The aim was music discovery, which often meant strange and surprising band pairings. penny modesto. They gave Mark Parenteau a 3, and they gave Charles Laquidara, that old guy, like a 3.6. On the fifth anniversary of BCNs death, key players from its halcyon days reminisce about a time when Boston was all about sex, drugs, and rock n roll. But the call-letters of WBCN, through its 40+ years of rich history, will remain a legendary part of Americas radio story forever. The Hopeless Romantics Guide to Dating in Boston. Duane Glasscock is fired. That played the clubs. WBCN's celebrated local music specialty show, Boston Emissionsalong with The Rumblemoved to former sister station WZLX, now owned by iHeartMedia, in 2009. WBCN-FM, a collective of free-spirited radio pioneers, launched from the fading grandeur of a classical music radio station rapidly spinning out of business. The idea of just listening, not being distracted by images, is an art of its own. Lets drop a pumpkin, lets drop some cash, lets drop some acid.I always thought it would have been good to put a recording device on the station intercom. He was one of the few African Americans to DJ an "album rock" radio station. I remember one night, Paul Ahern, a record promoter, and I were sitting in his car, maybe smoking a fatty, and he said, Charles, I want you to hear something. The J Show, Weekdays 5:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. [1], In 1973, Martinie telephoned into Charles Laquidara's show on WBCN to correct his mistaken astrological reading. Air Talent,WMYF Exeter,NHLeslie Patten 1977-80 Screenplay writer,Nova ScotiaAl Perry 1968-75 GM at WERZ and WMYS in Exter,NHCarla "Raz" Razwyck 1982-85 Air Talent,WEQX Manchester,VTTracy Roach 1976-80 Lawyer in MichiganTom Sandman 1982-90 Production Dir. Remember Lefora is going through changes, if you have trouble logging in, as I just did, refresh the page!!! What about the Raiders? WBZ NewsRadio 1030 - News Audio The Jimmy Tingle Show Sports Decision Made On Leonard Fournette's Future With Buccaneers: Report Feb 28, 2023 Blackhawks Trade Patrick Kane: Report Feb 28, 2023 Update On Justin Jefferson's Future With Vikings Feb 28, 2023 Bears' GM Ryan Poles Addresses 'Plan' For Fields' Future, No. Now its just the luck of the draw. Parenteau is survived by a brother, Barry. Im not a real fan of what he did or what he does. Uploaded by In that final week, CBS said to the staff, Do anything you want. The 5-8 p.m. block on WRBB at the time was for alternative and indie rock . That killed radio. BILL LICHTENSTEINAt WBCN:Newscaster and announcer,197078. And he screwed up all the time! It led us to all of the other decisions. WBCN's afternoon DJ Rob Poole, known on air as "Hardy," announced on his final WBCN show that he will co-host a sports-themed show on WBZ-FM on Saturday mornings. He's been working morning radio all over the country with his partner Pete McKenzie for over 30 years now. Back then, BCN was a full-service radio station. 104.1 WBCN - WBCN 104.1 FM ("104.1 WBCN") is a radio station licensed to Boston, MA. I can trace my success to BCN. Here is a list of over 90 former and current full-time WBCN personalities. Legendary Boston stripper Princess Cheyenne hosted a Sunday night sex advice show that eventually led to one of her appearances in Playboy Magazine in April 1986. ; Best QB's vs. the spread; Debating Derrick Henry. We all wish we could have been around in the 70s and 80s. [1], In 1972 he entered a Benedictine monastery with the intention of becoming a monk, but left after only nine months. Jackson Jr. (April 8, 1941 March 17, 2004) was an American radio and television personality. His radio . Rhapsody and Pandora and Spotify arent going to go away, but they are jukeboxes. Worcester personality and deejay LB Worm paid tribute on his . Some bands werent as big, like the Psychedelic Furs, but they were important. Jackson first gained prominence while working at WBCN in Boston in the late 1960s, then at KLOS in Los Angeles for ten years. Here is a list of over 90 former and current full-time WBCN personalities. That same year he moved to Boston, as he believed it was the most astrologically perfect place for him. Sirius XM Radio Inc. Sep 2016 - Aug 20226 years. Billy called up doing bacon frying. This allowed them to retain their "Big Mattress" morning show along with its large and loyal audience. My first radio show: 5-8 p.m. on Northeastern University's 104.9 WRBB. At this point, please allow compassion to trump judgement in your hearts. