Longtime WIP listeners, friends pay tribute to Big Daddy Graham

Big Daddy Graham, one of Philadelphia's most iconic and beloved sports talk radio hosts on 94WIP, died Wednesday night at age 68.

Graham became one of the most popular media voices in the city during his two-decade run hosting the overnight hours at 94WIP by entertaining fans with his humor and vast sports knowledge. His personality matched well with station's late-night shift and attracted him a loyal audience that was supplemented by fans of his stand-up comedy act.

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Graham joined WIP in 1997 after co-hosting "The Sports Attack" with Scott Graham and Neil Hartman on 1210 AM.

But sports talk radio wasn't Graham's only passion in life. He wrote books, hosted a music podcast and performed his "Two Funny Philly Guys" stand-up comedy show with another WIP contributor and stand-up comic, Joe Conklin.

Born Edward Gudonis, Graham was raised in Southwest Philly and graduated from West Catholic High School. He resided in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, with his wife and two daughters. His daughter Ava is a member of 94WIP's morning show.

Two years ago, Graham was diagnosed with a blood clot in his spine, leaving him paralyzed him from the waist down. He previously had beaten throat cancer.

Thursday morning on 94WIP, Angelo Cataldi and his co-hosts began the show with the news of Graham's death and their memories of him.

Many of Graham's longtime listeners, fans and friends in Philadelphia took to social media to pay tribute to the local icon.