ATL’s Dr. William “Bill” A. Gay Has Died

Dr. William “Bill” A. Gay, affectionately known as “The Love Doctor,” has been a transformative figure in American broadcasting since the early 1970s. With a dynamic career that spans over five decades, Dr. Gay’s voice, vision, and technical brilliance have shaped the landscape of Black radio, from the Mid-Atlantic to the Deep South.

His career began in 1971 in Baltimore and Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., where he first sharpened his skills in audio engineering and on-air performance. Early on, he made history as the first Black radio engineer and board operator at Baltimore’s WCAO AM-FM, a major Top 50 music station at the time. While in Gaithersburg, he also performed as a radio announcer under the on-air pseudonym Bob Kinney at WHMC AM.

Dr. Gay played a pivotal role in helping establish WHUR 96.3 FM, the iconic Howard University radio station that would become a national model for urban-format broadcasting.

In 1974, he relocated to Atlanta after being personally hired by the legendary James “Alley Pat” Patrick to join WERD 860 AM, the nation’s first Black-owned radio station. When the station’s license was later acquired by Radio-AD, Inc. and rebranded as WXAP 860 AM, Dr. Gay was appointed as Chief Engineer, becoming the youngest Black Chief Engineer in America at the time. He also served as the station’s Program Director and Music Director, guiding content and sound that spoke directly to the cultural heartbeat of Atlanta’s Black community.

Dr. Gay’s voice continued to resonate across the dial through his work as a jazz and R&B DJ. He hosted programs on:

• WRFG 89.3 FM (Jazz DJ)
• WXLL 1310 AM (Gospel & R&B DJ)
• WYZE 1480 AM (R&B DJ)
• WCLK 91.9 FM, where he was beloved as the “Oldies Heart & Soul DJ” for 12 years

Beyond radio, he contributed to public education and broadcast training as an Instructor at Elkins Institute School of Broadcasting, and as a Supervisor Television Engineer for the Georgia Department of Education. He also served as Atlanta Region Facility Manager, overseeing technical operations with precision and professionalism.

In recent years, Dr. Gay launched his own online radio platform, continuing his mission to uplift soul, jazz, and classic R&B for new generations of listeners.

His extraordinary contributions have been widely recognized:

• 2015 Best Old School DJ Award for his work at WERD and WCLK 91.9 FM
• Inducted into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame in February 2021
• Appointed Director of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for the National Black Radio Hall of Fame’s national chapters
• Earned an Honorary Doctorate for his lifetime of service in media and the arts

Personal Life
Dr. Gay is married to Annie “Candi” Gay, and together they have three daughters. He is the proud son of Alice Hembyand George Gay, and the grandson of Pa Bob Gay and Ma Lillie Parker Gay, from whom he inherited a legacy of resilience and purpose.

From the soundboard to the spotlight, Dr. William “Bill” Gay has been more than a DJ—he is a cultural historian, a pioneering engineer, and a passionate advocate for the power of Black media. His voice, aptly known as The Love Doctor, continues to echo in the hearts of loyal listeners and in the legacy of American radio.

Dr. William “Bill” A. Gay “The Love Doctor” transitioned on August 20, 2025.

Contributor of this story: Marsha Washington George