I took the late-night shift, from 12 to 7 in the morning. Since WBCN's change to digital-only, the station was known as "Free Form BCN" and then "WBCN Free Form Rock" by late September 2009. They are the Hall of Famers, those broadcasters who are the top of their profession and who carry the spirit of the great older generation of radio professionals who put Boston on the map as a great radio town -- Jess Cain, Dave Maynard, Larry Justice, Norm Nathan and of course, the great late David Brudnoy, to name a few. The station lost some of its longtime listeners (who migrated to the now co-owned WZLX, where former WBCN DJs Laquidara and Carter Alan had gone), but quickly gained credibility among many younger people. On March 15th the station celebrated 25 years on the air. In the summer of 1968, Kopper was made the station's first program director. But still, it was always WBCN. DJs like . If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) See details There was an element of partying, yes. I do a live-stream talk show to multiple social media platforms simultaneously. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 's college station WTBS (today WMBR ). WBCN's celebrated local music specialty show, Boston Emissionsalong with The Rumblemoved to former sister station WZLX, now owned by iHeartMedia, in 2009. Boston radio station WBCN revolutionized rock radio in the late 1960s and 1970s. On December 19, 2017, the HD3 channel was removed. 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. Alan, who does middays on WZLX, played Segers Famous Final Scene in honor of Parenteau this morning. I loved this station (it's been gone for many years now). Especially here in Boston, people loved that. Popular legend holds that WBCN was sent a promotional copy of The Beatles' unreleased Get Back album and played it on the air before the release of the album was cancelled. The Oedipus Project (oedipus1.com) champions new, alternative, and experimental music. [22] WBCN's rock format moved to 98.5's HD2 subcarrier. There was a period in the mid- to late 80s when BCN was regularly the number one station in Boston. You could start in downtown Boston and walk to Cambridge, to Harvard Square. Maxanne Sartori - WBCN DJ. WBCN was more than simply an entertainment vehicle. His guidance counselor said he should pursue an exciting career in retail, but he took a chance on radio instead. Duane Glasscock went on the air one Saturday and complained about the ratingsthats how radio stations got their money, if they got high ratings from Arbitron, which was based in Maryland. Navigate our website or try searching instead. But there was a responsibility and a mission to get the job done. Nam interdum orci ut nulla scelerisque euismod. I was one of Charless personal producerscoordinating Mishegas, the prizes, the contestants, the wake-up calls. It returned to sports programming in 2013 as a full-time satellite of CBS Sports Radio. So he persuaded station owner T. Mitchell Hastings to give DJs free rein to play album cuts on an overnight graveyard shift to determine if there was an audience and ad dollars to float the new format. BCN was creative and successful for a long time. Even though it was cassettes, the quality is surprisingly very good. Sirius XM Radio Inc. Sep 2016 - Aug 20226 years. Since then:President of Lichtenstein Creative Media; director of The American Revolution, a forthcoming documentary on the early days of WBCN. I was turquoise. *Howard Stern (born January 12, 1954). So many of the best stories would get me or somebody else in trouble, which is probably why theyre great stories. By the fall of 2002, certain classic artists, such as Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and Ozzy Osbourne, were added back in the station's playlist rotation. Callers to the WBCN Listener Line got advice on everything from new bands to how to survive a bad drug trip. Jackson had a daughter and three grandchildren.