WVEI

Infobox Radio station
name = WVEI


city = Worcester, Massachusetts
area = Worcester
slogan =
branding = "Sportsradio 1440"
frequency = 1440 kHz
repeater =
airdate =
share = 1.4
share as of = Fa'07
share source = R&Rcite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Worcester Market Ratings | date= | url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/DefaultSearch.aspx?MarketName=Worcester&MarketRank=%20 | work =Radio & Records | pages = | date = | language = ]
format = Sports radio
power = 5,000 watts
erp =
haat =
class = B
facility_id = 74466
coordinates = coord|42|17|25.00|N|71|50|47.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WBHT , WWTM, WFTQ, WAGS
owner = Entercom Boston License, LLC
licensee =
sister_stations = WEEI
webcast =
website = [http://www.weei.com weei.com]
affiliations = Fox Sports Radio, Westwood One

WVEI, is an AM radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts. It operates at 1440 kHz with 5,000 watts. It simulcasts WEEI sports radio in Boston.

History

The station came on the air in October 1926 as WAGS with 5 Watts on 1200 kHz. and was licensed to Somerville outside of Boston. Its call letters stood for "Willow Avenue Garage Station." During September-October 1927, the station moved to Lexington, Massachusetts and it returned to the air on October 27 1927 as WLEX at 1390 kHz with 50 watts. It was located in the home of part-owner Carl Wheeler. The other owner was Jesse Smith Dodge. The station time-shared with WMAF [http://www.fybush.com/site-030306.html FYBush] ] [http://www.bostonradio.org/timeline.html Boston Radio] ] [http://www.oldradio.com/archives/people/shepard.htm Old Radio, Shepard.] ] On November 11 1928 WLEX moved to 1420 kHz. with 100 watts time-sharing with WSSH. On March 20 1930 the station moved to 1410 kHz and was still time-share .

On April 20 1931 the station was sold to John Shephard III of Shephard Stores and the station was changed to WAAB in Boston. WAAB moved into the same studios as WNAC. These were new studios at the Hotel Buckminster at Kenmore Square. By 1938 WAAB studios were located at 21 Brookline Avenue [http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/bos1.htm OldRadio, Bos1.] ]

On January 26 1937 the ownership of WAAB and WNAC (now WRKO) was consolidated under the Yankee Network, Inc. As a result of the NARBA frequency shift, WAAB moved to 1440 kHz on March 29 1941. [http://gallery.bostonradio.org/2004-08/worcester/100-02193-med.html Boston Radio Gallery] .] In late 1942 Shephard officially moved WAAB to Worcester, Massachusetts to avoid anti-duopoly rules . Despite this, ownership of the two stations was broken-apart in 1943. [http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-960801.html Boston Radio] ] After several decades as WAAB, it began an FM sister station WAAB-FM which later became WAAF. As early as 1948, the station was broadcasting with 5,000 watts. [http://members.aol.com/jeff99500/1949am.html Jeff.] ]

In the 1950s and 1960s "14-40 WAAB" was a Top-40 radio station. In 1965, the "Fun-in-the-Sun Guys" were Bill Garcia, Chuck Spencer, Don Stevens and Bob Carrigan [http://www.geocities.com/WA1ION_Mark/ Mark] . July 12 1965 Chart Survey image.] [http://www.worcestermag.com/archives/2003/05-01-03/Cover.htm Worcester Magazine] .] Morning man Steven Capen recalls the station then and how Atlantic Records purchased it and changed things around in 1967:

I was doing the morning show at WAAB in Worcester, my very first stint in rock & roll radio and in a metropolitan market. My first air name, in fact, Stephen Kane. A lot of firsts. Best of all I was given plenty of latitude. At this point I was so engrossed in my new work I was completely oblivious to the upheaval going on across the country and indeed in radio. A progressive music show — Cream, The Doors, The Mothers of Invention — premiered at night hosted by Jeff Starr while we continued our Ron Landryesque comedy in the A.M. It seems that just like almost all of my gigs the good times weren't to last. Atlantic Records bought the station, and you'd think that would be a good thing, but in came the consultants from New York and Washington, the air sound was tightened beyond belief, catchy new jingles added, and it wasn't long before their newly-installed PD, Sebastian Tripp, gave me my walking papers. [http://www.wdrcobg.com/kane.html Kane] .]

