Philly’s Best and Most Unusual Radio Personalities

Patti Lattanzi, Billy Carlucci and the Gang Show [+]/[-]

Picture yourself in a hot little club just off the Vegas strip sometime in the 1960s. Liza Minnelli and Buddy Hackett are there doing a cabaret act. You never know who’s going to walk on stage. Elvis. The Rat Pack. Some hot young singer who just flew into town. This show, which is rehearsed and taped before a live audience in a South Jersey restaurant is either the classiest karaoke party you’ve ever heard or a cheesy nightclub act worthy of a parody on SNL. Make no mistake about it, the performers CAN sing, and some better than others. You have to hear it to believe it. Better yet, go down and watch them do the show at Filomena's on Berlin, NJ.

Patti Lattanzi and Billy Carlucci and the Gang Show

Thursdays 7 to 8 p.m.

WVLT-FM Cruisin’ 92.1 Vineland, NJ

Lattanzi & Carlucci

Official site Patti & Billy on WLVT

The Moonman, The Moonman’s Southern Soul [+]/[-]

Not quite Motown but almost. That's the Moonman’s sound, Southern Soul. Born in Florence, SC, the Moonman has been bouncing around the South since the 60s, first on radio and then expanding into TV. Last heard on radio in Philly on WURD-AM 900, his long-running TV show Dance Connection now airs on WTVE-51. Part Don Cornelius and part Ron Joseph, the Moonman continues to stick with the grooves that made him famous.

The Moonman

Times vary

WVLT 92.1 Vineland, WTVE-TV 51.1 Philadelphia

Dance Connection Old School TV Show

Official site

Dave P, Making Time Radio [+]/[-]

This is live mash-up style mixing by DJ Dave P (a/k/a Dave Pianka). The show’s title comes from the series of DJ parties of the same name. Making Time had its debut on XPN right after the July Land of the Lost. Some of this stuff is so awesome it has to be heard to be appreciated . . .and have your audio recorder running!

Making Time Radio

First Friday of every month 7 to 9 p.m.

WXPN-FM 88.5 Philadelphia

Dave P

Official site

RVNG RSS RVNG on Soundcloud RVNG on Vimeo

Al Thompson, The FM Audition [+]/[-]

This is all local Philly music, mostly rock from the 80s with some early hip-hop. Hosted by WRDV sportscaster Al Thompson, FM Audition is one of the few places you can still hear this stuff. The playlist is narrow and music might sound repetitive if you listen week after week but it's local and gives airplay to quite a few deserving Philadelphia acts.

Al Thompson

Saturdays 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

WRDV-FM

FM Audition

Program information RadioTime info about FM Audition

Robert Drake, Land of the Lost [+]/[-]

Plain and simple: just new-wave dance music from the 1980s. LOTL, as this four-hour radio dance party is is often called, airs the final Friday of every month on WXPN-FM. Hosted by long-time XPN DJ and Kids Corner producer Robert Drake, the series has recently been expanded to include shorter weekly version of itself that airs on Y-Rock (WXPN-HD-2) on Friday afternoons. Plenty of upbeat tracks you've heard on the 80s retro stations plus a lot of gems that were never hits.

Robert Drake

Last Friday of every month 7 to 11 p.m.

WXPN-FM 88.5 Philadelphia

Land of the Lost

LOTL RSS

[ Program page ] [ Land of the Lost Info ]

[ Program archive and other playlists ] [ Robert Drake’s old blog ]

Michael Hunter, Music With Space [+]/[-]

A late-night avant garde-experimental-electronic music show similar to Chuck Van Zyl's StarsEnd. This weekly series is hosted by Michael Hunter, a musician in his own right who often performs solo and with guest musicians during their live sets. Note: Van Zyl and Hunter have made live appearances on one another's shows.

Michael Hunter

Saturdays 11 midnight to 3 p.m.

