This month Toby Tobin starts his 29th year on the radio providing folks in Kansas City with lawn and garden, home repair, housing, carpet, restaurant, and even advice on where to buy the best heaters, cookies and cars.
While Toby Tobin has been on KMBZ (98.1 FM, 980 AM) Saturday mornings from 6-10 a.m. since 1983, his late father, Jack, was on talk radio for 20 years on WDAF dating back to 1963 providing advice.
Between the father and son that is 49 years on the airwaves in Kansas City.
Loyal listeners have been following Tobin family advice for nearly half a century and both the father and son’s impact cannot be over-estimated.
When Toby Tobin recommends a product or service people listen and respond. He has a large list of his “Best & Brightest” advertisers.
Without a doubt, he might be Kansas City’s pre-eminent pitchman for products ranging from cars to room heaters.
It’s when he gives lawn advice people really listen.
“I swear if Toby Tobin told people to mow their lawns in the nude about 90% of the people in KC neighborhoods would be doing it,” says a loyal listener who says he uses his “Toby Tobin” card regularly at the Nut & Bolts Hardware store for discounts.
“He might be the most trusted spokesman in KC for products ever.”
The four-hour show often sprinkles lawn and garden advice with a series of guests who pay to be on his show. In between, Tobin does a series of infomercials for his advertisers. He says he only recommends products he truly uses himself.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Toby Tobin’s grandfather and father both owned the Tobin Seed Company. Toby worked at a number of nursery companies and in 1978 founded Tobin Lawn and Landscape with brother Mark that is still operating today in KC.
And while brother Mark will occasionally sub on the show, Toby’s wife “EJ” has been by his side the entire time fielding calls from listeners.
With the Tobins it truly has been a family affair.
Isn’t Toby’s wife, “Ellen?”
49th year or \29th, mr media critic?
Mr. Accurate,
I thought the same thing at first but read on. Toby has 29 years and his dad, Jack, 20. The fourth paragraph says it:
“Between the father and son that is 49 years on the airwaves in Kansas City.”
I have changed the headline and some copy. Sorry if it was confusing.
I’m 54 now. I remember that Jack Tobin’s show played music requests along with the Talk.
I don’t remember Jack taking requests (‘course, I could be wrong because I remember very little these days). Whenever “The Late” Jim Tyler didn’t make it in by 6am for his show, Jack would play Jim Reeves’ “He’ll Have to Go”, a very slow moving song that had half of Kansas City falling back asleep. He’d play the song over and over until Jim hit the door. I’ll never forget Jack’s famous laugh. In my 34 years at WDAF, I never met a kinder, sweeter, more gentle man. (Dan Henry a close second.) Congrats Toby!