There’s very little WE can say that conveys the excitement generated by 13 Waves during it’s heyday of the mid-late 1970s. Some of the best and brightest broadcasters in Southern New England graced the air on WAVZ – and a few of them have posted comments about this recording below.
If you read the comments before listening, do yourself a favor now, and see why this AM station OWNED the New Haven market, at a time when AM stations were already in steep decline as music stations. Oh, if this had been put on the sister FM station, we’d be listening to 101 Waves instead of KC 101… but would that have been such a bad thing? We can only dream, I suppose.
This recording is a bit choppy. It came to us that way from the skimmer. Featured on this composite: Mike Dean, Bill Rock, Ron Foster, Brian Phoenix, more…
Also, sample this WAVZ aircheck from 1973…
And, recording of John E Walker on 13 WAVZ from December ’75!
13 WAVZ was the greatest radio statio in its day. The studios were incredible. You could not help but sound good on that station, even me! St studios had accustic metal sheets painted orange. These metal accustic sheets had little holes in them. The station had an incredible boom mic that was seen and used in television and movie studios. The studio also had ambient lighting, to set the mood with color spot lights. The studio had a heavy door. Cart racks ofcourse were on the wall. I believe that there were two Rusco turn tables, six cart machines, which ofcourse was standard. Outside the studio there was another little room with more music on carts. From this room you could see production, on air and the news studios. The research room had a little desk at the end where I and others sat as WAVZ music researchers. I was a researcher and later went on the air as Smokin Jim Brady! Willie B. Goode gave me that name. WIlle B. Goode was my idol. When I first heard him, I thought he was black, he was the best and still is as Gnarly Charlie at The Coast. I was Willie B’s apprentice. On Friday evenings, per Pete Stones ok, WIllie would let me come to the station and hang out and learn radio. He used to let me use the production room too! While I was at WAVZ, I met stars to, among them, GQ. In closing, WAVZ had incredible studios. The station was built at a time when live broadcasts were produced. The walls had to be a foot and a half thick. The reception area had an incredible radio aura about it, it had pictures of all the jocks and their names. Behind the reception desk was a huge WAVZ logo. As one got off the elevator and walked down a long hallway, you were met by two large glass doors with the call letters W A V Z over them. When you walked into the reception the room was rounded. You could either go to the left or right. When you went to the left, you would first pass Mr. Kops or Monahan’s office (not certain who’s office it was) Big mahogany desk, very palatious. Then you would pass engineering. On the right of engineering you could lok into production and through a window that must have been five by 15′. Then there was Curt Hansens (music Director) office on the left, one of the icest guy’s you’ll ever meet too. Curt was a great MD and an even better PD. Next to Curtis W’s office was another room which was mysterious, I never went in there, but I would imagine it was some great radio storage. We are now to the back of the building where you could exit to the multi level parking lot where the WAVZ staff and WAVZ vehicles were parked. Also, there was a radio booty cabinet. Now, Willie B. used to leave a cart in the back door for the next jock. Considering the neighborhood at 152 Temple Street, Wild Man Willie was quite brave to do this. OAround the corner to the left coming from the back was the PD’s office. Here Greats like Pete Stone worked and programmed WAVZ. As you went down the hall there was sales which occupied a good square footage of the building. The on air studio enterance was to the right coming from the back of the building. It had a room which had carts on the wall that one would enter prior to entering the studio. Usually that door was open. Oh yes, you could view all three studios through this room. Music reseachers would sit in this 4′ by 12′ l shaped room and make calls during the day to households on music related issues. Then above or next to the main studio door was the on air light. Next you entered the studio, by opening a heavy door, which closed quietly. The studio was incredible. When one walked into that studio, it was like walking into another world. I have seen no radio studio to date that rivals WAVZ studio. Also, the news room was on a lifted floor. From the on air studio, one could see production, news and music research/ record libary. I probably was one of the few who took detailed photos of all areas of this station, including the halls leading to the double glass entrance doors with the call letters over them.
Jim Severine
Jim,
the scoped aircheck which appears here is from my collection. I grew up in Milford, CT (right along the shoreline) and recorded DOZENS of HOURS of WAVZ from 1972 through 1979. This web page says that this clip is from 1975. It was actually recorded in July 1974. I’ve been told that I probably have one of the largest WAVZ aircheck collections in the world. All of them have been remastered, cleaned up and copied to CDs. I loved this station dearly, and in fact, it was what sparked a life-long love of radio in me. (Since 1991, I’ve been doing a retro 1960s, 70s, 80’s Saturday night “party†gig at WPKN in Bridgeport – complete with vintage aircheck samples! (“Number One Then, Number One Now!â€). I have never heard a station that I’ve enjoyed listening to more than WAVZ in their 70s heyday. Even the processing was amazing! (Eric Small, founder of Modulation Sciences, custom-designed the processing boxes for WAVZ in late 1972 once Paul Drew brought in John Long as the Program Director for the “New†WAVZ)). I still have my original 1973 Boogie Shirt and promotional photos of the jocks. (Mason Dixon and Brian Phoenix). Whenever I visit my old neighborhood, I bring along a couple of WAVZ CDs for the ride and it seems like I’ve slipped back in time as that gorgeous exaggerated bass and tweaked high-end pours out of my car’s speakers! Still have a couple of the weekly Top-40 charts that they used to give away for free at Merle’s Records and at the old open-air Post Mall and Cutler’s in downtown New Haven. I’ve been to 152 Temple many times as a teen, although never had to nerve to walk in! I would really like to hear from you….please email me at AndyBologovsky@Optonline.net. I think it’ll be VERY cool to talk to a fellow WAVZ nut! An aircheck trade, perhaps?
I WAS “JACK MITCHELL” – 1970 – WORKED WITH JOE LENTI (‘MCCOY’), TRACEY GARNEAU, BILL BEAMISH, PETER BERRY (THE DUTCHMAN). WENT ON TO CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD! BILL SHEARD/SHERWOOD HIRED ME AND THEN LEFT FOR WQXI / ATLANTA, GA!! GREEAT PD – PETE BERRY / FLYIN’ DUTCHMAN CAME IN FROM, I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER WOKY/WKLO (MILWAUKEE)!!!!!
I HAVE AIRCHECKS AVAILABLE.
I LEFT WAVZ FOR WARM (NO ONE STATION IN USA – 75% MARKET)!! THYEN BECAME PD/WBAX MERV GRIFFIN BOUGHT 1970/71.
(REV. FR.) JIM DRUCKER AKA JACK MITCHELL
WAVZ/WSCR/WARM/WBAX-PD/PUBLISHER OF ‘TIMOTHY’B/W DRUCKER MUSIC BMI.
Today, some 26-years after WAVZ studios left 152 Temple Street New Haven for the format switch in the summer of 1979 to the KC-101 studios in North Haven CT, the building which once housed one of the greatest radio stations of all time, and certainly the greatest station in Connecticut has now been converted into luxury apartments. Some Yale student may unknowingly be watching TV in the legendary studio of 13 WAVZ where great Dj’s and PD’s including John Long, Pete Stone (Salant), Lee Roberts, Danny Lyons, Willie B. Goode, Brian Phoenix, Johnny Walker, Joe Lane (McCoy), Friendly Floyd Wright ( You’re RIGHT!!), Tracy, Jerry Kristopher, Jack Mitchel, Curt Hansen, Cash Sunshine, Charlie Wagner, Lise, Cathy Cardinal, Peter Bush, Judge Harrigan, Paul The Morning Mayor, Bill Beamish, Mike West, The Chucker, etc. would all broadcast to Southern Connecticut, Northern Long Island and All Ships at Sea and all would go on to other major market radio stations. Recently I visited the address and was amazed by the restored lobby of the building.
Official WAVZ Sign off:
“This is WAVZ New Haven….Concluding Broadcast Activity For A Period of Technical Adjustment!” (The Sign off played weekly on Monday morning at approxamately 1am at which time work was done on the transmitter).
I believe the WAVZ scopes on this site are from 1974, not ’75. The jock, Ron Foster, refers to “Saturday, August 3rd” in his Warehouse One spot copy. In 1975, August 3rd was a Sunday.
A minor point, but I know you want to be accurate.
I feel lucky that I got to work at WAVZ back in 73-76. The place was radio at its best. Great studio ,McCurdy board, a five thousand dollar audio chain on the mic alone,all cart,gain brain and kepex units up the wazoo and Paul Drew calling the shots and getting us all the contests that ran on the RKO chain. I worked bigger markets and at the ABC Radio Network, but I was wise enough to enjoy the time at “The New Wavz” knowing it would be the best part of my radio career.
Johnny Walker…..
It was great reading your posting! Thanks for the history on “The New WAVZ”
I always listened to you in afternoon drive in 75,76. I recall your aka being “Big Johnny Walker”
I recall your sign on: “The New WAVZ….Good afternoon southern Connecticut, Northern Long Island and all ships at sea……….”
You had an awesome delivery which added to the larger than life sound of WAVZ.
You were at WAVZ at at the best of times under Paul Drew!
Where did you go after WAVZ and where are you today?
Jim Severine
Big John Walker! How the hell are ya! Just today at work I was listening to my aircheck of you counting down the “Top 500 Songs of all Time” on WAVZ from Labor Day, 1974. Steve Warren and Brian Phoenix voiced all the promos and you absolutely cooked during your portion of the countdown! What a scream! Glad to hear you’re still alive. Still in the biz? An old fan says “howdy” and a tip of the hat with admiration!
John “E” Walker, The Chucker, Paul Mayer, Pete Salant, Mike West, what memories. I was News Director at “The New WAVES” from 75 to 77 before heading off to WDRC, later to WPOP and to DC at Q107. WAVZ was an amazing station. Would love to hear more airchecks from that time period. Can’t believe the builidng is now luxury apartments. Remember catching Joe Lieberman getting his air cut in the lobby barber shop. He had an office in the building.
Awesome WAVZ airchecks and postings. This is Neal Stevens, news guy in 1974 at Lucky 13. Great working with some real pros such as Anne Avery, Bill Rock, Johnny Walker, Brian Phoenix, Ron Foster and many more. A great station there in beautiful downtown New Haven.
Neal Stevens
Wow, great memories. Anyone remember the 1950s WAVZ jingle:
“There are WAVES in the Navy, waves in your hair,
and people wave their hands when they’re going anywhere,
But the greatest waves there can be (music starts swinging here)
Are the radio waves coming to you over W-A-V-ZZZZZZZZZ.”?
Boy! Am I getting old!
Hey! Anyone know whatever happened to Tracy?
Remember these WAVZ Classics?
. The Bold WAVZ – 60’s
. The New WAVZ – 70’s
. The Lucky 13 – 70s
. 13 WAVZ – 70’s
. Studio 13 -Late 70’s
. WAVZ AM 13 -79+
. The Music of Your Life 80’s
. The WAVZ Bubble Up Bunny!
. 13-WAVZ studio line: 789-1313
. 13-WAVZ Concert Line: 777-8090
. Make WAVZ!
. 13 WAVZ…. In Touch With Southern Connecticut!
. W A V Z New Haven!
. It PAY$ to Listen to WAVZ
. Make WAVZ and Write it Down!
. WAVZ Music Survey’s
. The WAVZ Men on the streets of New Haven sticker spotting!
. The WAVZ Van
. The Wavz Cutie of The Week (Printed on the survey)
. The bold orange and black 13-WAVZ bumper sticker
. The Red and White 13-WAVZ bumper sticker
. The Black, White and Orange square bumper Sticker
. 13-WAVZ is gonna pay you off!
. Tag line on the weather: “Bridgeport checks in at 42, in Waterbury it’s 46 and it’s 43 degrees downtown at 13-WAVZ.”
. 13-WAVZ…Your Constant Music Station!
. 13-WAVZ rolling another constant music sweep!
. The 13 Weeks of Summer!
I’ve got to get a life!
Hey 13-WAVZ Fans-
How about the the subliminal “13-WAVZ Whisper Segs” that played over intros of songs. KC-101 continued to use them after the switch too. WEBE uses whisper segs to this day. Another element that made 13 WAVZ the great station that it was!
Everything Jim Severine says is totally true.13/WAVZ was an absolutely incredible radio station.The best station I ever worked for in 37 years in this crazy business.It was a shame when we flipped to KC-101 in 1979 because it was never the same.Pete Salant had 13/WAVZ SMOKIN.I was very proud to be a part of it.ROCK ON ELM CITY.GNARLY CHARLIE/SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE-97.3 THE COAST MIAMI…
Thanks Willie B. Goode!
It’s great to hear from you! You were smokin’ on 13 WAVZ in 77,78 & 79 and still continue to be on FIRE at 97.3 COAST in Miami! I too wish Pete Salant had executed the WAVZ format on KC-101 in 79. Imagine what that Monster would have sounded like! Every single aspect of 13-WAVZ was the best! Jocks, Rock Star Guests, Contests, Processing, Audio Chain, Jingles, Music and how about the Master Control On-Air Studio and accustic tile…Remember the spot lights, the McCurdy Board and how about that Boom Mic that likely came off a movie set! that was even featured in the triple fold surveys! We’ll all agree that WAVZ was a great time in radio history!
By the way…Anyone know where Lee Roberts is these days! Lat time I heard him was at TIC and XLO.
Hi Jim.The reason 13/wavz was so much fun and so successful was because Dan Kopps and Dick Monahan let us do what we did.Visitors from major market stations would stop by to visit us at WAVES and they were totally blown away by every aspect of that amazing radio station.I am glad I have lots of old airchecks because I still get fired up when I listen to them.SMOKIN WILLIE B. GOODE.
Hi Willie aka Gnarly Charlie…
Great story….Yes, Kopps & Monahan obviously gave the jocks and PD’s the autonomy to make the station sound major market! And the budget too! Jim Severine aka J.J. McKray
13/WAVZ owned New Haven throughout the 1970s.Our final book in spring 79 we had a freekin TEN SHARE.Think about it,1000 watts with a real shaky nighttime signal.It was quite a feat and a hell of a lot of fun.Some of the greatest talent in the business called 152 Temple Street home.Long live the memories of 13/WAVES.SMOKIN WILLIE B. GOODE
13-WAVZ is definitely Radio Hall of Fame Material! TEN SHARES and the best talen on
K-EARTH,(oops)! Post your vote on this site if you want the legendary 13 WAVZ entered into the Radio Hall of Fame!
Get that vote in today!
Remember….It Pay$ To Listen to WAVZ!
Yeah dude….Great idea.I think WAVES should go in as THE MEDIUM MARKET FLAME THROWER of the 70s.The only station that I remember sounding as good as 13/WAVZ audio wise in the 70s was the legendary.CKLW…..NUFF SAID..GNARLY/SMOKIN
Salant WAVZ PD at the time replaces Lee Roberts with FLoyd Wright in drive at WAVZ. Lee Roberts goes across town to the ratings strugling 1340 WNHC as PD. Lee reimages WNHC to go head to head with WAVZ and calls it “The REAL NHC.” The Lineup was something like this:
Mornings:
Jim Buchannan
Middays:
Lee Roberts
Drive:
Franco
Nights:
Dave House
Sources have it reliably so that Lee Roberts pitched Smokin’ WIllie B Goode to come over to The Real NHC. That would never happen, because Lee could not get the budget approved to pay Willie B. Goode.
Summer of 79 the Major Announcement WAVZ switches to KC-101. Soon after, WNHC goes urban.
WNHC was a great smokin radio station in the late 60s and early 70s when they were owned by Triangle and programmed by Bill Henness AKA Wild Willie Mitchell.They were doing boss radio with some really great jocks who all went on to the real Bill Drake stations,CKLW,KHJ,WRKO etc.Some of the jocks from this period were J.J. Phillips,Tom Kennedy,Chuck Williams,John Scott and Don Starr among others.By the early 70s NHC was sold and doing beautiful music and THE NEW WAVES took over New Haven.As Jim says NHC did attempt to go up against us in the late 70s but were not a factor.Lee Roberts is a great guy and tried his best but bad ownership and no money translated into zero success.When NHC flipped to urban in the early 80s they had the most success since their boss radio heyday.MAKE WAVES AND WRITE IT DOWN.GNARLY CHARLIE/SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE
John E. Walker was the way I remember it.
