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WPRO-FM History

WPRO-FM (92.3) made the switch from an automated beautiful music format to Top 40 on April 29, 1974 at 3pm with Gary Berkowitz moving from WPRO-AM to become PD. Jay Clark was promoted to operations manager of both WPRO-AM and WPRO-FM. As the only Providence Top 40 station on FM, WPRO-FM capitalized on the fact that their hits were played in stereo and focused on teenage listeners in the early days. Various trade publications listed the original lineup as follows: Salty Brine (WPRO-AM simulcast) 5:30a-8a, Bill Collins 8a-11a, Tony Silvia 11a-3p, Bruce Diamond (aka Jack Diamond)3p-7p, Gary Berkowitz 7p-12mid, and Ed Cherubino (possibly also a WPRO simulcast)12mid-5:30a. By late summer and into the fall of 1974, the lineup of “Rock 92” evolved into the following: WPRO-AM simulcast of Salty Brine 5:30a-8a, Gary Berkowitz 8a-12n, Chuck Bennett 12n-4p, Robert J. Boogie (Bob Cummings aka The Boogie Man- often impersonated Wolfman Jack)4p-8p, Mighty Mike Osborne 8p-12mid, with automated ...
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WPJB (JB 105) History

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On August 1, 1975, WPJB, owned by the Providence Journal Co., switched from classical to top 40 as JB105. The original moniker was “JB105 has Big Hits”. The switch was advertised in the Providence Journal for about a week before it actually happened. JB105 immediately became the chief rival of WPRO-FM, which had switched to top-40 under PD Gary Berkowitz in April of 1974. This battle helped to give Providence listeners some great radio over the next few years. JB105 used an early variation of Mike Joseph’s “Hot Hits” format as only current hits were played and a jingle (the ”JB105 shouts”) led into every song. The station also billed itself as “The Big Banger”. The early lineup was as follows: Bill Silver with Mike Waite as the newsman (5am-9am), Dale Shaw (9am-12noon), Mickey Ashworth (12noon-3pm), Todd Chase (3pm-7pm), Robb Stewart (7pm-12min) and Rod West (12mid-5am). The JB105 Big Hit list (Top 50 hits) appeared weekly in local record stores and beginning in December 1975, in the ...
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WPRO-AM History (1960's - Present)

Throughout most of the 1960’s Providence listeners had their choice of two great top-40 AM radio stations, Capital-Cities owned WPRO (630) and WICE (1290). WPRO, which had been broadcasting since the early 1930's under different formats, became a top-40 powerhouse during this decade. The one constant the station had was morning man Walter "Salty" Brine, who had been working the shift since 1942. Other personalities as the decade began included Jack Spector (1959-1960), Dave Sennett (pre-1960-1963), and Gerry Forrest. Later in the year, the lineup consisted of the following: Salty Brine 6a-10a, Dave Sennett 10a-230p, Paul James 230p-7, Bill Quinn (1960-1961) 7-12mid and Howie Holland 12mid-6a. This group was billed as "Five Swinging Gentlemen". The station identified itself by liners such as "Channel 63" and "Color Radio". By 1962, Joel A. Spivak (late 1960-1964) handled middays, followed by Sennett, Bill Ward at night and Bob Cusack overni...
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WSNE History

In August 1980, a switch between three radio stations (WJAR, WHIM and WRLM-FM)occured in the Providence listening area. In the switch, the Outlet Company essentially moved its adult contemporary station, 920 WJAR, to the 93.3 FM frequency, which was operating out of Taunton, MA as WRLM-FM. A new station (with a similar format) owned by Franks Broadcasting emerged at 920. The station's call letters were renamed to WHJJ and featured former WHIM (and WJAR) personalities Sherm Strickhouser and Ron St. Pierre. In October, the station at 93.3 FM began to take shape. Although the call letters were identified as WRLM Taunton-Providence(an application to change to WSNE was in the approval process), the station used the "FM 93" slogan, again operating with an adult contemporary format. Most of the WJAR personalities moved to FM 93, with the one notable exception being morning man Charlie Jefferds, who headed up to Boston. He was replaced by John Morgan (Morgan In The Morning) from ...
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