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Chuck Harder
Chuck began his radio career as a deejay during high school at WRMN in his hometown, Elgin, Illinois. In 1963 he came to Tampa Bay and worked weekends at WALT before eventually being added to the line-up at Gordon McLendon’s legendary Top 40 WYNR. From there he moved into national radio and TV production.
In 1979 Chuck started doing talk radio at Tampa Bay’s WPLP and WNSI, moved over to WFLA, and then on to New York’s WMCA and NBC’s Talknet. Most of his show’s calls came from consumers who needed help with financial problems or were having trouble with products, the government, etc.
Under the umbrella of a non-profit organization, Chuck turned to syndicating his broadcasts by satellite from studios in the historic Telford Hotel in the North Central Florida town of White Springs. In 1987, he founded the “For the People” program and Peoples Network, Inc (PNI). Supported by listener memberships and donations, the program provides a forum for John Q. Citizen to learn the workings of government and useful consumer and financial information. Guests included James Earl Jones, Pat Buchanan, Ross Perot, Hal Lindsey, Ralph Nader, and hundreds of others. At its peak in the early to mid 1990’s, “For the People” was carried on over 300 stations, second only to Rush Limbaugh.
Because of deteriorating health since 2004, he became unable to continue his daily radio show and cancelled it in late 2009. Since then, he has tried launching an Internet-based TV network, a weekend oldies music program, a satellite-based easy-listening show and classic-rock station and, in 2015, a webcast of his classic "For The People" show with Keith Alan.
In August 2016, Chuck underwent major heart surgery and was confined to a nursing home/hospice in Gainesville, Florida, ending his media career. He passed away April 10, 2018 at age 74.
Station History
1963 - 1987 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (On Air Personality)
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