One of the most well-known Top-40 radio personalities in the Baltimore area, Johnny worked for over 30 years at WCAO throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s!
In 1953 he began his radio career at WHIL, Boston, where he was known as Al Bennett. After brief stints at Washington D.C.’s WEAM, and Boston’s WMEX (as Al Donovan) he came to WCAO in 1961. During the ‘60s and ‘‘70s (in addition to his daily radio shift) Johnny moonlighted as a club dee jay and was seen performing special shows at the Golden 40 Inn in 1975, and the Flaming Pit in 1976.
“An Album of WCAO Solid Gold.”
Johnny operated a club called the Dark Corner at 3610 S. Hanover Street until early 1969. As the host of The Johnny Dark Show TV program on WMET-TV channel 24 in the late ‘60s he featured local bands.
Dark was the featured announcer on the “Cruisin’ 1968” album that featured hits from 1968 along with commercials and WCAO jingles.
Johnny returned to Baltimore in 1992-93 to host the WMIX 106.5 (‘MIX 106′) program ’70s Saturday Night.’ He later moved on to Washington D.C.’s FM 100.3 oldies station WBIG where he continued to work in the ‘00s.
