R.I.P.: Bob Paris, Longtime Central NY Radio Personality

Bob Paris ('46-'24)

A longtime Central New York radio personality who helped launch TK99 in the 1990s has died at age 78. Gary W. Gallup, known on the air as “Bob Paris,” died May 4 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. According to his obituary, Gallup had been battling leukemia.

“I’m heartbroken to report my dear friend Bob Paris (Gary Gallup) has passed away after a short illness,” former Syracuse radio host Carl Nicita wrote on Facebook. “Bob and I have been close friends for 50 years.”

Syracuse.com reportsreports Gallup got his start in broadcasting with the North Syracuse High School radio club before a long career as a disc jockey on CNY radio stations like WSEN, WHEN, WOLF, WRRB, WSCP, and WPCX. He also served as program director for several stations, notably spearheading the launch of TK99 (WTKW-FM) as a country radio station in 1992.

“Country music is hot right now and Syracuse doesn’t have an FM country station,” Gallup, who was both PD and a DJ at the station, told The Post-Standard at the time.

According to the newspaper’s archives, it was the first new commercial radio station in the Syracuse radio market since WAQX-FM (95X) debuted in August 1978. TK99 started at 3,000 watts, playing artists like Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton and Hank Williams.

Today, TK99 is known as a classic rock radio station that broadcasts Syracuse University sports and New York Yankees games. But Gallup was right about country music: Syracuse now has multiple large FM radio stations playing the format, like B104.7 (WBBS-FM) and 92.1 The Wolf (WOLF-FM), and the genre has grown over the past three decades to the point where pop artists like Post Malone, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and Nelly have released country songs.

“Bob’s passion for country music was palpable,” his obit said. “He frequented events in Nashville such as Fan Fair, now known as the CMA Music Festival, and The Grand Ole Opry, where he rubbed shoulders and interviewed luminaries of the industry. From George Jones to Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks to Tammy Wynette, and countless others, Bob’s affable presence left an indelible mark. His resonant baritone voice became a familiar comfort to Central New Yorkers, earning him accolades such as DJ of the Year from Cortland’s Country Music Park.”