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GettingPersonal_John_Debella_Profile ( Dept . ) 8 / 29 / 19 9 : 28 AM Page 1 GETTING PERSONAL WMGK morning host and longtime Philly disc jockey John DeBella riffs on his signature ‘ stache , his love of Shakespeare and his favorite places to visit from Disney World to around the world . 1 . I have a college degree … but not in 6 . You don’t have to ask me twice . My 10 . Former Phillie Garry Maddox communications . three favorite places in the world are started my passion for helping I studied scenic , Venice , London and Disney World . I veterans . lighting and costume design in col - After a meeting to build a would go to any of them at the drop of lege . ( Yes , I’m a man who can sew . ) I Vietnam veterans memorial in a hat … and have . never planned on going into radio . Philadelphia , Garry approached me and personally asked for my help . I explained that as a former hippie 2 . I haven’t seen my upper lip since 7 . If you saw the recently watched list I still had a lot of anger about that 1967 . I grew my mustache when I was a on my TV it would be shows about war . Garry said , “ John , it’s time to junior in high school . I had every imag - history , outer space / space travel separate the war from the warrior . ” inable style of mustache until sometime and Shakespeare . Yes , I really love Those words became the epiphany in the mid ’ 70s when I grew a beard . Shakespeare . n that changed my life forever . That stayed for about five years and when I shaved it off this mustache 8 . My son Casey is an insanely talented appeared . Even when I think I have it musician , writer and producer . That is under control ; I don’t . The present not paternal pride . By 11 years old he handle bar style was its choice . figured out recording and overdubbing on his own . He only applied to one college : the Berklee College of Music 3 . Prior to being in radio I worked on an in Boston , and got in . He lives and ice cream truck , worked for Joe Papp in works in LA and his new album is the New York Public Theater , built on its way . costumes for the New York Shakespeare Festival , managed a rock band and ran a chain of movie theaters . 9 . I married Elly May Clampett . My wife Lisa is a very talented painter , decorator and real estate agent . 4 . My love for dogs comes from not Lisa is also a huge animal lover . She having one . My mother was not a fan of bred Old English Sheepdogs for dogs and I wasn’t allowed to have one . years and at one time we had four But I was the “ he followed me home ” sheep dogs and two cats , along kid . I got to keep them until we found with freshwater , saltwater and the owner . I got at least four or five dogs pond fish . If she’s watch - that way . My father said I must smell ing TV it’s usually like bacon . some show about , vets , aquariums 5 . My love for music is my grandfather or behind the and Lloyd Price’s fault . No one in my scenes at a zoo . family played a musical instrument , but Personally , I music was on wherever we were . I grew believe she up listening to standards and big bands should have until Elvis came along . For my 9th birth - been a lawyer day my grandfather gave me an Emerson because I transistor radio . One of the first songs I rarely win an heard was Lloyd Price’s “ Personality . ” argument . I’ve been addicted to music ever since . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 6 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 16 |