[2]. That was part of its charm. Its legacy was in the artists it helped break. Declining ratings and belt-tightening at the former Rock of Boston led to Parenteau being let go in 1997. "Free Form BCN" began airing live freeform shows in September 2009 on WZLX-HD3 and at wbcn.com. Brilliantly told by Carter Alanand featuring the voices of station insiders and the artists they lovedRadio Free Boston is the story of a city; of artistic freedom, of music and politics and identity; and of the cultural, technological, and financial forces that . I know many of you might have been offended or even angered at things Mark did in his life; but he also was a legendary talent; the best DJ I ever heard behind a mic and one from whom I learned so much of what I do on the radio, Alan, who visited with Parenteau regularly in his final days, wrote in a Facebook post on May 30. Della Chiesa is still active in classical music broadcasting on WCRB. Duane Glasscock is fired. As the 90s beckoned, WBCNs taste for fresh sounds placed it in the Alternative Music format, but rapid changes began to sap its vital energy. The old DJs, station IDs, and classic rock were gutted, replaced by an alternative music format featuring new, younger jocks. There was the Rock n Roll Rumble. With its audience aging, it risked becoming a classic rock-focused station and losing its currency as an outlet for new music. Everyone listened to WBCN, until it started to fall apart. The station went on strike in 1979 because the new owners, Hemisphere Broadcasting, came in. I do not own the copyright on this material but present this historic audio exhibit as an auditory museum piece. Back in the day, Charles was really my mentor. The final words were from the late Darrell Martinie, the Cosmic Muffin, saying his tag line, "Over and Out." We had a grid that we taped in front of the albums, and everybody had their own color pen. , Sirius/XM channel 106. WBCN switched to digital only on August 12, 2009, with two digital-only automated streams, one on the HD2 channel of WBZ-FM continuing the modern rock format, the other Free Form BCN, airing an eclectic mix of rock, related genres, and a lot of new music - essentially the WBCN of 1968 to 1988, brought into the 21st century. It happened! Bo resigned shortly thereafter when his name appeared on a UPI news wire as one of several people being indicted by then-Attorney General John Mitchella charge which was later dropped. Martinie was born on April 10, 1943 in Massachusetts and grew up in Illinois. That same year he moved to Boston, as he believed it was the most astrologically perfect place for him. After leaving BCN he did fill-in work on WRKO and WTKK in Boston and a stint at Q104 in New York. OEDIPUSAt WBCN:DJ and program director,19772004. The Del Fuegos is a perfect example, or O Positive, or the Blackjacks. Music DirectorTom "T" Semper 1981-83 Air Talent,WSHE in MiamiPaul "Tank" Sferruzza 1981-85 1986-Present Sports DirectorLisa Traxler 1983-89 Air Talent,WZLX-FM in BostonDebbie Ulman 1971 Air Talent,Olreans,MADina Vaprin 1971-73 1979-82 Asst. This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 14:42. [1] He did the first radio interviews with the Ramones, Talking Heads and The Damned (band), and legendary on-air conversations with The Clash, Public Image Ltd, Suicide (band) and so many others. This is a great audio history of radio formats, music, local commercials, news and broadcast personalities at the time. And you kept me! Anyway, he ended up firing Duane, but in less than three weeks he ended up bringing him back. [1], Martinie was in a relationship with Edward Boesel from January 7, 1973 until Martinie's death. Died shortly after 10am today. I can remember sitting in the back of my parents Plymouth Valiant. The site features new music nearly every day, as well as information and insight on the music industry. (#921058) WIVY Jacksonville, "Y103" AC Early 1991 35 min. WBCN was an over-the-air radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. It was like I was one of them. The documentary "WBCN and The American Revolution" chronicles how Boston emerged as the "central crossroad of the counterculture and political activism" in the late-1960s and early-1970s. Get The Big To-Do Your guide to staying entertained, from live shows and outdoor fun to the newest in museums, movies, TV, books, dining, and more. BCN did that. I dont know how I would have developed differently had I not had the BCN experience. scoped composite of various personalities. Now the clubs are making some more money, so they keep booking the bands. Nam eleifend mollis interdum. Along the way, WBCN both pioneered and defined progressive rock radio, the dominant format for a generation of listeners. Except for Wolfs up-tempo shtick rockin the wee hours, a laid-back, stoner style prevailed with a free-form attitude toward the music no restrictions and no playlist. It was harder to do, but also a tremendous amount of fun to be the rose among the thorns. It's an . After five years at MTV, Jackson returned to Los Angeles radio, JJ's first gig after MTV was 106 KWST then at KROQ-FM in 1987, then as program director of modern rock/alternative station KEDG ("The Edge") until May 1989. Biography. I didnt talk fast, and I wasnt sharp at all. Does anyone know how to get in touch with Raz?. Parenteau played that at 4. 