'This is the capstone of my life'
Michael Savage, the host of the nationally syndicated “The Savage Nation,” will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Savage told WND he will be inducted Nov. 17 at a ceremony in Chicago in the category of Spoken Word On-Air Personality.
“To me, this is the capstone of my life,” Savage said, “all my writing, all my speaking. This is it.”
This year, the National Radio Hall of Fame gave listeners a direct voice in selecting the inductees, allowing them to vote via text. The other nominees in his category were Sean Hannity, Diane Rehm and Mike Francesca.
Savage noted that he had promised his listeners that if he won, he would go to Chicago and “during my five minute speech, I would thank them for responding to my message of borders, language and culture.”
“I promised them that that would be said for one reason, because the speech will be put into the annals of radio history,” he said.
“And then in years to come, people will look back and say, ‘Who was this guy, Michael Savage? I know nothing about him, but his message was borders, language and culture during a period of great turmoil in American history.”
Notably, Savage’s message of borders, language and culture has been a fixture in the success of Donald Trump, who is expected officially to become the Republican Party’s nominee for president next week in Cleveland.
Savage was profiled recently by Salon magazine, which dubbed him “the Godfather of Trumpmania.”
Contemplating the significance of the honor, Savage said it was “as if I’m being inducted with Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.”
“When you consider some of the recipients in the golden days of radio, Orson Wells, Walter Winchell and others, I’m in the category of giants,” he said.
Savage said that with all the opposition and obstacles he’s faced over the years, it’s somewhat of a miracle that he won.
“I truly believe, as Rocky Graziano said, somebody up there likes me,” Savage said, “because there’s no explanation to me, having survived all these years in radio.”
After a court battle with his previous syndicator, Talk Radio Network, he was picked up by Cumulus Media in 2012, which put him in East Coast drive time, head-to-head with Hannity on some of the nation’s biggest stations, including WABC in New York, WMAL in Washington, WLS in Chicago, KCMO in Kansas City and KSFO San Francisco.
Savage complimented Hannity.
“I admire the strength of his convictions and his message, and how hard he works – TV and radio, I don’t know how he does it,” Savage said.
Noting he’s more than 20 years older than Hannity, Savage said Hannity and others in the talk-radio industry “who don’t even like my politics should take their hat off to me.”
“They should say, ‘You know what, this guy’s an inspiration to all of us, for what he’s overcome. It should inspire all of us to keep fighting for what they believe in.’
“It’s that simple. They don’t have to like my politics to admire my immigrant drive.”
National Radio Hall of Fame Chairman Kraig T. Kitchin said “this year’s class of inductees represents the diversity that makes radio so personal, entertaining and impactful.”
“We all very much appreciate everyone who participated in this process as we welcome the very best in our business into the National Radio Hall of Fame,” he said.
Savage’s show is syndicated across the U.S. by Cumulus Media in more than 200 markets. He is also the author of more than 30 books, including New York Times best-sellers. In 2007, he earned the coveted “Freedom of Speech Award” from Talkers Magazine, where he is consistently listed as one of the top talk shows in the nation.
His bestsellers include “Government Zero: No Borders, No Language, No Culture,” “Trickle Down Tyranny: Crushing Obama’s Dream of the Socialist States of America,” “Trickle Up Poverty: Stopping Obama’s Attack on Our Borders, Economy, and Security,” “The Savage Nation,” “The Enemy Within,” “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder,” “Political Zoo,” “Psychological Nudity: Savage Radio Stories” and “Banned in Britain.”
He holds a master’s degree in medical botany and a second in medical anthropology. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in epidemiology and nutrition sciences.
Copyright 2016 WND
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/michael-savage-wins-national-radio-hall-of-fame-award/#SYEY8xBej7pZ4AoO.99
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