Robert Blake Harper (1939 – July 22, 2003) was a Canadian-born
In June 1965, Harper was fired from WSAI after he was involved in legal problems including three speeding convictions in 14 months and convictions for disorderly conduct. WSAI's owners also fired the station's general manager, who had allowed Harper to continue working up to that point.
While in Atlanta, Harper also worked for seven other radio stations, including WIIN, WPLO, WLTA, WKLS, WAKY and WSB.
An article in The Atlanta Constitution in 1975 described Harper as the "one-time rascal of early morning repartee for WIIN radio" and said that he was "once known as The King of Bad Taste". In his early years on WIIN, Harper was known for editorializing as he ranted against the Vietnam War and President Richard Nixon. He also made unexpected telephone calls to the White House and J. Edgar Hoover, as well as others. The program, Now Explosion, ran from noon each Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday and from noon each Sunday until 3 a.m. Monday. Harper and Bob Todd were the hosts.
Later in 1970, a different version of the program, The Now Explosion! was broadcast on WPIX-TV in New York City. It premiered on June 20 with a 4:30-6 p.m. broadcast followed by a different episode that night from 11 o'clock to 2 a.m. Harper was described in an article in the New York Daily News as "the off-camera announcer". The programs were recorded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Other activities
After being released from WSB in 1991,