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Music With Space

Ombient official website

Playlists are available online

Dr. Cosmo Nocturnal Transmissions [+]/[-]

Yes, it was about as creepy as its title. Doctor Cosmo's shows often revolved around a theme (songs about food or the color blue). Many of the episodes featured a live musical guest with the doctor (yes, he has a PhD in astronomy!) sitting in with them. Cosmo was a musician his own right as well as a radio pioneer, being one of the first radio DJs to use his iPod instead of the station;s turntables. Sadly, the good doctor left us on April 2, 2011 at the age of 56 while vacationing in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

Doctor Cosmo (deceased)

LAST HEARD Fridays 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

LAST HEARD ON WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Nocturnal Transmissions

Official site IMDB Dr. Cosmo’s Blog

Playlists are available online

Sally Starr, Suppertime Jamboree [+]/[-]

Although Sally Starr officially retired from radio in 2006, this one-hour version is a revival of the longer shows that aired on Sunday afternoons. Despite Sally's website being taken down, fans still crave the old cowgirl's broadcast and internet presence. Classic country hits with some of the new Hot Country stuff. Sally may have one foot in the grave but she's not ready for that last round-up just yet. Love, luck ’n lollipops!

Sally Starr (retired)

LAST HEARD Saturdays 5 to 6 p.m.

LAST HEARD ON WVLT-FM Cruisin’ 92.1 Vineland, NJ

Suppertime Jamboree

Sally on TV Party IMDB

Hotrod Scott, Roots Rockabilly Roadhouse Radio [+]/[-]

Hotrod Scott Binder is co-host (with Professor Ouch) of said radio show whose name implies just what it is: lots of rockabilly, roots rock, surf rock, early rock 'n roll . . .whatever might be playing at a roadhouse. Plenty of songs about hotrods and trucks, pin-ups and tattoos and other staples of redneck culture.

Hotrod Scott Binder

Tuesdays 1 to 5 p.m.

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Roots Rockabilly Roadhouse Radio

Official site

Playlists available online

Prof. Ouch, Roots Rockabilly Roadhouse Radio [+]/[-]

Professor Ouch (a/k/a Joe Shipley) is the other half of the R4 duo. When not spinning the vinyl on PRB, the professor works as a tattoo artist and contributes to other rockabilly-related sites and events.

Professor Ouch

Tuesdays 1 to 5 p.m.

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Roots Rockabilly Roadhouse Radio

Official site Playlists available online

Steve Cordasco, The Big Money Show [+]/[-]

Local financial advisor Steve Cordasco gives his take on the nation's economy and what the little guy should be doing to keep from going broke. Steve often has as his guests nationally-renowned economists and money experts who give listeners a different picture than what most big-media economy pundits put forth. Occasionally Steve gets accused of talking over the heads of the average listener. The show is now being heard in other cities besides Philadelphia. One of the best parts of his show is that his newsman has the initials RJ!

Official site
Steve’s page on WPHT-AM

Pierre Robert [+]/[-]

A quarter century ago, this Frisco native drove his VW minibus all the way to Philly and became our biggest rock jock. Pierre Robert (pronounced Row-BEAR) is the last of the original WMMR DJs still at MMR. Most of the rest have been moved down the hall to the "classic rock" stations. Pierre plays a mix of the great old hard rockers (Sabbath, Stones, Dead), plus the younger rockers and even the occasional workforce block of local boys like Beru Revue and the Hooters. That's why we love him.

Pierre Robert

Weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WMMR-FM 93.3 Philadelphia

Pierre Robert

Official site

Gene Godfrey, Classic FM [+]/[-]

From 1979 to 2008 Gene Godfrey has hosted this revival of the classic prog-rock radio format. It first aired on Glassboro's WBZC, Z88.9 FM before moving to the Canadian internet station RTDS, which also carries a 60s-oriented series by Godfrey idol and fellow Z88.9 alumnus Michael Tearson. While at Z88.9 Godfrey interviewed and hosted concerts by many of the artists whose music was played on the show.

