Joseph Priestley (J.P.) McCarthy

Joseph Priestley (J.P.) McCarthy
Radio Personality WJR (1956 – 1995)

J. P. McCarthy was born in New York City, New York moving to Detroit as a youth where he graduated from De La Salle High School. McCarthy was drafted into the Army and stationed in Alaska where he got his first taste of broadcasting. When he was released from the Army, he started at a radio station in Flint. After a few additional moves he eventually settled in at WJR, where he would become Detroit’s number one radio show in the morning drive time-slot for the next 30 years. His radio show was a mix of music, news and sports with a series of interviews mixed in. He had that rare ability to interview people from all walks of life. He had a great love of sports, which showed up in many of his interviews. He would regularly interview the coaches and managers of Detroit's professional  sports teams as well as promoting other sports, such as sailing, skiing and golf.  J. P. McCarthy was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He passed away on August 16, 1995 at 62 years of age.