BOB CAIN
May-October, 1962

Born in O'Neill, Nebraska on August 11, 1934, Bob attended Creighton and Brown Universities. He was the third utility man at WDRC, replacing Joel Cash doing news and music shifts. His Saturday and Sunday afternoon programs were known as Cain's Mutiny, a play on the 1951 novel called The Caine Mutiny. He moved to Manchester from Buckley-Jaeger's Rhode Island sister station, where he was program manager. His later career focused on journalism and he was recognized with a George Foster Peabody Award in 1975 and a Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association in 1988. After a decade at NBC he joined CNN in 1980, retiring in 2002.

PRIOR: KSWI Council Bluffs, IA; KOIL Omaha, NE; WOW Omaha, NE; WSKY Asheville, NC; WJW Cleveland, OH; WHK Cleveand, OH; WHIM Providence, RI

AFTER: WJAR AM/TV Providence, RI; WPRI TV Providence, RI; St. Louis, MO; WNBC New York, NY; NBC Radio Network, New York, NY; CNN Television, Atlanta, GA; after retirement from CNN Bob moved to Las Vegas but returned to Atlanta in early 2014

TODAY: Robert Owen Cain passed away in Atlanta on September 2, 2014; he was 80. (1-30-15)

PHIL CALLAN
prior to November 25, 1994 - February, 1997

Phil was born in West Haven in 1938 but moved to Meriden when he was eight-years-old. He graduated from Meriden High School in 1956 and worked various jobs before being bitten by the radio bug. He gave up employment as a meter reader, enrolling in the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. His first radio job was in Meriden in 1969. He spent a decade at WMMW before landing at WRCQ where he spent another ten years. He went back to WMMW for five years. Clearly Phil was a veteran broadcaster when he was hired for WDRC AM's standards music format. He started in afternoon drive, but in May, 1996 he moved to the midday show, 10AM-3PM, to make room for Bob Grant's syndicated talk show.

PRIOR: WMMW Meriden, CT; WRCQ Farmington, CT; WMMW Meriden, CT

AFTER: WJMJ Prospect, CT

TODAY: Phil is retired. He was inducted into the Meriden Hall of Fame in 2014 (9-13-20).

BILL CALVERT
September-October, 1975

Born on March 11, 1953 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, William A. Calvert studied radio and psychology at UMASS Amherst. While his stay at WDRC was a short one, he had a lengthy radio career spending time in Boston, Florida, and several years in Germany from 2005-2012.

PRIOR: WMUA Amherst, MA; WGRG Pittsfield, MA; WMYB Myrtle Beach, SC

AFTER: WWYZ Waterbury, CT; WSRZ Sarasota, FL; WCOD Hyannis, MA; WMJX Boston, MA; Sandwich, MA

TODAY: Bill lives in Berlin, Germany, where he is a freelance journalist.

ALLAN CAMP
prior to April 17, 1987 - September, 1989

A Rutland, VT native, Allan's broadcast career began in the Green Mountains and took him to Cape Cod and Providence before Dick Korsen hired him as WDRC's production director. Allan initially did afternoon drive on WDRC AM on a temporary basis. He later moved across the hall to FM and continued until joining WRCH as morning man and program director.

PRIOR: WCFR Springfield, VT; WTSL Hanover, NH; WCIB Falmouth, MA; WKZE Orleans, MA; WSNE Providence, RI

AFTER: WRCH Farmington, CT

TODAY: It was announced in Jun e 2022 that Allan would retire from WRCH after 33 years service; see his note (1-6-03) or check his personal website.

DON CANNON
August 25, 1970 - December 26, 1970

A native of Yonkers, Dominic Don Cannon Canzano was part of a singing group called The Dreamers in the late 1950s. He came to Big D as the second all-night man (after Dik Haddad), but only stayed three months. Buckley Broadcasting transferred him to their station in Philadelphia, WIBG. Aside from some fill-in work in the New York market, Don settled into the City of Brotherly Love for the next 35 years. You may recall his voice (in a fake WIBG aircheck) at the very beginning of the movie, "Rocky." Don retired after 14 years of morning drive at WOGL Philadelphia on June 11, 2004.

PRIOR: WHRF Riverhead, NY; WBAB Babylon, NY

AFTER: WIBG, WIFI, WFIL, WIP, WCAU & WSNI, all Philadelphia, PA; WWDJ Hackensack, NJ; WNEW New York, NY

TODAY: Don died in Pennsylvania on August 22, 2014 at the age of 74. (6-7-20)

JACK CARNEY
prior to March, 1993 - prior to December 3, 2005

Not to be confused with the St. Louis broadcast legend of the same name, Jack is a veteran of Connecticut broadcasting. He graduated form Charter Oak College in Hartford, then got his masters degree from Wesleyan University. He received a diploma from Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theater in Boston, Massachusetts and Radio Engineering Institute located in Sarasota, Florida. He has filled several airshifts at WDRC AM and FM, spending several years as the afternoon drive host on WDRC AM while spending Sunday afternoon on Big D 103 from 3-7PM. On January 25, 2002 he replaced Glenn O'Brien on the 7PM-midnight shift at DRC FM. See his note (4-9-00) (e-mail).

