Loren & [Not] Wally, As Brine Retires
It’s the end of an era in Boston radio history, as it was announced yesterday that, after 35 years as co-host of The Loren & Wally Morning Show, market icon Wally Brine (right) has decided to hang up his headphones. His last day on Beasley Classic Hits WROR/Boston will be Friday, December 16. The good news is, the show will roll on with longtime host Loren Owens (left), Lauren Beckham Falcone, Hank Morse, and Brian “Lungboy” Bell.
It would be an understatement to say that Wally Brine was born into the family business — his father was legendary New England radio icon Salty Brine, who did mornings on WPRO/Providence for over 50 years! And talk about growing up in a “radio household” — as Brine writes in his WROR bio, “I was born in Providence, RI during the ‘Great Blizzard of 1949!’ My dad, Salty and mom, Mickey, lived in an apartment in the transmitter building of WPRO. For the first two years of my life there was a huge radio tower outside my bedroom window bombarding my little frail pink body with 50,000 watts of power. My mother wrote in my baby book that I had a lot of diarrhea, Gee, I wonder why?”
In 1968 Wally landed his first part-time radio gig at WPRO-FM. “I knew somebody,” he joked. After subsequent stops at WGAN, WLOB and WJBQ/Portland, ME, Brine got his big break in 1981 when he was hired to do afternoons at the late, legendary WVBF/Boston. The following year the company teamed him up with new morning guy Loren Owens — and The Loren & Wally Show was born and has enjoyed 35 years of success on WVBF, WCLB and WROR.
Commenting on his impending retirement, Brine said, “This was such a tough decision. We call it a ‘show,’ but it’s so much more than that. The studio is filled with my friends, my family. Loren Owens and I have been together for 35 years, longer than most marriages. He’s been my friend, my teacher, my adviser, my confidant and my hero. I have been so blessed to have been teamed up with Loren. I will be forever grateful. I just wish there were two of me. One could stay, and the other could sleep in, travel with my wife and stay up late!”
Owens remarked, “When Wally told me that he had decided to retire, I was flooded with mixed emotions, from sadness to happiness! Imagine being able to spend your workday, every day, laughing and having fun with your best friend! Those opportunities only come around every… oh, I don’t know… perhaps 35 years. Wally, the ultimate professional, one of a kind, the best! Thirty-five years together and not one argument! I’m happy for Wally because this is what he wants for the next chapter of his life! Love the guy! Always will!”
WROR PD Ken West later shared his thoughts with RAMP, commenting, “Really, who can replace Wally? Who else could take 18 weeks of vacation and do reports on the history of Fluff? No one! We’re sad and we’ll miss Wally, but we’re glad he can sleep in and enjoy life. PS: I didn’t have the heart to tell him that all Charles Laquidara does in retirement is swim and eat healthy Hawaiian foods.”
