R.I.P.: Former Power99 Philly AM Host Beemon Johnson

Beemon Johnson

Beemon James Johnson III, whose career in radio ranged from his hometown in Columbus, Ohio, to Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., and several points in the South, New England and New Jersey, died June 28 of heart failure.

He was 63, according to philly.com.

When he arrived in Philadelphia, Beemon found himself playing country-and-western music on an afternoon show for WUSL-FM. Country music was familiar to him; it was popular in Ohio.

But he really blossomed when the station became Power 99, featuring urban contemporary music, and his "Beej in the Morning" took the 5:30 a.m. time slot.

He incorporated skits and routines along with playing music. He would adopt certain personalities, such as "the Reverend" and "Aunt Bunny." He was also "Uncle Beej" and the "Breakfast Champion." He made birthday calls to listeners and indulged in various antics that were pioneering at the time and later were copied by other disc jockeys.

And he got out into the community. He hit the streets, met with people, spoke before organizations and generally made himself and his station known.

Beemon became the No. 2-rated morning jock in the city in the '80s, right behind John DeBella of WMMR-FM.


But trouble was brewing. Beemon was chronically late for work, and was disciplined a few times. Then on Jan. 9, 1987, when he didn't show up for his 5:30 a.m. shift, management had had enough.

Beemon and Power 99 "severed" their relationship, as management put it. No reason was given. Management said only that Beemon would "explore other opportunities."

But Beemon wasn't through with Philadelphia. From Power 99, he went to WRKS-FM in New York, then to Hot 100 in Washington, D.C., before returning to Philadelphia in 1991 to take over the morning time slot at WDAS-FM.

He retired from radio after a couple of years at WDAS.