I began listening to the radio in 1973 as I was turned on to WKBO. I didn't even know WFEC existed until April 1976...less than a year before it went country! At that time it was just O.K. The fact that I lived in the market and didn't know of WFEC is a bit telling. Now, the only aircheck I ever heard of WFEC (other that the 1982-84 Hot Hits era, which was pretty darn good) was from Uncle Ricky's site: http://www.reelradio.com/. It is a 1968 aircheck from Fred King and I wasn't impressed. I'd love to hear some other examples. Do any exist? ???
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- Thread starter RockofHBG
- Start date
J
John-Summers
Guest
To "jackandcoke:" Glad to hear you're doing well. I'd probably remember you by your air name. Still in this area? Thanks for backing me up. I don't think some people actually believe WFEC was ever all that important. It was, as was WSBA. That place was a killer! And the talent: Dan Donovan, Larry Hall, Bill Campbell, Al Wolfe, Ed Lincoln, Kerby Scott...the list goes on and on. Bob Harper went on to program KQV and WKBW. WSBA was a springboard to the majors, to be sure. I have a Dan Donovan aircheck from around 1965. Yeah, it's corny and old fashioned, but the personality is there in spades.
To "jayedwards:" You've brought this subject up before, so why not expand on it. Dead: Curt Whitcomb, Buzz A Long, Tom Crane, Ron "Dick Bradley" Isroelit (all 1960s jocks) and Mike Kelly (early 1970s.) Who else? Homeless: Well, let's leave that one be. In prison: I can think of one from the 70s that did some time. Who else? If it's public record, you needn't worry about posting it here. To say "Most WFEC people are dead, in prison or homeless" is a pretty wide statement to make.
To "rockofHBG:" I've heard that Fred King aircheck. It's not really representative. He was always on in the daytime, not overnights. Sounds like he was being forced out, which I heard Scott did to several people when they took over. I've heard later checks from WLOF Orlando, and he sounded quite good for the time.
To "jayedwards:" You've brought this subject up before, so why not expand on it. Dead: Curt Whitcomb, Buzz A Long, Tom Crane, Ron "Dick Bradley" Isroelit (all 1960s jocks) and Mike Kelly (early 1970s.) Who else? Homeless: Well, let's leave that one be. In prison: I can think of one from the 70s that did some time. Who else? If it's public record, you needn't worry about posting it here. To say "Most WFEC people are dead, in prison or homeless" is a pretty wide statement to make.
To "rockofHBG:" I've heard that Fred King aircheck. It's not really representative. He was always on in the daytime, not overnights. Sounds like he was being forced out, which I heard Scott did to several people when they took over. I've heard later checks from WLOF Orlando, and he sounded quite good for the time.
J
jayedwards
Guest
John----I was being sarcastic about the WFEC staff! Sorry! BUT---there were some real characters there over the years such as --- Dave The Baby Marino!!!! What happened to him? why did he use that air name? Jay
J
John-Summers
Guest
Jay: Whew. That's a relief! I DO have a very good sense of humor, and the first time you made that statement I took it as you obviously intended. The second time, all by itself, made me wonder if you were onto something. I wouldn't like to think Lucky Pierre got busted for being an illegal alien. 
It was Dave "Baby" Marino, not "The Baby." There had been a keyboard player in the late 50s who had a couple of instrumental hits, Dave "Baby" Cortez. I always figured it just came from that, a catchy and familiar thing to nickname a new jock. Another possibility is that Dave Marino started jocking at WFEC right out of high school. He really was a "baby" compared to the rest of the staff.
I knew Dave slightly, though I never worked with him or for him. I don't know where he is now. Last I heard he was in Florida, out of radio.
It was Dave "Baby" Marino, not "The Baby." There had been a keyboard player in the late 50s who had a couple of instrumental hits, Dave "Baby" Cortez. I always figured it just came from that, a catchy and familiar thing to nickname a new jock. Another possibility is that Dave Marino started jocking at WFEC right out of high school. He really was a "baby" compared to the rest of the staff.
I knew Dave slightly, though I never worked with him or for him. I don't know where he is now. Last I heard he was in Florida, out of radio.