Gene Godfrey

Thursdays

RTDS.ca, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada

Classic FM

Official site ZoomInfo RTDS

Greg Gaughan, The Roots Rock Review [+]/[-]

The latest Roots-Rock and Americana releases including those by unsigned Delaware Valley bands. Program also features concert announcements, live in-studio performances and artist interviews. The Review has aired on WBZC (Z88.9) and been hosted by Greg Gaughan since 2003.

Greg Gaughan

Wednesday 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Z889 WBZC-FM, Pemberton, NJ

The Roots Rock Review

Greg on Z88.9 FM

Gene Shay, The Folk Show [+]/[-]

Created, produced and hosted by the father of Philadelphia's folk music scene Gene Shay, this program first aired on WHAT-FM before moving to WMMR, WIOQ, WHYY-FM and finally to WXPN. Shay has had a part in all aspects of folk music, most notably as founder of the yearly Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Gene Shay

Sundays 8 to 11 p.m.

WXPN-FM 88.5 Philadelphia

The Folk Show

Program page Official site

Philly FolkFest Site

Michael Tearson, Saturday Morning 60s [+]/[-]

Michael Tearson is a true broadcast pioneer-and a devout member of the organization of the same name. Having migrated from his hometown of Baltimore, Tearson started making his mark in college radio in the 1960s, helping to establish the now-accepted practice of on-air fundraisers. During his undergrad studies at Penn he was a DJ on the university's radio station WXPN before moving on to commercial radio. Tearson was also influential in the development of early FM formats like album-oriented radio and prog rock. Tearson has since expanded his career to include motion-picture acting and journalism, wrriting articles for a few prominent music magazines. In addition to his presence on WMGK, Tearson can also be heard on XM Radio's Channel 40 and Canadian internet station RTDS. Michael has recently released his debut album.

Michael Tearson

Saturdays 6 to 8 a.m.

WMGK-FM 102.9 Philadelphia

LSaturday Morning 60s

On WMGK RTDS

The Geator’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rhythm & Blues Express [+]/[-]

This one-hour weekly music series is nothing like the bawdy, boisterous live shows Blavat does on weekdays. The "Express" is a musicological history lesson, aural documentaries with Blavat serving as narrator, telling the stories of the artists, producers and record execs from the early days of rock 'n roll and R&B. Should be required listening for all students in the school of rock or anyone who frequents Val Shively’s record shop.

Jerry Blavat

Saturdays 6 to 7 p.m.

WXPN-FM 88.5 Philadelphia

The Geator’s Rock and Roll, Rhythm & Blues Express

Program page Tribute page IMDB TV.com Bio

John Weingart, Music You Can’t Hear on the Radio [+]/[-]

With a love of folk music since his teens, John Weingart discovered FM radio while in college. After stints at a few small stations Weingart hosted his first show at WPRB during his graduate studies at Princeton and eventually moved on to hosting the station's Sunday night folk and bluegrass shows. The two programs were later merged into what's now known as Music You Can’t Hear on the Radio. Weingart has been there ever since. Note: this program runs concurrently with XPN's The Folk Show hosted by Gene Shay.

John Weingart (guest DJs sit in for John during the summer)

Sundays 7 to 10 p.m.

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Music You Can’t Hear on the Radio

About John Weingart
Playlists available online on WPRB.com and on VerySeldom.com
[ RSS feed ] [ HTML feed ]

Jim Albertson, Down Jersey [+]/[-]

Hosted by New Jersey folklorist and musician Jim Albertson, Down Jersey offers a mix of folk music, bluegrass, old-time, blues and early country with some foreign ethnic folk pieces. Each program begins with a song by local acoustic act The Snake Brothers. Unlike Weingart's and Shay's programs, Down Jersey puts more of an emphasis on local folk music acts. The show includes info on upcoming concerts taking place around the area. Albertson's often comedic delivery, however, may bother some listeners.

