Somers Point local, Bill Culp brings listeners from around the world to experience the nostalgia and musical heritage that is the Jersey Shore through his weekly shows.
Growing up in Juniata Park in Northeast Philly, Culp shared that both his neighborhood and his many trips to the Shore have truly shaped his music and life.
Down the Shore, Culp’s radio show, is broadcast on an internet radio station that can be listened to on famous56wfil.com.
Listeners can tune in on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. On Saturday, Culp allows his loyal listeners to choose the pace. The previous week, he will give them a theme that the following Saturday show will follow. Listeners are then able to chime in with song requests that fit that theme.
Culp shares that he always gets hundreds of requests, and it completely fills his time slot. On Sunday, he plays Frank Sinatra and friends, with a tagline setting the music’s easy going and chill mood, “Get a second cup of coffee and ease into the day.”
Culp was a communications major at Temple University, where he got involved in all the forms of media before finding a passion within radio. His first time on air was with the Temple radio station in November of 1969, and he’s grown over the years from there.
He’s been on various FM or AM stations over the years, but his current show, Down the Shore with Philly Bill, has been his home for 20 years now.
While his listeners don’t just hail from the Jersey Shore or Philly area, the music and influence do.
“I think this show does something different than how radio used to be. I got my first gig in 1971, so I’ve been doing it a long time and then we talked at the audience more,” Culp said. “Now, I talk to the audience. Because of that, I have a very loyal following and I think the show is more personal for them.”
Culp shared that the listeners have formed a sense of community within themselves, whether it be liking each other’s recommendations or all checking in on Facebook together. He’s able to communicate with so many different people in so many ways.
Culp moved down to South Jersey full-time and lived in Ocean City for 15 years before leaving for Florida, where he lived for seven years. Just last year, he and his wife came back and got a place in Somers Point. He currently has a radio studio here in Somers Point and one in Florida for when he is back and forth between the two. But regardless of any travel, Culp will never miss a show or a chance to connect with his community on air.
“I love the music, the songs I play and the requests that come in,” Culp said. “But, my favorite part is talking to and entertaining the listeners. I get a lot of feedback, make friends and just have lots of people to communicate with in lots of different ways.”
Down the Shore with Philly Bill Culp is on the radio network RPM Radio, where Culp is the program director. In addition to his two shows on their flagship station of Famous 56, there are also many other stations of all different genres, from country and yacht rock to a blues station coming soon.
After all these years on air, Culp still finds the rush of being an on-air personality freeing and something he loves to do. And it’s clear that his listeners love it as well.
For Culp, Down the Shore is about much more than just playing music. It’s about bringing people together, sharing the music and memories that make the Jersey Shore so special and giving listeners a reason to tune in week after week. After more than 50 years in radio, Culp continues to do what he loves while keeping the spirit of the Shore and its musical influence alive on air.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