J
jayedwards
Guest
John----This is no joke. Lucky Pierre went to LA and became a top disco record producer in the 1980's. Now is an actor. I once saw him in LA in the 1970's. what happened to Tony Montgomery and other WFEC jocks of the 60's? (Breck Ardery, JJ Morgan, Steve Miller, etc) I know where Bob Janis is! And Ken Matz is retired in Florida! Jay
J
jayedwards
Guest
John---- a friend told me Lucky Pierre was The King Of LA Disco in the 1980's as a top record producer! Isn't that a total riot! when I tell people a top 40 jock at WFEC used a french accent they don't believe me! airchecks of Lucky would be great to have. I may try to reach him! Jay
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jayedwards
Guest
John---to be correct---I was told Pierre was the Godfather of LA disco in the 1980's! Hope he saved some of the $$$$!!!! this is no joke!!!! Jay
J
John-Summers
Guest
Jay:
I discovered a couple of years ago that a Google search on "Pierre Gonneau" turned up all manner of interesting items about the former French-speaking PD of WFEC. Lucky Pierre was a legend on Buffalo radio on WBNY and several other stations that played rock 'n' roll before WKBW went Top 40. A couple of years ago he was inducted into the NY Radio Hall of Fame. How did he come to WFEC? Apparently a friend bought the place and brought him in to run it. He may have even had a piece of the action. I don't know, but he left when the station was sold to Scott and went to LA as Music Director of KGFJ, the city's reigning "Soul" station. Imagine, a French-Canadian white guy calling the musical shots on a Soul station in LA! After that he was a record producer and talent promoter. His acting consisted of some B movies and bit parts on "Married With Children," "Cannon," Mad About You" and other shows.
But here is the, what you say, thee piece de resistance. He's apparently still involved in the music business and recently did a rather wacky promotional video for a band called "Tyrants in Therapy," in which he extolls the virtues of the band while consuming copious amounts of red wine. Go to myspace.com, videos, and search for Lucky Pierre. It's a hoot! Glad to see he's looking so good at his age. He has to be pushing 80. Must be that red wine!
I'll have some comments about your questions about the other WFEC jocks you mentioned at a later time.
I discovered a couple of years ago that a Google search on "Pierre Gonneau" turned up all manner of interesting items about the former French-speaking PD of WFEC. Lucky Pierre was a legend on Buffalo radio on WBNY and several other stations that played rock 'n' roll before WKBW went Top 40. A couple of years ago he was inducted into the NY Radio Hall of Fame. How did he come to WFEC? Apparently a friend bought the place and brought him in to run it. He may have even had a piece of the action. I don't know, but he left when the station was sold to Scott and went to LA as Music Director of KGFJ, the city's reigning "Soul" station. Imagine, a French-Canadian white guy calling the musical shots on a Soul station in LA! After that he was a record producer and talent promoter. His acting consisted of some B movies and bit parts on "Married With Children," "Cannon," Mad About You" and other shows.
But here is the, what you say, thee piece de resistance. He's apparently still involved in the music business and recently did a rather wacky promotional video for a band called "Tyrants in Therapy," in which he extolls the virtues of the band while consuming copious amounts of red wine. Go to myspace.com, videos, and search for Lucky Pierre. It's a hoot! Glad to see he's looking so good at his age. He has to be pushing 80. Must be that red wine!
I'll have some comments about your questions about the other WFEC jocks you mentioned at a later time.
J
jayedwards
Guest
I think Pierre was VP of Eastern Radio owner of WFEC till they sold it to Herb Scott. I was at WFEC very briefly doing part time news and jock work during the transition from Eastern to Scott. do voice work and writing in NYC now / part-time. Sad to say I've heard many from WFEC,WSBA, WLAN, have passed on.(John---I can't see the WLIF website. All I get is wliffm.com --- a useless website.) Jay
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jayedwards
Guest
John---did Paxton Quigley pass on? (knew this would give you a laugh!) Jay
WFEC
There is an aircheck of Alan Martin from Disco 14 floating around the trading circuit...
NJ 101.5's Ray Rossi also worked at Disco 14.
There is an aircheck of Alan Martin from Disco 14 floating around the trading circuit...
NJ 101.5's Ray Rossi also worked at Disco 14.
Someone mentioned Herb Scott. Would that be the namesake of Scott Broadcasting?
Yeah, Herb Scott was the founder of Great Scott Broadcasting. I believe his son Mitch runs it now. Last time I looked they still owned 1370/WPAZ, Pottstown. At one time they had stations in Trenton, New Castle and Harrisburg, as well as in Delaware. Now they've got 9 or 10 stations down on the Delmarva peninsula--Ocean City/Rehoboth markets, and they do pretty well there. Herb was a great salesman and made a bunch of money in his small markets, where programming didn't matter. In Harrisburg it did matter, so when Dame came into KBO with guns ablazin' he (WFEC) got hammered.
the great scott! i worked at 1400 during the last few months of country. got a new manager and changed to pop/corn format...one country tune...one pop tune.....a real train wreck. it was great to hear abba then merl haggard. our spring book promotion was giving away bic razors.....while kbo was giving away 5 cars! ahhh the great scott!