In the early 1970s, WAAB began to shift to a talk format. A local sports talk show, "Sportsbeat", was added in the evening with former Boston Bruins TV voice, Don Earle. Bob Merman, who later died of lung cancer and did many anti-smoking ads, was the political talk show host following Don Earle's Sportsbeat. Bob Merman was later replaced by the Wizard of Waab, "Ron Parshley", a former male witch who did many of his shows on the occult. Ron past away just a few years ago.

About 1972 or 73, WAAB switched to a full-time news/talk format with the All News Morning Journal and the All-News Afternoon Journal during drive times. Talk show hosts included WSB's Bob Coxe, Kurt Oden (who was an aide to Buddy Ciani), Paul Stanford (now running a gift shop in Naples), Bob Morgan on Sports, Ron Parshley, Alan Michael Rowey, Skip Quillia with Tests and Trivia, Dick Steven's Feminine Forum, Jeff Katz, John Gallager (formerly of Westwood Family Dental and East/West mortgage), Steve Booth (daytime talk show producer), Dave Houle (evening talk show producer and later WFTQ p/t announcer), and Mike Moore (sales guru at WAAF). In the newsroom were Forest Sawyer (later to work for CBS, ABC, and CNBC), Bob Parlante (later to work for WHDH and WSB), Aviva Diamond (later to work for ABC), John Sterns, Dave Brown, and Geoff Metcalfe.

In 1976, WAAB became WNCR (Worcester's News Center). The emphasis went to news with all staff being news staff. Beautiful music was automated during non-drive times. The staff included Bob McMahon (now WBZ), Tom Hughes (later working for several Atlanta stations), Larry Cohen, Sarah McGaw, Bob Maxon (who hosted the one talk show), Steve D'agostino (who continued at WFTQ and then the Boston Business Journal), Norm MacDonald (formerly of Channel 4) on Weather, and Greg Gilmartin (later at WTIC) on Sports.

The station owner about this time was Bob Williams. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-11769724_ITM AccessMyLibrary] .] By December 1977, WNCR changed call letters to WFTQ and was known as "Fourteen Q" (14Q). [http://www.worcestermag.com/archives/2004/03-04-04/lead_continued.shtml Worcester Magazine, Lead] .] cite news|url=http://www.nrcdxas.org/ |title=Ernie Cooper's QSL Verie Collection; WNCR, WWTM|work=National Radio Club|accessdate=2008-06-20] . Worcester's 14Q was a full-service adult-contemporary format station playing a mix of music from the 60's, 70's and 80's and weather reports every 20 minutes [49] .

In March 1981 the Katz Agency purchased WFTQ and WAAF from Park City Communications. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E1DB1539F93AA35750C0A967948260 New York Times] .] In 1986 the Katz Agency sold all its radio stations [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/KATZ-COMMUNICATIONS-INC-Company-History.html Funding Universe] .] to NewCity Communications. This new company was organized at the time by members of Katz management to purchase all of Katz radio holdings, under its subsidiary Katz Broadcasting. [http://coxradio.com/investors/news_040506.html Cox] .]

During the eighties WFTQ was known as "Worcester's Weather Station". [http://www.bostonradio.org/bri/v04/msg08026.html Boston Radio, Weather] .] As early as 1985, WFTQ was broadcasting in stereo using the 40 kHz Kahn system [http://www.totse.com/en/media/radio_scanner_frequency_lists/ham014.html Totse] .]

During the summer of 1989 NewCity Communications, Inc. sold WFTQ and WAAF to Zapis Communications in exchange for Atlanta station WEKS-FM. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=131 Newsbank 131] . If Newsbank search expired, go to [http://www.telegram.com/static/archives/index.html telegram archives] and search WFTQ article September 2 1989.] [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=141 Newsbank 141] . If Newsbank search expired, go to [http://www.telegram.com/static/archives/index.html telegram archives] and search WFTQ article 1989-03-11.] WFTQ then underwent restructuring . By 1990, WFTQ called itself "The Sports Channel" and was known for broadcasting live Celtic games. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=41 Newsbank 41] . If Newsbank search expired, go to [http://www.telegram.com/static/archives/index.html telegram archives] and search WFTQ article 1990-11-10.]