But perhaps I pick nits…
Johnny, or Bob, you called me a couple of years ago and left a message…but no number… It’s the 21st century, so email me…
I was the copywriter and production director at WAVZ for a while.
I became completely depressed when I left and found out what equipment was like in other stations. The production skills of the jocks at WAVZ were very, very high. Had to have 3 music changes in every spot. Electronic editing on a two track Scully..kewl. I learned a lot from you guys.. The equipment was fabulous, I believe that was because Kopps Monahan had sold a station in the Albany area and put all their money into equipment at WAVZ. Dan Kopps was also the president of the NAB for a while and wanted a showcase station.
I went on to a career in voiceovers.
I still think about the time Johnny Walker came to me and said that I shouldn’t put the word “regularly” in copy because it was hard to pronounce. I never had a problem with it before then. Now, more than 3 decades later, I still have to be careful with that word. I see it coming from miles away. Thanks, Johnny! Now I have trouble with “Particularly” too!
Some of the great talent I had the pleasure of working with at 13/WAVZ from 1977-1979 until the flip.Mornings-Judge Harrigan,Crazy Jerry Kristafer.Mid-days-Pete Stone(Salant),Jack Mitchell,Danny Lyons,Peter Bush.Afternoon drive-Lee Roberts,Friendly Floyd Wright.Nighttime boogie-Curtis W.Hansen.Following me in the late nite-Jay Scott,Dana Stevens and Kathy Cardinal the nite bird.Our weekend talent included Bill Shane and Charlie Wagner.Great staff,Great radio.If I left anybody out I apologize.Thanks for sharing many high times in the elm city.SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE.
Hey 13-WAVZ comntributors! Although Dan Ingram was not a jock on WAVZ, he is regarded as the greatest top 40 jock ever! and he did start his career in New Haven at WNHC and in Bridgeport at WICC. One can only wonder what BIG DAN might have sounded like at WAVZ!
I have Dan Ingrams return to CBS-FM full 3-hour show (scoped) of 09/16/07 from 7pm to 10pm. Ingram had been off the CBS-FM air waves since 2003, when he turned down the one day a week gig that they had offered him. Some thought that we would never hear The Ingram Man back on CBS FM! It was a great surprize!
Email me if you are interested in a copy of this tightly scoped show of Dan Ingram
at jvseverine@hotmail.com
Why is there a snippet of a WELI PSA from 8:25 to 9:07? And why the WXLO promo at 3:26?
I am about to turn the clocks back for our yearly dose of Eastern Standard Time.I wish I could turn the clock back to the SMOKIN SEVENTIES when the legendary 13/WAVZ ruled the airwaves.Terrestrial radio in 2007 is all cookie cutter non personality swill.I am fortunate to be working at one of the BETTER stations in the country where I am still allowed to have some fun on the air.If you are new to the business it has not always been this way.Listen to old airchecks of 13/WAVZ and other great stations from the 60s,70s and 80s and you will truly be blown away.KEEP ON ROCKIN.GNARLY CHARLIE-97.3 THE COAST,MIAMI,Formerly SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE,13/WAVZ NEW HAVEN CT…….HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
Hey, Smokin’ Willie B. Goode:
I got into radio in New London Connecticut after hearing my favorite disc-jockey; Cliff Kenyon!
Hi Mike.Thanks for the kind words.I was Cliff Truckin Kenyon in the early and mid 70s including a crazy fun filled stint at the former NUMBER ONE NLC in New London CT.It was a smokin little station that sounded big.The signal at night was SO BAD that you could see the towers 2 miles away and not here the station.1510 am with 8 TOWERS.They could hear the station at night in Italy but not in Norwich.We protected WMEX Boston and WLAC Nashville on the same frequency.The party ended for me in 1976 when a very uncool dude bought the station and turned it into a small market toilet.Great memories and many high times.Thanks for remembering.GNARLY/SMOKIN/TRUCKIN and all the rest.
Hey Gnarly! It’s Jim Severine, one of the few who also had the opportunity to be on the air at 152 Temple Street in New Haven at WAVZ after the switch to the FM, under the dreadful “Music of Your Life” format! Can you believe that we are just falling short of the 30-year anniversary. 30 YEARS AGO! WOWW!
It was a strange feeling being in that studio, while everyone else had gone to the North Haven studios of KC-101. There was this ghostly aura about the place, can’t explain it! Mike McCann was PD. This was right after the switch when the AM studios automation system still had not been installed in North Haven.
Yes, I would later go onto KC-101 FM in 1985 under the name “The Chucker”
A couple of questions for you… Did you ever return to WAVZ for any reason after that faitful day in the Summer of 1979?
What was it like at WAVZ in those final days before the switch to KC-101 FM!
WAVZ was the most outstanding radio station I have ever experienced and sure left a mark in my young mind. I was working in Massachusetts when new PD Pete Salant asked me to join him as MD – Night Jock at WAVZ & I started on Valentines Day 1977.
When I hit the Madison tolls I first picked up the station – and was blown away listening to
Peter Bush – who Pete Salant had hired just a couple of weeks earlier. Listening to Bush I was really scared about my own abilities to be working at the same station with jocks as great as him.
WAVZ was my bachelors degree in radio. Kops & Monahan had let all the consultants go by 1977, yet many of the systems and major market professional practices remained part of our station culture. There was pride in our sound down to the tenth of a second, and we amassed some of the greatest talents, many of whom are continuing to thrive today.
Mornings – Judge Harrigan – what happend to him?
Mornings – Jerry Kristafer – now at WELI
Middays – Danny Lyons – The Lyons Den 9am – noon now at WEBE. Worked at WNBC and WTIC
Middays – the late (and great Jack Mitchell)
Middays – Pete Salant “The afternoon quickie 1p-3p) – now at WWYZ. Huge consulting practice
Middays – Peter Bush – noon – 3pm. Now at WEBE. Ex WABC WPLJ
PM drive – Lee Roberts – went to WICC – then what
nights – Curtis W 6p – 9p or 7p – 10p
How about those 3 hour shifts eh!
Nights – Willie B 10-2a – ex Z100, WPLJ now in So Florida – Hooray Willie
Overnights – Jay Scott – went on to Channel 30 TV
a bunch of other talents too
I’m pleased to say the WAVZ tradition carries on
at WEBE/WICC in Bridgeport – where I’m PD – Danny Lyons MD 10a – 2p and Peter Bush now 2p – 7p
Much of what we do is directly inherited from
the one and only 13 WAVZ
The WAVZ Music Research Team alone was a noteworthy group — Ann McManus – now Market Manager of WEBE & WICC & my boss was a member of the team as a 14 year old! Mike Basilicato went from the team to KC101, WEBE108, and is now full time producer at WICC. I even met my ex-wife Debbie (Cooke) Hansen on the research team!
At WAVZ we developed and refined many of the theories of great radio we use today. We had a
wonderful baseline with the station we inherited,
Dan Kops and Dick Monahan were radio giants, never meddling or micromanaging, yet with just a word or two keeping us all inbounds, and under Pete Salants leadership we built it even
bigger – getting as high as a 13 share.
Nowadays when I’m in downtown New Haven warm and wonderful memories come alive. The time Franco and
I got caught putting WAVZ stickers over WPLR bus signs. Hearing Elvis was dead with Jeff Nauman of RCA records outside the Chapel Square Mall. Laurie the hornie groupie. Anti Muscolo Radio Confab. All the rock bands that stayed at the Park Plaza Hotel across the street, visited us, and all our backstage fun at the Colliseum” I’m Peter Bush – WAVZman out of the way”.
The WAVZ studios and the whole setup truly awesome as Jim Severine points out. The secret office was really the print-shop – the station had its own printer (named LaMont?) who printed the music surveys and different sales pieces.
There was also a News Directors office in the corner. And the real secret office – the hidden prize room at the top of stairs leading from the Music Directors office – with a big padlock on it
right out of dungeons and dragons.
I still dream of that station several times a year. I’m in the corridors of the station or in my music office. And of course I get the disc jockeys dream – I’m in the bright orange studios the song is running out. The hotline is ringing. Quick! Gotta go!
Later –
Curtis W
Hi Jim.I did return once or twice after we went to KC.Yeah it was kinda weird with nobody around.The saddest part was that 13/WAVZ was officially DEAD.The book after we switched to FM WAVZ went plummeting from a 10 to a 1 share in the market.To answer your other question the final days at WAVZ were actually pretty upbeat because we were stoked about switching a 1000 watt am station to a state wide high powered FM.KC101 did well but 28 years later looking back most of us know that it was NEVER THE SAME.There was only one 13/WAVZ..LATER…GNARLY/SMOKIN.
Appreciate the response Gnarly … interesting contribution on the WAVZ/KC-101 transition! After the transition, I was at WAVZ under Bill Burns and Mike McCann. Music was being played from reels and there was one set of cart machines(Pre-automation error). I was at KC-101 FM in 85/86 doing weekends and steady fill ins! This was my second stint at KC-101 FM. I was a Board Op in 1979. Pete Salant hired me for the North Haven Fair live broadcasts! I Board Oped for Danny Lyons, etc. What a cool thing to be doing…running the control board for Danny Lyons. By 1985 when I returned, KC-101 had been through a few management changes. The studios were newly remodeled and it was obviously a pleasure to be on the air there! As I said in my first contribution that got this whole WAVZ exchange going on Airchexx.com, It was great to be your apprentice between 1977 and 1979 at WAVZ! It was a learning experience that I eill never forget and absolute great time! In 1986 Pete Salant hired me at 1220 Winner Radio!
Jim Severine
Anyone here remember a KC 101 jock named Big Rich Baker? Early 1980s, I believe.
Hey Swami.Big Rich Baker replaced Kathy Cardinal AKA THE NIGHTBIRD around the late summer of 1979 and did overnights for a couple of years.I left in 1981 to go to JB-105 in Providence and I believe they moved Big Rich up to do my 10p-2a shift.I returned in August of 82 and The Big Guy was gone.I think he got out of radio and perhaps found THE LORD.He was a very interersting dude.I am totally unaware of his current digs.His real name was Richard Kilborn.Happy Holidays.GNARLY/SMOKIN
Hi guys,
I stumbled upon this site while searching for airchecks of the 20th anniversary of KC-101.
I grew up in Waterbury, CT, in the mid-1970’s, listening to what was then an incredible Top 40 AM station — Super Music ‘CO (WWCO) — home of some great jocks including Danny Lyons and the late great Jack Mitchell.
In fact, I remember Jack’s very last show on that station. He was playing airchecks from his previous broadcasts, including one where there was a major snowstorm and he was reading cancellations and Danny Lyons snuck in a fake cancellation abaout the WWCO staff meeting on the “orange couch.”
As a youngster at the time (probably around 12 years old) I had no idea what it meant, but now in hindsight, I’m assuming the orange couch was part of the station’s lobby furniture and no doubt had its own place in the station’s history…
But on that final show, I also remember Danny Lyons dropping in and asking Jack on the air (jokingly) if he’d mentioned the call letters of the station where he was going to work. Jack replied “no” and Danny instantly replied “good” and they both laughed.
And then a little while later Jack signed off by simply saying he was heading to the Elm City. And I heard the glow and excitement in his voice.
I couldn’t receive the 13 WAVZ signal where I lived so for years, as a kid who was hooked on radio (and won tons of prizes from WWCO and other Waterbury stations and used to go to all the live appearances/remotes) I wondered what happened to Jack Mitchell.
Then I remember hearing Danny Lyons and Smokin’ Willie B and all the other great jocks on KC-101. And a few years after that, I remmeber DX-ing and hearing Smokin’ Willie B on JB-105 in Providence and calling him there. (Remember that Willie? You played Cat’s in the Cradle for me on the Top 10 requests at 10 — could’ve gotten canned for that!).
And years after that, I heard Jack Mitchell on WTIC Hartford, and I worked with him on a promotion or two when he was Promotion Director there, and reminded him of the WWCO orange couch. He laughed out loud about that.
And I remember a few years back when a friend of mine in radio in CT told me about Jack’s sudden passing at such a young age (was it 39?). I felt so badly about that. And when I read in the Hartford Courant about how involved he was in community causes and helping others (I still have the article on my computer if anyone wants to see it), it made me smile and made me sad at the same time.
I still call Danny Lyons to say hello about once a year, and I called him when another WWCO alumni (Ed Maglio, Jr. aka The Mad Hatter) passed a couple of years ago.
Would love to hear from others on what kind of jock Jack Mitchell was on WAVZ.
Peace,
Mike
If you’re looking for airchecks of the KC101 Reunion, I have them. Check out the New England page of my site, //www.bigappleairchecks.com and I’m sure we can arrange something.
Thanks Matt. Will do.
Hi dudes.Great seeing your posting Mike.I worked with Jack at WAVES.He joined us part time around the fall of 77 and then did mid-days until we flipped to FM in July of 79.He never came to KC with the rest of us for reasons not known to me.Jack AKA Marc Gorlick was a cool guy and a really smooth jock.Perfect fit for 9-noon.His younger brother I recall also did radio I recall as Jay Stewart.Sad that Jack left us so soon.Yes Mike I remember playing Harry Chapin for you on my JB-105 Hot Tracks countdown.Luckily my PD wasnt listening that night.Please keep in touch and if you are ever listening to me at COAST FM.Com let me know and I will give you a shout out.Also Magic Matt from Big Apple Airchecks nice job on the holiday sweepers.You will definitely be hearing from me after the new year.Happy New Year guys and STAY SAFE.Your 80s FREAK in South Florida.GNARLY CHARLIE/SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE.
Thanks Smokin’. Great to see you’re doing well and I’ll definitely reach out to you one of these weekends when I’m listening on-line to the Coast!
All the best to you in the new year and beyond!
– Mike
Hi Mike Grayeb-
Interesting reading your contribution about Jack Mitchell, Danny Lyons, Mad Hatter, Super Music ‘CO and the infamous orange couch story.
I too remember Jack Mitchell on WAVZ around 77. He was a great talent! In 1979, 1980, I worked at 14-NVR in Waterbury originally WOWW and later 1380 WNAQ “The Amazing Q” with his brother Jay Stuart. I was sad to hear that The Mad Hatter passed away. I followed the The Mad Hatter/aka Ed Maglio around in 1979, 1880, 1981 on 14-NVR. Mad Hatter was a cook dude and we became friends. I was in the slot after “The Hat” on Saturday’s nights!
We all know that he had a great following in Waterbury and I recall him always going to a gig after he got off. He was a wild dude to say the least and a fun personality to listen to and follow on 14 NVR.
At night 14 NVR had a less than stellar signal pumping out only 500 watts, but it was a blast to be on the air at ‘NVR because the processing, promotions, music, jingle package and execution was the best!
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the note.
Very interesting about Jay Stuart; I did not know that.
I used to listen to 14-NVR quite a bit as well. I remember the Hatter and “Suzanne” broadcasting live from Skate Odyssey one year for a benefit Skate-a-Thon of which I was a participant (I was probably 13 at the time).
You’re right, 14-NVR was a great station as well! Very involved in community stuff too. I also remember Chris Bermann (of ESPN fame) when he was there weeknights around 6:30 p.m.!
Regarding the Hatter, yes, he was a one-of-a-kind character for sure. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Waterbury Republican about him a few years ago, just a couple of weeks after he died.
I’ve added a link to the store here.
