R.I.P.: Iconic Miami Radio Personality Rick Shaw

For 51 years Rick Shaw’s resonant and melodious voice echoed through the airwaves — from St. Louis to Omaha to Denver and finally to Miami, where he spent most of his career spinning vinyl and playing oldies, goldies and rock ‘n roll.

In 1964, while he worked for WQAM, Shaw was the first radio disc jockey in South Florida to play the Beatles. He met them later that year in Jacksonville.

During a 46-year career in Miami, Shaw finished each program with the 1959 Ray Peterson classic Goodnight My Love.

Friday, just over a decade into his retirement, Shaw died. He was 79, according to The Miami Herald.

Shaw began his decorated disc jockey career in 1956 in St. Louis. After gigs in Omaha and Denver, he landed a job with WCKR, which later became WIOD, in Miami in 1960. Along with his career taking off in Miami came another change: His name.

Friend and former co-worker Joe Johnson, who now works for WLRN, said when Shaw first came to Miami his name was James Hummell. But that changed quickly when Shaw’s new boss looked at him and said, “No it isn’t. From now on you’re Rick Shaw.”

It stuck. And Shaw’s career took off. By 1963 he was working at WQAM, where he recorded a record-shattering 54 share — more than all the other local stations combined.

Then in 2006 Shaw surprised listeners by announcing his retirement midway through a broadcast on Majic 102.7 FM.