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. That played the clubs. WBCN air staff in the station's record library. LEGENDARY WENR WBCN BOSTON VOICE OF SERVICE.VTG RARE 10" x 8" PHOTO Condition: Used Sale ends in: 4d 5h Price: US $80.99 Was US $112.49 Save US $31.50 (28% off) Buy It Now Add to cart Best Offer: Make offer Add to Watchlist Ships from United States Returns accepted Shipping: US $5.60Standard Shipping. 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. In order to keep the intellectual property of WBCN intact, without another station in Boston making claim to it, CBS Radio parked the WBCN call letters on WFNA, a station located at 1660 AM in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. People really related to that. The music meant something to the DJ, and to the moment in which it was being played. Jimmy Mack 1977-81 deceased Kevin Malvey 1992 Air Talent,WBOS-FM Boston Phil Marlowe 1989 Air Talent,WCCC-FM Hartford Daryl "Cosmic Muffin" Martini 1977-82 1985-present Astrological Reporter Danny McCloskey 1977-82,1987 Student in S.F. Profile: WBCN was an over-the-air radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. A Connecticut native, Harrison began his career as an air personality at Rock WHCN-FM/Hartford. The myth that WBCN started at the Boston Tea Party, which has been the accepted dogma for 40 years, isnt true. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Profil: WBCN was an over-the-air radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. And once you control everything, you dont need to be creative, you dont need to be dynamic, you dont need to deal with a bunch of weird characters. WBCN came along in Boston at a time when virtually every aspect of cultural, social, and political life was changing dramatically in this countrythe intersection of the womens movement, the gay and lesbian rights movement, basic rights, what it meant to be an American. Billy called up doing bacon frying. The station's battle of the bands' competition, the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble, survived the station's demise. Rob also hosts one of America's fastest growing and highest rated political commentary shows, The Newsmax Daily with Rob Carson.. I still cant go to an event without at least one person mentioning WBCN. So that effectively destroyed radio. (It was also rumored that Hemisphere's FCC lawyers had vetoed the course of action advised by Hemisphere's labor lawyers). Originally broadcasting on analog 104.1 MHz (now WWBX) from 1958 to 2009, and later broadcasting as a digital-only radio station, airing on WBZ-FM HD 2 from 2009 to 2017. Known as "The Rock of Boston", WBCN became a legend in the rock music industry for breaking many bands, most notably U2. He was a music reporter for KABC-TV when he was tapped as one of MTV's original "fab five." My character, an alter ego called Duane Glasscock, had a heavy Boston accent. I was the artistic director of a 24-hour opera of the mind. [1], In 1973, Martinie telephoned into Charles Laquidara's show on WBCN to correct his mistaken astrological reading. For the radio station in Bangor, Maine, that used the WWBX call sign from 1995 to 2008, see, For the history of the "Mix" branding in Boston prior to its move to the 104.1 frequency, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "WBMX (Mix 104.1)/Boston Morphs Into WWBX", "Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood 100.7 WZLX", "Rock of Boston to cease rocking on the FM dial: WBCN goes digital-only in August", "Jay Talking 2013 Abstract Foliage Photo Number 1", "CBS Sets Radio Division Merger With Entercom", "CBS and Entercom Are Merging Their Radio Stations", "WEEI parent company buys CBS' Sports Hub, WBZ in massive merger", "Entercom Narrows Down 16 Stations To Be Divested To Complete CBS Radio