Laliberte earns radio HoF nod
WNRI broadcaster will be in 2017 RI Radio Hall of Fame class
SMITHFIELD – The Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame, established in 2008 by 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, today announced its class of inductees for 2017: Johnny Dowd/Jaybeau
Jones – You may know him as Johnny or as Jaybeau and he has been in front of a microphone or programming radio stations in Providence, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Hartford and Worcester. His broadcast career highlights include JB 105 Providence from 1979-84; New York City’s Z-100, and filling for Rick Dees in 2007 on the national countdown show “The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40” heard worldwide. He is now part of the WROR family and he is also currently heard nationally on Sirius XM’s “70’s on 7.” Roger Laliberte – Roger Laliberte began his radio career in 1957 at WWRI in West Warwick where he started L’Echo Musical – a program that entertained the large French Canadien population in the area and carried timely information of concern to his audience. In 1963 he brought his French-language program to WWON in Woonsocket, and in 1985 he moved to WNRI where it still airs today and is broadcast worldwide on the Internet. In 2004, Roger realized his life’s dream of owning a radio station by becoming a partner at WNRI 1380AM. Myrna Lamb – Myrna Lamb was a radio personality on Providence stations WHJJ and WPRO where she hosted a variety of radio programs, first on astrology, then a general advice show syndicated
on NBC and broadcast on 300 radio stations nationwide from 1990 to 1993. In 1989, she was a substitute host on the Sally Jessy Raphael Shoe and the following year a substitute host on the Dr. Harvey Ruben Show. On WPRO in 1999, her program’s “Political Girl Talk” weekly segment won first place in the annual Associated Press Awards, news/talk division. She also contributed a column for many years to The Times and The Call. An astrologer, published author and teacher, Myrna died in 2014.
Tony Mascaro – Tony Mascaro is Program Director of WPRO-AM in Providence. A Hartford, CT native, Tony graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in Mass Communications in 1983. While at RIC, Tony worked part-time on the air at WPROFM and upon graduation could be heard on PRO-FM full time – a total of 17 years! He was Music Director at WPLJ-FM in New York from 1997-2011 and Program Director of WABC-AM in New York between 20122013. Tony returned to Rhode Island and the Brine Broadcasting Center in 2014 to assume programming duties at 630 WPRO.
Dick Rakovan – Dick Rakovan has two very important Rhode Island radio credits: In 1974 he became General Manager at WPRO AM & FM and over the next five years captained WPROAM’s defense against aggressive competitors WJAR and WGNG; and he took halfautomated PRO-FM live and local 24/7 against newcomer JB 105. On Salty Brine’s 35th Anniversary, Dick named the Wampanoag Trail Broadcast Center after him. In 1979 as Senior VP of Outlet Broadcasting’s radio group, Dick swapped AM 920 for the Taunton FM he renamed WSNE. He is retired Senior Vice President of the Radio Advertising Bueau. Frank Kingston Smith – Frank Kingston Smith began his Rhode Island broadcasting career in 1967 when Hall of Famer Bob DeCarlo hired him at WICE. His legendary voice was soon heard at WRKO Boston under the Bill Drake-assigned name “Bobby Mitchell” and then he used his real name at WABCAM New York. He returned to Boston radio in 1974 where he worked for nearly 20 years at WHDH, WVBF, WBZ, WRKO, WROR, WKKT, and WODS. A private pilot, Smith has also served as master of ceremonies at air shows throughout the USA and he has continued to work as a voice over artist.
Additionally, the Shepard Award – created to recognize the founders of radio in the Ocean State (John and Robert Shepard, owners of the Shepard Department Stores) and to honor present-day contributors to the industry through leadership, dedication, achievement, innovation and spirit – goes to Mowry Lowe - a pioneering New England newscaster, gifted announcer and premier radio executive.
The Station of the Year Award will be presented to I Heart Media Providence to commemorate a successful multi-station food drive to feed the hungry in Rhode Island.
This year’s induction ceremony will also include recognition for the Legacy Station of the Year. Created to recognize outstanding Rhode Island radio stations of the past, their formats, and their personnel on and off the air, this year we remember WICE - 1290AM and plan a reunion with some of the Top 40 station’s legendary Hall of Fame DJs, staff and listeners.
The official induction banquet for the Class of 2017 will take place at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI on Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 pm, with a “meet and greet” cocktail hour beginning at 5:30 pm. The general public and radio fans everywhere are invited to attend – tickets for the dinner and awards ceremony are $55 each (table of 10 is $500) and proceeds from the event will benefit Special Olympics of Rhode Island. Tickets may be purchased by calling (401) 7413130, and additional information may be found by logging on to the RIRHOF official website at www.rirhof.org or at Facebook.com/rirhof.
As an added attraction to the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame, local radio fans are encouraged to participate as Associate Members, by contributing a one-time fee of $25. For their donation, fans will earn the right to nominate and vote for local radio industry professionals for future consideration in the Hall of Fame. The $25 lifetime membership fee is tax deductible, and more information (including payment options) can be found on Facebook or at www.rirhof.org.