GRock Radio

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WHTG-FM and WBBO-FM
City of license	WHTG (Eatontown) WBBO (Bass River Township)
Broadcast area	Monmouth County, New Jersey at 106.5 FM Ocean County, New Jersey at 106.3 FM
Branding	G Rock Radio
Frequency	106.3 and 106.5
Format	Modern Rock
Callsign meaning	Harold and Thea Gade, original station owners
Owner	Press Communications LLC
Website	www.grockradio.com

WHTG-FM, known on-air as G Rock Radio (alongside WBBO-FM in Ocean County, New Jersey), is an alternative rock radio station located in Eatontown, New Jersey, serving Monmouth County northern Ocean County and southern Middlesex County, This station is owned by Press Communications. Its transmitter is located at the Garden State Parkway exit 105 in Eatontown, New Jersey.

WHTG has gone through many format tweaks and program directors over the years. Since February of 2005, WHTG's programming has been simulcast on WBBO (formerly known as B98.5), and the station inherited some of WBBO's staff. In July of 2006, WBBO switched frequencies from 98.5 to 106.5. For more on the 98.5 frequency, and it's history, see the WKMK page.

Contents 1 WBBO History 2 WHTG History 3 Glory days 4 Ownership change 5 Main Jocks 6 Other Airstaff 7 Former Airstaff

[edit] WBBO History

WBBO is a radio station in southern Ocean County, New Jersey thats simulcasts GRock Radio from WHTG in Eatontown. The station is owned and operated by Press Communications LLC, and broadcasts on the 106.5 FM frequency. The station is licensed to Bass River Township, New Jersey, and the transmitter is located about 1 mile southeast of the Garden State Parkway exit 58 in Tuckerton Note: As of July 5th, 2006 GRock Radio has moved it's Ocean County simulcast "98.5" up the dial to 106.5 FM. The Monmouth County station remains at 106.3 FM. Before February 2005, WBBO was known as B98.5, and was officially considered a Top 40 radio station. During mid-2004, its playlist leaned heavily towards alternative rock. It was a station that for many years sent at least 1 personality (the morning show host) up onto a Billboard in Brick, New Jersey to raise Money for Ocean of Love, which is an organazition that helps children with cancer. For several years they raised well over $100,000 each fall. The radio station was viewed by many as an asset to the community and is still missed to this day. For more on the frequency and history of 98.5 see the WKMK page

Since then, WBBO has merged with and become a simulcast of its sister alternative rock station WHTG. The two stations are collectively known as G Rock Radio. (For more information on G Rock Radio, see the WHTG page.)

On July 24, 2006 98.5 started a county format known as Jersey Kountry and it's calls changed to WKMK

[edit] WHTG History

(Source: http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/piratejim/njfmhistory10.html)

WHTG-FM first signed on at the 105.5 MHz frequency on October 11, 1961, as the sister station of WHTG (1440 AM). Interference with WDHA in northern New Jersey resulted in the move to its current 106.3 MHz frequency in 1965, which had been vacated in 1963 when WFHA in Red Bank, NJ discontinued operations. It broadcast Adult Standards (e.g. popular vocalists like Frank Sinatra) alongside its sister station until 1982, then Adult Contemporary music up to the switch to Alternative Rock in August, 1984.

The station was named for Harold and Thea Gade, its first owners and operators.

[edit] Glory days

In the very early FM 106-3 days, the station had somewhat of a free-form approach, with DJ's who were alternative rock fans picking what music they played, from Pixies to Prince. During the mid-1980s, The Smiths and their ilk were especially favored by the station's jocks.

In the nineties, it was known as FM106.3, Modern Rock at the Jersey Shore.

WHTG achieved its highest ratings ever in 1993 and 1994 when it received "favorite radio station" honor in Rolling Stone's annual readers' polls.

[edit] Ownership change

In November 2000, WHTG was then sold to Press Communications. WHTG then became known as G106.3, and took on a format that could be described as a hybrid of alternative and modern adult contemporary. Since then, WHTG has evolved into an alternative rock station that plays current and re-current alternative hits as well as heritage artists such as The Cure and REM.

Before the acquisition of WBBO, WHTG was referred to as G106.3, Your Rock Alternative, echoing - perhaps unwittingly - FM106.3's original alternative-era slogan from 1985 to 1989.

G Rock Radio also features special programming on weekend mornings. The Saturday Morning Breakfast Club takes a nostalgic look at alternative rock from the 1980s, while Common Threads (a program that dates back to the FM 106-3 era and originally featured "theme" sets of songs) showcases modern acoustic music. With the acquisition of WBBO, G106.3 became known as "G-Rock Radio", with a simulcast on 106.3 and 98.5. In July 2006, WBBO's 98.5 signal was moved to 106.5. During this time, G-Rock was trimulcasted on 98.5, 106.3, and 106.5 to assist listeners in the frequency transition. G-Rock has recently dropped their weekday noon request show called "90's at Noon" for a more 80's influenced request show known as "The Retro Request Hour". Another specialty show heard on Sunday nights called The Underground, which features indie bands as well as b-sides and unknown tracks from current played artists, as of March 2007, seems to have been dropped as well.

[edit] Main Jocks

Brian Phillips (co-host of The Morning Show with Brian - 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays)

Terrie Carr (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; also the station's program director)

Matt Knight (2 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays; previously hosted The Knight Life from 7 p.m. to midnight)

Brooke Connolly (7 p.m. to midnight weekdays)

[edit] Other Airstaff

Jason Brewer

Pete Lepore

Crazy Mike

Frank D.