Jim Albertson

Thursdays 9 to 10 p.m.

WVLT-FM Cruisin’ 92.1 Vineland, NJ

Down Jersey

Jim Albertson bio
More Jim Albertson info
Down Jersey Folklife Center
Down Jersey: Songs and Stories of Southern New Jersey

John Diliberto, Echoes [+]/[-]

Airing on WXPN and syndicated nationally by NPR, this radio series is hosted and produced by John Diliberto and features mostly world music with some electronic, avant garde and related genres. Echoes began in 1989 as the successor of Diaspar, a local program devoted to space music, avant garde, jazz and some new-wave and co-created by Diliberto. Episodes often feature interviews of and performances by special musical guests which are recorded in Diliberto's home studio.

John Diliberto

Weekdays 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

WXPN-FM 88.5 Philadelphia

Echoes

Official site About John

The Echoes Blog

Archived programs available online
Playlists are available online

Chuck Van Zyl, StarsEnd [+]/[-]

Another successor of the 80s XPN show Diaspar, StarsEnd is hosted and produced by another of Diaspar's co-creators Chuck Van Zyl, a musician who occasionally appears on Michael Hunter's Music With Space. StarsEnd is a weekly five-hour experience comprised of long, trance-like instrumental pieces by electronic or space-music artists like Tangerine Dream and Hawkwind. If you're used to three-minute pop songs, you're not going to find any of that here. It's worth a listen.

Chuck Van Zyl

Sundays 1 to 6 a.m.

WXPN-FM 88.5 Philadelphia

StarsEnd

Official site

Playlists available online

Smiling Lou Powers, Sunshine Music Memories [+]/[-]

Yes, there was music on the radio before the Rock Era and Smiling Lou Powers proves it. Powers plays selections from his personal collection of 150,000 discs which date from the early 1900 through the late 50s. You'll hear everything from ragtime to big band, early jazz and swing. On Fridays it's show tunes and cast recordings from Broadway musicals. There's little or no rock 'n roll here, which is a good thing in a sense.

Smiling Lou Powers

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to noon

WBCB-AM 1490 Levittown, PA

Sunshine Music Memories

Program page ZoomInfo

Rock with Jon Solomon [+]/[-]

Cutting-edge stuff that makes college radio what it is. Jon Solomon has been doing radio since before he was a teenager and is known for his yearly 24-hour holiday shows. Each week you can expect to hear a mix of punk, metal, grunge, hip-hop, old-school rap, shoegaze and just about anything else that lands on Jon's desk. Most of what's played is from new releases, reissues and compilations by small labels. In addition to that there are the performances recorded live by Jon's musical guests. There is something new and different on each broadcast. Some listeners may be turned off by Jon's long talksets where he often goes into details about the music that just played and other artists or songs on the albums.

Jon Solomon

Wednesdays 7 to 10 p.m.

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Rock with . . .

Official site
Playlists available online

Bi-weekly Local Music Podcast playlists

Ron Joseph, RJs Disco USA, Radio and TV [+]/[-]

The self-styled King of Disco himself, Ron Joseph has tried his hand in every facet of the entertainment business . . .and has had success in just about every one. His career for the most part has paralleled that of Dick Clark, from his days as a Bandstand regular to his current tenure at WVLT. RJ was the only member of American Bandstand on ABC-TV to have a TV show of his own just like Dick Clark. Read more about RJ on the homepage of this site.

RJ Ron Joseph

Fridays 7 to 9 p.m.

WVLT-FM Cruisin’ 92.1 Philadelphia

RJs Disco USA

[ The official RJ Forever site ] [ RJ’s Disco USA ] UStream

Sid Mark, Friday with Frank, Sunday with Sinatra [+]/[-]

Sid Mark has carved a career out of playing Frank Sinatra's records and only Frank Sinatra's records. A fan from almost the beginning of Sinatra's career, Sid started out playing jazz and standards on the then-WHAT-FM as well s Sinatra since the mid 1950s. When the station flipped to all talk, Sid continued his all-Sinatra programs, which were the only music shows on the station. (96.5 lit up its stereo transmitter twice a week during Sid's Sinatra shows). Sid's popularity grew as his shows were syndicated and given national exposure, something that helped solidify Frank Sinatra's legacy as well. Following the demise of WWDB-FM, Sid's shows were picked up by Philadelphia's remaining full-time talk station, WPHT 1210 AM. They are now the only music programs on the station.

