Radio Ink Magazine – May 06, 2019

12 RADIOINK•COM MAY 6, 2019

JosephAbboudhasbeendesigningand

creating styles and trends in fashion for

men for three decades. This renowned

fashion designer has had a brick-and-

mortar Madison Avenue business address

for only about four years, but he is no

stranger to the airwaves in the nation’s top

radio market. Abboud, a frequent guest

on Imus in the Morning, is now a regular

on Imus successor Bernie and Sid in the

Morning on Cumulus’s WABC/New York.

Radio Ink: Tell us how you got involved

with radio, and why.

Abboud: I’m a commuter. I live in

Westchester County — my commutes are

now two hours. There is something about

radio that I think is really engaging; you

use your imagination and you relate to the

talent.

So it goes back to my early commut-

ing days, listening to Imus. I kind of got

to know him because he discovered my

clothesandthoughtI wassomefrou-frou

European designer. I remember calling

him up and telling him, “You’ve got it all

wrong, I’m an American designer. I’m glad

you love my clothes. And how much more

American can I be? I’m a Red Sox fan.”

We started that relationship in the very

early ’90s. Even before he was syndicated,

Imus had a very big audience and a very

influential audience. So I found that being

engaged, instead of just advertising, made

it all that much more real.

Radio Ink: With Imus, you went in

and pitched your designs and pitched

your business, but it was always a

conversation. That must have been

pretty special for you.

Abboud: He was such a character, and the

circle of guests he had, from politicians

to musicians to comedians — he really

had a broad range. I think back then he

was voted one of the 25 Most Influential

People in America. That was at the high

point, and he also did a lot of charitable

work that I felt I wanted to be involved

with. It became more of a relationship

than advertising.

Radio Ink: How is working with Bernie

and Sid on WABC different from

working with Imus?

Abboud: Bernie and Sid are amazing. I

called them the first week they went on

the air and I told them it was the first time

I could actually remember the energy and

excitement of looking forward to getting

in the car and listening to them. They are

great together. We go back a long way

from the Imus days.

They have a positive message, and there

is no meanness or mean-spirited dialogue

with them. Even if they don’t agree with

each other or if they goof around with

their guests occasionally, they are very

deferential and respectful. It’s a breath of

fresh air because we lived through those

days of being brutalized with Imus. They

have the same wit, and Sid’s range of

sports is pretty incredible, and Bernie’s

experience with politics and all of the

things he experienced through his Imus

years. They are both very likable guys,

and their voices come across as likable on

the radio.

Radio Ink: Tell us about your weekly

appearance on Bernie and Sid in the

Morning.

Abboud: Every Wednesday we do a fash-

ion tip, but generally it’s more about

sports. They know I’m a diehard Boston

fan, even though we are in the New York

market. We talk about all the history

Radio: A Perfect

Fit For This Men’s

Fashion Legend

Joseph Abboud (c) with Bernie and Sid in the Morning’s Sid Rosenberg

and Bernie McGuirk

By Rob Dumke