RADIO HALL ANNOUNCES
CLASS OF 2014
Shepard Award
for service, Broadcaster of the Year
also named
Smithfield, RI - For an industry
that has continued into a 10th
decade in the Ocean State, radio has certainly had a more than a fair share of
notable broadcasters leave an indelible mark on the local landscape. The Rhode Island
Radio Hall of Fame was established in 2008 as an idea among local radio professionals,
to celebrate the storied history of the industry in Rhode Island, and to honor
the men and women who have played a part in its growth.
The RIRHOF Board of Directors is pleased to announce our newest class
of inductees for 2014:
Tom
Cuddy – Beginning at WPRO-AM in 1980 after most of the prior
six years at WARA, Attleboro, MA, Cuddy began as a night-time jock. At just
26 years of age, he was promoted to Program Director of both WPRO-AM and WPRO-FM
replacing fellow Hall-of-Famer Gary Berkowitz. In
1987, the national stage called as Cuddy was named VP of Programming for the ABC
Radio Networks; he also became VP of Programming at ABC’s FM flagship WPLJ
in New York, and in 1994, more duties as VP Programming for the ABC FM stations
across the country. Currently, he
is Program Director for New York powerhouse WOR-AM.
Rick
Everett – An on air talent on many Providence stations
including WGNG, WSNE and JB-105 before moving into programming in the 80’s, Everett also served as Program Director
for several stations including WWLI-FM, WSNE-FM, WWBB-FM and WRX-FM where he was
responsible for bringing the syndicated “Imus in the Morning” to Providence. After that, Everett spent the next 11
years as Program Director at WCTK-FM Cat Country 98.1, beginning what is currently
a successful run for the station to the top of ratings’ charts among country
music formats across the country.
Dave Fallon –
A current news anchor/reporter and afternoon host with RI public radio station
WRNI, Fallon is a born-and-bred Rhode Islander, having gone to school at Cranston
East, RIC, PC and the RI School of Broadcasting.
A 46-year news career includes 20 years in Boston radio and 20 years in
Providence radio, including stops at WPRO, WEAN, WPJB and several in Boston and
Hartford. Fallon is also a former
director of the RI General Assembly’s Legislative Press bureau.
Paul Perry – With
beginnings in Woonsocket as a part-owner of WNRI, Perry’s career has spanned
more than 30 years at WSNE, WHJJ and WWBB, as well as WBZ-AM, WODS and (currently)
WROR in Boston, after returning to Rhode Island in 2006 from working at WJMK in
Chicago. Perry has also been a teacher
of the trade - in 1981developing a Radio Curriculum for those who wanted to pursue
a career in the field. Since 1991 Perry has taught at New England Tech, where
he designed the Associate and Bachelor Courses.
Pappy
Philbrook – Carroll “Pappy” Philbrook began
his career in Rhode Island radio in the 1940’s, primarily as an engineer
at WHIM, WHJJ and WHJY. Pappy literally built the
stations, put together the equipment and wired the boards, and while he also served
in some on-air capacities, he did just about everything else as well – especially
at WHIM, where he even sold his own air time and served as morning co-host with
“Captain Jack.” Prior to retiring in the
‘90’s, Philbrook was Chief Engineer at WHJJ/WHJY. Philbrook passed
away in 2005 at the age of 83.
Tony
Rizzini – After a career that started at WNRI in Woonsocket
in the 1950’s, Rizzini developed and syndicated, to various stations, both
the “Easy Listening” and nostalgic “Caravan” music formats
heard for years on WLKW-FM/AM. He did voice over announcing for WJAR-TV in the
1980’s and at numerous other regional radio and TV cable systems and for
advertising agencies throughout New England.
As Program Director at WLKW AM-FM from 1965 until the early ‘80’s,
the stations were among the most listened-to “Easy Listening” formats
in the country.
Saucy Sylvia – An entertainment icon in Newport, RI, Sylvia performed
for thousands from the Auld Mug Lounge for more than 30 years, and her entertainment
program on WADK-AM ran for 27 years beginning in 1976…featuring local artists
and performers, as well as those from around the world in town for various music
festivals. All told, she has been involved in radio for 70 years. Sylvia was also inducted into the Newport Jazz Hall of Fame
in 2002, along with Ella Fitzgerald and George Wein for their achievements in
music.
Additionally,
the Shepard Award – created to
recognize the founders of radio (John and Robert Shepard, owners of the Shepard
Department Stores) in the Ocean State and to honor present-day contributors to
the industry through leadership, dedication, achievement, innovation and spirit
– goes to Janice Skelly. Skelly
began her radio career in 1978, working for WPRO-FM in the sales department, and
for most of the next 36 years, she remained a fixture within the sales and business
operations of WLKW-AM/FM and WSNE-FM through several ownership changes.
This year’s induction class will also include the award for station
Broadcaster of the Year. Created to recognize outstanding radio stations and their
personnel on and off the air, the 2014 winner is WPRO-FM,
celebrating its 40th
anniversary of broadcasting in their current hits-based format.
