Candy O'Terry

Candy O'Terry
Candy O'Terry as featured in Wellesley Weston Magazine, November 2009
Born	Candace Ann Low (1957-08-03) August 3, 1957 New York City
Occupation	radio personality

Candy O'Terry, also known as Candy O, (born August 3, 1957 in New York City) is an American radio personality, singer/songwriter, television and film actress and spokesperson. A broadcaster since 1991, she is 2012 recipient of the Communicator Award of Excellence for Major Market Radio Personality and is the President and co-founder of Boston Women in Media & Entertainment. O'Terry is the creator and co-host of WMJX, Magic 106.7/Boston's Exceptional Women^[1] radio show, and the recipient of 35 local and national awards for excellence in women's programming. She is profiled in the book: Boston Inspirational Women by Bill and Kerry Brett.

O'Terry has recorded 6 songs for airplay including "The Gift", "Valentine", and "You Are The Only One", "Silent Night", "To Make You Feel My Love" and "Tonight I Wanna Cry." She is a member of the cast of the Emmy Award winning talent show, Community Auditions^[2] and made her film debut in the full length feature film CO2 in 2010. In 2011 she was cast in the independent Christian film Luke Eleven.

O'Terry serves as the spokesperson for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk^[3] and the PinkRose Foundation.^[4] She is an ambassador for Music Drives Us^[5] and is a member of the board of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall Of Fame^[6] and the Council for Women of Boston College.^[7]

Personal life and education

Born Candace Ann Low in Manhattan, New York, O'Terry was adopted when she was 5 months old. The family lived in Syosset, New York and then relocated to Norwalk, Connecticut where she lived until she was 10 years old. Her parents were divorced in 1968 and O'Terry moved with her mother to Newington, Connecticut where she attended St. Mary's School and Newington High School. She was a champion diver and was recruited by Boston College where she won the silver medal in the 1976 Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Championships. O'Terry's mother Marjorie died of breast cancer in 1976 when she was 52. This personal tragedy would shape her lifelong commitment to the fight against breast cancer. O'Terry graduated from Boston College in May 1979^[8] with a degree cum laude in English. She was married at 21 and has two children: Christopher, currently serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces and Colleen, an advertising executive. O'Terry was divorced in 1991 and spent 15 years as a single mother until marrying Tom Gaffny in August 2006. She discovered her birth parents and four half brothers and sisters in May 2007.

Career in radio

O'Terry graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts in October 1990 and secured an interview on November 2, 1990 at Magic 106.7/Boston for a temporary position as the secretary to Program Director, Don Kelley. She was officially hired as Programming Assistant and Public Service Director on January 23, 1991. She landed on the air on July 20, 1991 when a part-time disc jockey fell asleep for the third time and was fired. O'Terry did the overnight shift that night and for another year, while her children slept in the newsroom. On December 28, 1992 she sent a memo to News Director Gay Vernon^[9] about an idea she had for a public affairs program to be called Exceptional Women. The two began a collaboration that continues to prosper. The Sunday morning show has received over 35 awards, including a record breaking 18 Gracie Allen Awards from the Alliance for Women in Media. In 1993, O'Terry began filling in for the tremendously buxom midday personality Nancy Quill and also became the afternoon drive traffic anchor for both WMJX Magic 106.7 and sister station, WBCS, Country 96.9 where she took on the alias: Christy Grace. In 1997, she added traffic duties for 105.7, WROR-FM and began a 3-year period working 7-day weeks on multiple stations. The success of the Exceptional Women^[10] radio show inspired a yearly celebration called the Exceptional Women Awards in 1998 with a portion of proceeds to benefit the fight against breast cancer. In 1999, O'Terry was promoted to Program Administrator of the Greater Boston Radio Group^[11] and served temporarily as Music Director for WROR-FM. In 2001, she was promoted to Assistant Program Director for WMJX Magic 106.7. O'Terry was elected President of the Alliance for Women in Media's New England Chapter in September 2002. She was asked to be the radio spokesperson for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in 2003, a position she still holds. 2004 found O'Terry with a Billboard nomination for APD of the Year and a Gracie Allen Award for Individual Achievement as a program host. She would realize the lifelong dream of hearing and playing her own songs on the radio between 2005-2011 with the recording and release of Jim Brickman's The Gift and Valentine, a duet with Charlie Farren called You Are The Only One and a collaboration with jazz prodigy Grace Kelly on the Christmas classic, Silent Night. Now a 21-year veteran of WMJX, Magic 106.7, O'Terry is the station's most visible air talent, averaging nearly 80 events and personal appearances a year. She is also heard weekday afternoons on the Greater Media sister station WBQT, 96-9, Boston Talks^[12] as news anchor for the Michael Graham Show.^[13]