Sid Mark

Fridays 6 to 9 p.m., Sundays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WPHT-AM 1210 Philadelphia

Fridays with Frank, Sunday with Sinatra

[ Official site ] [ Interview ]

Pearl Polto, Your Credit, Your Future [+]/[-]

This occasional guest of Steve Tatz, the late Irv Homer and other talk show hosts, now has a show of her own. Pearl spends a half hour on WHAT 1340 each Saturday to educate listeners on their rights as consumers. Pearl Polto is a paralegal and consumer advocate with a thorough understanding of consumer credit and bankruptcy laws who, when not on the air, helps those who've gotten in over their heads so they can avoid going into bankruptcy. Pearl also makes weekly appearances on IrvHomer.tv which are archived and available for viewing anytime.

Pearl Polto

Saturdays noon to 12:30 p.m.

WHAT-FM 1340 AM Phila., PA and IrvHomer.tv

Your Credit Your Future

Official site

Pearl on WHAT-AM Listen Live

Archived video episodes available online

DJ TM5, Transitional Soundscapes with DJ TM5 [+]/[-]

If you've never heard (or heard of) Industrial/Noize/Goth/EBM/Darkwave then this is your chance. DJ TM5 (Pete DeFillipo) picks up where Bryan Walsh (The Witching Hours) left off, giving progressive dance music fans their weekly dose of oontz from Central NJ's 14kW flamethrower.You'll hear some of the dark new-wave stuff from the 80s, too!

DJ TM5

Tuesdays 10 p.m. to midnight

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

Transitional Soundscapes with DJ TM5

Videos of DJ TM5

Playlists Available Online

Mr. Various, The Worried Waltz [+]/[-]

This has got to be one of the most bizarre radio shows-music, talk or otherwise-on the air in the Delaware Valley. The host, often referred to as "Mr Various" or just The Worried Waltzer goes by a different "nomme de radio" every week. Each week's "episode" is more or less themed, revolving around some flavor of Baroque pop or ethnic and/or periodic sub-genre. Aside from the Waltzer's wry humor during talksets are the station IDs: often gross or blood-curdling sound effects and utterances; nearly anything but the station's actual call letters. If you have never heard the show, give it a listen. You will either come back for more. . . or you'll never listen to radio again.

Mister Various

Sundays 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. (varies)

WPRB-FM 103.3 Princeton, NJ

The Worried Waltz

Playlists available online

Dennis Burke, engineer for Jerry Blavat and Patti Lattanzi [+]/[-]

Possibly the second-hardest-working employee at WVLT-FM, Dennis Burke is an engineer in studio as well as on location, hauling, setting up and operating equipment for live and recorded gigs by Patti Lattanzi, Jerry Blavat and others. To that can be added several in-studio shows including one he does by himself on Monday nights.

Dennis Burke

Sun. 9-11 p.m., Thu. 7-8 p.m., Fri 5-7 p.m.

WVLT-FM Cruisin’ 92.1 Vineland, NJ

Memory Lane; Engineer for Blavat and Lattanzi

Bob Charger, weeknights on OGL, Breakfast with the Beatles [+]/[-]

One of the hardest-working guys at Philly oldies station WOGL-FM, Charger holds down the fort from 7.p.m. to midnight on weekdays and does Breakfast with The Beatles every Sunday morning. In addition to his air shifts, he often stays after hours to do voiceovers, voicetracking and other production work. Charger is disciple of local broadcasting legend RJ Ron Joseph as well as a scholar of recorded music dating from the early 1950s to the mid 1980s. His long career in radio has included station management as well as on-air work.