//harrychapin.com/circle/summer04/
Thanks again for your reply and best regards,
– Mike
Hi Mike –
Yea, funny stoy about Chris Bermann! When I did weekends at 14-NVR, Chris (A Superstar Waterbury Sports Anchor) could be found in the news/sports studio on the opposite side of the glass window from AM studio where he did his sportscasts.
One day in late 1979 early 1980, Chris announced to everyone at 14-NVR that he was leaving us to go to this little start up cable sports operation up in Bristol, CT called “ESPN.” Many of us looked at him with raised eyebrows. Many thought he was out of his mind at the time to leave 14-NVR! Who would have known he would become the most recognized sports anchor on television today! What a rags to riches story!
Sine Nomie in reference to your post:
( Wow, great memories. Anyone remember the 1950s WAVZ jingle:
“There are WAVES in the Navy, waves in your hair,
and people wave their hands when they’re going anywhere, But the greatest waves there can be(music starts swinging here)Are the radio waves coming to you over W-A-V-ZZZZZZZZZ.”? )
I have to say the jingle still live on! I have the orignal disc, lots of wear and tear but they bring back memories. There were two disc’s but I gave the other to a collector friend, on that disc are the Bill Beamish jingles.
Mike
Ahhhh. I remember WAVZ so well that I can still remember the request number: 777-4761. The “He’s Fun” DJ’s like Tracy, Bill Beamish, Lou Terry, TJ Martin (remembered he talked about living in a motel in West Haven), Johnny Ringo, Rusty, Judge Harrigan, Ed Flynn!
Many times tried to enter 152 Temple as a kid but never got in. At the height of Beatle invasion in early ’64 I remember sending in 35 cents in an envelope for a WAVZ Beatle book with WAVZ stamped on the cover (and I still have it) among many Swingin 60 record surveys from mid 60’s. Even have a QSL card form when the station went on the air (1948?).
Great memories!
What a great site!
And hi, Mike.
I was surfing for info on an op-ed piece I’m doing on the death of New Haven “Community Oriented” AM radio now tha Imus has been picked up on WELI wiping out all local programming there.
I grew up to WAVZ. In many ways listening to WAVZ started me in radio. It goes back, for me, even before Pete, and Drew, and Danny and Charlie Steiner.
Tiny Markle was programming the station on my first trip as a cub scout there. Dick Galiette told me Tiny hired him for the news department because when Dick could type 100 words a minute and Tiny felt he could get more copy out of him than a slower typist.
Back then, there was Dick Stuart — a one armed DJ with big pipes and a big heart. “Daniel W. Kopps” loved his on air editorials and late in life lamented the consultants who took him off the air.
TJ the DJ. Dick Stevens –very smooth jock. And legendary news director the late Walt Dibble, later of WDRC and WTIC drove WELI nuts beating Jim Dunn and Bill O’Sullivan at WELI time and time again.
Charlie Steiner was the first guy I talked to about Connecticut Radio Network and signed up as our first affiliate when the ink on my business card wasn’t even dry yet.
This site is now bookmarked. Thanks to all for the wonderful memories.
The Jim Severine Collection
I have consecutive dated 13-WAVZ and KC-101 music surveys starting in 1978… Interested?
I have the circa 1976 red & white 13-WAVZ bumber stickers still shrink wrapped like new… Interested?
I have the airchecks of the 13-WAVZ transition to KC-101 FM with Pete Salant tracking …Interested?
I have the first hours of KC-101 debut (1979 Aircheck), kicking it off with the “Night Bird” Kathy Cardinal…interested?
I have consecutive dated music surveys from 77 WABC 1980 on….Interested?
I have the 77 WABC John Lennon 1980 Top 5oo surveys…Interested?
WAVZ was definitely a great station in several decades.In the SMOKIN SEVENTIES the only number was 789-1313.The number one dialed number in the elm city.We would BLOW OUT the phone company switchboards when we did contests.IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO 13/WAVZ….GNARLY/SMOKIN…..
WAVZ Man Willie B. Goode aka Gnarly Charlie speaks the truth! As a kid, I was in the studio hangin’ with Willie as his apprentice! I clearly recall the 13 WAVZ studio lines 789-1313 always lit up, including the carry over lines! It seems like those phone lines never stopped lighting up! What a great aura that station had!
In many of the pictures that I personally took back in 1978 which today are part of the “Jim Severine Collection” you, can actually see those phone lines lit up with WAVZ groupies calling in to the great 13 WAVZ!
Thanks once again Willie B. Goode for all the great radio training that you gave me!
Hi Barry!
It’s been many years since I first met you at CRN. I hope you’re doing well.
Please give my best to Pat Kane and tell him I recently left The Guild Group to start a new job for a technology company in the foodservice industry. Please also say hello to Dick Kalt for me.
All the best,
Mike
Mike,
Best of luck to you. Sounds like an exciting opportunity. Things are well. Pat’s been ill and struggling a bit. But he’s a trouper. He’d love to hear from you. I’ll pass on your well wishes to both him and Dick this morning.
WAVZ was the greatest radio station ever! Inviting all to check out my tribute site to New Haven radio. I was mostly a music survey/chart geek and use to have many handwritten list of the WAVZ Top 20/30 countdowns. They counted them down on Wednesdays at 3 pm. I also was the winner of the Top 100 of 1974 from rival WNHC. I have some surveys from WAVZ/WNHC and many photo copies as well. I also have contributed music surveys to the ARSA survey site, helping to document WAVZ’s rich music history. I also have an ongoing list of all the #1 songs on WAVZ. My site is in need of more surveys and looking to close the gaps. Even if you have just one survey it helps. Thanks to all for such great memories!
//geocities.com/wavzlucky13/index.html
//www.las-solanas.com/arsa/index.php
Hi Mark-
Jim Severine former WAVZ (post Transition) KC-101 FM jock reaching out to you on the survey’s!
I too was a huge WAVZ survey collector. Still have em’ all too! As a matter of fact, I used to grab hand fulls of them at Merls Records, Peaches Records and Cutler’s at Yale University in the day! I got em’ all from WAVZ & KC-101 FM, sequentially.
I have lots of duplicates (vertical Surveys) and would be willing to hook up to do a trade. I am looking for the WAVZ trifold surveys from circa 1978. Also, anything from the John Long era. I’ve even got the red & White 13- WAVZ stickers too!
Jim Severine aka J.J. McKray aka The Chucker
IS THERE GONNA BE A KC101 30 YEAR REUNION IN 09?WE HAD SO MUCH FUN DOING THE 20TH WHY NOT DO IT AGAIN.MAYBE PETE SALANT AND ALL THE SUPERJOCKS CAN TAKE OVER THE STATION AGAIN FOR A 3 DAY PARTY WEEKEND.IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HOOK UP WITH MY OLD RADIO BUDS ONE MORE TIME AND SMOKE THE CONNECTICUT AIRWAVES,OR SHOULD I SAY AIR WAVZ…..KEEP GREAT RADIO ALIVE..GNARLY/SMOKIN.
Any chance of a KC-101 FM 30 Year Reunion in 2009?
It
Pays
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13 – W A V Z
Man, hearing some of these replies brings me back to those days like a rocket sled! Between Peter Bush, Willie B., Judge Harrigan, Curtis W., Pete Stone and me, we have enough to write two volumes of stories from those days! I transitioned in from the Chuck Martin days at 13/WAVZ and that could add at least another volume! Of course, we would have to check to see if the statutes of limitations have run out regarding our escapades. If there was ever a way of a reunion day on a station nearby, I would pedal in on a bicycle if I had to from Colorado where I am now, still DJ’ing oldies and working in News/Talk. Check out 590KCSJ.com.
Some examples: Willie, remember “Christie?” I used to love to do Willie B. impersonations, some times even on promos and on-air. Bush: “Didn’t I, didn’t I have a good time?”
Closed circuit to Peter Bush: Why did you always play “Stairway to Heaven” at 9:45 p.m.?
Judge Harrigan got kicked off the air momentarily for this joke: “Uncle Judgie, is it alright to make love before Communion? Sure, as long as you don’t block the aisles!” Every Italian in New Haven sent us hate mail over that one.
Pete S.: It was a sign of the times that your nickname was “The Stoner.” Does anyone remember the fact you were instrumental in the radio spoof “Nine?”
What got Bill Shane in so much trouble with his St. Bernard in the production studio?
Curtis W.: I remember going to see the group Boston with you, but that’s where my recollection of the evening ends. Everything else was a blur. Happy Birthday, I hope you remember we have the same birthdate.
On a more somber note, I was on-the-air the day Elvis died. We had a great time out in the WAVZ-mobile. Anyone remember Bill Patrick? The funniest for me was getting the call from Bill Garcia about 11 in the morning from 99X, thought I was gonna die. Up on to the page speakers, all over the building, everyone sitting there listening. The worst kept secret in New Haven. Anyone remember Claire, our business manager? No one knows this, but she was in tears the day I left. Don’t know why. She wasn’t necessarily known for her warm nature. I never saw Dan Kopps without his bowtie. I met Ralph McGavern in the front lobby.
So many great memories, cutting tapes playing bass with Tony Baglio one night in the Prod Studio, half the damn staff was in there playing something. Playing with the patch panel to get the audio in the Prod Studio to sound like WPLJ, then cutting airchecks for the fun of it. I loved the music features we personally produced and played Sunday night. The McCurdy consoles, the switch to SM-7 mics from Sennheiser 421’s. Remember me interviewing the Grateful Dead? What the hell were they doing at 13/WAVZ? It was the wackiest thing Warner ever did. I remember we couldn’t use much of the audio because Jerry Garcia’s nostrils whistled from all the coke.
Thirty three years doesn’t seem all that long ago when you consider how much of an influence all this had on our collective careers. Of everyone in the main staff, all of us have seen stints in top 20 markets repeatedly. A pretty good track record, if you ask me.
The reason we could show better ratings than the jocks who were in here before us, was because we were a bunch of kids with “Eye of the Tiger” desire, and a comraderie that was overwhelming and gave us a secure feeling that we were in a supportive environment that encouraged better radio shows than the day before. None of us had seen big markets before, but that sure changed afterwards. Good programming practices and playing the hits was instrumental, too.
Everyone in New Haven knew our names.
I miss all of you, the good times and the bad.
Lee Roberts, 13/WAVZ, W-A-V-Z, New Haven, a Kopps-Monahan station. It’s 2 O’clock, here’s the Eagles. Peace.
Hi Lee.Great hearing from another WAVES legend.Everything you mentioned is totally accurate and funny as hell.Sticker spotting in the WAVESMOBILES AND WAVES VAN had to be some of the wildest and craziest times in my 38 years in radio.We used to do our call ins from a 2 way radio,obviously long before cell phones.Do you remember the micraphone in one of the vehicles that would stick in the ON position?I am certain Mr. Bush does.I could write a book about all the HIGH TIMES in THE ELM CITY.You are absolutely correct Lee.Great talent evolved from that GREAT RADIO STATION.Glad you are doing well in Colorado.Give me a holler sometime.SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE/GNARLY CHARLIE.MAKE WAVES AND WRITE IT DOWN…..LATER DUDE…
Lee Roberts –
This is your “Hitman” J.J. McKray!
So cool to hear from you Lee. I was just listening to an aircheck of you on Memorex cassette tape that I rolled when you were at the great 13-WAVZ recorded on my Sansui Deck.
What a smooth jock lighting the Elm City on FIRE back in the 70’s! I think I got you doing a break talking up LTD Back in Love Again! Enjoyed you at 96TIC FM in Hartford and 99X too! Checked out the pics at 590KCSJ.com! Great stuff! And fun stories in your posting.
You are missed here in the North East!
Hitman J.J. McKray
13 Waves was great kick-ass station. I used to pick up to 13 Waves here In Brooklyn and what a station It Is. Nothing today comapres.
Alright, who snuck in 99X in the middle of the Waves composite?
Great sounding station and great jocks as well..it’s always fun to listen to medium market stations that have talent like those guys, any of whom could have worked (and many did, no doubt) in major markets. I almost went to work for Bill Hennes at WNHC, I think it was, back in 1971, and always wondered what that would have been like…
Funny, recently I’ve listened to air checks of KHJ, WCFL and KYA, and without mentioning names, none of the guys on those stations were as strong as some the guys I just heard on WAVZ…
Willie B–belated thanks for the info on Big Rich Baker. I used to listen to him when I was breaking into the biz (at WLIS) in the early 80s. Unfortunately, the thing I remember most about him is how he mispronounced “chamois” during a live read(he pronounced it “sham-wah”). I also remember “Bush for Lunch”(amazed he got away with that), Danny Lyons and Sue O’Neil. Good times, never to be forgotten.
Hi Swami.Speaking of Bush for lunch why is Peter no longer on the WEBE web site? GNARLY/SMOKIN
1 3 – WAVZ
Who remembers the “Ultra Violet Boogie Room”
Peter Bush left WEBE three months ago to pursue his passion of auto racing. Robby Bridges from WCTK is replacing him in June.
TO ANYONE THAT KNOWS, KNEW, LOVED OR HATED PETE SALANT AKA PETE STONE:
Pete Salant is my father, who I have an amazing relationship with and love and respect immensely. I’m an adult living in Tampa Bay working as Director of Training and Development for the Tampa regional offices of Verizon. I’m currently compiling a book about fatherly influences, a “daddy’s little girl” type of memoir based on how my fathers successes and failures in the radio business shaped my life in the most profound ways. Without additional detail, I’ve lived a crazy, amazing life filled to the brim with volumes of life at only 27. With reference to my Pete, my memories are filled with times like our second grade fieldtrip to Dad’s AM radio station in Hamden, CT, having tons of DJ uncles and, during my teenage years, getting surprised by my Dad’s colleague and friend Rossi with front row tickets to a Dave Matthews concert. I got to record commercials and voiceovers for him as a kid while gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the oldies format at the age of 9 (still get laughed at for knowing Four Seasons songs at 27). In an effort to emulate him, I majored in Communications, with dreams of writing music reviews for Rolling Stone. I never realized the impact my Father made on the industry until I grew up, and I’m trying to compile as much information (without him knowing…the last step will be to allow him to review my research and pick his brain based on it all). In simply surfing the net, I’ve come across way more than I expected. He’s been depicted as everything from the man who created the adult contemporary format to a narcissistic bastard whose tendency to control every situation was ultimately his downfall. I’m searching for truthful information from the people in the industry who knew him best. Anything you guys are willing to share would be much appreciated and, if my efforts ever materialize into something substantial, I’ll be sure to contact you for permission to publish your input. I’m certainly not attempting to pretend my Dad is famous, the compilation is a personal memoir and study of career influences fathers have on their daughters, nothing more. I’m just in need of gaining a better perspective of what my Dad really did, his demeanor and personality in work situations and what his contributions meant to the industry. My brother and I have stumbled across some pretty harsh blogs about Dad, and we honestly just found them humorous (Geoff, Pete’s son, is a 22 year-old pre-law student with political aspirations and a carbon copy of our Father). So, I’m really looking for the good, bad, and ugly here. No claims to imagined fame, just research for a personal endeavor I’m obsessed with completing (my writing aspirations are dreams I have not yet realized but have faith that this project will be my springboard). If you actually took the time to read this, thank you. If you can respond with anything at all, THANK YOU even more! If you still talk to him, your discretion with this is really important and deeply appreciated, as this project is intended to be a surprise (I was going to be pretty shady and get his input without him knowing why) that I’m preparing to be done with by his birthday next January (I work full-time, so this is a side project I’m working on in my limited personal time). We’ve been though trying family issues recently and this is also an act of redemption on my part as well. Thanks again! I can be reached through this blog, my personal e-mail (ssalant@voicepowered.com), or on my cell, 727-504-2812.
MUCH THANKS!