PRIOR: WALE Fall River, MA; WDEW Westfield, MA; WTXL Springfield, MA; WPOP Hartford, CT; WTIC FM Hartford, CT; WRCQ Farmington, CT; WIOF Waterbury, CT

TODAY: Jack does fill-in work at Country 92.5 WWYZ Waterbury (e-mail). (11-28-06)

JOEL CASH
June, 1961 - after May 9, 1962 and September-December, 1966

Born in upstate New York and raised in Detroit, Joel began his broadcast career at the University of Miami. He also served as a U.S. Army corporal for two years. This member of The Friendly Five and The Swinging Six replaced Gene Anthony as WDRC's utility man in 1961. During his second stint at Big D, he hosted the 9-noon shift. He was a legend for ten years in Boston, mostly at WRKO.

PRIOR: WKAT Miami Beach, FL; WIRK West Palm Beach, FL

AFTER: WPOP Hartford, CT; WDEE Hamden, CT; WCOP, WBZ, WRKO, WMEX, all Boston, MA; WFTL Ft. Lauderdale, FL

TODAY: Joel has been out of broadcasting for some years. He is retired near Sunrise, FL. (8-24-08)(e-mail).

BRUCE CHANDLER
prior to April 18, 1987 - 1988

Bruce attended high school in Fontana, California and got his first radio job in San Bernadino. Known as "the record handler," Bruce hosted a midday shift during WDRC AM's satellite music days when it was affiliated with The Oldies Channel.

PRIOR: KMEN San Bernadino, CA; KEZY Anaheim, CA; KIQQ Los Angeles, CA;KRTH Los Angeles, CA; KIQQ-FM, Los Angeles

AFTER: KRTH Los Angeles (1996-2014)

TODAY: Since 1988 Bruce has handled morning wakeup duties for The Oldies Channel Kool Gold format.

CHAZ & AJ
September 2, 2014 - December 31, 2016

On Labor Day 2014, a month after Connoisseur bought WDRC from Buckley Broadcasting, Chaz Manian and AJ Man extended their early morning simulcast to include 102.9 in Hartford. Their arrival was preceded by a stunt involving a mysterious Dr. Cash who spent the weekend roaming around Hartford giving out cash. Curious folks were instructed to follow the Twitter handle @DrCashCT. Chaz and AJ had been paired on WPLR in New Haven since February 17, 2002 and were also heard on Connoisseur's 95.9 The Fox beginning in September 2011. They moved from Long Island to New Haven in 2003. Their show was described as a town hall meeting held in a frat house.

PRIOR: WRCN Riverhead, NY; WPLR New Haven, CT; WFOX FM Milford, CT

TODAY: They gave up the morning show at the end of December 2016 and were replaced by Michael Picozzi. (e-mail)

JOHN CLARE
1941-42

When World War II drew many announcers away from broadcasting, women and young men got career breaks they might not otherwise have gotten. John was one of them, working part-time at WDRC's first FM station in 1941-42 while he was still in high school. Clare's real name was Jack Lennhoff, which he used on WDRC until the mid 1950s. He later worked as a columnist for The Catholic Transcript.

PRIOR:

AFTER: WLCR Torrington, CT; WAAB Worcester, MA; WTIC Hartford, CT; Connecticut Public Television

TODAY: Jack died on June 6, 2010 at the age of 85.

KENT CLARK
June 11, 1967 - February 28, 1970; frequent sub May 7, 1971 - 1973;
October 12, 1998 - April, 2002

One of the most familiar voices in Connecticut has been a familiar figure at WDRC off and on since 1967. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on May 25, 1938, he graduated from the local high school in Old Town, Maine where his 1956 yearbook accomplishments included: "first place radio newscasting...chief light-sound technician for auditorium...basketball P.A. announcer." He later attended the University of Maine and got his start at the college's brand new radio station, WORO, in March 1957. When he joined the Army, he did time with Armed Forces Radio & TV. Kent Clark was also one of the most versatile WDRC staffers, hosting many different airshifts (especially on FM) and spending most of 1968-69 in the news department. He left in 1970 to become director at the Stratford branch of Dick Robinson's Connecticut School of Broadcasting (later directing both the Stratford and Hartford branches), but in the early seventies he frequently practiced what he preached to his students during FM fill-in shifts. During his Big D years Kent was an auxiliary Connecticut State Trooper. (see also Walt Pinto)