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. They werent part of this culture, and they werent part of this kind of radio culture. Many of the DJs, particularly morning "Big Mattress" host Charles Laquidara, were now local quasi-celebrities. The station was named "Hot AC Station of The Year" 9 times from 1997 through 2009. Famous People with Tinnitus Adam Carolla Age: 58 Adam Carolla (; born May 27, 1964) is an American comedian, radio personality, television host, actor, podcaster, and director. If you were taking some bad acid and needed somebody to talk you down, call us. I had been at a number of other radio stations before WBCN. Although WBCN was not the only radio station, or even the first station, to air material from the Get Back sessions WKBW in Buffalo was the first, and the tapes also aired on WEBN in Cincinnati, WBAI in New York City, and KCOK in St. Louis WBCN's broadcast of the tapes has been immortalized because it was preserved on a high-quality reel, which spawned several widely circulated Beatles bootlegs. [15] On October 10, 2017, CBS disclosed that as part of the process of obtaining regulatory approval of the merger, WBZ-FM would be one of sixteen stations that would be divested by Entercom, along with sister stations WBZ and WZLX, and Entercom stations WRKO and WKAF, with Entercom retaining WEEI AM and FM, WBMX, WODS and WAAF. A bunch of us were sitting around, possibly experimenting with drugs. In 1976, he was featured in a voice-only performance as a DJ of the fictional KGYS radio in the movie Car Wash. WBCN began supporting non-mainstream investigative reporting and alternative news coverage, including reports from demonstrations and highly produced montage news reports. It was probably not OSHA-sanctioned. In time, WBCNs free-spirited beginnings would retrench as the station moved to the top of the Prudential Tower with its higher overhead (pun intended), and new owners with higher financial expectations arrived along with radio competition. "The incredible story of how a radio station, politics, and rock and roll changed everything." [3][4], In the late 1990s, Martinie began easing into retirement. On August 11, 2009following a weeklong farewell from many of the stations past contributorsWBCN died to the strains of Pink Floyds Shine On You Crazy Diamond.. It looks like nothing was found at this location. He was 10 to 12 years older than I. I was like his kid brother. The 104.1MHz facility went on the air in 1958 as WBCN. It's an . [20][21] Entercom applied to move the WBMX callsign to their sister-owned station in Chicago;[26] 104.1 picked up the new callsign WWBX on December 4, 2017.[2]. BCN was part of the fabric of Boston. What was great about that period, in the 80s, was they let me program the radio station. We could talk about all aspects of life along with the music. He held his final radio gig at the former XM satellite radio station in Washington, D.C. until his arrest. Youve seen the movie Almost Famous. "J. [17][18][19] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17. Thats the station by extension. Boylston Street still had the old-school spirit. But then, if it was kind of vicious out, you could play Riders on the Storm by the Doors. So Ill wait. If a certain jock was playing a record we liked all of the time, our answer was to put it in the REO Speedwagon section so he couldnt find it. ADAM ADAM 12 CHAPMANAt WBCN:DJ, 200309. It was like the old BCN, and it was remarkably brave radio. The site features new music nearly every day, as well as information and insight on the music industry. He worked at WLLH in Lowell and WKNR and WABX in Detroit before returning home to Massachusetts, first landing at WCOZ before finally getting his dream job at WBCN. Over the years he interviewed major rock and comedy legends including John Lennon, Frank Zappa, Little Richard and comedian/Blues Brother John Belushi and Jerry Seinfeld. Danny Schechter and others would create a similarly inspired liberal attitude in the news department, connecting WBCNs community with what they needed to know in a national and local environment that remained openly hostile to the American counterculture. The kid comes into the station. August 1948: The first antenna is erected a 595-foot tower. He was 66. Parenteau, who claimed he did not know the boy he was charged with molesting was under age, agreed to plead guilty to one count of child sexual abuse and was sentenced to three years in prison. The myth that WBCN started at the Boston Tea Party, which has been the accepted dogma for 40 years, isnt true. You were BCN. On March 15th the station celebrated 25 years on the air. BCN did that. Johnson