Gene Arnold

Philadelphia Radio and TV Personality "Giant" Gene Arnold (b. July 11) was born and raised in Philadelphia. Gene and wife Terry had been part of "The Sounds Of Philly" scene for years between other careers singing, acting, and finally, in 1967, beginning his radio career on WIFI-FM with Ron Josephs.They played "oldies" and had record hops and dances as well. One evening, Gene did not bring his record case and found a group of albums on the station floor. He had to play something on the air, so he discovered sounds he'd never heard before, and the audience loved them as the 'phones ran off the hooks. his love for progressive rock began at that moment, causing a rift between Josephs and Arnold.

"The History Of The Sounds Of Philly", and all of the stars who made it, can be found at Giant Gene's website, where much more about the members of the Disco DJ Hall Of Fame, and The Philadelphia Radio and TV Hall Of Fame, can be found. Arnold was later on WCAM, WCAU (with his "Gene Arnold's American Scene" talk show), and on WIBG, with "Giant Gene's Electric Scene." He was also a regular on many TV shows and hosted the Jerry Lewis telethon (among others) in Philadelphia for quite a few years in the '70's.

Arnold and his wife Terry helped pioneer many of the early Philadelphia progressive-rock groups such as Nazz, American Dream, Stone Dawn, Woody's Truck Stop, Mandrake Memorial, Elizabeth, The Legions, and MC'd many of the top concerts in the region at the Electric factory and the Spectrum such as Jimi Hendrix and The Doors.

He was also a favorite of The Allman Brothers, bringing them onstage at various times.

He ran Gene Arnold & Company with his wife Terry for years, producing advertising and marketing for the hippest young companies like Merry Go Round, Deb Shops, Barbara Moss, Jean Nicole, and many others, as well as producing and appearing in thousands of radio and TV spots and info-mercials as the spokesperson or voice.

In 1988, Gene was injured in an auto accident, and was forced to retire from that end of the business. In 2001, his son Jody (also a "Disco DJ Hall Of Fame" member) encouraged him to re-live the great times he had as part of so much of the Philly Sound, and with the help of web guru Rich Levin, Bob Davis of Soul-Patrol.net, (where many of Gene's Superstar Concert series can be heard again), and Netcetra.com, they're keeping Gene's Philly Sounds alive.

Vince Montana Jr., the driving force behind the Philly Sound, MFSB Orchestra, and his Sal-Soul Orchestra, is also a good friend of Gene's, and a big part of Gene's History Of Disco series heard worldwide.They feature a huge "Philly" favorites rotating scrapbook at their site GiantGene.com, where it's all done for the "fun of it".

Gene was recently honored as MC at the big "Brotherly Love" Concert produced by George Manney, starring many of Philly's finest like Charlie Gracie, The Soul Survivors, Essra Mohawk, Stewkey's NAZZ, American Dream, and The Orlons, among others. A DVD of that show is planned by Manney's GeoSound.net productions.