Sara Victoria Salant, “Pete’s firstborn and the epitome of Daddy’s Little Girl” =)
Wow,
I came across this web site and could not help but to think what a privilege I was given having worked with many of you in the day. I worked at 13WAVZ as the weekend / fill in jock in 1978. The memories are now sweeter as I get older. Pete Stone (Salant) was a great program director (though I think he wanted to take me out for a couple of arrogant cocky moves I did as a kid) and I probably would have answered differently when I was younger. I also think he had more patience in the day than I knew.
I was just 21 in 1978 when I was hired and about to get married. Working full time at Super Music CO (WWCO) which also was a great station with quite a legacy. I was music director at the time under PD Danny Lyons. I went to heaven every Saturday night as I drove into downtown New Haven past Yale and the New haven Green thinking I had made it to the big league and I was coming up to bat. It was a thrill for me to sit behind that McCurdy board and was pumped to get the show on the road. I never like the RE 20 mike though it did sound good with the chain of processors. Pete and the staff treated me well. I hadn’t used Charlie Wagner but for a few times at WWCO but when Pete carted up my jingle, Charlie Wagner 13WAVZ, when I heard it, I knew had hit a new high and it would stick. I listened to WAVZ faithfully to listen every day so I could be in tune with the main staff goings on of the day. Judge, Danny, Jack, Curtis W, Floyd, Willie and Pete. My fear was to come out with the wrong call letters, which is everyone’s fear when you work for 2 stations at the same time. Didn’t happen because 13WAVZ had a personality not to be duplicated. Everyone knew it was special and unique.
I can even remember tuning into 13 WAVZ as we drove away for our honeymoon, listening through a ton of static in Mass. as to who was filling in for my Saturday night show. It was an amazing time for a kid who trying to be the next Dan Ingram type superstar jock. I was tight and fast but still looking for that style that defined me. I am not sure I ever got to that level though I sought to be the best I could be. I do know that I got to work with some of the best. I actually trained Jerry Christopher on the mixer one Saturday night just after he was hired to replace Judge. Pete had told me the new morning drive guy would be in Saturday night to train on the mixer. Jerry was to start that week and came in from I think Philadelphia. Anyways, we were just kids at the time and I could see Jerry had the morning drive thing you needed to be successful in that time slot.
13WAVZ prepared me for then next big tickets….14NVR & WTIC-FM. 14NVR under the direction of another great WAVZ alumni, Joe McCoy. Joe hired me for mornings and then afternoon drive as his Music Director. Joe made a killer little station in the peak days of disco and he found his niche with the Golden Hour every weekday at 10AM. People loved that show. As MD I got to meet Bill Beamish who had since moved on to Atlantic Records I think. Joe also hired many greats like Chris Berman (ESPN) for his first radio gig and before the fame kicked in, Steve Thomas (best sounding newscaster ever / AP Hartford), Bob Sagendorf and a host of others. I remember Joe hired Judge Harrigan who wanted to work one Christmas day only. Judge just felt like doing a show. Judge was an amazing jock who I admired and was thrilled to work with him. I only crossed paths a few times with Judge who was on the morning drive gig and I filled in a few overnights I had the chance to talk with him for a little bit. Judge was in command of the mike and never seemed to let it go to his head. He was my favorite jock in the WPOP hey day when I was a wanna be and what a thrill to be in the same room with greatness..
I then went onto WTIC-FM following Jack Mitchell, again. Jack was in his peak at WTIC and I had followed Jack from WWCO to WAVZ to WTIC. Jack and I were friends and good co-workers where I always could talk with him. His yuck laugh always cracked me up and we seldom passed without stopping and filling each other in on the goings on. It is like that with some you work with. I worked at WTIC-FM (96TICFM) and actually was the morning drive fill in guy until Gary Craig was hired I think in 1982. Gary actually ran the Autogram console one morning for me so he could get the hang of it. I finally settled in at WTIC 1080. I had some fill in announcer shift duties and an opportunity to work with some of the best of the best including Ted Dalaku, Tom Tyler, Marc Davis, Walt Dibble, Arnold Dean and of course, Bob Steele. I became Bobs’ Saturday weekend engineer in 1983 – 1987, filled in for the great weekday engineer Bob Downes and what a thrill to work with the Bobs. Many stories with Bob and Bob.
I worked full time at WATR in the early ‘80’s and kept working part time on the 19th floor of the Gold Building as an air engineer/producer. Rick O’Conner used to let me tape my last hour at WATR (5-6PM) when I filled in nights at WTIC and had to be there at 6PM. From WATR, I ended up switching careers to work in TV at WTXX Channel 20 (1983 – 1997). I started as master control switcher and worked my way up to Ops Mgr there. I left WTIC in 1987 when I became a night time supervisor at Channel 20 and could no longer handle the 4AM Saturday shift with Bob Steele. This was a sad day for me. I was one of the announcers at Channel 20 until I left in the late 90’s. I also worked at ESPN as an A/D, at Group W (was the home of Discovery Channel, TLC, A&E, History CH and many others as a supervisor), a computer company. In 1998, I came to work at Channel 8 WTNH. I started working at CH 8 as a master control operator, floor director, camera operator and now I am a broadcast engineer today (2008) but totally still love that radio thing.
I’ve since built a 1980’s vintage studio in my Wallingford home in the past year and this is an, in progress. It includes an 1980’s vintage Autogram Mixer, 2 Russco turntables, 3 Denon CD carts, a Tascam reel to reel, 2 NAB cart machines with more to come. The goal is a working museum that sounds awesome, and it does. Looks good too. That broadcast engineer thing is good after hours too!!
The old airchecks still live and love of the time is still alive for those of us who remember how special it was. Thanks for the memories 13 WAVZ. Co-workers and listeners. I am forever grateful for those opportunities and those memories. They live even though the time has long since past.
Chuck.Wagner@WTNH.COM
Charlie Wagner (Joe)
Hey Chuck(Charlie).You were at 13/WAVZ during the SMOKIN 70s when the station really KICKED ASS.I remember your Saturday night show.You always sounded great and your energy was killer.Sounds like radio and television has treated you well.If I ever get up to Connecticut again we have to hook.I would love to see your amazing studio.Continued success dude.GNARLY CHARLIE/SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE.97.3 THE COAST MIAMI.
Found this site today googling WWCO, I was at many of those events Mike spoke about (McDonalds on Thomaston Ave always seemed to be some Super Music CO event. Remember another one near Pie Plate with Mad Hatter on the roof of a Motor home.) Dr Chris and Jose before KC101,
Won TONS of CO stuff to, including Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors, subway sandwiches… used to sit by my cassette recorder and tape songs off the radio all the time. Remember 14NVR and chris berman doing the Waterbury A’s, Reds? Giants? games, whoever was there that year. THe link above is a site which includes some great early 70’s surveys from wwco.. takes me back. Used to get those at the record store in the naug valley mall.
13 WAVZ
I found this site and had to thank everyone for the trip down memory lane. And WOW what a ride that was. I, like Jim Severine, was a music intern at 13 WAVZ. Willie B is also the reason I got into radio. Seeing all the names brought back so many great memories of the best radio station ever.I’ll never forget how
nice everyone at WAVZ was letting me use the production room to make tapes and then listening to the crap I produced and telling me I was getting better. One day Pete Salant was on his way to a meeting and I asked him for a letter of recommendation; he stopped in his tracks and fired off a letter in lighting speed. Thats the kind of guy he is. It was a rare time, no ego’s, people helping eachother, and doing great radio.
Thanks to this site I found Lee and Chuck.
Make WAVZ
Franco
Former WWCO,WNHC,WTCFM,WKCI,WKCD,WQGN,
Greatest memory Willie B.& C.W.H cross talk over
“Signs” by The Five Man Electrical Band.
Comming up on the the end of the intro…..
Willie(The post master general) says to Curtis
whats that sign say L A T E R curtis says…
“you got it…later POST!!
Hey, y’all. I just found the website and am blown away by all the familiar names! I worked at WAVZ in 1960…traffic clerk and switchboard during blizzards (cause I lived downtown and didn’t have to drive). Loved all the guys…especially Gene Stuart who used to let me say the weather intro live on-air…Once I messed up and said, “This is your WAVZ weathergirl! The present temperature outside our Wadio Raves control woom is 28 degrees.” Gene kept me off the air for awhile. Tiny Markle was sure not tiny, and he was a giant personality. Dan Kops was always at the station with his neat bow-tie, ever the gentleman. Now, life is surely strange. Fast forward 36 years and I was working at WXEL FM & TV in West Palm Beach Florida, when who should arrive for a board meeting but Mr. Daniel Kops, chairman. He hadn’t changed a bit! Still dapper, still with the bow tie. I retired from WXEL in 2002. This has been a real blast from the past… WAVZ was a great station and I’m proud to have started my broadcasting career in the midst of such a talented group of people. Wild, but talented! Love to all the old ones who are still around. Sam, the girl from Miami!
HEY FRANCO ON THE RADIO….THOSE WAVES DAYS WERE TOTALLY AMAZING…I REMEMBER THAT CROSSRAP WITH CURT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY….IT WAS ALWAYS HIGH TIMES IN THE ELM CITY ON 13/WAVZ……LATERRRRRR.
Smokin Willie B. You and CWH nailed EVERY POST EVERY NIGHT at the end of his show. I still have airchecks. And what about BUSH!! he was unbelievable “WAVZ MAN OUT OF THE WAY”(remember WADS?) That was FUNNY!!!
You guys were like rock stars to the listeners.
When we showed up at a location people went crazy
I’m glad to see your still SMOKIN the air “WAVZ”.
Franco
//www.francoslasertag.com
13-WAVZ…. New Haven’s Inflation Fighting Bumper Sticker Station!
Who remembers Willie B. Goode’s Toyota, plastered with WAVZ bumper stickers late stickers? (Circa 78)
Shout out to Franco!
I just read this blog from top to bottom – Seeing the names of the jocks from both stations was like a trip down memory lane.
My dad was Bill Patrick – I have only a few memories of him in his professional life. I remember the promotions, station tours and the times he would let me play the sound effect records when he went to work some evenings.
Dad passed away at such a young age in 1992. I’m a dad now and trying to reconstruct some of my heritage for my son. I’d appreciate hearing some stories (regardless if they are good or bad) about the man know as Bill Patrick.
Thanks!
David
Sources have it reliably so that Pete Stone (Salant) was a part time jock at WAVZ before joining the legendary station full time in around 1977 and making his mark as PD. According to those sources, he was also at 15 WFIF before WAVZ as Mike Stone and at one point in his career his on air name was Peter Rabbit! I think the best name of all was “The Stoner”!
It would be great to hear from the Pete with his contribution!
HI DAVID.I REMEMBER YOUR DAD FONDLY. BILL WAS OPERATIONS MANAGER AT 13/WAVZ AND WKCI DURING MY FIRST YEAR AT WAVES FROM 1977-1978.HE WAS ALSO VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC WKCI AND AS I RECALL HE PULLED AN AIRSHIFT ON THE FM AS WELL.PETE SALANT WAS MY DIRECT BOSS AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR WHEREAS YOU DAD WAS PETES BOSS.YOUR DAD WAS ALWAYS COOL TO ME AND SEEMED TO REALLY HAVE A HANDLE ON RADIO OPERATIONS.HE DEALT WITH ALL FACETS OF THE RADIO STATIONS FROM OWNERSHIP,SALES,JOCKS ETC.I RECALL DURING THE CRIPPLING BLIZZARD IN FEBRUARY OF 1978 THAT YOUR DAD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COORDINATING ALL THE HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS FOR THE STAFF AND HELPING US ON-AIR DURING THIS TRAUMATIC TIME.THERE WAS A COUPLE OF FEET OF SNOW AND NOBODY WAS GOING ANYWHERE.LUCKILY WE HAD A HOTEL RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WAVES.AFTER YOUR DAD LEFT WE NEVER STAYED IN TOUCH UNFORTUNATELY AND I AM SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING IN 1992.I VAGUELY RECALL SEEING BILL WITH A YOUNG BOY WITH A T-SHIRT WITH THE LAST NAME LACOMBE ON THE BACK.I ALSO RECALL THAT YOU LIVED SOMEWHERE IN THE MADISON AREA BECAUSE BILL ONCE TOLD ME THAT HE COULDNT HEAR ME OFTEN AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF OUR CRAPPY NIGHTTIME SIGNAL.HE WAS A COOL GUY.BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DAVID AND I HOPE SOME OF MY LONG AGO RECOLLECTIONS HELP A LITTLE BIT.SINCERELY,GNARLY CHARLIE,97.3 THE COAST-MIAMI,FORMERLY SMOKIN WILLIE B. GOODE-13/WAVZ.
Hey David
Bill Patrick was a real good guy as far as I was concerned, he always treated me fine, but I was a couple of steps below him on the org chart.
I was basicly pretty scared of him cause he was such an “old” guy – what he must have been in his 40s when I was in my 20s.
I remember him calling us “gentlemen” and a famous example when a bunch of us where out on the 13 waves fire escape smoking the substance of the day who should happen by but Bill Patrick who nodded, smiled & said “gentlemen!” – I never knew if he knew what we were doing back there
Hi folks!
I started to listen to 13 WAVZ a few months before they made the switch to KC-101. I enjoyed the radio station so much. I would listen to WAVZ, 96 TICS, WABC, WICC, WXLO, WNBC and Long Island’s WBLI.
I see that Johnny Walker posted a message on this site…one question for Johnny. Did you work at WBLI using the name Nick O’Neal?
I see Willie B. Goode enjoyed 13 WAVZ more than KC-101. I loved the old WAVZ and the new KC-101. I’ll never forget the day they made the switch. I had to listen to WBLI because I lived on Long Island. Now with the 13 WAVZ jocks coming over to the FM side, it was a blessing for me. At that time music on AM was dying. It was better to have them (jocks) on FM at least. The old owners of WAVZ could have turned WAVZ to TALK and fired all the jocks.
By reading the mesages on this site I see the workers loved the owners. I wish I worked for them.
The first time I heard Smokin’ Willie B. Goode I pulled out an aircheck of a jock with the same name from San Diego’s B-100. I just started to collect airchecks at that time. They didn’t sound the same. I was just starting to learn the biz. I didn’t know jocks could use the same names of other jocks unless they have a trademark.
Speaking of our Willie B. Goode…I had the pleasure of meeting him once at the first aircheck convention. It was held in Florida back in the early ’90s. I was so happy when Larry Berger hired him at WPLJ. It’s nice to see when a jock who belongs to work in the #1 market gets to work there. Wllie has been in the biz for 37 years…God bless him! 37 years of the “crazy” radio business. Hello Willie!
Mucho thanks for this site!
Let’s hear from Pete Stone “The Stoner.” Give it up Pete!
TO STEVE SPRINGFIELD…..HI STEVE,THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS.DONT GET ME WRONG,KC-101 WAS A GREAT RADIO STATION.THE ONLY REASON I PREFER 13/WAVZ WAS BECAUSE WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO BALLS TO THE WALL WITH ENERGY AND THE MUSIC AND FORMATICS WERE ABSOLUTELY SMOKIN……OBVIOUSLY KC COVERED A HUGE LISTENING AREA WITH A BIG SIGNAL AND THE SAME JOCKS BUT WE WERE TOLD TO TONE IT DOWN TO TRY TO REACH A WIDER DEMO AS I EXPLAINED IN EARLIER POSTINGS..IT WAS NICE OF YOU TO WRITE AND I DO REMEMBER THAT AIRCHECK CONVENTION HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA CIRCA 1990.I BELIEVE JOHNNY DARK,DAVE SOMERS AND THE FAMOUS MR.RADIO WERE ALSO PRESENT. TAKE CARE DUDE…GNARLY/SMOKIN….IN RESPONSE TO J.J CONCERNING PETE SALANT MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD E-MAIL HIM. HE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THIS SITE…LATER……..