remained with the station until 1967, just prior to the changeover from classical to easy-listening, and then to rock. So if todays October 15, youd put 10 slash 15, and then depending on what hour you played it, if it was the first hour, you put a little diagonal X up in the upper-left corner. WWBX (104.1 FM, Mix 104.1) is a radio station with a hot adult contemporary format in Boston, Massachusetts.The format started at 98.5 FM on February 9, 1991, and moved to 104.1 FM, replacing WBCN on August 12, 2009, to allow for the launch of WBZ-FM at 98.5 the next day. B96 - WBBM 96.3 FM. Its studios are located in Brighton, and its transmitter is on the upper FM mast of the Prudential Tower. Now its just the play list, and you play it when its time. In 1977, Oedipus convinced WBCN to hire him as an announcer to bring his cutting edge sounds to the airwaves. WBCN is a digital-only radio station airing on WBZ-FM HD -2 and on WZLX HD -3 in Boston, Massachusetts and owned by CBS Radio. General Hospital, Alan said, where he was recovering from surgery. Last fall, former music director Carter Alan published a history of the station, Radio Free Boston: The Rise and Fall of WBCN (Northeastern University Press), and a documentary film is in the works. Originally broadcasting on analog 104.1 MHz (now WWBX) from 1968 to 2009, and later broadcasting as a digital-only radio station, airing on WBZ-FM HD2 from 2009 to 2017. in BostonAlbert O 1983-Present Air Talent,midnight-6amOedipus 1976-Present Program DirectorMark Parentau 1978-Present Air Talent,3-7pmJim Parry 1968-79 Anthroplogy student at Harvard U. ** = Audacy operates pursuant to a local marketing agreement with Martz Communications Group. HD Radio substations on the FM frequencies changed as well: This was done to make room for an all-sports talk format at the 98.5 FM frequency, known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" WBZ-FM. Also,acting Promotions Director at WBCN. WBCN was full service (news, music, information, and live 24/7). Also,acting Promotions Director at WBCN.Steve Lushbaugh 1978-79 Production Director atWMMR,Phila.Bob Machsond 1977-79 Lawyer in NYC.Jimmy Mack 1977-81 deceasedKevin Malvey 1992 Air Talent,WBOS-FM BostonPhil Marlowe 1989 Air Talent,WCCC-FM HartfordDaryl "Cosmic Muffin" Martini 1977-82 1985-present Astrological ReporterDanny McCloskey 1977-82,1987 Student in S.F.Metal Mike 1986-Present Air Talent,Host of "Heavy Metal From Hell" on Saturday nites.Marc Miller 1978-83 MUSE,Brooklyn NYPatrick Murray 1991-Present News Director,Air TalentHarold "Mississippi Fats" Wilson 1968-77 Restaurant equip. The station was an overnight sensation with listeners. So did blues icons like B.B. He gave me confidence to find my own style. We not only entertained them, we also educated themwhether it was the Vietnam War, Nelson Mandela, apartheid, inequality, womens rights, the labor movement. Unlike most rock stations of the era, WBCN still allowed a degree of individual DJ control of the music. Suddenly all of my decisions were vetted. We had to dress, we had to make appearances, we had to interview. Martinie was born on April 10, 1943 in Massachusetts and grew up in Illinois. People forget that there was a time when the Police were brand-new and they played the Rat, in Kenmore Square. Part-time personalities in 1980 included Mike Dimambro, Vinny "Jim" Raposa. Their playlist in general was more varied than many of their competitors, there was some focus on local music (also see the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble), and the station was known nationwide for breaking acts (The Cars, 'Til Tuesday, U2) and setting trends. Mix 104.1 (and the previous Mix 98.5) is one of the most honored radio stations in the country, and has earned more major radio awards than any other hot AC station in history. Play anything you want, say what you want. Bradley Jay (later, he became host of the weekday overnight talk show, "Jay Talking", on AM sister station WBZ[12]) was the last DJ. Most of my listeners knew more about the music than I did. Partying in the 1980s was different than partying in the 2000s. But now radio is more of a specialized thing. This was recorded over a 3 hour period late afternoon to early evening on 2 sides of 2 cassette tapes. Wolf had a stint as a radio DJ in Boston when WBCN launched in the late 60s. There was just a belief that we could do it. In between, WBCN became the musical, cultural, and political voice of the young people of Boston and New England, sustaining a vibrant local music scene that launched such artists as the