Hy Lit

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Hy Lit, born "Hyman Aaron Lit", (May 20, 1934 – November 17, 2007) was a Philadelphia-area DJ from the 1950s until 2005. In his 50 year career, Hy Lit broadcasted from WIBG-AM, WDAS-AM/FM, WKBS-TV, WIFI, and WSNI/WPGR. His last station was WOGL, where he broadcasted from 1989 until his retirement late in 2005.

Hy Lit was born to Sam and Mona (Kessler) Lit, in South Philadelphia-area. At one time in the 1960s, Hy hosted the nationally syndicated "Hy Lit Show," from WKBS-TV in Philadelphia, which aired in more than 30 markets nationwide. At his early 1960s peak, leading WIBG's "Good Guys," his "Hall of Fame" show drew a 71 market share (unheard of before or since.) He released several successful LP, "Hall of Fame" collections of music he played on the show, the last of these when he joined WPGR-AM in 1981. Around 1978, Hy Lit moved to California after a brief but successful stint with the Harlem Globetrotters before once more returning to the Philiadelphia area. In 1977, when WIBG went off the air forever, he was the last DJ on the air.

Hy will best be remembered as a legendary radio disc jockey who had a great knowledge of music and its artistry. His shows educated listeners about the history behind the tunes, as a source of entertaininment, as well.

Since 1982, and many years to follow Hy, hosted a live oldies radio show at different area clubs (most notably the Woodbine Inn in Pennsauken, NJ, where he'd close his commercials by saying, "I wanna see your face in the place!") Hy moved to WOGL-FM in 1989, hosting the highly-rated "Top 20 Countdown" on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in addition to his weekday afternoon shift.

He had an elite sense of humor and would often refer to himself as "Hyski," or "Hyski O'Rooney McVoutie O'Zoot." An interesting note, Hy had once asked the legendary voice, actor Orson Welles to record the "Hyski O'Rooney.." tag for his radio show.

In 1988, it was revealed that Hy was suffering from the beginnings of Parkinson’s disease. Just after the death of Hy's wife Maggie (Russo) Lit in 2000, WOGL and Infinity/CBS Broadcasting management significantly reduced Hy's radio hours, along with a significant decrease in salary. In 2002, a lawsuit was filed with the aide of law firm, Spector, Gaddon and Rosen, against the media conglomerate, Infinity Broadcasting, which for a second and concurrent time decided it was best to reduce Hy's radio time and salary.

In December 2005, Hy Lit, station WOGL, and Infinity/CBS Broadcasting settled the three-year age-discrimination lawsuit, under the condition that Hy Lit would (reluctantly) retire from the station. Sadly, Hy did his last radio show "Hy Lit Hall of Fame Show" on December 11, 2005. However, WOGL management would not permit Hy to reveal he would be leaving the airwaves and abandoning hundreds of listeners left to wondering what happened to the legendary Hy Lit.

Of recent and many thanks to satellite technology, HyLitRadio.com (an enterprise begun with his only son, Sam) was born. HyLitradio.com with its terrestrial radio simulcasts over selected radio stations would and remain keeping Hy and his magnificent voice alive. Furthermore, there exists Hy Lit Radio Technologies Inc. also develops advanced software engine applications, including the recently launched HyLitGlobalSearch.com.

He died at 12:30 pm November 17, 2007, at Paoli Memorial Hospital of kidney failure. He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. He is survived by his beloved older sister Udel (Lit) Steinberg, who resides in North Philadelphia. Lit has a son, Sam Lit and daughter Benna (Lit) Martucci. He has three grandchildren, all of which reside in the Philadelphia region.^[1]