RI Radio Hall Of Fame Honors Announced

Saturday, March 31, 2012

 

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The RI Radio Hall of Fame is out with its list of inductees for the class of 2012.

And there are some impressive names on the list – radio greats who certainly deserve their due.

Established in 2008, the RIRHOF is celebrating 10-decades of RI radio history. The great thing about this organization is they not only honor on-air types – they also recognize station management and technicians who helped bring radio alive here since the early days of 1922 when voices first started to come out of a little box on the kitchen counter or family room.

The newest inductees are:

King Arthur Knight – The “King” as he is called began his 40 year reign as a member of radio royalty in 1958 in Akron, OH, moving to accept a position as Program Director and afternoon drive DJ at WICE in Providence in 1962. He worked with Hall-of-Famer Sherm Strickhouser at WICE, and in 1982 he moved to WPRO to work with Hall-of-Famers Salty Brine, Larry Kruger and Bud Toevs. Knight retired from WPRO in 1989, and currently resides in Cranston.

John Manzi (a.k.a. Big Ange) – Big Ange – just the name says it all. Known for his big personality he developed his career at WJAR and WKRI. But Ange is most known perhaps for his time at WPRO until the early 70’s. He once described himself as “the Cadillac of WPRO radio!” Ange stayed in the business with part-time work at WPRO and WPRV until 2010.

Dave Richards – Dave has given many people their chance at making a career in radio – this writer included. At age 16 he started at WWON in Woonsocket and has spent 34-years as morning radio host. Fiercely loyal to the local community Dave has performed just about every job at the station – DJ, newsman, fix it man – you name it.

Brad Pierce – Pierce began his broadcasting career in 1969 as host of his own afternoon show on WARV while a junior at Cranston High School West. Upon graduation in 1971, he worked future RI Radio Hall of Famers Gene DeGraide, Jim Mendes and Chris Clark on WJAR radio. From 1976-85, the Cranston native anchored afternoons at JB-105, followed by time spent at 92-Pro-FM before moving to Los Angeles, CA in 1987, where he continues his work for the Dial Global Network.

Bob LaChance – a Rhode Islander through and through, LaChance was born in RI, raised in RI, and he passed away in RI in 2000. Blessed with a wonderful tenor voice, he began his career on WHIM as the “Mystery Tenor.” For the years leading into the early 50’s he continued to sing over records during his daytime show – but his family was growing and he needed to supplement his meager broadcasting salary, so he sang nights and weekends at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Crescent Park, Lincoln Park and half a dozen other venues of the day.

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Eddie Zack – Born in Providence and making his home in Warwick, Eddie Zackarian (“Eddie Zack”) started his singing career with his brother Richie and recording artist Dick Richards. In 1939, they formed the musical group “Eddie Zack and the Dude Ranchers,” and for more than 60 years his music was heard on local radio stations. Zack began his career at WHIM in 1947, and his group was also a regular performer on WJAR with a nationally distributed program heard on more than 100 stations.

Jim Norman – Jim spent 34 years as the play-by-play voice of the University of Rhode Island football and basketball teams through the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and into the decade of the 90’s. During that time, Jim also served as the Sports Information Director at URI. When he retired, Jim was one of the last in the country to play that dual role. Jim never missed a single game in his 34 years behind the microphone, broadcasting 1286 consecutive games for the URI Rams.

Tony Bristol – Tony has spent 33-years on the radio here in Providence. During that time he spent many years on the air 92 Pro-Fm –becoming Music Director and Program Director. Tony also serves as Program Director for WWLI-FM, Lite Rock 105 and is on-air weekdays from 3pm till 6pm. Tony knows RI and helped make Pro FM what it is today. He’s a North Providence native and admits he became obsessed with becoming a DJ at a young age after seeing local DJ Mike Sands DJ a dance at school. Tony Bristol – whose real name is Anthony Pescarino was given his name by a Program Director who thought a local kid should have a local name. Tony, to his credit, lost any RI accent he may have had long ago. Despite his years on the radio – his energy pops right through radio still and that signature laugh of his lets you know TB is on the air.


On May 10th, the official induction ceremony and dinner for the class of 2012 will be held at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick. The event is open to the general public. So if you have always wanted your picture taken with Tony Bristol or Dave Richards or any of the other celebrated radio legends – just visit the Hall website at www.rirhof.org. The tickets help raise money for local charity and so far in 4-years nearly $35,000 has been raised.

 

 

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