Remembering Buffalo’s Sandy Beach
• Yet another legend lost… The Buffalo Broadcasters Association is saddened to share the news of the passing of one of Buffalo’s most iconic radio personalities, Sandy Beach, who died at 86 after a period of failing health. The news was first shared in a Facebook post.
A native of Lunenberg, MA, Beach got his start at WDRC/Hartford in 1965, but it was in Buffalo where he cemented his legend status, first cracking the mic at WKBW in 1968. And it was in Buffalo where Beach spent most of his six-decade career as a disc jockey, program director and talk show host. He did leave Buffalo several times, working at WBAP/Dallas/Fort Worth, WZTR/Milwaukee, KYUU/San Francisco, and WJET/Erie, PA.
Known for his infectious laugh and his edgy and fun style, Beach also did mornings on 102.5 WMJQ, as well as WNYS and WGR. Beach retired from WBEN as a talk show host in 2020 after 23 years of entertaining and informing Western New Yorkers.
Sandy Beach was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2003, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame in 2017. Sandy is survived by his wife, Bernadette, his family, and his many friends and fellow broadcasters. [Photo courtesy of the New York State Broadcasters Association]
