The Voice of Atlantic City, NJ is One of the Top Talkers in US

In the world of talk radio, there are many names that have stood out from the rest.  Bob Grant set the stage for the others who later came along as the world of talk radio exploded onto the scene.

Here in our area, we've had access to some of the best hosts in the country.  Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity didn't become national names until they became stalwarts on WABC and in Philadelphia, Irv Homer and Dom Giordano are just some of the names who were a big part of talk radio history.

As good as those folks were, they weren't local.

Harry Hurley has held court in Atlantic City for over 31 years as the morning host and Sr. Programming Consultant at WPG Talk Radio.  When it comes to South Jersey, no one is more connected than Hurley.

Harry's been recognized by his peers for many high honors, including being the only broadcaster from South Jersey to be elected to the Philadelphia Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2013 and the New Jersey Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2015.

This month, Harry received another honor.  Each year, Talkers Magazine, a highly respected trade magazine, releases its list of the top 100 most influential radio talk show hosts.

For the ninth consecutive year, Harry has made the list.  This year, Hurley is ranked number 29.  He's the only South Jersey Talker who's ever made the list.

Unlike many similar lists, Talker's doesn't accept entries.  They have a blue-ribbon panel that looks for hosts who have longevity, are relevant and who contribute to their community in a meaningful way.  It's estimated there are more than 5,000 talk shows across America.

Harry considers the late Bob Grant, who he became friends with, the most influential person in his career.  "Bob taught me early on to be different and be real.  He taught me that listeners can spot a phony a mile away."

Harry is quick to point out that another important mentor through the years, is Michael Harrison, the founder of Talkers.  "It can't be said enough about the role Michael has played in not only my career, but many of those on that list."

Doing a show like Harry's requires support of your employer.  Many companies are hesitant to allow their talk hosts to rattle some cages.  Hurley says, "Townsquare Media has been nothing but supportive.  They've trusted me, and without that trust, I could never do the show I do."

In addition to his local show, Harry does fill-in work for Fox News Radio, where he frequently fills in for Brian Kilmeade, Jimmy Failla and Guy Benson.

When Harry isn't on the air, he's giving back to the community.  His foundation has raised over 1.4 million dollars over the past 16 years, an accomplishment he takes great pride in.

If there's one thing that's more important to Harry than his career, its family.  He loves talking about his wife, Margie, as well as his adult kids, Kristin, Lauren and Robert and one grandson, Noah. He says, "No doubt, I'm blessed."