WHOA!!! My brain’s almost fried from reading all these posts. Okay Willie, I finally made it on here. The memories are great for me and I was only at 13WAVZ for 7 months. Hey Lee, you remembered my old St. Bernard. She was a beauty and the reason I left WAVZ. Seems she decided to let loose in the production studio one night when I had her with me at the station. I didn’t know she had “left her mark.” Salant found “the pile” the next day and oh yes, Cloris “the bitch” Leachman was to come to our production studio that day to record some PSA. Salant left me a funny memo about cleaning it up, but he was apparently serious about not bringing my Saint back to the station. So when I did a few days later, she threw up. That was it. Funny as hell now that I look back at it, but I was so pissed because I loved the station and wanted to continue to be a part of it.
Here are some memories no one has brought up yet: The homemade jingle shouts that Salant produced. They sounded like they came from PAMS. He was a master!
How about the spotlight in the control room so you knew when someone came through the front door? Did Pete have that hooked up? It was perfect because right outside the control room door was the exit door to the fire escape where we all used to “partake” in our favorite herb. The spotlight gave you enough time to snuff it and get back in the control room before anyone knew.
I know Curtis and Willie know this story, but did it ever get passed around to anyone else? When the Doobie Brothers were in town, Michael McDonald and Keith Knudsen came over to the station for an on air interview, but not before stepping out with Curtis and Willie to readjust their thinking. So all 4 of these blitzed gentlemen come into the control room while I’m doing a Saturday afternoon shift and we all do this on air interview. I used to carry a chemical spray gun (mace) because of where we had to park and the alley we had to walk through (okay, maybe I was a little paranoid). As the interview is wrapping up, I’m on air saying “hey guys, thanks for stopping by…” when Keith picks up my mace gun, not knowing what it is, and fires the damn thing off. He hits me square in the face and my girlfriend who was standing behind me gets a residual shot as well. This was one of my proudest DJ moments as I never skipped a beat and kept on talking right up to the intro. After that, I shut the mic off and stumbled out to the water fountain in the hallway to clear my eyes. Keith felt so bad that he invited us all to the after concert party.
Although I was only the “utility” jock working every shift except morning drive (hard to fill in for the judge) the comraderie was phenominal. The station sounded as good as it did because it was a fun place to work. We were all smilin’ and for good reason. I wonder, did anyone ever check to see what was growing underneath the fire escape? God knows, enough seeds were planted.
Oh and Lee, I divorced Karen in case you’re interested. You sure seemed to be the last time I saw you 🙂
Bill Shane on the weekend.
Hilarious contribution from Bill Shane!
Let’s give it up for Shane!!
How about hearing from Pete Stone, Judge, Friendly Floyd, Krazy Jerry and recently turned Nascar Racer Peter Bush.
Let’s keep this party going! Make WAVZ!
David,
Your dad was a great man! He hired a young guy who at age 22 had no prior significant FM enginering experience but did have exprience with AM directional antennas and audio processing. He took a chance and provided a long “step up” the ladder of advancement opportunity.
This guy reinvented the WAVZ audio chain into a home brew triband system where everyone commented “WAVZ sounds like FM on AM!” He also designed a new antenna system for WKCI, then Beautiful Music, after the old antenna was destroyed by falling ice. The station began to enjoy a statewide signal. The same philosophy in audio processing was implemented at KC-101. We were the (legal) loudest on the dial up into Hartford.
The chance Bill took paid off. I was very saddened to learn of his passing. I would like to relate to you much more. Feel free to email me privatly. I was that 22 year old Bill hired.
I see some people mentioned 14NVR. I was CE at WOWW before WAVZ/WKCI. I later did contract engineering for 14NVR, became Operations Manager (PD/MD/Prod Dir) and then onto GM of that station. Later briefly contract engineer for WNAQ, under Sage.
A list above forgot “13 WAVZ and the Spring Celebration!”
Ok? Lets give it up for another 13-WAVZ alum and the man responsible for the WAVZ audio chain and the new WKCI antenna system … Mr. Tom Osenkowsky!
Dun da da! (applause)
Let’s hear from 70’s PD’s John Long and Pete Salant and how about production whiz Bill Burns!
HI TOM O….NICE TRIBUTE TO BILL PATRICK.HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY…..AS SOMEONE ONCE SAID..IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO WAVES…..SMOKIN/GNARLY
NOBODY HAS POSTED IN A MONTH AND THIS BAD BOY HAS BEEN STUCK ON 89 POSTS SO I THOUGHT I WOULD EVEN IT OUT.I STAKE CLAIM TO POST NUMBER 90…HOPE TO HEAR FROM MORE WAVZ JOCKS FROM THE SMOKIN 70s.I CONCUR WITH BILL SHANE-THAT FIRE ESCAPE IN THE BACK WAS ALWAYS SMOKINNNNNNNNNNN..I REMEMBER WHENEVER PETE SALANT WOULD HOTLINE THE JOCKS THIS BRIGHT ASS FREEKIN LIGHT WOULD SHINE RIGHT IN YOUR FACE.HE WAS NOT CALLING TO SEE HOW YOU WERE DOING…GREAT P.D. LEGENDARY TIMES..GNARLY/SMOKIN
Peter Bush is now selling new Nissans in Fairfield County! eeeeYOW!
Hello All!!
Every time I open up this link, I realized that these were some of the best times in our collective radio careers. Bill Shane, great to see you participate! We laughed till we doubled over on so many things, we can’t help but do it again when we get reminded! Curtis W., you did a great job picking the hits and were great to hang with in the off-hours. Willie B., the times were good to all of us. Pete Salant, we miss you! We all snowballed to better things afterwards. What I also found was that despite Radio changing, good radio announcers continue to find quality work. You are all a tribute to our business, living legends that influenced the next generation of jocks. You all need to stand up and give yourselves a hand. We can tell great stories of behind the scenes antics, but what was coming off the tower in the Long Wharf marshland is what counted. And that was some of the best radio available in the country at the time! I salute all of you.
This is still the best medium for getting the hits played. We won’t be obsolte in 3 years, like your laptop and I-Pod. Keep it up!
Lee
A secondary thought here, everyone. Tom O., it’s great to see you’re still keeping up with the gang. You are one of the finest broadcast engineers I’ve ever worked with. How about finding Lloyd Prezant? I think he’s servicing Mac computers last I heard in NYC. I remember the story about Bob Rivers when you or one of the engineers cleaned a couple pounds of cheese out of the bottom of the triple-decker cart machine because he kept his McDonald’s cheeseburgers warm just above the motors. Paul the Morning Mayer was livid at Rivers because three decks locked up in morning drive. God, I love stories like that. I’ve gotta write a book.
Anyone remember the Bubble-Up Bunny? How about Lucille, our front-desk receptionist? Let’s not forget Lise, the overnight queen. We worked our asses off, but when it was all done, we had a polished, top-shelf broadcast behemoth. By the way, I still have the picture of me that hung in the front lobby. I would have gladly put 13/WAVZ in Hartford and taken on Charlie Parker at WDRC-AM. The WAVZ-mobile was a ’75 Pinto wagon, wasn’t it? Silver with Red graphics. Somebody’s got to have a picture of it. Let’s keep thinking about this stuff. The memories are just too damn good. Keep contributing!
Lee
Former WAVZ jock Friendy Floyd Wright is now at 102.9 DRC FM. 10-3 shift!
ONE THING ABOUT 13/WAVZ THAT I RECALL VIVIDLY WAS EVERYONE WHO WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK THERE LOVED BEING A PART OF RADIO EXCELLENCE.I COULDNT WAIT TO HIT THE AIR EVERY NIGHT.AS LEE SAID THE OFF AIR STUFF WAS COOL BUT THE ON AIR PRODUCT WAS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL.I HAVE WORKED FOR A LOT OF GREAT RADIO STATIONS WITH GREAT PEOPLE BUT THE TALENT AND ATMOSPHERE AT 152 TEMPLE STREET WAS SECOND TO NONE.LONG LIVE THE LEGENDARY 13/WAVZ.GNARLY/SMOKIN…PS. WHATS UP WITH BUSH? SELLING CARS? CRAZY SHIT MAN…
Peter Bush was a good jock! Curtis W. should not humiliate Mr. Bush
Willie B. You are SO RIGHT the on air product was magical. The station was tight and all of you guys sounded great. From morning drive to Shane on the weekend (HEY BILL) WHAT A STATION.!!
I think C.W.H. nailed it in one of his posts. It started with solid ownership that allowed managers to do their jobs. Once they put Salant in place the missing piece to the puzzle was C.W.H.When Pete called Curtis it was like Lennon finding McCartney. “THE MAGIC WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN”
Because everyone respected Pete followed his vision and took “ownership” of their shift everything feel into place. Pete knows how to develop talent. Bush clearly one of the best jocks of ALL TIME, Lee Roberts another solid pro my man Willie B. Danny, The list of major market talent Salant had at WAVZ goes on and on.
It’s been over 30 years and we all still get excited just thinking about it!! WHAT A TIME THAT WAS!!
I spoke to Pete a few weeks ago he really has no idea of the impact he has had on all of us.
I’m so happy I was a part of it even though I never was on the air there. Just to have been on the music research team as a kid starting out was an honor and a great way to break into radio.
Lee, I bet Severine has a pic of that car……(Jim am I right?)
Franco
Hey remember “the New Haven concert stadium?” now that was FUN!!
Thanks to Chuck Wagoner for the kind words and to the others just for remembering me.
I had two stints a WAVZ. I started there in Oct-Nov 1969 doing mid-days. Bill Beamish was doing mornings, Tracy in the PM drive and Pete Moss was nights. Lee Manson was PD. I left in late summer 1970 for a brief gig at WAAF in Worcester. Lou Morton hired me weekends at WPOP in Oct, 1970 and full-time about a month later.
I stayed there until early 1974. Went into sales at WPOP and then WCCC.
Mike West called me late 1976 and asked if I’d be interested in going back on the air doing mornings at WAVZ. I was a little hesitant about going back until he told me that he was lobbying Kops-Monahan to move the format to WKCI-FM. Now that I WAS interested in.
So I started again in Dec ’76 and barely three weeks later West got canned and Pete Salant took over.
I lasted there for about a year and a half waiting for the rumored flip to WKCI. It just didn’t seem like it was going to happen so I left in July of ’78 and changed careers; becoming a computer programmer.
And that’s what I’m still doing today. 18 years at Aetna, 10 years at Travelers and I just joined the State of CT Judicial branch about 9 months ago.
Kind of ironic, the Judge is now working for the Judicial branch.
WAVZ will always be a fond memory for me. Best studio I ever worked in. I was never more comfortable on the air than at WAVZ. Nobody has mentioned that it was a stand-up operation which I think added the energy of the jocks in their presentation.
Good to recall some of these memories.
Da Judge
HI JUDGE…GREAT HEARING FROM YOU ON THIS SMOKIN WAVES SITE…GLAD YOU ARE HAPPY DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING…YOU WERE A GREAT JOCK.I TOTALLY ENJOYED THE YEAR AND A HALF THAT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH YOU.DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING MORNING MEN ON THE RADIO.DO YOU RECALL WHEN ALL THE JOCKS WERE STRANDED AT THE PARK PLAZA HOTEL DURING THE BLIZZARD OF 78? WE HAD FUN HANGING OUT AND TAKING TURNS TRUDGING THROUGH THE SNOW TO THE RADIO STATION ACROSS THE STREET…..IT WAS TALENT LIKE YOU THAT MADE 13/WAVZ SECOND TO NONE…CONTINUED SUCCESS JUDGE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS….STILL STANDING AND SMOKIN ON THE RADIO 30 YEARS LATER…GNARLY/SMOKIN..
Willie B. I’m sure everyone will agree it’s GREAT to See “Da Judge” on the site I too am a BIG FAN!
Judge I’m glad you mentioned Mike West I almost forgot he was a MAJOR PLAYER at WAVZ. I meet him in 1986 when I did weekends at WTIC FM. I always liked his smooth style on the air. Also you mentioned Bill Beamish. I remember listening to him on the radio and than later when I became a music director he was working me on records. It was weird at the time. This RADIO GIANT wanted to meet with me all he wanted to do was get records on the radio and all I wanted was to talk about his radio day’s.
Franco
There are some jocks I always remember whenever I hear a particular song because of a funny break they did. Willie had a great one with Alice Cooper “Only Women Bleed.” His break ended with, “Only Women Bleed…Period!” Judge, I always think of you every time I hear “More Than A Feeling” by Boston. After giving the title of the song, you followed with “that answers the question of what you get when you pay more than $5.00 at a massage parlor.” It was quite a risque line for it’s time and gave me a great laugh. Judge, although I barely knew you, I can honestly say you were one of the reasons I was so proud (and still am) to say I work(ed) at 13WAVZ. Hey Franco, where you at? One more quick story, but this goes back before any of us were at WAVZ. My introduction to WAVZ was with Mike Holland back in 1972. He was the night jock (7-12 I think) and this was before Paul Drew consulted and changed everything around. Mike was the one responsible for my interest in radio. He was messing with my girlfriend at the time and I went to the station to discuss it with him. Ends up he and I both dumped her and I found myself a career in radio. Last thing I heard, Mike was in Canada, but doing horrible because of illness. If anyone knows anything about him, please let me know. Thanks. Shane on the weekend.
I remember Bill Shane at WGUF in Naples,Florida. It was a great group, with Mike Bode at the helm. I was in mid-days and Mike Bode was PD and on the air in the morning drive. Great times! I am now in California, teaching.
Woww! it’s a real trip hearing the great stories from the awesome Jocks of the GREAT 13-WAVZ error.
I too, like Franco had the honor of being a WAVZ Music Researcher. And later had the opportunity to work on air in the studio after the switch. (Clearly not the same game though). But it was magical being in that studio and on the air at 15-years old.
Pete Stone (Salant) recruited me in circa 1978 to be a WAVZ Researcher. It was the coolest experience of my life and very sensational, being on the opposite side of the studio glass, while the likes of Stone, Bush, Floyd and Willie B. Goode were on the air. And While I never met Lee Roberts, Bill Shane, The Judge, It’s great reading their replies and hearing their aircheck. have a ton of their air-checks. It was a blast being part of Willies Fire Escape Parties too! How he never locked himself out of that building, I’ll never know! You really got a birds eye view of all three studios; news, production and on air. Just being in the company of these great jocks gave me an MBA in broadcasting and I pick up great on air habits that I would take to my first gig working for Joe McKoy at 14-NVR and again later on in 1986 at Pete Stones 1220-Winner Radio. I learned more just being with these Pros than at the Broadcasting School in Stratford that I attended.
I must have had some vision at the time and appreciated the WAVZ studios, I took color pictures in 1978 and even have some of the jocks behind the mic. I got Willie interviewing the group GQ in production. And it was great being given the green light to use production to cut demo tapes. Willie gave me my first on air name; “Smokin’ Jim Brady” Willie is the best at coming up with stage names!
As a WAVZ Researcher, we were paid in everything but $$$. Which was really cool! CWH one day told me to take what ever I wanted in the closet. And instead of grabbing a Pink 12″ Disc that day, I snagged a brick of red and white 13 WAVZ Bumper Stickers still sealed to this day.
J.J. McKray
Franco, unfortunately, I think I have just about every picture of WAVZ including CWH Music Directors office, but I think the 75 Pinto that Lee Roberts refers to had long been turned into scrap metal by the time I was at WAVZ. But I do have shots of the WKCI/WAVZ green and white Pepsi Van, if that is any consolation!
You may want to check out John Long’s website //www.oidar.com for that 75 WAVZ Pinto!
Gentlemen (as the late Bill Patrick used to say !
I hadn’t read the posts here in about six months, there are so many wonderful new contributions from old friends. Jim, thanks for keeping things moving as de facto moderator! Willie, Curt, Frank, Bill Shane (where ARE you?), Lee (with whom I recently e-chatted for the first time since back in the day), Chuck, Judge/Hal (so weird that I’m now PD of WPOP, where you made such a huge impression before coming back to 13WAVZ, Chief Tom, who taught me most of what I use even now in my obsession with audio processing, and even all-grown-up David Lacombe! I learned SO much from working with and for your Dad.