WFTQ's notable personalities included: J.Bruce, Mark Laurence, Lorraine LeDuc, Mike Finneigan, Dave Taylor, Steve LeVeille, Don Kelley, Dave Houle, Chuck Perks, Gary Nolin, Bill Robert, Karen Williams, Mike Shaun, Mike Warshaw, Cliff Blake, Dave Windsor, Donna Halper, Steve D'Agostino, David Gablaskis, Steven Brown, Paul Stevens, Steve York, David Bernstein, Harry Jacobs, Roger La Plante, Jeff Taylor, Chris Tracy, John Barber, Tim Fontaine, Earl Finkle, Mark Veau, Melanie Moore, Kevin Mannix And Featured Shows Like The 14 Minute Flashback At Noon, 6p And 9p, Solid Gold Saturday Night With Dick Bartley, American Top 40 With Casey Kasem. Memorable Station Events: The 14Q Sock Hop, The Bed Race For MDA, Chili Challenge, Neighborhood Block Partiescite news|url=http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=213096822|title=WFTQ Tribute Page|work=MySpace|accessdate=2008-06-20] FV|date=June 2008.

WFTQ had massive lay-offs, however, and began simulcasting WAAF-FM on January 15 1991. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=31 Newsbank 31] . If Newsbank search expired, go to [http://www.telegram.com/static/archives/index.html telegram archives] and search WFTQ articles for January 4 1991 and January 10 1991.] Over the summer of 1991, General Manager John Sutherland cited 18 months of "substantial losses" due to poor advertising sales. On September 3 1991 WFTQ changed its call letters to WVEI and began simulcasting WEEI (590 Boston), a sports-talk station. .

In 1994 WVEI changed calls to WWTM and was known as "Worcester's Team." It briefly had a local sports format. At the time, station Chief Engineer Eric Fitch wrote, "We have just recently changed our call sign from WVEI to WWTM, effective October 1, 1994. Prior to that we simulcast WEEI from Boston. With their move to the old WHDH frequency of 850 kHz, we found we would be better off programming the station ourselves with IMUS in the Morning, The Fabulous Sports Babe Mid days, Kiley and the Couch 2P to 6P, Dan Miller 6P to 10P and Ron Barr with sports By-Line USA overnight. We also feature Holy Cross Football and Basketball, Giants Football, Bruins Hockey (when they actually play a game), and selected games from the Mutual network."

On July 31 1996, Zapis Communications announced it was selling both WWTM and WAAF-FM to American Radio Systems (ARS) for $24.8 million. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_31/ai_18547687 Find articles] .]

On August 13 1998 David Field's Entercom purchased both stations for $65 million from CBS as part of an anti-trust settlement of its purchase of ARS. [http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980813.html Boston Radio] .]

In late 2000, Entercom closed down local operations at partial Worcester simulcast WWTM, returning that station to a full WEEI simulcast and the WVEI calls it had used while simulcasting the old WEEI 590 kHz.cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/stations/1912 |title=The Boston Radio Dial|accessdate=2008-06-20]

WEEI's network of relay stations grew again in 2006, when the former WBEC-FM (105.5 MHz Pittsfield) was relicensed to Easthampton, in the Springfield market, and was sold to Entercom to become WVEI-FM.

WAAB Personnel Highlights

Roy Harlow, Program Director 1937

Gerry Harrison, Publicity Director 1937

Irving B. Robinson, Chief Engineer 1937

Dick Partridge 1950s – 1960s (exact dates unknown) [http://www.440int.com/ma.html 440int] .]

Neil Scott 1964

Steve Booth, producer 1972-1975

Dave Houle, producer 1973-1975

Bill Garcia, DJ 1965 - 1968

Chuck Spencer, DJ 1965

Don Stevens, DJ 1965

Bob Carrigan, DJ 1965

Steven Capen A.K.A. Stephen Kane, Mornings, Music Director 1966 - 67 [http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/ksan_fm/ksan-fm_stephen-capen_sept-30-1980.shtml Bay Area Radio] .] [http://www.jive95.com/capenresume.htm Jive95] .]

Jeffrey Starr, DJ 1967 [http://www.reelradio.com/gifts/jstarr.html Reel Radio] .]