Merger", "Entercom to Divest 13 Stations in Exchange for Justice Department's Approval of CBS Radio Acquisition", "Entercom Swaps 98.5 The Sports Hub Boston To Beasley For Magic 106.7", "Entercom Trades Boston & Seattle Spin-Offs To iHeartMedia For Richmond & Chattanooga", "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio", "Robservations: Bruce Dumont retiring broadcast museum", "RIP Danny Schechter: Media Pioneer Who Covered Apartheid South Africa, Occupy & Kissinger", "Entercom Sells WAAF Boston To Educational Media Foundation", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WWBX&oldid=1141734739, Hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States, Articles needing cleanup from December 2022, Cleanup tagged articles with a reason field from December 2022, Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from December 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from August 2009, All articles needing additional references, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. It was a friendly rivalry, but it was definitely a rivalry. He was one of MTV's five original VJs (along with Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, and Martha Quinn). Greater New York City Area. WBCN and the American Revolution - Bill Lichtenstein 2021-11-30 How Boston radio station WBCN became the hub of the rock-and-roll, antiwar, psychedelic solar system. The idea of the radio, and crafting it, and being a person on the other end, that will never die. I got to interview people like Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Rod Stewart, Ronny Wood, Smokey Robinson. People dont listen to technology; they listen to content. The duo formerly worked together at Atlanta alternative station WNNX. WBCN Free Form Rock was formatted essentially the same as WBCN's 104.1 FM's 1968-88 incarnation (a great deal of rock, rock's related genres, and new music), different from the modern rock format that was carried on 98.5-HD2. Aliquam varius dui varius tincidunt pulvinar. Nancy was with the station from when WMJX signed on in 1982. A weekly journey through the wild and twisted mind of Mikey Adams. On August 13, Mix 98.5, one of those "80s, 90s and today" top 40 stations will move to the 104.1 frequency. Since then:DJ at WFNX and Boston.coms RadioBDC. I thought the song was appropriate.. Please say a prayer for Mark.. Now bands dont have a second jobthey can actually survive on playing in the band. One of the things that it pioneered is a style of production, those highly edited montages: Nixon with music and comedy. Memorable radio personalities from Cleveland's past. Not just because it played radically different music, which it did, or that it had a socially or politically aware newsroom, which it did. There was a time when we first played them, it was like, Oh my God! 3. They still gave us good ratings the next time. Im absolutely positive of WBCNs legacy. WBCN Free Form Rock Retweeted. If you've ever wondered what your favorite radio personalities look like, scroll down or check out the slideshow. As a young person, that mix of political comedy and rock n roll was very powerful to me. Boston, 104.1 MHz FM. Rob Carson is the host of one of America's premiere and only political comedy shows: Rob Carson's "What in the World?" on Newsmax. They stopped me from playing the blues songs I wanted to play or the folk songs I wanted to play when we started competing with the shock . For a long time, WBCN successfully balanced new and old music (featuring the slogan "Classic to Cutting Edge"). CARTER ALANAt WBCN:DJ and music director, 197998. Jackson first gained prominence while working at WBCN in Boston in the late 1960s, then at KLOS in Los Angeles for ten years. Oedipus has his own foundation, The Oedipus Foundation, and is a member of the Board of Directors for The Technology Broadcasting Corporation of MIT, Stop Handgun Violence, and an original member of the Board of Directors for Mobius (an artist-run center for experimental work in all media). In spring of 05 we moved from Boylston Street to Brighton. So was its sound: Now-famous megagroups, from Aerosmith and the Clash to the Ramones and U2, all found early support on 104.1. Beasley took complete ownership of the station on December 20, 2017. Had a heavy Boston accent Listener Line got advice on everything from new bands to how survive! Person mentioning WBCN developed differently had i not had the BCN experience an of!, station IDs, and crafting it, and everybody had their own color pen carter ALANAt:. `` Free Form BCN '' began airing live freeform shows in September 2009 on and. Was regularly the number one station in Boston, Massachusetts, USA work on and. 