{{short description|American radio personality (1923–2011)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox presenter |name = Danny Stiles |other_names = The Vicar |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_name = |birth_date = {{birth date|1923|12|2|mf=y}} |birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2011|3|11|1923|12|2}} |death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |website = {{URL|www.dannystiles.com}} }}
'''Danny Stiles''' (December 2, 1923<ref name=WFMU>{{Cite web|url=http://wfmu.org/playlists/JS|title=Jonesville Station|website=Wfmu.org|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> – March 11, 2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/music/news/danny-stiles-n-y-radio-host-dies-at-87-1118033948/|title=Danny Stiles, N.Y. radio host, dies at 87|website=Variety (magazine)|date=March 16, 2011|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> was a radio personality at WEVD, WNYC, WNSW, WJDM and WPAT in the New York City market. He worked on the radio for 63 years in the New York City area,<ref name=DailyNews55>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2002/12/02/2002-12-02_danny_stiles_marks_55_years_.html|title=Daily News: "Danny Stiles Marks 55 Years on the Radio"|website=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> up to the time of his death.
==Early life== Danny Stiles was born and grew up in Newark and Linden, New Jersey, during The Great Depression. After graduating from high school in 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After being honorably discharged due to an injured hip, Stiles went to college and held several jobs before starting his radio career.<ref name=WFMU/>
==Career== Stiles's first radio job was at WHBI in Newark on December 2, 1947, buying the air time for $65 a week.<ref name=WFMU/> His career took him to WHOL in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and stations in New Jersey before returning to Newark on WNJR (AM) as the "Kat Man."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2003/12/01/2003-12-01_danny_stiles_at_80__the_plat.html|title=DANNY STILES AT 80: THE PLATTERS STILL SPIN|website=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> At WNJR, Danny met Robert Smith, a young Brooklyn native working as a gofer, who would later move to the border blaster XERB-AM and broadcast as Wolfman Jack.<ref name=WFMU/>
Stiles, who among other alliterative monikers called himself The Vicar of Vintage Vinyl, had a loyal fan following and a distinctive radio presence.<ref name=tribute>{{Cite web|url=https://citycalledheaven.blogspot.com/2011/03/god-bless-you-danny-stiles.html|title=God bless you, Danny Stiles|website=Citycalledheaven.blogspot.com|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> At the end of his life, Danny was heard on four stations in Metro New York, on WRCA AM 1330, serving the Boston, Massachusetts area, and was streaming 24 hours a day on the Internet.<ref name=stiles>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dannystiles.com/|title=The Danny Stiles Virtual Music Museum-Big Band Music and much more, WNSW 1430, WNYC and WPAT|website=Dannystiles.com|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> The broadcast material came largely from his personal collection of over 250,000 records, many in their original 78 rpm format.<ref name=stilesbio>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/about/bios_host.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118040951/http://www.wnyc.org/about/bios_host.html|url-status=dead|title=WNYC - About WYNC - Host Bios|archive-date=January 18, 2009|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref>
After his death on March 11, 2011, Stiles continued to be heard, with vintage shows re-aired Saturday nights at 8 pm Eastern time on WNYC AM 820,<ref name=WNYC>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnyc.org/shows/music-museum/about|title=Danny Stiles' Music Museum | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News|website=Wnyc.org|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> until its final broadcast on January 3, 2015. His website dannystiles.com still offers a stream of archived shows.<ref name=stiles />
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{YouTube|oGXn8RMB3Jo|Danny Stiles Signing On}} * {{YouTube|oGXn8RMB3Jo|Teaser for upcoming documentary}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stiles, Danny}} Category:1923 births Category:2011 deaths Category:American radio personalities Category:People from Linden, New Jersey Category:Mass media people from Newark, New Jersey Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II