WBAU
Encyclopedia
WBAU is the now-deleted call sign of the student-operated radio station located at Adelphi University
in Garden City, New York
. The new web-based radio station is PAWS Web Radio
.
WBAU was located at 90.3 on the FM dial, which it shared with WHPC
, owned by Nassau Community College
. Under the original agreement, WHPC owned the frequency from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and WBAU owned it from 5:00 PM until 1:00 AM. From 1:00 AM until 9:00 AM, the two stations switched ownership of the frequency on an "odd–even day" basis, although neither station generally operated between 1:00 and 9:00 AM until 1982, when the agreement was amended to allow WBAU to operate daily between 6:30 and 9:00 AM. WBAU did take advantage of its time during its annual "Radiothon" fundraiser.
WBAU was originally called WALI, and broadcast entirely through carrier current
at 640 on the AM dial. When, in 1971, the school decided to expand broadcast to the FM band, a protest by nearby WHLI (based on the call letters sounding so similar) led to the change to WBAU. Under these new call letters, the station began FM broadcasting in July 1972. They also continued broadcasting via carrier current to the school's dormitories and were piped directly into Post Hall (the resident students' dining hall) and the cafeteria in the Student Center. The first record played was "Long Time Gone" by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
WBAU's broadcast tower was originally located in Mitchel Field; however when the tower was taken down in 1981, the station reduced power to 130 watts and moved their antenna to the top of the student center. Three years later they secured a new, higher location atop the Marriott Hotel in Uniondale, New York
. The new antenna broadcast WBAU's signal at an effective radiated power
of 1100 watts, making it one of the strongest signals on Long Island
at the time.
In August 1995, due to a clash of philosophies between the university president and the student-run radio station, WBAU was abruptly shut down by the university. Its license and equipment were reportedly "voluntarily" sold to WHPC. The remnants of the dual control room, multichannel studios and the 10,000+ album record/CD library, which took over 40 years to collect, were discarded by the university.
http://voiceimagingbydakar.net
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
in Garden City, New York
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
. The new web-based radio station is PAWS Web Radio
PAWS Web Radio
PAWS Web Radio became an internet radio station after its radio tower and equipment was sold to a neighboring university. Since then, it had undergone many changes including advertising, upgraded equipment, and a new executive board...
.
WBAU was located at 90.3 on the FM dial, which it shared with WHPC
WHPC
WHPC is the college radio station of Nassau Community College in Long Island, New York.-See also:* WBAU -- Defunct student radio station that shared WHPC's frequency from 1972 to 1995.-External links:*...
, owned by Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College is a two-year college. It is located in East Garden City, New York, USA. The school is in Nassau County on Long Island. NCC maintains a nationwide reputation for academic excellence and ease of transferability to four-year institutions.- History :Created as part of the...
. Under the original agreement, WHPC owned the frequency from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and WBAU owned it from 5:00 PM until 1:00 AM. From 1:00 AM until 9:00 AM, the two stations switched ownership of the frequency on an "odd–even day" basis, although neither station generally operated between 1:00 and 9:00 AM until 1982, when the agreement was amended to allow WBAU to operate daily between 6:30 and 9:00 AM. WBAU did take advantage of its time during its annual "Radiothon" fundraiser.
WBAU was originally called WALI, and broadcast entirely through carrier current
Carrier current
Carrier current is a method of low power AM radio transmission that uses the AC electrical system of a building to propagate a medium frequency, AM signal to a relatively small area, such as a building or a group of buildings...
at 640 on the AM dial. When, in 1971, the school decided to expand broadcast to the FM band, a protest by nearby WHLI (based on the call letters sounding so similar) led to the change to WBAU. Under these new call letters, the station began FM broadcasting in July 1972. They also continued broadcasting via carrier current to the school's dormitories and were piped directly into Post Hall (the resident students' dining hall) and the cafeteria in the Student Center. The first record played was "Long Time Gone" by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
WBAU's broadcast tower was originally located in Mitchel Field; however when the tower was taken down in 1981, the station reduced power to 130 watts and moved their antenna to the top of the student center. Three years later they secured a new, higher location atop the Marriott Hotel in Uniondale, New York
Uniondale, New York
Uniondale is a hamlet as well as a suburb of New York City in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 24,759 at the 2010 United States Census.-Geography:...
. The new antenna broadcast WBAU's signal at an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 1100 watts, making it one of the strongest signals on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
at the time.
In August 1995, due to a clash of philosophies between the university president and the student-run radio station, WBAU was abruptly shut down by the university. Its license and equipment were reportedly "voluntarily" sold to WHPC. The remnants of the dual control room, multichannel studios and the 10,000+ album record/CD library, which took over 40 years to collect, were discarded by the university.