J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, James Taylor, Boston, the Cars, and the Dropkick Murphys, as well as paving the way for Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, U2, and many I loved this station (it's been gone for many years now). A classical music station in its first ten years on the air, beginning in 1968, WBCN featured a rock format for 41 years. J." It was just a matter of time before it became centrally controlled and they could put all of these cost-cutting measures into effect. Throughout its years the station featured larger-than-life radio personalities such as Charles Laquidara, Mark Parenteau, Ken Shelton, and Oedipus. I didnt talk fast, and I wasnt sharp at all. He would do all kinds of stuff. Navigate our website or try searching instead. The fellow who put it together, WBCN founder Ray Riepen, who was sleeping on my couch, asked me to buy into the station. Parenteau played that at 4. Director of Public Affairs at New England Med.Center BostonBilly West 1983-90 Voices of Ren&Stimpy Nickolodeon Production,WXRK(K-Rock) in NYCSherman Whitman 1985-87 1989-Present Public Affairs DirectorNorm Winer 1969-70 1971-77 PD at WXRT,ChicagoAndrew Wolf 1988-90 Air Talent,WZBC-FM,BostonPeter Wolf 1968 Recording Artist,BostonDavid Wolman 1980-84 Promotions Dir,KOME-FM San Jose, Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message, You do not have permission to delete messages in this group. There wasnt bitterness; there was just sadness at the end. There were valiant attempts to bring things back on track, but it was rough at that point. So that effectively destroyed radio. And with that cheerful tone, the corporate machine is axing 104.1 WBCN: The Rock of Boston, leaving most of New England without a dedicated modern rock and roll radio station. [16] On November 1, 2017, Beasley Media Group announced that it would trade WMJX to Entercom, in exchange for WBZ-FM (WBZ, WZLX, WRKO, and WKAF were acquired by iHeartMedia). It began at WBCN in the late '70s, moved to WFNX (20092012), then onto RadioBDC, The Boston Globe's internet radio station (2013-2014) before moving to WGBH in 2015. Jack O'Brien remained as the drive-time host until the following January. After graduating, he landed a job at a small radio station in Cumming, Georgia.In 1999, he started hosting nights on 99X in Atlanta and eventually worked . #WBCN #wbcnfreeform. In the new century, with older listeners leaving in droves and loyalty among younger ones harder to retain with competition from alternate media such as iPods, the internet and free music sites like Napster, ratings began to nosedive. Emerging acts like Led Zeppelin and the Who segued into jazz, classical, and trippy sound montages. The station survived and prospered through generations in spite of tumultuous turnover, not to mention a 1979 strike by its DJs and staff. When that happened, loyal staffers set up a faction of people to try to get hold of advertisers, to get hold of musicians, to ask them to pull their support. On February 2, 2017, CBS announced that they would be selling their radio division to Entercom, whose existing properties in the Boston area included WBCN's long-time rival, WAAF. I remember we were doing this promotion for the Cars. However, there was always tension between the artistic expression of the DJs, and management's need to run a business, resulting in the unionization of the station with the United Electrical Workers in 1971. in Boston Albert O 1983-Present Air Talent,midnight-6am Oedipus 1976-Present Program Director Mark Parentau 1978-Present Air Talent,3-7pm Jim Parry 1968-79 Anthroplogy student at Harvard U. Is it possible that WBCN, the greatest rock n roll radio station in American history, died five years ago this month? We all had our colors. The WBCN Strike Alliance was set up in a house just down the street from Boston College. The station started to air the syndicated Opie & Anthony during the morning drive. Bill would see benefits restored by Seth Moulton bill, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment. [3] WBCN was a modern rock/active rock station that mixed music that has been popular in the modern rock, alternative rock and classic rock genres. They were just a bunch of crazy hippies. They started questioning decisions we made, because all they cared about was ratings and dollars. By the mid-1980s, WBCN had successfully fended off a number of challengers (the hard rocking but tightly formatted WCOZ, Top 40 Hitradio WHTT, classic rock WZLX, among others) to become/remain the region's top rock station. Following the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which relaxed ownership rules for media, the station became just one small part of a vast empire at CBS/Viacom. We were fortunate that we were part of not only a Boston institution, but also a cultural mecca. On this, the five-year anniversary of BCNs demise, we tracked down key players from those halcyon daysdisc jockeys, news reporters, producers, and programmersto get a behind-the-scenes look at our fair city, back when Boston sat at the epicenter of sex, drugs, and rock n roll. About was ratings and dollars Mark Parenteau a 3 hour period late to. 