John Patrick Herbert

John Patrick "Jack Edwards" Herbert, a rock-n-roll-era Baltimore radio host, died Dec. 17 at Sinai Hospital after suffering a fall at his Reisterstown home. He was 86.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Patterson Park and Back River, he was the son of John Francis Herbert and Frances Marie Herman. After his father's death, he was raised by his stepfather, James "Sarge" Henrickson. He attended St. Elizabeth of Hungary School and was a Kenwood High School graduate.

As a teen, he was captivated by pop music and records, as well as jukeboxes. On weekly bus trips to Highlandtown he'd buy a new disc — then 39 cents — at the Yaeger's music shop near Haussner's Restaurant. His first record was singer June Valli's version of "Crying in the Chapel" in 1953. His library expanded accordingly over the decades.

He met his future wife, Joyce Reiblich at the concession stand at Milford Mill Swim Club, where radio station WCAO sponsored dances. They married at St. Ignatius Church in Mount Vernon in 1967.

While at a Catholic Youth Organization dance, he met Jack Dawson, who would go on to become a WMAR-TV sports announcer. Mr. Dawson brought Mr. Herbert into work shifts at WWIN-radio. And it was Mr. Dawson who dubbed him "Jack Edwards," the name he would use on the air.

As Jack Edwards, he became a late-night mainstay at WCAO radio on the all-night shift beginning in the late 1950s. He moved on to WCBM-radio, another AM station, in 1974.

"He really thrived at WCBM. He was so popular he started doing live performances at the Bowman restaurant on Harford Road on Saturday nights. His show was broadcast live," said Joe Evelius, friend and fellow radio worker.

"He was friendly and liked to ask questions, maybe for a prize," said Mr. Evelius. Those questions often involved the Supremes or Elvis, and what were their No. 1 hits, in chronological order.

Mr. Herbert tried experimenting as a television director for WBAL-TV for a year. He didn't like the job.

"He told me he missed the music," his wife Joyce said.

Hal Martin, a WCBM radio colleague, said, "He was very personable. He was an amazing musicologist. He knew the artist, the label, what year it came out. He knew what was the flip side."

Bob Mathers, another radio colleague, said, "Jack had immense talent that could have landed him in much larger markets. But he loved his hometown, and his hometown loved him."

Mr. Herbert later worked at other stations. He was last on the air at WTTR in Westminster in 2023.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Joyce Reiblich Herbert, a retired Baltimore County Schools family studies teacher; a son, Patrick Herbert, of Towson; a daughter, Candice Herbert, of Glen Burnie; a sister, Geraldine Nickerson, of Centreville; and two grandchildren.

(Written by Jacques Kelly of the Baltimore Sun)

The family will receive friends for a memorial gathering on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, from 3:00-4:00 pm, at the ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., 11605 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117, where a memorial service will begin at 4:00 pm.

Inurnment is private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be sent to the charity of your choice.