Dan Lanni

Josh!

Matt Murray (Saturday Morning Breakfast Club)

Adrienne Watson (Traffic)

Tommy Else (Meteorologist)

[edit] Former Airstaff

(Source: http://www.altrok.com/fm106.3/airstaff.htm)

Rob Acampora (1987-1996; briefly G-106.3 Program Director 2000-2001; Currently at WSTW in Delaware)

Neal Adams (1993-1999)

Eliot Alzamora (Unknown)

Michelle Amabile (1993, 1996-1998, 2001-2004)

Amber (unknown)

Allison Behm (Morning Newscaster 1985-1986)

Brian Billy (1990-1993)

Lisa Bivona (1994-1999)

Mike Black (1990-1998; did Local Licks)

The Bob (2000)

TJ Bryan (1996-1997) (Now with Wind Up Records)

Mike Butscher (1990-1993) Program Director

Missi Callazzo (unknown)

Al Camelli (1992?-2000)

Sean Carolan (1985-1992)

Maryelizabeth Carter (1994-1999, ?-2007)

Nick Ciavatta (Production 1999-2000)

Bryan Cichon (1986-1987)

Clay (surf reports 1991-1999)

Dave Cohen (1999-2000)

Kevin Collins (2005-2006)

J.T. Copolus (1984-1989? - known for J.T.'s Saturday Evening Rock Show)

Stephanie Coskey (1998-2000)

Brian Cotter (1999-2000)

Bart Cross-Tierney (1984-1992) Overnights, Morning Drive

Denise Czarnecki (1995-1996)

Nikki D. (unknown-2000)

Penny Davis (2000)

Collette Denardo (2000)

Chuck Devine (1983-1985)

Aimee Dio (?-2006)

Ro DiSalvo (1986-1987)

Kevin Dunn (1984-1985)

Anya Feldman (unknown)

Andy Gradel (Andy G) (Weekend Overnights 1994 - 1996)

Mike Gavin (2001-2006) (Program Director 2004 - 2006)

Chuck Homler (1995-1999)(Left in 1999 for WJLK. Currently Production Director for all of Nassau Broadcasting's Maine holdings)

Eileen Hutnick ('80s, '90s traffic manager)

Michele Jackym (unknown-2000)

Jackie Kajzer (Sunday Afternoons 1999-2000)

Gabrielle Korb (2000)

Marie Levins (Morning Newscaster 1986-1992)

Jodi Landis (Office Manager 1988-1990; often on commercials)

Bob Larkin (Production Staff 1986-1987)

Molly (Liefer) Lenz (1986-1999)

Tod Lewis (1999-2000)

Heidi Lieb (unknown dates; did Local Licks)

Jimmy Lister (1986-1988)

Melanie Kolbasowski (1999)

Liz McCann (1989-1994)

Bruce McDonald (Program/Music Director, middays; 1995-1996)

Chris Mailley (1995-1999)

Jeff Mannheimer (1991-1995)

Mike Marrone (1984-1989)

Chopper (1984-1991) Music Director

Vinny Marino (unknown)

Mike Merrill (2005-2007, Host of The Underground 2006-2007)

Chuck Michaels (1985-1991)

Shelley Miller (1996-1997)

Mark Mistretta (1996-2000)

Pat Mooney (1999)

Maggie Morgan (1997-2000)

Kerry Nolan (1988-1993; did Common Threads from 1992-1993)

Glenn Page (1998-2000)

Matt Pinfield (1984-1995)

Chris Rake (1993-2001; did Common Threads during that period)

Jeff Raspe (1988-2001; did The Underground from 1996-2001) now at WBJB

Jerry "Rec" Recco (1999-2000) (now at WFAN)

Ron Resnick (1986-1994)

Scott Rizzuto (2000-2001; weekends) (now mid-days/music director KPNT-FM, Saint Louis)

Mark Rosenthal (1999)

Rich Robinson (1984-1991, 1997-1998) Program Director (now at WBJB)

Jerry Rubino (unknown)

Amy Salerno (1986-1988)

Jennifer Saunders (Newscaster 1996-1999)

Mike Sauter (1991-2000) Program/Music Director 1998-2000 (now Music Director at WYEP, Pittsburgh)

Dan Schade (unknown)

Rich Scroggs (1995-1996)

April Smith (1999-2000)

Randy Stern (unknown)

Karen Stewart (1989-1990) Weenends

Jim Szwede (1982-1986, 1988-1990)

Joe Tarala (1984-1985)

Jason Ulanet (unknown-1999) (now at KRBZ, Kansas City)

Jon Vena (1994-1998)

Glenn Vistica (1993-1999)

Chris Von

David Weinstein (unknown)

Dave Wetmore (2000-2006; Nights, Overnights and host of The Underground) (now at The Wall Street Journal Radio Network and WAWZ, New York)

Ray Whittaker (unknown dates; did blues program)

Dave Wilson (1986-1995) Weekend overnights on FM, Sunday with Sinatra and Monmouth College Football on AM 1410

Pam Wilson (office staff, often on commercials; unknown dates)

Loretta Windas (1984-1992)

John Yarusi (1991-1992)

Leo Zaccari (1994-1999) now at WBJB

Brian Zanyor (2004-2007; Afternoons)

This is a partial list, please add more.