Scott Ross (television personality)
Encyclopedia
Scott Ross is a former American
radio
disk jockey, now better known as an interviewer for The 700 Club
on the Christian Broadcasting Network
.
Born in Scotland
, Ross and his parents emigrated when he was nine years old. Ross' career began in the 1960s as a DJ and assistant program director
for WINS
radio in New York City. There, Ross gained connections to some of the era's best known rock groups, including the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan
. He also was the master of ceremonies
for one of The Beatles
' concerts at Shea Stadium
. During this time, Ross met the singing group The Ronettes
and dated two of its members. One of them, Nedra Talley
, eventually became his wife.
Ross later became a born-again Christian, and focused his professional efforts on the nascent contemporary Christian music
genre. In the early 1970s, Ross started a new syndicated radio show, The Scott Ross Show, which at its peak was carried by more than 200 stations.
Ross finally ended up at CBN, which at the time also included The Family Channel among its outlets. Ross began as a personality on CBN's local radio station. His sometimes controversial comments often aroused the ire of the largely conservative Christian audience. Ross was a featured interviewer of The 700 Club, often talking with guests from the entertainment world, some of which he had worked with before his religious conversion.
For three years, he hosted his own talk show, Scott Ross Straight Talk, which was of a format similar to The Phil Donahue Show
but from an evangelical Christian perspective. Ross was twice nominated for CableACE award
s for this show.
Ross' guests were frequently from outside of Christian circles, which occasionally caused conflicts with CBN staff members. Nonetheless, CBN founder Pat Robertson
stood behind him.
Ross' various interview subjects include "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz
, Johnny Cash
, Sandi Patty
, Amy Grant
, Steven Spielberg
, Noel Paul Stookey of Peter Paul and Mary, Willie Nelson
, and Reba McIntire.
Ross remains with CBN to this day. His interviews are still featured on The 700 Club. Over the years, Ross has occasionally filled in for Robertson on the show, though less so in recent years.
Ross and Talley celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
disk jockey, now better known as an interviewer for The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
on the Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
.
Born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Ross and his parents emigrated when he was nine years old. Ross' career began in the 1960s as a DJ and assistant program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
for WINS
WINS (AM)
WINS , known on-air as "Ten-Ten Wins", is a radio station in New York City, owned by CBS Radio. WINS's studios are in the combined CBS Radio facility at 345 Hudson Street in the TriBeCa section of Manhattan, and transmitting towers in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.WINS is one of the nation's oldest...
radio in New York City. There, Ross gained connections to some of the era's best known rock groups, including the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. He also was the master of ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
for one of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' concerts at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
. During this time, Ross met the singing group The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
and dated two of its members. One of them, Nedra Talley
Nedra Talley
Nedra Talley, now Nedra Talley Ross , was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett. She is of African-American, Native American and Puerto Rican descents...
, eventually became his wife.
Ross later became a born-again Christian, and focused his professional efforts on the nascent contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
genre. In the early 1970s, Ross started a new syndicated radio show, The Scott Ross Show, which at its peak was carried by more than 200 stations.
Ross finally ended up at CBN, which at the time also included The Family Channel among its outlets. Ross began as a personality on CBN's local radio station. His sometimes controversial comments often aroused the ire of the largely conservative Christian audience. Ross was a featured interviewer of The 700 Club, often talking with guests from the entertainment world, some of which he had worked with before his religious conversion.
For three years, he hosted his own talk show, Scott Ross Straight Talk, which was of a format similar to The Phil Donahue Show
The Phil Donahue Show
The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, is an American television talk show that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, and it was broadcast nationwide between 1967 and 1996.In 2002, Donahue was ranked #29 on TV Guide's...
but from an evangelical Christian perspective. Ross was twice nominated for CableACE award
CableACE Award
The CableACE Award was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programming...
s for this show.
Ross' guests were frequently from outside of Christian circles, which occasionally caused conflicts with CBN staff members. Nonetheless, CBN founder Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
stood behind him.
Ross' various interview subjects include "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz
David Berkowitz
David Richard Berkowitz , also known as Son of Sam and the .44 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer and arsonist whose crimes terrorized New York City from July 1976 until his arrest in August 1977.Shortly after his arrest in August 1977, Berkowitz confessed to killing six people and...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Sandi Patty
Sandi Patty
Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty is an American Christian music singer. For many years she was known as Sandi Patti. She has been dubbed "The Voice" by critics, because of her wide range and flexibility.-Early life:...
, Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
, Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, Noel Paul Stookey of Peter Paul and Mary, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, and Reba McIntire.
Ross remains with CBN to this day. His interviews are still featured on The 700 Club. Over the years, Ross has occasionally filled in for Robertson on the show, though less so in recent years.
Ross and Talley celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2007.