely credited with a back-to basics approach that made the station financially strong again. Later, Mr. Anderson became general manager of WURD, remaining in that post until 2010, when he joined the station's board of directors.