WBLI

WBLI

City of license	Patchogue, New York
Broadcast area	Long Island
Branding	106.1 'BLI
Slogan	Long Island's #1 Hit Music Station
Frequency	106.1 MHz (also on HD Radio)
First air date	1958
Format	Top 40 (CHR)
ERP	49,000 watts
HAAT	152 meters (499 ft)
Class	B
Facility ID	37235
Transmitter coordinates	40°50′32.00″N 73°02′25.00″W / 40.8422222°N 73.0402778°W / 40.8422222; -73.0402778
Callsign meaning	We're the Best on Long "Strong" Island!
Owner	Cox Radio
Sister stations	WBAB & WHFM
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	www.wbli.com

WBLI (106.1 FM, "106.1 'BLI") is a Top 40 (CHR) music formatted radio station which mainly serves Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. It 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, and studios are located on Sunrise Highway (NY 27) in West Babylon.

History

The station first went on the air in 1958 as WPAC-FM, but gained fame in the 1970s under their new call letter "The New 106 WBLI". BLI jocks from the 1970s & 1980s included Barry Neal, Randi Taylor, Bruce Michaels, Nick O'Neil, Chris Tyler, Bill Terry (was PD in the 1980s), Jeff Thomas (also the PD), Scott Taylor, Don Nelson, Rick Sommers, Keith Allen (now of B-103 Long Island), Rob McLean, Mary "J.J. Kennedy" Ann of WPLJ and WLTW/New York City, Carl Dayton, TK Townsend, Brooke Daniels, Larry Adams, Ken Rhodes-Rosato, former WBLI news director and now WABC-TV/Channel 7 news anchor, with Scott Miller and Kelly Hart. WBLI had a Saturday Night dance show called "Club 106" during the disco days, hosted by Long Island club DJ Rory J. Thompson, and a Sunday Night Oldies show known as "Only Gold" during the 1970s through the mid-1980s hosted by Bruce Michaels, Jerry St. James and then Don Nelson. Although technically a CHR/Top 40, WBLI had a more adult contemporary sound in certain dayparts and avoided such harder-rocking CHR hits, such as "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, during their initial chart runs.

Its most recent incarnation of CHR began in September 1996 when the station, under its then-owners Chancellor Broadcasting and PD Doc Medek flipped from Hot AC, an evolution that had begun in May 1996. Under Doc Medek and Al Levine as MD and night jock, the station redeveloped its CHR sound on Long Island, voiced by Billy Moore, and a new jingle package by TM Century, 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, with Jennifer Vaughn, and Brian James. On March 29, 2006 Beau Weaver took over as voice of 106.1 BLI, a new jingle package debuted at this time as well- the package that is still used today.

In September 1996, 'BLI dropped the Syndicated weekend Program "Open House Party" on Saturday nights in favor of a disco show hosted by Martin "Party Marty" Mitchell. Party Marty hosted the Arbitron #1 rated B-103 Disco Party for three years prior to 'BLI. Open House Party continued on Sunday nights until November of '96. Party Marty's show would continue until 1998 when Marty left to Co-host "Mary and Marty in the Morning" on LOVE 96.1, WLVG.

WBLI, which is 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 Alan "Al On The Scene" Levine, who has been with 'BLI since February 5, 1995 and has done nights, afternoon drive, mid-days, and now once again afternoon drive.

Dana and Jayson in the Morning

The morning program, formerly known as "BLI in the Morning," features Dana DiDonato, Jayson Prim, John Mingione (John Online), Shawn "Puffy The Producer" Novatt, and Ted Lindner with news and traffic.

Recurring programs on BLI in the Morning:

• The Dirt Report at 5:50, 6:50, 7:50, & 8:50 - Hollywood gossip

Dana and Jayson in the Morning often poses questions or opinions to the listeners, both on the air and online. They have many people call in each day with their opinions, and even have some 'friends' who they know well and who call a lot, like "Loyal Listener Lucille," "Lighthouse Michelle (LHM)," "Millie Milz" and more.

Steve Harper had hosted BLI in the AM for 25 years before being let go in the Summer of 2006, with Maria Garcia for about eight of them as "Steve and Maria in the Morning." Dana replaced Maria in 2005. Steve's last show was on July 19, 2006. Dana then assumed hosting duties alongside "Big Gay" Randy Spears and Drew Applebaum. Randy and Drew exited the station on December 16, 2010.

On January 10, 2011, the radio station introduced the NEW BLI in the Morning, which featured Dana with new co-host Jeffrey Jameson, and the return of Shawn "Puffy the Producer" Novatt one month later, who was with BLI in a similar role from 2000–2004.

The show was syndicated to Cox sister-station "Hot 100.9" WHTI/Richmond, VA and renamed "Dana and Jeffrey in the Morning" on Monday, June 4, 2012. Syndication ended with WHTI was sold to another owner in June, 2013.

Jeffrey Jameson announced he was leaving in December, 2013. The current show with new host Jayson Prim debuted on January 6, 2014.

Controversy

On Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Randy of the "BLI in the Morning" show offended a caller from the Mastic section of Long Island, NY, by insinuating that she lived in a trailer park.^[1] After in the station received complaints regarding the remarks, and after Randy's refusal to apologize, he was suspended by station management.^[2]

On Friday, February 29, 2008, radio announcers Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia of the Opie and Anthony, vocal proponents for free speech in broadcasting, called for the firing of WBLI station manager John Shea for "not standing behind his guy."^[3]

Staff

Current

• Dana DiDonato - Mornings
• Jayson Prim - Mornings
• John Mingione (John Online) - Mornings
• Shawn Novatt (Puffy the Producer) - Mornings
• Ted Lindner (Traffic and Mornings)
• Al Levine "On the Scene" - Middays
• Syke - Afternoon Drive
• M.J. - Nights
• Zach Feldman (Zach)
• Brianna Byrd (Brianna B)
• Olivia Benson (Benson)
• Anthony from the Deli
• Flyin' Brian
• Pat Gessner (Pat) (Traffic and Talent)
• Paul Verderosa (Paulie V) (Traffic and Talent)
• Mezzy Sarah (Mezzy)

Former

Programs

• Dana and Jayson in the Morning, M-F 5:30-9
• BLI Open Mic 5 at 9(pm)

References

External links

• WBLI official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WBLI
• Radio-Locator information on WBLI
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WBLI