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RIRHOF

Class of 2013 to be announced later this month. Any predictions? I'm thinking:
Joannie Edwardsen: David Jones is already in and regardless of the breakup of the Jones & Joan team, I think it's time Joannie joined him in the HOF. She did leave her mark on the market for as long as the show lasted.
Mike Sheridan: Is there any station he hasn't done traffic on? And he's still on the radio today at WOON. I think more listeners recognize his name than half the ex-jocks who have left the market.
Buddy Cianci: Arlene is in. Granted there's a lot of infamy here, but between politics & radio I don't see him not eventually getting in.
John "Coach" Colletto: There's always a sports figure inducted & he's well known and remembered. Having been part of Salty's show doesn't hurt either.
Pappy Philbrook: Kinda country's equivalent of Salty back in the day & successfully transitioned to engineering.
Davey Morris: He's been at PRO-FM how long? Is it 20 years? Taking recent accomplishments into consideration, I think he's a contender.
Lou Brutus: I forgot how long he was at HJY, but considering his success since then I think you have to take that into consideration.
There are usually people inducted that date way back before my time along with people who have worked at smaller stations in the state for eons that I'm not familiar with so I'll leave the other spaces blank for those.
 
Adding another I forgot about: Big John Bina. Well known in the market and was in the business over 35 years.
 
How bout John Parente from WKRI. He was there 20 + years. He brought local Kent County sports to the radio as well as morning news man. Now the AD at Johnson and Wales. I think well deserved.
 
johnnyboots said:
How bout John Parente from WKRI. He was there 20 + years. He brought local Kent County sports to the radio as well as morning news man. Now the AD at Johnson and Wales. I think well deserved.
Agreed. Yes to Mike Sheridan & The Doctor as well.
 
RADIO HALL ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2013
Shepard Award for service, Broadcaster of the Year also named

Smithfield, RI - For an industry that has entered its 10th decade in the Ocean State, radio has certainly had a fair share of notable broadcasters leave an indelible mark on the local landscape. The Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame was established in 2008 as an idea among local radio professionals, to celebrate the storied history of the industry in Rhode Island, and to honor the men and women who have played a part in its growth.

The RIRHOF Board of Directors is pleased to announce our newest class of inductees for 2013:

Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci, Jr. – Former mayor of Providence, Cianci’s radio career began during his first term in the 1970’s by making appearances on local stations, using the airwaves to promote policy – as well as Providence. His first “full-time” radio position began with WHJJ-AM in the 1980’s, and continues today with ratings success at WPRO-AM in Providence. Since returning to the airwaves, Rhode Island Monthly readers have voted Cianci as “the Best Radio Talk Show Host in the state four years in a row.

John “Coach” Colletto – Colletto began his radio career as a DJ and newscaster at WARA-AM in Attleboro, and by 1979 he was the morning show host. In March 1981, Colletto moved on to Providence and WPRO-AM, and joined “The Salty Brine Show” in 1982. Salty gave Colletto the nickname “Coach,” and he remained a fixture at WPRO and WSKO-AM/FM through 2006 as a show host and personality. Colletto also spent time as a radio analyst for the Providence Bruins.

Bill Corsair – a Rhode Island native, Bill Corsair is a 20-year Guinness Book of World Record holder for “Most Attempted Calls To a Radio Talk Show.” He has multiple RI radio credits, in the ‘60s & early ‘70’s including #1 rated Noon to 3 PM show on WICE-AM. He is the original voice of Hasbro's talking G.I. Joe, recorded ironically a year before his RI National Guard Company was ordered to active duty in Vietnam.

Mike Gonsalves – Known as “Doctor Metal,” Gonsalves was a staff DJ on WHJY-FM for 17 years, where he had also worked previously as an intern while a student at Rhode Island College. His Saturday night program, “The Metal Zone” was the longest-running continuous heavy metal radio show in the country at the time. Gonsalves perished in the West Warwick Station Night Club fire of 2003, which killed 100 people.

Fred Grady – Grady began his career in the 1950’s on WPAW, playing jazz in all of its variations. Grady helped shaped jazz culture in the region at a time when jazz musicians included many very creative and talented performers, working and writing music at the creative edge of American culture. Grady became a fixture as an announcer for the Newport Jazz Festival, and later hosted a show on WBRU-FM in the ‘80’s. He passed away in 1987.

Bob Sullivan - born in Newport, RI in1949, Sullivan made the community his home – on and off the air – for the next 57 years. Known for his biting wit and wide range of interests on WADK-AM, Sullivan served as News Director and for more than thirty years as the host of “The Open Forum,” setting a standard for local talk and fair, balanced reporting. Sullivan passed away in 2007.

Additionally, the Shepard Award – created to recognize the founders of radio (John and Robert Shepard, owners of the Shepard Department Stores) in the Ocean State and to honor present-day contributors to the industry through leadership, dedication, achievement, innovation and spirit – goes to Barbara Smith. Smith began her radio career in 1964, working for WPRO-AM/FM in the traffic department, and for most of the next 48 years, she remained a fixture within the business operations of the station ownership groups. Smith retired from the industry in 2012.

This year’s induction class will also include a new award presentation, for the Broadcaster of the Year. Created to recognize outstanding radio stations and their personnel on and off the air, the inaugural winner is WCTK-FM. Broadcasting as a country music format since 1989 and known as “Cat Country” since 1994, WCTK has long supported philanthropic efforts within the community, raising funds and awareness for many worthwhile causes. The stations’ "Snowball Concert" in Cranston raised $30K for the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" campaign. WCTK is also one of the top-rated country music stations in America, including the #1 PPM country station in the nation (March 2012).

The official induction banquet for the Class of 2013 will take place at Twin River in Lincoln, RI on Thursday, May 9th at 7:00 pm, with a “meet and greet” cocktail hour beginning at 5:30.[EDIT- truncated to comply with terms of service]
 
Sorry to see that Pappy Philbrook has been passed over for yet another year. He did so much more in radio than many of the folks who have already been elected, but that's show biz I guess.
 
While it's the Christian thing (if you so choose) to forgive and forget, RIRHOF's nomination of a twice-convicted felon is a shame. Nominate Cianci, yet no mention of Pappy Philbrook? No wonder radio is pointed towards the commode. Shame on you, RIRHOF.
 
How about a list of others the should be put in at some point:

David Simpson
Tony Mascaro
Big John
Will Gilbert
Mike Montecolvo
Davey Morris

Many of these guys have worked in the business a long time.
 
BostonRandy said:
RIRHOF's nomination of a twice-convicted felon is a shame. Nominate Cianci? No wonder radio is pointed towards the commode. Shame on you, RIRHOF.

If Steve White were alive to see this......it would kill him... ;D :D ;D
 
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