PRIOR: WORO Orono, ME; WLBZ & WGUY Bangor, ME; WBBX Portsmouth, NH; WNLC New London, CT; WAVZ New Haven, CT; WICC Bridgeport, CT

AFTER: WCCC Hartford, CT; WRCQ Farmington, CT; WELI New Haven, CT; WWYZ FM Waterbury, CT; WHYN Springfield, MA; WLIS Old Saybrook, CT; WMEX Farmington, NH; WJMJ Prospect, CT; WLML West Palm Beach, FL

TODAY: The man known as "Kent Clark" returned to WDRC AM as program director in 1998, leaving in April, 2002. He brought with him his real name, Walt Pinto. He passed away in Connecticut on Novemnber 13, 2024 after a long period of declining health.

GLENN COLLIGAN
prior to December 17, 1983 - 1987

Glenn's knowledge of music--in particular, oldies--was a big plus when he hosted the AM midday shift, including The Hartford Hall of Fame, which featured the top 13 songs from a particular year. In June 1986 he replaced Fred Horton as operations manager and program director of WDRC AM.

PRIOR: WBIS Bristol, CT; WATR AM & WWYZ FM Waterbury, CT

AFTER: WMEX Boston, MA; WRCH Farmington, CT; WTIC AM Hartford, CT

TODAY: Glenn hosts Saturday afternoons at WJMJ in Prospect, and WTIC's Tag Sale on Sunday mornings (10-26-14). (e-mail)

LAVERN COLTON
spring 1944 - September 4, 1946

Lavern B. Colton was born in Lockport, New York on May 18, 1912. A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, OH, Larry came to radio from a musical background...he was a former trombonist with Jan Garber's band. He was on the staff during WDRC's network-affiliated days. He became Chief Announcer on April 23, 1945 when Harvey Olson was promoted to Program Manager. Among his many on-air duties, Larry announced two early morning newscasts and hosted WDRC's Strat-o-Liner program at 7:17 a.m. During the summer of '45 Larry hosted the popular Music Off the Record disc jockey program, weekday afternoons at 3. He also emceed the Strictly Swing Club Saturday afternoons at 2. Colton lived in East Hartford. He left WDRC to become the arranger for WTIC's in-house orchestra.

PRIOR: WCOU Lewiston, ME

AFTER: WTIC Hartford; Twin Cities Broadcasting Co., Lewiston, ME; WGUY Bangor, ME

TODAY: Larry later switched gears, going into the newspaper business. At the time of his death on August 29, 1965, he was working as music critic, arts page editor and copy editor for the Portland (ME) Sunday Telegram; he was 53.

JOE CONNOLLY
May 19, 1973 - January 1976?

When Joe joined the news department it was a familiar role--he did some part-time work there in February, 1972 using the name "John Sullivan." Among his other positions after WDRC was a stint as press secretary for U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

PRIOR: WLMS Leominster, MA; WHYN Springfield, MA

AFTER: WASH FM Washington, DC; WTOP Washington, DC; AP Radio; RKO Radio Networks; Wall Street Journal Radio Network; WCBS New York, NY

TODAY: He hosts "Business Success Stories with Joe Connolly" on WABC in New York (8-30-24) (e-mail).

STERLING V. COUCH
1928 - January 1956

Born in Derby, CT on October 23, 1890, the head of the announcing staff through most of WDRC's formative years was Sterling Vernon Couch. As a young man in his 20s, Couch worked as a photographer in New Haven. He started his career at WDRC as a part-time program arranger after a career in the music business and served as program and musical director, with supervision over staff musicians. For many years he conducted a Sunday program called Daddy Couch's Young Folks Program, featuring child talent. In 1942 Couch registered for the draft. His application said he was 51 years old and employed by F.M. Doolittle at 750 Main Street in Hartford. In his later years Couch was WDRC's commercial traffic manager. On his 25th anniversary with the station on January 1, 1953, Sterling was presented with a gold watch at a party in his honor.

TODAY: Couch died on March 28, 1970 at the age of 80.

BOB CRAIG
March 16, 1970 - October 4, 1974

Bob's encyclopedic knowledge of music is more than a profession--it's a passion. He'll spend hours talking about Sinatra. He can also recall much of the history of PAMS radio jingles. His first stint in Boston was in 1963 as producer of the Jefferson Kaye show at WBZ. At Big D, Bob spent his first month doing the FM midday shift before moving across the hall April 13, 1970 to WDRC's 10AM-3PM shift. Dubbed the "Paragon of Virtue" by his close friend, Dick McDonough, Craig was known for his unusual culinary concoctions each day at noon when he announced, "it's l-u-u-u-nchtime!!"