In this business, everything seems to come around again. Today, after 20+ great years as a self-employed programming consultant, i’m back at WAVZ. It’s totally surreal.. I’m PD of WWYZ Country 92.5 and WPOP, ESPN Radio 1410 Hartford, where we originate live drive time sports talk programming simulcast on WAVZ, ESPN Radio 1300! Along with my responaibilitiea in Hartford and providing daily live, local content for WAVZ, i assist my boss, who’s Operations Manager of CC/Connecticut (and the best boss a guy could hope for, seriously) by handling programming duties for WAVZ and WELI.
Our ptoduced, spoken legal ID on WPOP features the old Johnny Mann “Drake” jingle singing in perfect sync behind voice guy Jim O’Brien — he says “You’re listening to ESPN Radio” and the singers join him for the rest of the sentence, “14-ten, WPOP Hartford!” Time being as fleeting as it is, I haven’t done that for WAVZ’s legal ID, and so many different jingle logo melodies were heard on 1300 in New Haven between 1970 and 1980 that there really is no heritage jinglr logo associated with WAVZ. It does sound cool on WPOP, though, at least for me and the few listeners “of a certain age” who remember the time from 1968 to 1971 or ’72 when WPOP played jingles that sounded exactly like KHJ and WRKO and CKLW and WOR-FM.
I’m so lucky to atill be working in my chosen career after 38 years, and getting PAID to do it!
And how ironic is it that WILLIE B. GOODE has the clearest, most vivid memories of any of us, of those memorable years at 13WAVZ?!!
Side note for those who are dying to ask: I regret to inform you that there will be no KC101 30th Anniversary Reunion Weekend. Or even a 30th Anniversary *minuter.* Trust me on that.
Sorry for the typos in the previous post — I wrote it on my iPhone on that tiny little keypad.
HI STONER…..GREAT READING YOUR POST.GLAD YOU ARE DOING SO WELL IN CT,,,INCLUDING WAVES…HOW COOL IS THAT AFTER CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.THE REASON I REMEMBER SO MUCH ABOUT 13/WAVZ WAS BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH GREAT RADIO WITH AMAZING PEOPLE.TRYING NOT TO APPLY THE STROKE I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU ON HOW TO DO GREAT RADIO,IF NOT MY CAREER PATH WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT.I ALWAYS HAD THE PASSION BUT YOU SHOWED ME HOW TO USE IT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR ANY OTHER JOCKS BUT I BELIEVE YOU WERE A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THEIE CAREERS AS WELL.KC WAS COOL BUT WAVES WAS THE FREEKIN BOMB….TOTALLY SMOKIN RADIO AT ITS BEST..HOPE TO CATCH UP WITH YOU IN 09.HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.GNARLY/SMOKIN..IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO WAVES.
HI AGAIN GUYS…SORRY FOR MY TYPE-O…I DONT HAVE AN I-PHONE LIKE PETE….I WAS JUST SLOPPY…LATER.
I just got off the phone with Smokin’ Willie B who called to wish me a New Year! We hadn’t spoken for awhile, so it was great to hear from him! Pete told me awhile back that there wouldn’t be a 3oth Anniversary KC101 Reunion, so there it is above me in black and white…oh well, radio just isn’t the same anymore!
To Lee Roberts: I have some airchecks of you from KC101 and 99X, so please contact me if you’d like to get copies of them. (matt at bigappleairchecks.com)
Happy New Year to all my aircheck and radio friends!
Hey! Happy New Year! I spent a short time at 13 Wavz on the overnight flight in the mid 70’s. Had a blast. Willie B and Pete how the heck are you? Also worked at KC101 in the 80’s. I recall we could not give the temp as 77 or 66 – so as not to confuse our listeners with New York stations…those were the days! (or daze…)
Hi guys,
Sorry for the quick “sidebar” message — but for anyone here who worked at, or grew up with, “Super Music C-O/WWCO in Waterbury” (as I know Chuck Wagoner, Franco, Danny Lyons, and a few others did, we’ve just set up a Facebook group and are starting to gather up folks there to reminisce.
Simply go to Facebook.com, register (free and only takes a minute) and then search for Super Music C-O or WWCO and you’ll find us. Or email me at mikegrayeb@hotmail.com if you need help.
Thanks and peace from a longtime KC-101 fan who was too far away to hear WAVZ but remember when the late great Jack Mitchell and when Danny Lyons left C-O to go to the Elm City!
– Mike
Thanks to WAVZ:
Les Garland showed me how it’s easier to make a a “High” audience laugh!
Chuck Martin proved, “All radio stations are toilets, they just flush differently”
Johnny Walker theorized that Lava Lamps made a blind date more interesting.
Bob Rivers could use profanity many times on the air. It was every time I held an ignited cigarette lighter, under the outdoor temperature sensor, as he ended his quick, weather update.
Bob Rivers proved a 3-stack cart machine was not a good place to keep your McDonalds burgers warm. Ketchup & tape heads don’t mix.
Pete Salant became a poor advisor of where to rent an apartment. Shortly after moving in, to where Pete suggested, there were 2 murders. 30+ years later I’m still finding .38 slugs in my furniture.
I was the only DJ to ever cause Dan Kopps (owner)to charge into the control room, while the mic was on, ordering me… “No more hatchet jobs on the Phone Company”.
Finally, thanks to WAVZ, which was an outstanding experience, I was able to find gainful employment elsewhere.
HEY GUYS….JUST SAW WHERE JB105 IN PROVIDENCE IS NOW AN INTERNET STATION.I WORKED THERE IN THE EARLY 80s.I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD BE FEATURING CURRENT HITS…THE HEYDAY OF JB WAS 75-83…..I WROTE A DETAILED E_MAIL TO THE PD BUT HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME……THE POINT OF THIS POST IS WOULDNT IT BE COOL IF 13/WAVZ RETURNED AS AN INTERNET STATION WITH THE ORIGINAL JOCKS VOICETRACKING? PLEASE NO CURRENT STUFF…ANY THOUGHTS FROM THE WAVZ MEN? GNARLY/SMOKIN
Has anyone put together a WAVZ tribute site yet? I have lots of station related things from 60’s including a call card from whne the station first when on the air in ’48?
Anyone knows where some of the 60’s DJ’s are doing like TJ Martin, Ed Flynn. I know Tracy passed away.
I loved working at WAVZ in 1967 and 1968 with Bill Beamish, T J Martin, Ed Flinn,
Bob Terry, and of course Lee Manson was the Program Director.Went there from WNLC
in New London..
I worked the evening shift from 6 PM following Bob Terry.
Those were great days. All the wonderful contests. Remember the WAVZ Millionaire
give away contest?. The staton was at 152 Temple St. Phone number I still remember 777-4767 for all the spin it and win it calls. We were the WAVZ Straight Shooters.
Dan Kopps was the owner of the station in those days. I am living in Nashville,
I came here in 1969 as a record producer. I still miss being on the air and those great fun days at the House of Zodiac in West Haven, as I also managed Tommy and the Rivieras Band at the same time…. I sure wish I had an air check of my show from those days. I am 74 years young now,,, I listen to the station on
line a lot and it is still the hot station tht it alwas was.
ED Read
Tom,
Ed is at WATR Waterbury CT doing 10-1
Franco
//www.francoslasertag.com
Willie B… GREAT IDEA!!
I’ll even be your intern again!!
Willie –
I’ll do Music Research again!
McKray
I like the idea too! I do music research.
Greetings, All!
Count me in for a 2-3 midday or afternoon shift. I might even be able to dig up the old 13/WAVZ shotgun.
Let’s discuss this. That’s the way radio is heading anyway. Why not put the old team together, even in our dreams?
Lee
If you guys do this is there any way I can be involved…. I miss radio so darn much!!! Maybe just one little weekend gig? Building helicopters pays great but they don’t put mics in Blackhawks.
– West
Hey Willie- Great idea. Anything I can do to help, just let me know. I’m sure if we all pool our resources we shouldn’t have a problem coming up with 1000 songs (maybe that should be 1300). I know I have some old memorabilia in boxes somewhere; now if I can just find them. Hey Pete Salant, I’m still in Naples, FL right where you left me. For those of you who don’t know, Pete was the consultant for the old group H&D based in Hartford. They bought this stand alone FM in Naples, FL and sent me down from Q-105 to program it and get it back on track. I took it from a 5.0 to 10.5 in one book (Birch) and they turned around and sold it to this asshole named Art Arkillian. I left the station, but stayed in balmy Naples. Now I sell ratings services for Eastlan Ratings and I love it. If you need an alternative to Arbitron, let me know. Paul “The Morning” Mayer, you were great! I love the Dan Kopps story. Nothing like having the owner bitch you out while your mic is open. I once opened my mic when the owner was yelling at me just to shut him up. His name was Carl Falvo or Falvey. He used to work at WDRC in the 60’s, but he was running this great station in a toilet bowl town called Clearfield, PA. Okay, I’ve rambled enough. Hats off to all former WAVZ jocks and jockettes.
Well:
What do i say. I have read every post here ( long exhaustive process) and I must admit that
i got some huge laughs, and even a little misty eyed at the memories. There was no doubt that we all were a part of something special. Who cared about the mortgage, about the pay, about the world and it’s state. Then was a simpler time. Rock’n Roll, girls, screamin on the radio, gettin blown away, that was the juice!!
Pete’s intuitive talent was apparent. Tight playlist, killer jingles, keepin the rap to a minimum, all part of the winning formula. Wizz bang on air rpoduction, cross promotion..everything all delivered in an upbeat compelling fashion. And what about call out research. Who the heck was doing that then. Pete was, and Curtis W assisting. major talent. Proud to have to worked with them.
As for my on air colleague The hottest shit collection of on air talent at the time. Willie B, Lee, The Stoner. And the hijinx, me reversing the air cleaner on the V6 Pinto wagon. Almost got canned for that. Sneaking out the back stairwell…oh hell. Glad to know you guys are out there, all the best to you. Thanks for the trip back to a period of my life that I will cherish forever.
13 WAVZ…TURN IT UP LOUD!!!
BUSHMAN
HELLO MR. BUSH…..SOME OF MY FONDEST 13/WAVZ MEMORIES ARE YOU AND ME STICKER SPOTTING AND GOING TO CONCERTS,,,,,WAVES MAN GET OUT OF THE WAY………WE HAD MORE FUN RAISING HELL ON THE STREETS OF NEW HAVEN…GLAD TO SEE YOU ON THE SITE….HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE DOING WELL.REMEMBER THE TIME YOU TOLD THE JOCK ON THE AIR AT WADS IN ANSONIA THAT HE WAS FUCKING LIGHT?DIDNT WE HAVE A GOOD TIME THEN??????MAKE WAVES AND WRITE IT DOWN….RIGHTTTTTTTTTT…SMOKIN
Willie –
Schedule me for a weekend/fill on-air slot!
J.J. McKray
Ok… lets roll with this tentative plan to get
13-WAVZ.COM or 13WAVZ.COM I personally own the domains, so I know that they are available!
JOCK SHIFTS: 2-HOURS
JINGLE PKG: SAME GREAT ONES
PD: SALANT? (WILL HE DO IT?)
MD: CURTIS W?
MUSIC FORMAT: SAME 1300 PLAY LIST
Special Guest Jocks: Bring em’ on
JOCKS:
MORNINGS (ROTATE)
JUDGE
JERRY
PAUL MAYER
MIDDAY (ROTATE)
LEE ROBERTS
LYONS
STONER
DRIVE (ROTATE)
BUSH
FRIENDLY
SHANE (DON’T FORGET THE DOG!)
JOHNNY WALKER
NIGHTS (ROTATE)
SMOKIN’ WILLIE
CURTIS W
WEST
CHARLIE WAGNER
JAY SCOTT
OVERNIGHTS:
KIRVEN
NIGHT BIRD
WEEKENDS/FILLS
J.J. MCKRAY
FRANKO
Hi Jim, I got a home studio, the music, etc… hows about a once in a while appearance?
Hi Steve –
Any on air experience?
J.J. McKray
Domain WAVZ Man
13-WAVZ.com
13WAVZ.com
Yep. WMBZ, WGKX, WMC-FM Memphis, KOUL Corpus Christi, WEZL (briefly) Charleston SC, WINQ Winchendon MA, WHAI Greenfield MA about 4 times, WXLO Fitchburg back in ’84. And then, there’s this one I have posted here on Airchexx. I dunno, I bet I can do the format. It would be a hoot working with some of the best I’ve ever heard.
Count me in for a weekend shift! Experience: WGLI, WNYG, WAPP, RadioSamantha.com and fill-in’s on Studio 108/WEBE. Just ask Pete how good I was! Thanks! Magic Matt
The Return of the legendary 13 WAVZ coming to
13WAVZ.com
Great thanks Steve and Matt –
Sounds like you guys have great on-air experience, but can you sound like the days of 13-WAVZ?
Some Jock Criteria:
Can you hit every post and vocal?
Do you remember C H R I S T I E???
Can you relate to greater New Haveners?
C A N Y O U E X E C U T E T H E F O R M A T
Can you be a WAVZ MAN?
Can you scream 13 W A V Z on mic until your eyes pop out of your skull?
We’ll run it by Salant (if he’s on with us) and we should be able to get you guys an air shift.
I think we’re going to have a great time with this!
MAKE WAVZ
J.J. McKray
Domain WAVZ Man
13-WAVZ.com
13WAVZ.com
13-WAVZ.net
13WAVZ.net
I can spit to New Haven… so yea I can relate (I’ll just drive around the city for a week and memorize every landmark). The wife grew up here.
Lesseee… Christie, Yellow River (wasn’t that the color of the Housatonic?)
I’m pretty good at executions
….”I can see Daniel waving goodbye.. (oops wrong song)
I can just see myself screaming 13WAVES in this little bedroom studio with the wife sleeping. There is an assortment of frying pans at her disposal hahahaha.
Yea this could be a lot of fun.
If nothing else, I’ll be happy to publicize whatever you come up with for a 13WAVZ.com station on this website. Somebody who makes good graphics come up with something, maybe an old bumper sticker scan and we’ll make it a clickable link
Great idea, Willie.
I’m a little busy. It’s official, I’m now PD of:
WWYZ
WPOP
WELI
WAVZ
Among other things I do at CC/Connecticut. So I’m a little busy. But it would be a hoot. Jim, glad to see you’re set with the domain names!
J.J. McKray’s taking the ball with Smokin’ Willie B. Goode aka Gnarley Charlie and running with it.
I’m not a betting man, but I’d be willing to wager that 13WAVZ.com is going to get a boat load of on line hits! (no pun intended).
Tell us how you can contribute with:
Voice Tracking: _____________
Music:_______________
From the Error Promos: ____________
From the Error Spots: _____________
Let’s bring back the same 13- WAVZ Screamin’ Radio format from the 70’s, no holes barred.
It would be so cool to put up some Curtis W. WIllie B. Goode cross raps (remember those) Curtis W…. “Later”
Let’s shoot for a combination of the Pete Salant and John Long format .
In time, we me might be able to sell a few spots too! How do you like that Pie In The Sky Dream, especially in this economy). How about pitching THE RUBBER MATCH and Chuck & Eddies in New Haven.
Let’s throw some ideas around on how to track this and get it up on line.
My thinking is to build a continous loop of programming and just let it roll even if we initially only start with a few jocks.
As we get more content, we add to what we have. This is’nt rocket science.
Let’s fire this up!