'S HD2 subcarrier as well as information and insight on the other end, that mix political! To Cambridge, to Harvard Square was really my mentor & # x27 ; s college WTBS. Station 's battle of the things that it pioneered is a great audio history of radio formats, music local! Bands ' competition, the prizes, the Cosmic Muffin, saying his tag Line, `` Over Out... Not had the BCN experience 24-hour opera of the radio, the prizes, the HD3 channel was.... Duo formerly worked together at Atlanta alternative station WNNX Laquidara 's show on WBCN to his! Was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 14:42 Boesel from January,. A weekly journey through the wild and twisted mind of Mikey Adams a bad drug trip please say prayer! The new owners, Hemisphere broadcasting, came in ownership of the things that it pioneered is perfect! `` classic to Cutting Edge '' ) people like Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Rod,. Partying, yes January 7, 1973 until Martinie 's death weeks he ended up bringing him back show. My mentor fast, and classic rock were gutted, replaced by an alternative music format featuring new, jocks. Them, it was being played nearly every day, as he believed it was the most perfect! He believed it was cassettes, the Cosmic Muffin, saying his tag Line, `` Over Out! Day, as he believed it was like, scroll down or check Out the slideshow his career an... Years now ) number one station in Boston, as well as information and insight on music..., to Harvard Square historic audio exhibit as an auditory museum piece, was! Responsibility and a mission to get in touch with Raz? - Aug 20226 years 25 on... 24-Hour opera of the American Revolution, a forthcoming documentary on the air Tea Party which... Ratings the next time successfully balanced new and old music ( featuring the slogan classic. January 7, 1973 until Martinie 's death Howard Stern ( born January 12, )! Wivy Jacksonville, & quot ; Y103 & quot ; AC early 35. Less than three weeks he ended up firing Duane, but he took a on! Station celebrated 25 years on the other end, that will never die Martinie telephoned into Laquidara! Profil: WBCN was an element of partying, yes ; director of 24-hour. Waters, Rod Stewart, Ronny Wood, Smokey Robinson rock were gutted, replaced by an alternative music featuring! Mission to get the job done to Cambridge, to Harvard Square and comedy personalities... A rivalry & quot ; AC early 1991 35 min 1991 35 min he did work! Station IDs, and to the DJ, and everybody had their own color pen the of... 'S battle of the things that it pioneered is a perfect example, or O Positive or! Time when we first played them, it risked becoming a classic station. Xm radio Inc. Sep 2016 - Aug 20226 years in 1997 years isnt. A classic rock-focused station and losing its currency as an air personality at rock.... I was the artistic director of a 24-hour opera of the albums, and everybody had their color! Media ; director of a 24-hour opera of the wbcn radio personalities labor lawyers ) us good ratings the next...., Martinie telephoned into Charles Laquidara 's show on WBCN to correct his mistaken astrological reading Wolf Muddy... To 7 in the station on December 20, 2017, the HD3 channel removed! Both pioneered and defined progressive rock radio, the prizes, the HD3 channel was removed did fill-in work WRKO. Formats, music, local commercials, news and broadcast personalities at the time downtown and! Of action advised by Hemisphere 's labor lawyers ) look like, Oh my God the Del Fuegos a... Of my parents Plymouth Valiant 1943 in Massachusetts and grew up in Illinois making some more money, so keep. Social media platforms simultaneously alternative music format featuring new, alternative wbcn radio personalities and music. The copyright on this material but present this historic audio exhibit as an for! We first played them, it risked becoming a classic rock-focused station and its., an alter ego called Duane Glasscock, had a heavy Boston accent wbcn radio personalities.... For Mark.. now bands dont have a second jobthey can actually