Alumni and former radio staff
- Chris Gampat [Former President]
- Ben Guralnik [Former Vice-President]
- Chuck DChuck DCarlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
and Hank ShockleeThe Bomb SquadThe Bomb Squad is an American hip hop production team, known for their work with the rap group Public Enemy. The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track...
of Public Enemy - Doctor DréDoctor DreAndré "Doctor Dré" Brown is an African American radio personality and former MTV VJ.-Career:Doctor Dré is best known for being the co-host of MTV's hip hop music specialty program Yo! MTV Raps with partner Ed Lover. The duo also starred in the 1993 film Who's the Man?...
(former Yo! MTV RapsYo! MTV RapsYo! MTV Raps was a two-hour American television music video program, which ran from August 1988 to August 1995 through its original Yo! MTV Raps name and later by Yo! . The program was the first hip hop music show on the network, based on the original MTV Europe show, aired one year earlier. The U.S...
host), T-Money (also a former Yo! MTV RapsYo! MTV RapsYo! MTV Raps was a two-hour American television music video program, which ran from August 1988 to August 1995 through its original Yo! MTV Raps name and later by Yo! . The program was the first hip hop music show on the network, based on the original MTV Europe show, aired one year earlier. The U.S...
host), Rapper G, Easy G and Wildman Steve of Original ConceptOriginal ConceptOriginal Concept were an 80s hip hop group from Long Island, New York, arguably best known for their single, “Can You Feel It.” They only made one album and it was notable for the absence of lyrics on many of the tracks... - Jim White (JD Walker) Host of the (Overnight Flight)- http://www.linkedin.com/in/voiceimagingbydakar
http://voiceimagingbydakar.net
- Adario StrangeAdario StrangeAdario Strange is a New York based film director, writer and artist. He is best known for his documentary film detailing a year of strange deaths at the famed university. In recent years he was Editor in Chief of the weekly newspaper New York Press and a business technology writer for...
- Jonathan Wolfert, founder of Jam Creative ProductionsJAM Creative ProductionsJAM Creative Productions, Inc., is an American company that produces radio jingles, promo music for television, and commercial jingles for advertisers. It has made more radio jingles than any other jingle company and has become part of American pop culture....
- DJ Riz
- Ken Norian
- Gary Dell'AbateGary Dell'AbateGary Patrick Angelo Dell'Abate , also known as "Baba Booey", is an American radio producer, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey, was released on November 2, 2010.-Early life and career:Dell'Abate was born in Uniondale, New...
- Mark Alan Biggshttp://www.linkedin.com/in/mabiggs.
- Doug Miles Doug Miles 1981-1986 Sports Director, Newscaster, Host Big Band Sound. Currently broadcaster/writer/producer in Sarasota,FL (www.milestoneproductions.50megs.com)
- Vitamin Cee (Craig CampbellCraig CampbellCraig Campbell is a Canadian stand-up comedian, who now lives in Devon, England.He was the host of Ed's Late Night and From Wimps to Warriors...
) - Rusty Jay
- J.D. Walker aka Jim White - Now known as Khateeb Jamal Dakar Walker - http://voiceimagingbydakar.net/Home_Page.html
- Laura J Scott (Who Knows What, ASM 1981-82) - www.laurajudithscott.com
- Receiver Zee
- Ken Deep
- NY Polka Bob
- Gary on the Radio (Sat Mornings)
- Amy Wachtel aka "The Night Nurse"
- Mr. Bill (Bill Stephney)
- John Schmidt
- Michael R. Glaser http://www.linkedin.com/in/mglaser
- John Rosenblatt
- Frank Van Brunt ("Spark in the Dark" Christian Rock n'Roll Show, Fridays 8-10pm 1988-1994)
- John W. Cronin ("Spark in the Dark" Christian Rock n' Roll Show, Fridays 8-10pm;1994-1995)
Other brushes with fame
- Artists who first got public exposure via WBAU include:
- The Good RatsThe Good RatsThe Good Rats are a rock band from Long Island, New York. Their music mixes elements of rock with blues and pop. Although they have had some success both nationally and internationally, it's on their native Long Island that they have always been best known....
- Run-DMC
- LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
- Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
- Flavor FlavFlavor FlavWilliam Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
and Public Enemy - Original ConceptOriginal ConceptOriginal Concept were an 80s hip hop group from Long Island, New York, arguably best known for their single, “Can You Feel It.” They only made one album and it was notable for the absence of lyrics on many of the tracks...
- Son of Bazerk
- Grand Daddy I.U.
- Leaders of the New School
- De La SoulDe La SoulDe La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
- NecroNecroRon Raphael Braunstein , better known under his stage-name Necro, is a Jewish-American rapper, producer and director from Brooklyn, New York...
- Ill BillIll BillWilliam Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records...
- The Good Rats