WAQY
Encyclopedia
WAQY is a Springfield, Massachusetts
area classic rock
radio station
. Since the late 1980s, the station has been known as "Rock 102".
extension," the station being a sister and extension of 102.5 FM WCRB
in Boston, Massachusetts. Both the Springfield and Boston stations programmed a classical music radio format
overseen by Charles River Broadcasting owner Theodore Jones.
In 1972 the station adopted the call letters WAQY and switched to an automated Top 40 hit music format. Known as Wacky 102 the station played a mix of Rock
, Pop
, Soul
and later Disco
music that was popular in the 1970s. The station was voiced by Bobby (Jim Bouldebrook) Brooks. He is still heard today voicing car commercials around the country.
Around 1976, the station owners (Don Wilkes/Mike Schwartz a/k/a Springfield FM) decided to go live with their Top 40 format. Jim (James Marshall) Rising was the stations first Program Director. He had been the morning jock on WHYN. The "Wacky 102" lineup of on-air hosts was well known among Connecticut River Valley youth. Some favorite "Wacky" era personalities were Ken Gilbert, Glenn "FM" Stevens, Chuck Morgan, Jim Rising, Johnny Michaels and Rick Kelly. 7 pm-midnight evening personality Jim Kaye "The Big Tuna" was especially popular with the area's junior high
and high school
-aged population. Jim Kaye and Rick Kelly (see Rick Kelly's Northeast Airchecks) still live in the greater Springfield area.
In August 1981, WAQY switched to a Rock music format known as AOR.
Now known simply by the stations call letters WAQY, they played a mix of new rock music from the 1980s mixed with older rock artists of the '60s (The Beatles
, Jimi Hendrix
etc.) and 1970s (Black Sabbath
, Led Zeppelin
, etc.) Artists played included then current and popular Arena rock
favorites Blue Öyster Cult
, Journey
, Foreigner
and Fleetwood Mac
as well as singer and songwriter artist from Tom Petty
to Billy Joel
. Hard rock
and heavy metal
acts like AC/DC
, Van Halen
and Rush
were also core artists.
In the mid 1980s WAQY adopted its current moniker "Rock 102" playing up to five current rock songs an hour. By 1992, WAQY stopped playing current music and completed its evolution from an AOR to a classic rock format.
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
area classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
. Since the late 1980s, the station has been known as "Rock 102".
History
102.1 FM in Springfield signed on as WCRX in the late 1950s. The call letters stood for "Charles River BroadcastingCharles River Broadcasting
Charles River Broadcasting was the owner of three classical music stations, one classic rock station, one CNN Headline News relay in Rhode Island, and a syndicated classical satellite delivery program service.- History :...
extension," the station being a sister and extension of 102.5 FM WCRB
WCRB
WCRB is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts and based in the Brighton area of Boston, which serves the Greater Boston area. It broadcasts a classical music format; it existed as a commercial station from the early 1950s until December 2009, and as a listener-supported...
in Boston, Massachusetts. Both the Springfield and Boston stations programmed a classical music radio format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
overseen by Charles River Broadcasting owner Theodore Jones.
In 1972 the station adopted the call letters WAQY and switched to an automated Top 40 hit music format. Known as Wacky 102 the station played a mix of Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, Soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and later Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music that was popular in the 1970s. The station was voiced by Bobby (Jim Bouldebrook) Brooks. He is still heard today voicing car commercials around the country.
Around 1976, the station owners (Don Wilkes/Mike Schwartz a/k/a Springfield FM) decided to go live with their Top 40 format. Jim (James Marshall) Rising was the stations first Program Director. He had been the morning jock on WHYN. The "Wacky 102" lineup of on-air hosts was well known among Connecticut River Valley youth. Some favorite "Wacky" era personalities were Ken Gilbert, Glenn "FM" Stevens, Chuck Morgan, Jim Rising, Johnny Michaels and Rick Kelly. 7 pm-midnight evening personality Jim Kaye "The Big Tuna" was especially popular with the area's junior high
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
-aged population. Jim Kaye and Rick Kelly (see Rick Kelly's Northeast Airchecks) still live in the greater Springfield area.
In August 1981, WAQY switched to a Rock music format known as AOR.
Now known simply by the stations call letters WAQY, they played a mix of new rock music from the 1980s mixed with older rock artists of the '60s (The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
etc.) and 1970s (Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, etc.) Artists played included then current and popular Arena rock
Arena rock
Arena rock is a term used to describe rock music that utilised large arena venues, particularly sports venues, for concerts or series of concerts linked in tours...
favorites Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
, Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
, Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
and Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
as well as singer and songwriter artist from Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
to Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
. Hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
acts like AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
and Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
were also core artists.
In the mid 1980s WAQY adopted its current moniker "Rock 102" playing up to five current rock songs an hour. By 1992, WAQY stopped playing current music and completed its evolution from an AOR to a classic rock format.
On-air staff
- Bax and O'Brien Morning Show 5:30am -10am)
- Michael A. Baxendale a.k.a Bax
- John O'Brien
- Local Radio Icon and "NewsDouche" Steve Nagle - Morning Show Producer
- Rebecca Wylde (Middays 10 am - 2 pm)
- Bob Kester (Afternoon Drive Time 2 pm - 7 pm )
- Eddie Webb (VH1 Classic Rock Nights 7pm - midnight)
Former on-air staff
- Bax and O'Brien Morning Show
- Bob Biron "Bobby Booyah": Morning Show Producer (2000-2007)
- Ron Zorn: Morning Show Producer (1999-2000)
- Jimmy: Morning Show Producer (1995-1999)
- Kate: News
- Nikki Reed: News
- Kellie Fitzgerald: News
- Sarah Ryan: News
- Gina Beavers: News
- Brad Martin
- Greg Adasian
- Jim Rodeo
- Jim Kaye
- Fred Norris
- Ross "The Boss" MacDonald
- John Pullo
- Jen Arra
- Jenn Dower
- Brian Terrenzini
- Scott "El Toro" Mahoney
- Frank Maxwell
- Dianna Ricci
- Linda Steele
- Ron Osbourne
- Joe Marino