Bob Charger

Weeknights 7 p.m. to midnight, Sunday mornings

WOGL-FM 98.1 Philadelphia

Bob Charger, Breakfast with the Beatles

Bob’s page at WOGL-FM

Steve Ross & Jim Murray, Remember When [+]/[-]

This is a weekly late-night talk show devoted to nostagia: things that were. Hosted by Steve Ross and Jim Murray, the first hour features lots of Jewish humor while in the second special guests from the local entertainment scene of yesteryear are brought in to talk about the good old days. A great show for shut-ins and those of us too old to go running out to the clubs on Saturday nights.

Steve Ross with Jim Murray,

Saturdays 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

WPHT 1210 AM Philadelphia

Remember When

The Remember When page on WPHT-AM
Steve Ross on RadioTime
More about Steve Ross

Frank Hartman, The Frank Hartman Variety Hour [+]/[-]

Often called the singing roofer of Bridgeton, Frank Hartman is a professionally trained singer and actor who left show biz for 27 years to raise a family. Several years ago he revived his music career and began doing Sinatra tributes around the area. Now he has his own weekly radio show where he talks about his life, takes call from listeners and sings songs made famous by his legendary namesake. He even brings his dog Tuck-a dead ringer for Lassie-who sleeps in the studio during the entire program.

Frank Hartman

Thursdays 11 p.m. to midnight

WVLT-FM Cruisin’ 92.1 Vineland, NJ

The Frank Hartman Variety Hour

Pat O’Shea [+]/[-]

Host and producer of several radio shows that air on college stations WPRB and Z88.9, O’Shea occasionally fills in for other DJs when not doing his own programs. Most notable is The All Ages Show on PRB which he “co-hosts” with his puppet Eddap and under the pseudonym Pato. Other shows hosted by O’Shea include The World in Tune (Z88.9), The Scarlet Pumpernickel and The World’s Fare (under the name Pangaeo).

Pat O’Shea’s radio programs

The World’s Fare (as Pangaeo), Saturdays 11:00 to 12 noon, WPRB-FM
The All-Ages Show (as Paddy & Eddap), Saturdays noon to 1 p.m., WPRB-FM
Scarlet Pumpernickel (as Pato), Saturdays 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., WPRB-FM
The World in Tune, Sundays, 6 to 10 p.m., Z88.9, WBZC 88.9 FM Pemberton, NJ

Pat O’Shea’s WPRB playlists
Pat O’Shea on Z88.9 FM

Irv Homer, The Irv Homer Show [+]/[-]

This former Kensington bar owner with the gift of gab got into broadcasting later in life. At first he was a caller to local talk stations WXUR and WEEZ, phoning in and literally bugging the hosts whenever he had the time. WEEZ owner Ernie Tannen noticed Homer's talent and offered him a show on the station. Homer accepted. When the all-jazz WHAT-FM changed format and became the nation's first FM talk station (WWDB-FM), Homer was part of the group of well-known local talk show hosts that made the leap to FM. The rest was history. He became an activist, an advocate for people who wre being victimized by government agencies, particularly the IRS. For 25 years (from 1975 to 1999 until the station's format was changed) Homer had the noon-to-3 p.m. slot at the station where he often beat Rush Limbaugh in the local radio ratings. Following the demise of WWDB-FM, Homer, now in his 80s, would re-emerge again as a talk-show host on Levittown's WBCB-AM. Homer died what he loved doing most, talking and educating peoplel about politics, money and other important issues.

Irv Homer (deceased)

LAST HEARD ON LAST HEARD ON weekdays 1 to 3 p.m.

LAST HEARD ON WBCB-AM 1490 Levittown, PA

The Irv Homer Show

Official site Tribute site

Archived videos of Irv on UStream

Philly’s Best & Most Unusual Radio Personalities 2010