J.J. McKray
I have some idea on how to do internet radio, having been involved with radiomaxmusic.com (not anymore). We used to do our own shows with our own libraries…. we all had the station jingles, sweepers, etc. I used OtsDj, did it ‘live’ so I could really feel the show as opposed to tracking, where its just not the same…. recorded it live into Adobe Audition and uploaded the file to my server where the guy who runs the internet station downloaded it and put it in his audio chain. Thats how I did it. Email Bob Shannon at CBS-FM, he did shows there too and can also give you insight.
Somebody has to have some kind of server and broadcast delivery system, automation, etc… not quite as involved as a regular station – you don’t need Scott Studios (or is it Google now?…). Hope that helps.
THE MORE I THINK ABOUT THIS THE MORE STOKED I GET…STONER I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE KINDA BUSY THESE DAYS….PD OF HOW MANY STATIONS??? STEVE WEST SEEMS TO HAVE A HANDLE ON WHAT IS NEEDED FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT AND SEVERINE IS CHOMPIN AT THE FREEKIN BIT…I WAS LISTENING TO MY BUD J.J.WALKER LAST NITE ON 70s ON 7 AND I WAS THINKING HOW COOL IT WOULD BE TO CRANK OUT THIS AMAZING MUSIC AGAIN ON 13/WAVZ.ITS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A FUN VENTURE ESPECIALLY AFTER 13/WAVZ.COM COMES TO FRUITION.MORE TO COME HOPEFULLY..GNARLY/SMOKIN…
Guys;
This is what I think will do the trick:
An easy to use voice-tracking program. I use “Station Playlist” to do this. It’s a simple to use voice track and automation system, plus they have the ability to stream our stuff for about 30 dollars a month, something that I would be willing to drop two dollars a month on, if we have ten sincere, solid announcers that want to do this. Take a look at StationPlaylist.com.
Getting to the internet isn’t so hard, I can take care of that.
Music is easy, I have most of it already. I’m running an Oldies station in Colorado kind of on the side, the music’s mostly all there.
What all of us would need is a Station Playlist license, install on your system, then voice track like normal, then send your voice tracks and playlists back to home base, if it’s my computer, that’s fine and dandy. We would have to talk to Station Playlist to see if we could get a deal on ten licenses. On the jock’s end, it requires a computer, and a way of getting voice tracks into it, be it Cool Edit Pro/Adobe Audition or some other recording program, and a microphone. I like Cool Edit becuase is had on-board compression for your mics, just like the old Kepex/Gain Brains we used at WAVZ.
We can give accurate weather forecasts by logging on to the National Weather Service website, promos can be cut by any one of us, special weekends aren’t any big deal. We could rock the Elm City without cracking a sweat. I think we could even look around for an AM that might be interested in some low-cost programming, let them do the leg work on the financial end. If that happens, we then need to worry about BMI and ASCAP, maybe even SESAC.
I suggested two hours because I cut a four hour show every day using this software, and it takes me about five minutes to voicetrack an hour. We can all afford 15 minutes a day, I figure. We can throw some old stuff on the air, Lubal’s and other old advertisers. We can preface them with some slogan, like “Sounds of the Seventies” or whatever we pick.
I recommend a Classic Hits format. That will include all of the music of the late sixties and through the seventies. It doesn’t make much sense to use Eighties music, because by then WAVZ was “Music of Your Life.”
Mr. Kopps and Mr. Monahan probably won’t mind us using their names in the I.D., but Pete Salant should probably give us some kind of blessing since WAVZ is still a living, breathing entity on the air.
This is do-able, my friends. I’ll help coordinate if need be. I’ve already committed to a two hour shift. I have a funny feeling if we put an ad in the New Haven Register, we could have a significant listenership.
Lee
Lee (and others), please contact me via email. If you guys do this you’ll need a website and some other things, and we at Airchexx might be able to help the WAVZ alumni with some of that.
Count me in! I’d rather voice track than sit for 2 hours doing a show. I don’t think it’s up to Pete, since Clear Channel owns the stations, so that could get tricky legal wise. I vote for Lee as PD!
Lee … solid technical plan.
Jocks that are committed:
– Lee Roberts
– Willie B. Goode
– Peter Bush (Confirmed today)
– J.J. McKray
– Magic Matt (Big Apple Airchexx Fame and Former WEBE 108)
– Steve West
Thanks!
HEY GUYS…I LIKE LEE AS PD…HE HAS SOME SOLID IDEAS AS HOW TO DO THIS.I LOVE TO VOICETRACK AND MAKE IT SOUND TOTALLY LIVE…BEEN TRACKING FOR TEN YEARS FROM THE DAYS OF THE NOW DEFUNCT STAR SYSTEM….ANOTHER DEMERIT FOR CLEAR CHANNEL FOR TAKING IT OVER AND SHUTTING IT DOWN….I BELIEVE MAGIC MATT HAS A GOOD QUALITY AIRCHECK OF ME ON WAVZ IN 1978….MAYBE HE CAN PUT IT ON THIS SITE TO BRING BACK THAT INCREDIBLE AUDIO,SPED UP MUSIC AND A YOUNG SCREAMING JOCK NAMED SMOKIN WILLIE B.GOODE….HOPE MORE TALENT GET INVOLVED.GNARLY/SMOKIN…..ON 13/WAVES………
Hello again, everyone!
I’ve been looking around for material for the webacast, and it seems like I’ve hit a snag finding jingles, promos and things like that.
When we were at 13/WAVZ, it was shotgun jingles and quick weathers. Two years before, it was “New Waves 13.” In the sixties, the jingles were longer and told a story. My suggestion is if anyone can find a studio quality aircheck, let’s splice the jingle out of it. Remember, too, we had jock shouts. Anyone who can come up with theirs, great. Otherwise, we can do what Pete ingeniously did, we’ll do our own shouts. Whisper segs were a part of our era. I believe Pete voiced them. Maybe we can talk him into doing another set of them. We gotta find the shotgun jingle from 1977/78.
When we put this on-line, we can match up the jingles to the era music we’re playing. If we play Devil Woman by Cliff Richard, we’ll use the shotgun. Play Let’s Stay Together by Al Green, we’ll use the New Waves 13 package and so on.
We have to find the John Long promo from 1975! Does anyone know if Sunshine is still in town?
Steve, thanks for all your generous offers. I’m sure we’ll be in touch. Matt, did you get those other airchecks? Willie B., JJ, Peter Bush, you’re all the bomb!
I’ve got some DBX compressors laying around. They should be more than adequate to get the air sound we want, especially if we run a couple in series. Remember, 13/WAVZ was fairly dense, compression-wise, on the air!
I want to try and put together a demo for everyone. If you can get me some jingles, that’s great for a start.
The wheels are turning in my head, gang! Let’s light this candle!
Lee
Guys…whats the deal with 13WAVZ. com. Is it going live?
saw my name and a shift suggestion some where..
BUSH
Count me in as a jock. I have temporary access to Cool Edit Pro (Adobe Audition). I’ll buy it for my home and set up a home studio this Summer. I’ll start digging for anything I can find from the WAVZ daze.
Shane on the weekend
I may have a couple shot gun jingles from 1978 around in my collection.
Guys, some of you know me and some don’t, but I loved WAVZ as a teen, especially in the Paul Drew/John Long years and have a LOT of airchecks. (in fact, the clip that started this whole string came from my collection). Does anybody know whatever happened to Ron Foster. He was there in 73 and 74. I’ve got lots of tape of him. Also, a guy named Bobby Scott, who I believe did weekends in 74. Pat Brody? Steve Warren? Mike Dean? They were all there in 1974. Also Buzzy Hart, one of the original jocks in the “New Waves” lineup of 73. I know that Brian Phoenix runs a party DJ outfit called Phoenix Mobile Music in Maine. (great jock!). So much talent there. Oh, yeah… Quincy McCoy was also at WAVZ as the “Super Q” in ’73/74. Tome Britton (aka John Larrabee) was there in ’73 and 74. Remember the “Great Britton Ripoff” contest of April 1974? News people: Anne Avery, Jackson Kaine, Neil Stevens and of course Charlie Steiner. (i’ve got a funny aircheck of him announcing school closings during a blizzard in November 1973 and going “yay!” Where are they all now?
Andy B… I forgot your email address. Would ya email me? steve@airchexx.com Thanks
So, I guess this question is aimed right at Pete Salant. Would corporate go for a weekend recreation of 13 WAVZ on the current sports station? Surely it would get more of an audience than what they have now, considering all the major sports games can be heard in NYC on WFAN / WABC / WCBS.
Think of NJ 101.5 which does talk all week, then goes to a 70s hits music station format with original JAM jingles all weekend. Why couldn’t we pitch the same general idea to the bosses at CC? I’m sure we’d cost the station next to nothing. Then we could fall under the station’s umbrella with respect to royalty fees, etc. for the internet version.
Comments?
TO ANDY B AND HIS TIME WARP…..RON FOSTER IS IN DALLAS,CHARLIE STEINER DOES RADIO PLAY BY PLAY FOR THE DODGERS.WHICH YOU CAN HEAR ON XM.NO CLUE ON THE WHERABOUTS OF YOUR OTHER HEROES INCLUDING THE LEGENDARY BUZZY HART WHICH RHYMES WITH FART.HOPE THIS HELPS…..LOVE THE MEMORIES BRO…
Hey you guys… its me CASH Sunshine with that “$100.00 cash Giveaway” that made me famous in New Haven and with the New Haven PD! Remember John long set me loose on the streets of greater New Haven with a $10,000.00 to give out over a two week period. The press was all over it and so were the Cops. Two weeks later John Long through me on the air and I told all the listeners that it was me on the streets handing out the CASH! The rest is history “CASSH SUNSHINE.”
Love the comments on this site. Jim Severine/aka J.J. McKray started, great job starting dialoge! Hey J.J. I used to listen to you WJBX while I a=was DXing in PA and on KC-101 when you were the “Chucker” and later in NYC when you were on 96.7 GMX.
Smokin’ Willie B. Goode the man who ruled the Elm City in the night time on WAVZ!
J.J. and WIllie I am up to doing a gig on 13-WAVZ.COM. I understand Severine has the rights to the domain name and others! Smart!
Hi to Salant and Lee Roberts too!
SUNSHINE
Take care
Paul Sunshine Resnik! What am I doing working at
‘HCN in the land of snow & cold? Shouldn’t you be back here on 105.9, or at least PLR (I swear there’s a WHO song on every time I punch up 99.1!). Warmest personal greetings.
Steve, you would not believe how well the WPOP/WAVZ combo does, revenue-wise, as ESPN Radio 1410/1300. Last year we grossed more than most FM stations do in similar sized markets. Unfortunately, I can’t pull high school softball or Yankees baseball or even ESPN Radio off WAVZ to do a reunion or revival weekend. We’re rated by money, not listener share. It would be eargasmic, though. Would I ever love to be part of that! How ironic is it that I’m the company representative who has to say “no!” But the buck does stop here at the PD’s office.
I think I may have a cassette (given to me for the KC101 20th Anniversary Reunion Weekend) of the 3 tempoed shotguns we used, that were made by crossfading “13 Q” with acapellas from the TM Shockwave package that brought you “The New Waves.”. It wasn’t until 1978 that we were able to buy real jingles and jock sings (not cheap shouts for the most part). I’ll look through my boxes of tapes and let y all know what I come up with.
Well, Pete, that’s okay I expected that answer. But I had to ask. Yea it would be a hoot to bring in the old gang just for a day. But honestly, unless there was some promotion involved, nobody’d make it a point to listen. The internet station… now THATs a great idea that could grow wings and take off, even if it’s very slowly at first. And we’d all have fun with that. I love the ideas you guys are throwing around. Keep em coming!
Tell ya what. If you or anyone else involved with 13 WAVES wants to do a demo, I’ll post it on airchexx and add a poll to see how site listeners react. There’s a challenge to any you guys wanna give it a try. It’d be fun to listen to, at least!
Pete:
Great to see your postings. Catch this….
To ride on some of the ideas that have been thrown your way, and since WAVZ was scoring 10 shares and was an enormous presence in Greater New Haven, with just about everyone listening, in the 70’s, why not run short nostalgic 13-WAVZ aircheck clips during the game breaks a few times an hour, exiting spots going back into sports talk on weeknights/weekends. i.e Spots – WAVZ Airchecks – Game Talk (The “What’s old, is new again approach). If anything, it would entertain listners, more than confuse them and perhaps make them feel 30-years younger. It’s solid retro programming material and I’d be willing to bet CC would love it. This would break up any talk monotony with music, jingles and personality, etc. You edit the stuff down to a 30- sec to 45 -seconds, or what ever. (Same idea as the stuff we hear on most radio talk show today, music coming out of spots into the talk show host). THIS WOULD BE HUGE! Instead of just music, listners would be rekindling their favorite 13-WAVZ jocks/personalities, shot gun jingles, into “FREAK OUT” by Chic etc. It would be a great synergy. The same concept with the POP brand may even fly on WPOP.
I’ll send you my consult fee.
The best!
J.J. McKray
Cash Sunshine! I was living in New Haven when you came into town. It was the most exciting promotion I’d ever heard. John Long sure knew how to generate publicity; “hey, there’s some crazy bastard out on the street in downtown giving away money.” It was very inspiring and remains one of the reasons why I have always been so proud to be a part of radio. Sorry I never got a chance to meet you, but hopefully we’ll be cross-plugging each other on the 13-WAVZ internet streaming site.
Bill Shane
Hey Shane:
Thanks for the kind words! I heard you on the air in FLorida last year…great set of pipes! Yes, John Long was a great PR man, especially the stunt with me giving out the cash! Sometimes he pushed it too far though. For example, there was the time that he and Brian Phoenix were driving over the Q-Bridge in the Elm Cit-AY in the WAVZ News Car, long was riding shot gun and in a rush to get back to 152 and told Phoenix to get in the break down lane and hit the gas. Phoenix a kid, did, but also asked, isn’t this illegal and what if we get busted? Jon Long replied, don’t worry, I’ll tell the cop that I am the New WAVZ Program Director. Sources have it reliably so, as they were coming around bend, sure enough, a CT. State Trooper was parked in the break down lane. Long (Sometimes his own worst enemy) gets out of the WAVZ cruiser and introduces himself to the cop. Seconds later, long is sitting in the back of the Troopers Paddy Wagon in cuffs. A great story that had to be shared by SUNSHINE on 13-WAVZ!
Love all you guys! (not really)
CASH Sunshine!
HI STEVE….LOVE THE NEW LOOK OF THE SITE….HEY SUNSHINE,WHATS UP DUDE??????YOU WERE ANOTHER GREAT JOCK ON 13/WAVZ AND THE NEW WAVES….I CANNOT SLEEP UNTIL WE HEAR FROM BUZZY HART…..KEEP ON SMOKIN…..GNARLY/SMOKIN…
Smokin, Gnarly, Kenyon, whatever… Lack of sleep is REALLY bad for folks pushing 60, so tell ya what… Although there’s no way I can produce Buzzy Hart in person, I can produce him on a mint copy of a Programmer’s Digest LP
segment called “A Visit With WAVZ”. 22 minutes or so highlighting the energy of the 1st generation New Waves format from Summer ’73. Also, I’m sending Airchexx.com a CD of 7 “off the original reel” New Waves contest promos from 1972/73. I got these from a reclusive aircheck freak who wishes to remain nameless (where he finds this stuff is beyond me!). But wait, don’t touch that dial! You’ll also get 60 minutes of WAVZ from 1965 through 1976 – composites of Bill Beamish, Mason Dixon, Joe Hager, Judge Harrigan, Pete “The Stoner” Salant – and that’s just half the CD! But, if it you order in the next 10 minutes (cause we can’t do this all day…), You’ll also receive a full unscoped hour of Cliff Rockin’ Kenyon (not CANYON, as I’ve already been told), doing his thing on July 20, 1976 at WFIF, Milford CT. Small town summer radio with 45s and carts! Does it just get any better! Steve West, send me your snail-mail address and all this stuff goes out tomorrow morning!
