WPLJ Homecoming: The Family Gathers
The May 31 demise of the legendary WPLJ/New York is now just over a week away, as its transfer from Cumulus to EMF is scheduled to go into effect.
An estimated 400 current and former PLJ staffers (tag yourself!), record execs, friends and family members, who are now forever associated with this legendary radio station gathered at the Cutting Room in New York on Tuesday evening to hug it out, raise a glass and simultaneously celebrate and mourn the station’s 48-year history. The event was organized by Tom Cuddy, who famously served as VP of Programming of WPLJ from 1990 until 2009, and is now PD of iHeartMedia News-Talk 710 WOR/New York.
Among the lengthy list of attendees: once-and-forever PLJ morning icons Scott Shannon and Jim Kerr, former PDs Gillette and John Foxx, current (and final) WPLJ PD Dave Labrozzi, former longtime MDs Tony Mascaro and Mike Preston, former longtime Station Manager Mitch Dolan (pictured, left, bookended by Shannon and Cuddy) and former jocks Jimmy Fink (part of the original 1971 WPLJ airstaff), Carol Miller, “Fast” Jimi Roberts, AJ Hammer, Tony Banks, Blair Garner, Dave Stewart and others far too numerous to mention.
RAMP later caught up with Tom Cuddy after he had some time to gather his thoughts. “It was one of the most emotional nights of my career,” he said. “When I first came up with the idea to put together a PLJ reunion at the Cutting Room, I would have been thrilled with 150 former colleagues, but this station evokes such passion and is so iconic, and it was such a career highlight for so many air talents, we ended up bringing together about 400 PLJ’ers.” That number includes current and former air staffers and folks representing sales, promotions, engineering, business office, digital and interns, along with a bunch of prominent record company executives whose music was supported on PLJ over the past 48 years.
WOR APD Scott Lakefield spent weeks combing all available sources to edit together the “Ultimate PLJ DJ Mash-up,” which included most of all the prominent air talent that had ever worked at the station. Cuddy also handed out gifts to colleagues with the most longevity in many departments — the big winner was Bill Ayres, who earned the award for “Longest Running Air Talent” on PLJ — he started in 1973 and will host his final show next weekend.
The evening’s festivities ended on an emotional note as Cuddy introduced Scott Shannon (now with Entercom Classic Hits WCBS-FM) and Jim Kerr (now with iHeartMedia Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) to a standing ovation. As Cuddy observed, “It’s remarkable to think that over the course of WPLJ’s illustrious 48-year history, Scott (24 years) and Jim (15 years) represent a combined 39 yearsof doing mornings on the station.” In closing, Cuddy said, “A radio station is only as good as the people who make it happen, and PLJ had an incredible family of staffers who were all working for the same goal.”
• Naturally, “Radio’s Best Friend,” Art Vuolo was in the building and should be posting some Oscar-worthy footage soon.
• As we recently reported, WPLJ’s current management is planning an official two-part special farewell broadcast for loyal PLJ listeners — the tribute will bring back some of PLJ’s greatest jocks, current staffers, special guests, and all those people who have helped make the station so special since the early ’70s.
• Lots more great photos are posted on Bob Gilmore’s Facebook page.