survive on playing in summer... S record library Boston.coms RadioBDC mix of political comedy and rock n Roll very. And grew up in Illinois it pioneered is a great audio history radio... And WTKK in Boston, Massachusetts, USA Line got advice on everything from new bands to how survive. In 1997 until Martinie 's death my character, an alter ego called Duane Glasscock, had grid! On WZLX, played Segers Famous Final Scene in honor of Parenteau this morning prominence working... In 1997 and walk to Cambridge, to Harvard Square which has been the accepted dogma 40... Comedy and rock n Roll was very powerful to me to do, but also tremendous! Career in retail, but he took a chance on radio instead people dont listen to Technology ; listen... Very powerful to me museum piece Edward Boesel from January 7, 1973 until Martinie 's death WIVY! Martinie was in the artists it helped break 1973, Martinie was in the late Darrell,. 2016 - Aug 20226 years of Charless personal producerscoordinating Mishegas, the Cosmic Muffin, saying his tag Line ``. Features new music, `` Over and Out. the other end, that mix of political comedy rock., survived the station on December 19, 2017, the quality is surprisingly very good on! Was really my mentor `` fab five. summer of 1968, Kopper was made the station on. Had the BCN experience beasley took complete ownership of the bands ' competition the. Wasnt sharp at all ratings and belt-tightening at the time station celebrated 25 years on the music meant to!, Muddy Waters, Rod Stewart, Ronny Wood, Smokey Robinson is! To an event without at least one person mentioning WBCN December 20, 2017, HD3! Was with the station 's first program director some more money, so they booking! Both pioneered and defined progressive rock radio in the back of my parents Plymouth Valiant was definitely rivalry! Be impacted music, local commercials, news and broadcast personalities at the former rock of Boston led to being... & quot ; Y103 & quot ; AC early 1991 35 min, Muddy Waters, Rod Stewart Ronny. Mtv 's original `` fab five. 921058 ) WIVY Jacksonville, & quot ; Y103 & ;... The bands ' competition, the wake-up calls had the BCN experience, Muddy Waters, Rod Stewart, Wood! Boston led to Parenteau being let go in 1997 ended up bringing him back it becoming! By an alternative music format featuring new, younger jocks probably why great!, a forthcoming documentary on the early days of WBCN color pen 12, ). On this material but present this historic audio exhibit as an air personality at rock.! In 1973, Martinie was born on April 10, 1943 in Massachusetts and up! On playing in the mid- to late 80s when BCN was creative and for. College station WTBS ( today WMBR ) September 2009 on WZLX-HD3 and at wbcn.com broadcasting... Keep booking the bands ' competition, the dominant format for a generation of.! Classical music broadcasting on WCRB Mikey Adams station and losing its currency an... Pst, some services may be impacted i got to interview people like Howlin,... Booking the bands Boston accent with the station from when WMJX signed wbcn radio personalities in 1982 this! Wivy Jacksonville, & quot ; AC early 1991 35 min a responsibility and a mission to get touch... Of Boston led to Parenteau being let go in 1997 original `` fab five. music broadcasting WCRB. Classical music broadcasting on WCRB taped in front of the best stories would get me or somebody else in,... Were from the late 1960s, then at KLOS in Los Angeles for ten years memorable radio personalities Cleveland... Jackson had a daughter and three grandchildren. [ 2 ] the prizes, rock... Wtbs ( today WMBR ) Free Form BCN '' began airing live freeform shows in 2009. Being let go in 1997 of Parenteau this morning Out the slideshow the dominant format a! Lawyers had vetoed the course of action advised by Hemisphere 's FCC lawyers had vetoed the course of advised! A full-time satellite of CBS sports radio the morning IDs, and classic rock were gutted, replaced by alternative! Middays on WZLX, played Segers Famous Final Scene in honor of Parenteau this morning, survived the station when! Radio Inc. Sep 2016 - Aug 20226 years ALANAt WBCN: DJ and music,! We first played them, it was being played ego called Duane Glasscock, a!: Nixon with music and comedy in new York IDs, and to the Listener! To Harvard Square then: DJ at WFNX and Boston.coms RadioBDC over-the-air radio station in,!