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jayedwards
Guest
John Summers----sorry John, I should have asked if Paxton Quigley is alive and well and on the radio! Jay (PS--- can you have the WLIF website fixed? all I get at www.wliffm.com is a useless website. )
J
John-Summers
Guest
Jay: Don't know the current whereabouts of the WFEC jocks you mentioned. Tony Montgomery was MD there for several years and became a record plugger for RCA after WFEC. JJ Morgan: I remember him as the evening jock but not much else. My own favorite of their 8-midnight jocks was Jim Henry, who had a liking for rockier tunes. Breck Ardery worked for ABC Radio News in NY in the 70s. A Google search on that most unique name turns up references to a UN correspondent for the VOA. Probably the same guy. Over the years WFEC's designated "News Director" always did some jocking too. Jim Madison was a long-lasting jock from the late 60s who went to WEAM in DC as Jim Stewart, then later did some work on WCFL. I heard him myself one night; it was the same guy. Someone told me he's a weatherman on a TV station in Tucson, AZ these days. As you mentioned, Ken Matz went into news and was quite successful on TV, as was Ken Mease, who was there around 1965-66 and went to WBT Charlotte and later anchored sports on DC's channel 9 for a couple of decades. There were a lot of people who went through WFEC during the first few years of the Scott era, as opposed to the relatively few during the reign of Lucky Pierre and East Coast. And because of that, few of them are memorable.
Paxton Quigley! An odd reference for you to make. Makes me wonder if we were ever acquainted. PQ made a comeback (not my choice) on WGTY in the 1990s. The PD thought the name sounded "country." Go figure. PQ is never to return if I have anything to say about it, and I do. His twin brother, John Summers, is alive and well on the radio, doing weekends and fill-in on WLIF Baltimore and occasionally on WROZ Lancaster. I can't do anything about their web site. It took me a year to get them to put my name on it! It is supposed to be redesigned, with photos, at some future time. But CBS is moving all the stations out of Towson to brand new all-digital facilities by the end of next month, so anything like that is on hold. The address is "1019litefm.com."
Terp: Personally, I'm glad they screwed up the Country format on WFEC. It got you out of there so I could hire you. You were the best jock they had, and you were on nights!
Paxton Quigley! An odd reference for you to make. Makes me wonder if we were ever acquainted. PQ made a comeback (not my choice) on WGTY in the 1990s. The PD thought the name sounded "country." Go figure. PQ is never to return if I have anything to say about it, and I do. His twin brother, John Summers, is alive and well on the radio, doing weekends and fill-in on WLIF Baltimore and occasionally on WROZ Lancaster. I can't do anything about their web site. It took me a year to get them to put my name on it! It is supposed to be redesigned, with photos, at some future time. But CBS is moving all the stations out of Towson to brand new all-digital facilities by the end of next month, so anything like that is on hold. The address is "1019litefm.com."
Terp: Personally, I'm glad they screwed up the Country format on WFEC. It got you out of there so I could hire you. You were the best jock they had, and you were on nights!
J
John-Summers
Guest
Jay: You also mentioned Steve Miller, former WFEC jock. I do remember him as one of their newsman/jocks. He also showed up on WIOO and worked in Baltimore too in the early 70s on WLPL, I think. Good voice as I recall.
J
jayedwards
Guest
No John --- I've never met you but I know some people you worked with at WKBO. I must get off these radio message boards and get a life. Maybe I can be an assistant to Bob Janis---- drive him around, etc! It would very likely pay better than WFEC did! Jay
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jayedwards
Guest
John-- what's happened to radio since WSBA/WFEC/WKBO/WLAN? It really can be depressing. No wonder guys like Klepic left radio! Jay (tv is bad too!)
There are two full-service Hot AC stations in smaller markets nearby that do pretty good "throwback" type radio: 95.1/WIKZ in Chambersburg and 95.3/WZWW in State College. Seasoned airstaffs, lots of info and community stuff--fun to listen to. So many stations today are living on their niche music position--i.e., "the country station," "the classic rock station," "the hip-hop station," "the news-talk station," "the sports-talk station"... it's nice and/or interesting to see these guys rack up huge ratings doing full-service radio. Maybe it's just a small market thing...
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