WBLI

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WBLI
City of license	Patchogue, New York
Broadcast area	Long Island
Branding	106.1 BLI
Slogan	Long Island's #1 Hit Music Station
First air date	1958
Frequency	106.1 MHz
Format	Top 40
ERP	49,000 watts
Class	B
Callsign meaning	Best on Long Island
Owner	Cox Radio
Website	www.wbli.com

WBLI, known on-air as "106.1 'BLI", is a Top 40 radio station which mainly serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island and can also be heard in the Hudson Valley, the South Shore of Connecticut, and the Jersey Shore. Its transmitter is located in Farmingville, New York.

Contents 1 History 2 BLI In the Morning 3 Current DJs 4 Management 5 External links

[edit] History

WBLI, the station as a whole, first went on the air in 1958 but gained fame in the 1970s. DJs from the '70s & '80s included Barry Neal, Randi Taylor, Bruce Michaels, Nick O'Neil, Chris Tyler, Bill Terry (was PD in the '80s), Jeff Thomas (also the PD), Scott Taylor, Don Nelson, Rick Sommers, Rob McLean, Mary Ann (aka J.J. Kennedy of WLTW/New York City), Scott Miller and Kelly Hart. WBLI had a Saturday Night disco show called "Club 106" during the disco days. WBLI had a Sunday Night Oldies show known as "Only Gold" during the 70's through the mid 80"s.

It's most recent incarnation of CHR began in September of 1996 when the station, under its then-owners Chancellor Broadcasting and PD Doc Medek flipped from Hot A/C, an evolution that had begun in May of 1996. Under Doc Medek the station redeveloped it's CHR sound on Long Island, voiced by Billy Moore, and a new jingle package, playing the current records, and had night show features like the "Fresh 5 at 9", and the "New Music Challenge" return. By 1997 'BLI was one of the more rhythmic mainstream CHR's on the air featuring "Classic Dance Weekends". When Cox Radio took over 'BLI they evolved into a more mainstream CHR with less dance product (though still more than most other CHR's) and a tighter playlist voiced by Kurt Flood, Mark Driscoll, Jennifer Vaughn, and Brian James.

In September of 1996 'BLI dropped the Syndicated weekend Program "Open House Party" on Saturday nights in favor of a disco show hosted by "Party" Marty Mitchell, Open House Party continued on Sunday nights until Noverber of 96. Party Marty's show would continue until 1998 when "CLUB BLI" would begin, playing current club music. CLUB BLI is the current Saturday night show featuring occasional live broadcasts from popular Long Island clubs.

WBLI, which is currently owned by Cox Radio and licensed to Patchogue, New York, is programmed by Jeremy (J.J.) Rice who has been with the station since 1998. (Rice was formerly PD of WWHT (Hot 107.9) in Syracuse while the station was owned by Cox Radio. When ClearChannel purchased WWHT in 1998, Rice moved to Long Island and has since been the program director of WBLI and CHR format director for Cox Radio.) The APD is Al Levine "on the scene", who has been with 'BLI since February 5th 1995 and has done nights, afternoon drive, mid-days, and now once again afternoon drive.

[edit] BLI In the Morning

The morning program, known as "BLI in the Morning" features Dana DiDonato, "Big Randy", and Ted Lindner with news and traffic. The show has benchmarks such as Dana's crush of the week, Randy's Happy Horoscopes, the Dirt report, Phoney-Phone crank calls; a staple of former co-host Steve Harper, and Hersday, a feature that was pioneerd by former co-host Maria Garcia.

[edit] Current DJs

• Dana DiDonato
• Big Randy
• Gabrielle Vaughn
• Al Levine "on the Scene"
• Astra
• Orphan Andrew
• Tim Clarke
• Billy Vote
• Lil' Cee
• Adam Axe
• Bryan Martinez
• Kyle
• Cate Holmes
• Erica Hayden

[edit] Management

• Regional Vice President/Market Manager - Kim Guthrie
• General Manager - John Shea
• Program Director - Jeremy Rice
• Music Director - Gabrielle Vaughn
• Assistant Program Director - Al Levine
• Operations/Marketing Director - Nancy Cambino
• Sales Manager - Julie Sells
• Local Sales Manager - Shaun Buford

[edit] External links

• 106.1 BLI
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WBLI