Sebastian Tripp, Program Director 1967

Sean Michael Devlin 1968

Rod Ewing, DJ 1969 (from WFEA) [http://www.manfrommars.com/wfea_recol.html Man From Mars] .]

John Gallagher 1972

Geoff Metcalf 1974

Bill Shupert 1974

Kurt Oden 1976

WFTQ Personnel Highlights

Richard A. Reis, General Manager 1981, 1983 - 1989 [http://coxradio.com/people/executives.html Cox Radio People] .]

John A. Sutherland, General Manager, Summer 1989

Steve A. Marx, Vice-President & General Manager "for seven years" [http://www.csscenter.com/AboutUs/TheCSSTeam/tabid/62/ctl/BioView/OVXBioID/9179/Mid/488/Default.aspx The CSS Team] .]

Don Kelley, Program Director 1984

Ron Valeri, Program Director 1991 [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=11 Newsbank 11] . If Newsbank search expired, go to [http://www.telegram.com/static/archives/index.html telegram archives] and search WFTQ articles dated 1991-08-08 and 1991-08-31.]

Steve LeVeille, Mid-Day Newscaster 1986, News Director 1987, Operations Manager (Program Director) 1989, Morning Show 1990 - 1991 [http://www.geocities.com/~radiosteve/list.html Radio Steve] .] [http://radiosteve.tripod.com/chrono.html Radio Steve, Tripod] .]

Bruce Feniger, Account Executive 1984 [http://www.interep.com/aboutus/profile/bio.php?contID=5 InterRep] ]

Donna Halper, DJ 1981 .

Chris Tracy, DJ 1981.

Mark Laurence, DJ, Music Director 1981-1991

Tim Fontaine, DJ 1983-1986, 1988,1990

J.Bruce, DJ - 1983-1990

Dave Houle, p/t & swing shift DJ - 1979-1987

Lorraine LeDuc, DJ - 1983 - 1990

Harry Jacobs, DJ 1985-1987

Erica Fairbanks, DJ 1980s [http://www.worcestermass.com/dynamix/union.shtml Worcester Union] ]

Mark Veau, DJ 1986 [http://www.myoldies989.com/showdj.asp?DJID=16680 My Oldies] .]

Steve D'Agostino, News Reporter - Democratic National Convention 1980 [http://www.worcestermag.com/archives/2006/06-01-06/city_desk.html City Desk] .]

Bill Downs, on-air personality [http://www.talent-agency-guide.com/boston-talent-agency Boston Talent] .]

Joe Biedrzycki, on-air personality [http://www.nhrt.org/cast.html NHRT] .]

Chuck Perks, on-air personality [http://chuckperks.voice123.com/ Chuck Perks] . Also see WWTM.]

Gary Nolin, DJ, Late 70's-Early 80's

Mike Finneigan, DJ, 1983 - 1987

Dave Taylor, DJ, 1983 - 1986, Program Director 1988

David Gablaskis, host of "First Amendment" Sunday morning community affairs program, 1987 [http://tobaccodocuments.org/nysa_ti_m2/TI01161007.html?zoom=750&ocr_position=above_foramatted&start_page=11 Tobacco Documents] ]

Neil Sullivan [http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010917.html Boston Radio Nerw] ]

Steven Craig [http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/tus/tusradio3.htm Old Radio Archives] .]

Bill Robert, DJ, Producer, Public Service Director, 1989-1991 [http://www.billrobert.com] .]

WWTM Personnel Highlights

Chuck Perks, Director Programming & Production

Network and sports game broadcasts history

* John Shephard's Yankee Network January 20 1931 WLEX
* Mutual's Boston affiliate 1936
* Shephard's Yankee and Colonial Networks 1937
* Father Charles Coughlin's broadcasts carried on WAAB in 1938 [http://members.aol.com/jeff560/am11.html Jeff] .]
* Red Sox games 1939-42 WAAB AM [http://www.wrko.com/article.asp?id=44218 WRKO] .]
* Red Sox games 1995-2006 WEEI AM (WVEI simulcast)

External links

*AM station data|WVEI

References

sequence
list = Radio Home of the
Boston Red Sox
1939–1942
(as WAAB; split with 680 WNAC, 1942)
prev = 680 WNAC
1926–1938
next = 680 WNAC
1942–1946