From your friends at the New Waves!
HI ANDY B….DUDE,THANKS FOR REMINDING ME HOW OLD I AM….ACTUALLY I AM FEELING GREAT AT 58..IT COMFORTS ME TO KNOW THAT MOST OF THE WAVES JOCKS FROM THE 70s ARE ALSO IN OR AROUND MY AGE BRACKET…IN FACT SOME MAY EVEN BE OLDER.HEY LETS FACE IT YOU CANT STAY 25 FOREVER BUT I AM THANKFUL TO STILL BE DOING WHAT I LOVE AND STILL HAVING FUN BEING A PART OF RADIO IN 2009….NEXT YEAR WILL BE 40 YEARS ON THE AIR FOR ME IF I LIVE THAT LONG.I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT CLIFF KENYON AIRCHECK ON FIF WHEN I ACTUALLY WAS 25….THANKS BRO AND IN CLOSING, INQUIRING OLD MINDS ARE CURIOUS…….WHAT STATIONS HAVE YOU WORKED AT IN YOUR CAREER?????LATER..GNARLY/SMOKIN,TRUCKIN AKA THE GEEZER OF THE AIRWAVES….
Hi Willie! Yeah, I’m kinda up there in age, too, but doing pretty well. Hey, drop me an email amd I’ll send you out a copy of the WFIF aircheck. It’s truly a classic! I’m out of radio now, but for 18+ years I did the Saturday night oldies gig at WPKN-FM in Bridgeport, CT. Vintage jingles, commercials, promos and liners, too – very cool stuff. Sort of recreated the 1967 radio sound for 4 hours on Saturday evenings. Lots of listener requests snd interaction…it was a ton of fun! Hope to hear from you.
Hey Gnarly –
Davie Woods, one of your listners from 95.5 WPLJ. And a former WAVZ listner back in 1977 when I was at the Uiversity of New Haven. You used to give shout outs to me and my dorm party at UNH.
Davie Woods
Manhattan
HI ANDY B….15 FIF THE SOUND OF AMERICA…..WOW…..I COULD GO ON FOR HOURS ABOUT THAT GIG.ANCIENT BOARD,CUE BURNS ON MOST OF THE RECORDS,2 CART MACHINES WHICH MEANT YOU HAD TO MAKE SURE YOU RECUED YOUR SPOTS AFTER THEY PLAYED OR YOU WOULD BE TOTALLY SCREWED.WHEN I WAS THERE I COULDNT WAIT TO GET OUT BUT LOOKING BACK 33 YEARS LATER IT WAS QUITE A TRIP.STATION HAD A KILLER SIGNAL UP AND DOWN THE CT.SHORELINE AND EVEN SLAMMED INTO NANTUCKET.AS YOU MENTIONED IT WAS A DAYTIMER AND SOMETIMES RIGHT BEFORE SIGNOFF YOU COULD HEAR WTOP IN YOUR HEADPHONES.I WORKED WITH SOME COOL PEOPLE AT FIF INCLUDING JAY SCOTT,DENNIS MURRAY AND MY OLD ROOMMATE BILL SHANE WHO ALL ESCAPED TO WAVES.PETE SALANT AKA MIKE STONE DID MORNINGS THERE SHORTLY BEFORE I ARRIVED.AS I RECALL HE HAD TO BOLT RIGHT AT 9am IN ORDER TO GET TO SOME OTHER TOILET IN NORWALK BY TEN TO DO MID-DAYS.THOSE WERE THE CRAZY DAYS OF RADIO IN THE 70s.THANK GOD MOST OF US WERE ALWAYS HIGH……MY PD AT FIF RANDY WEST WAS AMAZING….TALK ABOUT GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.ALL THE SWEEPERS,PROMOS AND JINGLES WERE ALL DONE BY RANDY WITH HORRIBLE EQUIPMENT AND ABSOLUTELY NO BUDGET.THAT WAS THE ONLY STATION I WORKED WHERE I NEVER AIRCHECKED…..HEY WHAT THE FUCK IS A SKIMMER??????I AM AMAZED THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A CLIFF KENYON AIRCHECK FROM THAT CRAZY SUMMER OF 76 AND ITS EVEN UNSCOPED?????DAMN….IT WOULD BE A TREAT TO RELIVE THOSE DAYS AGAIN….MAYBE STEVE WEST WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO PUT IT UP ON AIRCHEXX..IF YOU ARE CALLER 15 YOU WILL WIN A TEN CENT HOT DOG FROM THE MERRITT CANTEEN IN THE WORST PART OF BRIDGEPORT..EVERYTHING WAS A TRADE AND IF YOU WERE REALLY LUCKY YOU MADE IT TO THE BANK ON TIME BEFORE YOU WERE SINGING RUBBER BALL BY BOBBY VEE.RADIO DAZE FOR SURE..THANKS..GNARLY/SMOKIN/CLIFF TRUCKIN KENYON…….WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP ITS BEEN……CRANK IT UP AND BURN A PHAT ONE………………
Willie – very cool inside scoop on WFIF! I’ve printed it off and saved it in my “radio booty” folder. On the FIF aircheck I recorded that long-ago July, you were “Cliff, in for Randy”. I guess Randy was on vacation or sick that day. Yep, the imaging sure was “The Sound Of Amererica”. The Bicentennial took place just 2 weeks earlier. My favorite spot/PSA on the aircheck is from a local sewer cleaning company reminding listeners that LSD is a one-way trip!
Taking LSD kept you from being able to do a job – like sewer cleaning!
Love the description of FIF’s studio hardware! WPKN-FM is only 1 step above. You got to know where all the dead spots on the pots where. I used to crank the Compellor up to max during my gig because the station processing default setting was next-to-nothing. (it helps to have a copy of the key to the transitter room!) We had consumer-grade CD players from the 1990s that sometimes wouldn’t open, especially when you’ve got like 10 seconds left to cue up the next tune because you’ve been chatting on the phone with a caller and lost track of time! My email address is andybologovsky@optonline.net
Send me a mailing address and I’ll gladly send you an unscoped copy of the WFIF check.
The Beauty no longer on Duty,
Andy
I posted the WFIF aircheck for all of you. Andy, thanks for sending it!
Steve
Steve,
Thanks a LOT for posting the WFIF aircheck. Just a small correction – I did tape this aircheck back when I was 17 and lived in Milford, but I never worked at WFIF. (just a listener). Really nice scoping job, by the way!
“This is a gift from Andy Bologovsky, who worked at WFIF for a time. This particular aircheck is presented to the 70s WAVZ staff, many of whom worked here before the step up to Kopps-Monahan a few miles down the road.”
Well, I can fix that easy enough. As for scoping, sometimes it’s a black art much like the way we all used razor blades to cut tape for production. Gotta know where to splice the music so it sounds seamless. 🙂 No, actually I took my time doing that one right. Glad you like it.
Pete, Lee, Willie B… and anyone else who might be interested. I was thinking, who might want to do an hour or two (recorded) that I might post here as a special 13 WAVES Memorial weekend? Maybe airchexx.com’s way of celebrating Memorial day, since apparently WABC Rewound is (from what I hear) going to be internet-only this year. You need jingles, promos and old spots… the latter I have some now that Andy B. sent me so many CDs, plus the killer 70s library. I can produce with voice tracks or you can if you have the ability. I’ll post as many hours as people wanna do.
If you’re interested let me know and I’ll get it together – we got just under 2 months.
HI ANDY AND STEVE…THANKS FOR PUTTING THAT 15/FIF AIRCHECK UP THERE.BROUGHT BACK SOME CRAZY RADIO MEMORIES….NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER HEAR IT AGAIN.AS I SAID EARLIER I NEVER AIRCHECKED AT FIF…I NOTIFIED RANDY WEST THAT ITS ON AIRCHEXX…THANKS AGAIN GUYS…GNARLY/SMOKIN/TRUCKIN…PS.MEMORIAL DAY IDEA SOUNDS GREAT……….MAKE WAVES AND WRITE IT DOWN………
HEY GUYS……HAVENT SEEN ANY POSTINGS LATELY……IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?????.HEARD SOME DISTURBING NEWS THAT PETE SALANT IS OUT AT CHEAP CHANNEL…SORRY FOR PETE AND SORRY ABOUT WHAT RADIO HAS BECOME EVERYWHERE…
Unfortunately the news about Pete and CC is true. His contract was not renewed. I spoke to Pete awhile back, and he’s involved in other projects outside of radio. Is there anything going on with the online launch of WAVZ internet radio?
Smokin’ — how goes it??
Was just thinking about the 20-year anniversary you guys all did at KC101 back in July of ’99 — 10 years ago this month! What a blast that was to hear (I didn’t hear it live — but Pete Salant used to have it on his website or somewhere on the net). GREAT stuff!!
Glad to see you’re still rockin’ the Coast!
I started a WWCO/Waterbury group on Facebook and Doc Holiday, Danny Lyons, Stef Rybak and some other names you might know are there.
Hope life is treating you well.
Peace.
HI MIKE..GREAT HEARING FROM YOU AGAIN….I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT OUR KC101 TWENTY YEAR REUNION TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK,WE DID IT THE SAME WEEKEND JFK JUNIOR DIED AND WOODSTOCK WAS CELEBRATING THEIR 30TH REUNION THAT WEEKEND AS WELL..I HAD THE ENTIRE WEEKEND ON CDs WHICH UNFORTUNATELY SOMEHOW ARE NOW BLANK..I NEVER KNEW CDs COULD OXIDIZE….YOU MAY WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MY BUDDY MATT AT BIG APPLE AIRCHECKS…I BELIEVE HE HAS COPIES,HE HAS EVERYTHING. AS I HAVE MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS POSTS THAT JULY WEEKEND IN 1999 WAS THE BEST TIME EVER WITH THE ORIGINAL JOCKS FROM 1979 AND LOTS OF OTHER LONG LOST RADIO FRIENDS.I HAVENT BEEN BACK TO CT. SINCE THAT WEEKEND AND WAS HOPING WE WOULD DO A 30TH THIS SUMMER BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT ISNT HAPPENING.WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE CAN DO A 40th??????TAKE CARE DUDE,KEEP IN TOUCH……GNARLY/SMOKIN…..MAKE WAVES AND WRITE IT DOWN……………………..
Willie B. Goode is a God of the NYC late night air waves………..
Willie ZB Goode .when he worked at PLJ was the fucking best……………always will be………..him and Peter Bush , lit up late night in NYC like no one would believe……………..Wiilie would put on his favorite callers and let them express every feeling feling they ever had……..I forgot the douchebag boss,Willie……………but we know who he is…………that PD trainwreck…………Willie…living in NJ,happily married to my wife Loretta……..2 kids………..adorable girls…..they look like Party Marty kids……….call me Willie……….917-715 2180……….thats my number Willie you can always get me there…if not……call my wife,Loretta………917 922 1565…………leave a message if you have to……….MR.Willie B. Goode was an inspiration in my life…..I was a reg caller at PLJ and Willie treated me with the utmost respect,as did Bush…….but always had a fondness for that gravely voiced guy saying,”HEY,PARTY MARTY…….WHERE ARE WE PARTYING”? Wilie is a gentleman and always will be…….a true professional……….He had thousands of listeners at 95 at the we hours of the morn,I’d like to take a bit of credit for that……seeing I had a huge crowd of assholes from Staten Island listening for Willie and Party Marty raps…………those were the good old days……..Willie,I’m 40…………the party still goes on,just on a lower scale……would love to hear from you………..for anyone who has any idea about how a radio personality should do his fucking job…………..Willie B. Goode is the best………….when they say radio…………..you say and I do……THAT HE BROKE THE FUCKING MOLD…………. until then,Willie………be well…Happy New Year……….Marty
HI PARTY MARTY….DUDE I REMEMBER THOSE SMOKIN PARTY RAPS WE DID AT PLJ LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.IM SURE I HAVE SOME ON OLD AIRCHECKS.GLAD YOU ARE DOING WELL BRO.YOU ARE FREEKIN 40????? NOT POSSIBLE…LAST I KNEW YOU WERE 16 AT TOTTENVILLE HIGH AND I DO MEAN HIGH…..I AM GNARLY CHARLIE AT 97.3 THE COAST IN MIAMI PLAYING THE SAME SMOKIN 80s THAT I DID AT PLJ. I HAVE BEEN IN SOUTH FLORIDA SINCE 1989.I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ALANNAH (NAMED AFTER ALANNAH CURRIE) WHO IS A FRESHMAN AT F.I.U. I AM STILL HAVING FUN ON THE RADIO..LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE LISTENING AND I WILL GIVE YOU A SHOUT…..HAPPY NEW YEAR PARTY MARTY AND THANKS FOR REMEMBERING THE SMOKIN GOOD TIMES…GNARLY/SMOKIN…….LAST I HEARD PETER BUSH WAS DOING WELL IN CT…..
I’m feeling very nostalgic and wanted to let you all know how comforting it is to visit this site and learn how all of you great New Haven / area DJ’s are doing! I’m also adding to this blog to see if any of you have any (fond?) memories of my dad, Lee Manson, from the ‘60’/early 70’s at WAVZ / or even earlier at WELI, or even further back to the beginning of the WNHC days! We’ll be celebrating dad’s 93rd birthday June 19th, 2010. We’re very blessed that he is still with us and it means a great deal to me and my family that he shares fabulous robust stories of his 50+ years in radio, you are all a big part of that history.
Cheers and best wishes to you all! Best Regards – JoAnne M.
Hi Steve..Love the new look of Airchexx.Looks really slick dude…Gnarly/Smokin…..
I will always love willie b. goode.
I use to call him at WPLJ in the mid 80’s..and go on the radio with him at age 16!! It was so much fun..great memories, of me and candee fresh!!
I even became a d.j. because of him!
Love you willie…alwyas and forever!
Donna D. from Bensonhurst,Brooklyn
Hi Donna D. Its great to hear from awesome listeners like you,Candee Fresh and Party Marty 35 years later.WPLJ POWER 95 was an amazing radio station with the best staff and definitely the best listeners…I still have airchecks with a lot of our party raps.All on cassette and nothing to play em on.Thanks for the memories……Stay cool.GNARLY/SMOKIN….
Take two….The time period I was referring to was Mid 80s which would make it more like 25 years ago..Dont want us to feel older than we are…Larry Berger had that station smokin……GNARLY/SMOKIN…..
Hey Smokin Willie B. Goode- I listened to you way back in the day at WFIF. You were great and I really enjoyed listening to you. Glad to hear you are still doing radio and I’m sure sounding just like you did over 30 years ago. Keep up the good work!!!!
Hi Carl.Thanks again for the kind words. I also saw your post on the FIF site.I still love having fun on the radio.You can catch me 4 times on the weekend on 97.3 The Coast in Miami on our Totally 80s Weekends.I do 2 afternoon and 2 late night shifts. Let me know when you are listening and I will give you a shout.Thanks dude.GNARLY/SMOKIN/TRUCKIN….
Actually KC101 is actually WAVZ on FM. The first book that the AM faltered the owners abandon beautiful music format and took the FM CHR as KC101 and WAVZ moved to standards.
Hi Franco –
You are right! I’ve gotta have it somewhere!
Make WAVZ!
Update on our Dad. Lee Manson. He is now 95 years old and sadly, lies in a bed at CT Hospice in Branford, CT after major surgery earlier this month. He continued to speak fondly of his days at WAVZ and has always been very proud of you guys. Thank you for contributing to his life, and you should know that he is very grateful to have shared time with all of you.
Brian Mancinelli
Brian, I was sad to read of your father’s passing. A day or so later, we lost our friend Curt Hansen, one of the earlier posters here and retired OM/PD of WEBE108/WICC and KC101/WAVZ after I left.
Condolences to you and your family.
Pete Salant
Hello Wille B Goode It’s Raye Pender
I would love to hear from you my old friend