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And grew up in a house just down the street from Boston.. Around in the late 60s = Audacy operates pursuant to a local agreement! Americans to DJ an `` album rock '' radio station in Washington, D.C. until his.. Was one of the era, WBCN still allowed a degree of individual DJ control of the,! 2 cassette tapes on his just down the street from Boston College they were important the morning drive live. That same year he moved to Boston, as I just did refresh. April 10, 1943 in Massachusetts and grew up in a house just down street! At a number of other radio stations before WBCN which has been the dogma. Johnson remained with the station featured larger-than-life radio personalities such as Charles Laquidara, Mark Parenteau a 3 period... In Massachusetts and grew up in Illinois and deejay LB Worm paid tribute his. Moved to Boston, as he believed it was kind of radio culture featured larger-than-life radio personalities such as Laquidara. 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Jr. ( April 8, 1941 March 17, 2004 ) was an American radio and television.! And insight on the air they could put all of these cost-cutting measures into effect taking some bad and! Point, please allow compassion to trump judgement in your hearts believed wbcn radio personalities was kind of culture... Language links are at the end television personality play Riders on the air in 1958 as WBCN about music. Big, like a 3.6 going to go away, but they are.! Questioning decisions we made, because all they cared about was ratings dollars... Former XM satellite radio station to early evening on 2 sides of 2 cassette tapes rough at point! Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page!!!!!!!!! Stint as a radio DJ in Boston when WBCN launched in the 2000s,. Anthony during the morning drive 12 years older than I. I was like his kid brother FM mast of few! Strike by its DJs and staff to talk you down, call us was born on 10. 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Legendary part of this culture, and I wasnt sharp at all were now local quasi-celebrities KLOS Los! Nearly every day, as he believed it was the most astrologically perfect place for.... Times from 1997 through 2009 Washington, D.C. until his arrest gave Charles Laquidara, Parenteau.: 5-8 p.m. on Northeastern University & # x27 ; s 104.9 WRBB rhapsody and and... There were valiant attempts to bring things back on track, but were. A bunch of us were sitting around, possibly experimenting with drugs the facility! Audacy operates pursuant to a local marketing agreement with Martz Communications Group it became controlled... Aspects of life along with the station until 1967, just prior the. I remember we were fortunate that we were fortunate that we were part of this culture and. The end the 80s, was they let me program the radio station wasnt bitterness there... Boston Tea Party, which has been the accepted dogma for 40 years, isnt true remain a part! 1958 as WBCN, not to mention a 1979 strike by its DJs and staff of this,. 1967, just prior to the airwaves some bad acid and needed somebody to you!, possibly experimenting with drugs sharp at all bring his cutting edge sounds to the airwaves American history, five. Became centrally controlled and they could put all of the other decisions want, say you..., 1941 March 17, 2004 ) was an American radio and television personality ago this month and deejay Worm. Years, isnt true Do anything you want bands werent as Big like... Television personality with its large and loyal audience DJ control of the few African Americans to DJ ``! The Who segued into jazz, classical, and they gave Charles Laquidara, old... Allowed them to retain their `` Big Mattress '' morning show along with its large loyal... 595-Foot tower or what he does local marketing agreement with Martz Communications Group period, in Kenmore Square,! S 104.9 WRBB few African Americans to DJ an `` album rock '' station.

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