Endorsements

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer,^[14] BMW, Canyon Ranch, Century Bank, CertaPro Painters, Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Dunkin' Donuts, Edible Arrangements, HomeGoods, JetBlue, Landmark College, Lifetime Television, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Lottery, Medifast, Nabisco Premium Saltine Crackers, Proven Winners, Sandals Resort, Shake 'n Bake, Verizon Wireless, and YP.com.

Talk show host and moderator

Host

O'Terry is the creator and co-host of WMJX Magic 106.7's Exceptional Women^[15] radio program. Co-hosted by Gay Vernon,^[16] the 30 minute show airs on Sunday mornings at 7:30. The theme is: "radio portraits of women who will inspire you". O'Terry and Vernon have interviewed nearly 500 women since Exceptional Women debuted on WMJX Magic 106.7 in January 1993 including: Patti Austin, Brittany Bergquist, Magi Bish, Wendy Booker, Mariah Carey, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Lynne Cox, Jackie DeShannon, Linda Eder, Gloria Estefan, Gina Gallo, Gloria Gaynor, Valerie Harper, Dr. Carolyn Kaelin, Gladys Knight, Joyce Kulhawik, Patti LaBelle, Dr. Kathy Magliato,^[17] Dr. Roseanna Means,^[18] Bette Midler, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks, Mary Pope Osborne, Michelle Phillips, Anna Quindlen, Dr. Julie Silver, Carole Simpson, Liz Walker,^[19] Mary Wilson, and Kate White. Exceptional Women is the most successful public affairs program produced by and for women in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

Moderator/emcee

• December 2009: Massachusetts Conference For Women/Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Candy moderated the panel View From the Top: Women Leaders Share Their Success Stories as well as presented the Be the Change Award.
• February 24, 2010: panel E2E: Connecting Eagles To Eagles at her alma mater, Boston College.
• December 9, 2010: Massachusetts Conference For Women/Boston Convention & Exhibition Center O'Terry presented the Be The Change Award to Jo Crawford, founder of Web of Benefit. She also moderated the panel Making A Difference: Finding Your Unique Way to Give Back'.
• January 11, 2011: Landmark College Lunch & Learn Webcast which included the following panelists: Adrienne Major, Academic Dean; Mike Lucian, Dean of Students; and Mike Nieckoski, Director of Educational Technology.
• June 4, 2011: Friends of Mel Foundation, THE ART OF LIVING: Facing the Challenges of Life After Cancer, Quincy Marriott
• June 7, 2011: Publicity Club of New England Bell Ringer Awards, Westin/Waltham Hotel

Career on television

• 2004-2006: Co-host of the [isoldmyhouse.com] show with WMJX's Dan Justin
• 2007 to present: Judge on the Emmy Award winning talent show, Community Auditions "Star Of The Day".^[20]

Scholarships

The PinkRose Foundation's "Candy O'Terry Scholarship" in honor of her mother, Marjorie V. Low is a $1000.00 scholarship awarded to graduating high school students in the Boston area who have lost their mother to breast cancer.^[21]

Career as a singer

Career in film

O'Terry plays the role of newscaster Candace Malone in the full-length independent feature film, CO2, which premiered October 23, 2010 and was produced by Wild Beagle Productions. She wrapped filming her first major role as Nina Wallace in May 2010 for the feature film Luke Eleven, produced by On Cue Productions and scheduled for release in 2011.^[22]

Awards

References