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Dave Herman

1936-2014 US

Dave Herman (1935 or 1936 – May 28, 2014) was an American disc jockey, popular in the New York metropolitan area from 1972 to 1998. Herman was born in Huntington, New York and was the son of an Orthodox rabbi. Herman began his career at 1410 WHTG in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and then moved to Philadelphia to become WMMR's first rock DJ. His show, dubbed The Marconi Experiment, debuted on April 29, 1968. The first song played on the show was "Flying" by The Beatles over the intro of which Herman recited these words: "Arise my heart, and fill your voice with music. For he who shares not dawn with his song, is one of the sons of ever darkness". He then moved to 95.5 WABC-FM in New York, which would later become WPLJ. He introduced Elton John during the live broadcast of a performance that was recorded for the album 11-17-70. Most notably, he later became the morning drive time host on WNEW-FM, where he was on the air from 1972 to 1982, 1986 to 1991 and then again from 1996 until the station ended its rock format in 1998. He was one of the station’s best-known voices. Herman was also heard on New York classic rock station 92.3 WXRK (now WBMP). He was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of notable disc jockeys. In 2013, Herman was arrested at the airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, after going there from his vacation home in the area. The criminal complaint stated he expected to meet a woman and her six-year-old daughter, who he allegedly believed was being brought for a sexual encounter with him. He was charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. His attorney claimed Herman was interested in the mother, not the girl. Herman died of an aneurysm on May 28, 2014, in the Essex County Jail in Newark, New Jersey, while awaiting trial. He was 78.

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