PRIOR: WLTN Littleton, NH; WPLM Plymouth, MA; WBZ Boston, MA; WARE Ware, MA; WHYN Springfield, MA; WICH Norwich, CT

AFTER: WPOP Hartford, CT; WHDH Boston, MA; WNAB Bridgeport, CT; WWYZ Waterbury, CT; WMGK, WEAZ, WPEN, WHAT all Philadelphia, PA

TODAY: Bob is affiliated with Temple University's station. He does fill-ins at WRTI-FM (Jazz) and a weekly program called "Voices in Jazz" on WRTI's HD2 channel as well as streaming on-line; see his note (6-27-16) (e-mail). Also, read - and listen - to Bob's own words as he reminisces about his 60-year radio career (7-31-23).

JAY CRAWFORD
1975 - 1976

Jay was a frequent substitute, especially at WDRC FM.

PRIOR: WWCO Waterbury, CT; WNAB Bridgeport, CT; WAVZ, WKCI & WPLR, all New Haven, CT

AFTER: WHCN Hartford, CT; WIOF, WWCO & WWYZ, all Waterbury, CT

TODAY: Jay hosts a Saturday night sock hop on WATR Waterbury, CT (4-22-08)

PETER CRAWFORD
1963 - 1968

The son of former station manager Bill Crawford (1960-68), Peter Sandison Crawford graduated from Wilbraham Academy and Emerson College in Boston. He spent several summers in the WDRC newsroom while he was in college. He later went into sales and station ownership in Boston, particularly at business-formatted WBNW.

PRIOR:

AFTER: WJIB, WRKO, WHDH/WZOU, all Boston, MA; Roth Communications, Stoneham, MA; Back Bay Broadcasting, Boston, MA

TODAY: Today Peter is Vice President of Sales at TicketTV, a Boston software company; see his note (6-12-03)(e-mail).

PAM CROSS
prior to July 4, 1976 - 1977

Pam graduated from Norwalk High School, Class of 1971, where her reporting career began as a writer for Bear Tracks, the school newspaper. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in speech and journalism in 1975 from Emerson College in Boston. During her time at Emerson she was a part-time reporter for the Bay State Banner. She was a WDRC reporter and anchor for about a year. She was also the first full-time woman on the air at WDRC during its contemporary era. She spent several years at Channel 3 as weekend anchor and reporter before moving to Boston in 1981. At Channel 5 in Boston she filled numerous roles including general assignment reporter, and anchor of the 6PM and 11 PM newscasts on Saturday and Sunday. In October 2007 Pams was honored by inclusion on Norwalk's Wall of Honor.

PRIOR: WSTC Stamford, CT

AFTER: WFSB TV Hartford, CT

TODAY: On March 5, 2016 Pam left WCVB TV Boston after 35 years. She joined her husband, Ron, in a venture called Ancrum Strategic Advisors in Charlotte, NC (7-5-22).

CHUCK CROUSE
June 28, 1971 - May, 1973

Charles graduated from Rocky River High School in June 1958, where he was a member of Quill and Scroll, an organization that recognized high school students for outstanding work in the field of journalism. His high school yearbook legend said he was "happiest behind a microphone." Chuck was an award-winning radio journalist who plied his trade for two years as the afternoon and early-evening news anchor at WDRC.

PRIOR: WOSU AM/FM/TV Columbus, WVKO FM, Columbus, OH; WLKR FM Norwalk, OH; WCLV FM Cleveland, OH; WERE Cleveland, OH; WSOM Salem, OH; WGL Fort Wayne, IN; WPOP Hartford, CT; WINF Manchester, CT

AFTER: WCBS AM New York, NY; WEEI Boston, MA; stringer for ABC Radio Network

TODAY: Chuck owned WLMI FM in Kane, PA from December 1992 to August 2006. He is retired from radio in Lancaster, PA; see his note (4-13-07) (e-mail).

HENRY A. CURTH
prior to July 2, 1945 - after Feb. 14, 1946

A graduate of Biltomore College, Class of 1942, Henry lived in Hartford and was an announcer for a time in the 1940s. During that time he was appointed to the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Connecticut, Inc. He stayed with Junior Achievement on assignments in Rhode Island, Louisiana and Georgia before joining the sales staff of WSB-TV in Atlanta in January 1949. In the summer of 1953 he joined MCA Television Sales, a position he held until at least 1960.

PRIOR: WISE Asheville, NC; WDNC Durham, NC

AFTER: WSB AM/TV Atlanta, GA; MCA-TV Atlanta, GA

TODAY: ?