The Radio Hall of Fame has selected nine deceased broadcasters for induction. All nine join as part of the 2026 “Legends” class, with the ceremony set for October.
What We Know: The Hall’s 2026 Nominating Committee chose all nine honorees. They include WXRT’s Lin Brehmer, Vee-Jay Records co-founder Vivian Carter, and Boston host Dale Dorman. Executive Gary Krantz, TV personality Wink Martindale, and format pioneer B. Mitchel Reed also made the class. Philadelphia’s Pierre Robert, Latin radio icon Polito Vega, and Midwest Communications founder Duke Wright round out the group.
What They Said: Radio Hall of Fame Co-Chair Kraig Kitchen: “The Radio Hall of Fame is proud to honor this year’s Legends inductees, whose extraordinary careers have helped define the history and enduring impact of radio. From iconic on-air personalities to visionary executives, each has left an indelible mark on our industry and earned their rightful place in the Radio Hall of Fame.”
What Remains Unclear: Exact details how each of the nine inductees will be celebrated remains unclear.
What It Means: This class spans nearly every radio format, from Top 40 to Salsa to progressive rock. Consequently, it underscores radio’s reach across cities, decades, and communities. For listeners, it’s a moment to celebrate voices that shaped daily habits for generations. For the industry, it reaffirms radio’s cultural relevance heading into its next era.
FULL BIOS ON EACH LEGEND OF THE 2026 RADIO HALL OF FAME CLASS, CLICK HERE
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.