BON VOYAGE: Harrel "The Navigator" Moore just retired from his post as late night deejay on jazz station WUMR U92 FM. -- Photo By Rosalind Guy

Harrel "The Navigator" Moore has a voice that makes it seem like he was born to be a disc jockey on a late night jazz radio station, soothing listeners' ears as he introduces the next song.

"Time to call your friends, neighbors and even your enemies as you join me for this fabulous cruise, as we board this luxury liner and we cruise the high seas," Moore would tell his listeners at the beginning of the show, as his theme music played softly in the background.

The man with the smooth voice had been the tour guide for listeners who've taken the ride with him for the past 12 years, since he was a volunteer deejay for WUMR U92 FM.

But last week Moore told his listeners that he was retiring. And, on Tuesday night, he "took listeners on a final voyage."

Moore was the station's on-air personality every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WUMR is the official jazz station on the University of Memphis campus in the basement of the Theater and Communication building. Except for top executives of the station, it's run by volunteers and students.

As The Navigator, Moore introduced listeners to artists ranging from old-school musicians such as Miles Davis to newer musicians such as George Duke.

When he told the radio audience about his decision to retire, Moore said he wanted to spend more time overseeing his business, Harrel C. Moore Realty Co., and the new business venture he's started with his son, Daryl - USI Enterprises LLC.

"We're in the property acquisition and rental business," Moore said. "We're acquiring properties all over the city for that purpose."

Moore spent his final day at WUMR reminiscing about the "rides" he's taken over the years.

"This is a very, very special ride on this ship," he told his listeners. "It's the last ride of the cruise ship. The Navigator is parking it, docking it, letting the anchor down as of 7 today."

Moore said he's proud of the fact that he's leaving on a good note and that he has a clean track record with his listeners.

"I've gotten plenty of calls since I made the announcement," he said.

Those calls were from listeners expressing their regret over his decision and those wishing him well.

"I've had the opportunity on my show to interview (University of Memphis President)Dr. Shirley Raines and a lot of musicians, but now it's about doing what I want to do for me," Moore reminisced on that final day.

And what he wants to do is spend afternoons on the golf course, traveling and at both of his businesses.

Moore's real estate business is in East Memphis on Ridgeway Center Parkway. USI Enterprises is housed in Cordova, 235 Germantown Bend, Suite 6. He'll divide his time between both businesses.

Moore, who has been in real estate for more than 40 years, has experience in property management, selling and buying homes and construction.

"I really wanted to get into the construction business," Moore said. "So, I built some houses and churches. I built the Memphis Health Center on Crump Boulevard. And then I quit. Different phases of life I've decided what I wanted to conquer and I've done it, and it becomes boring and you do something else."

Being a radio personality was no different. Moore joined WUMR because "it was something that I decided I wanted to do."

"And I've been the kind of guy who virtually always has done what he's wanted to do," he said.

Now, the man with the smooth voice has hung up his headset and he'll sail no more. But, like other devoted fans of the radio station, Moore pledged on his final show to keep his radio dial tuned in to WUMR U92 FM.