KEITH DAKIN
July 7, 2014 - March 15, 2019

A graduate of Syracuse University's renowned Newhouse School of Communications, Keith Dakin picked up his diploma in 1998 and headed straight to a morning job at a southern New Hampshire radio station. He moved to Cox Media Group's Richmond station for two years, then it was seven years on the air in Boston, including responsibilities as program director. In July 2010 he rejoined Cox as Operations Manager for its Stamford/Norwalk cluster. In August 2012 Cox named Keith as its Operations Manager and Director of Digital Strategy for all of its Connecticut stations. In February 2013 Cox was purchased by Connoisseur Media, resulting in a 36-station chain. Connoisseur bought out Buckley Broadcasting in July 2014 which is how Keith began his affiliation with WDRC. In May 2016 Radio Ink Magazine named Keith as one of America's 50 Best Program Directors. Keith took over afternoon drive when Michael Picozzi switched to mornings in January 2017

PRIOR: WHOB FM Nashua, NH; WDYL Richmond, VA; WFNX Boston, MA; WSTC Stamford, CT; WNLK Norwalk, CT; WFOX FM; WCTZ FM

TODAY: March 15, 2019 was Keith's last day at 1029 The Whale. He returned to Connoisseur Media, LLC (WPLR, Star 99.9 & 95.9 The Fox (3-30-19).

TED DALAKU
July 23, 1973 - September, 1975

Ted joined Big D as a swing man, filling in on several shifts. He settled in on FM for a time before moving to the AM/FM morning show. He was the anchor for the short-lived WDRC Morning News, a half-hour program which aired from January 13, 1975 until June when cross-town competitor, WPOP, dropped music for an all-news format. His partners on the program were Walt Dibble and Bill Hennessey. Right after WDRC he moved to morning drive at crosstown 91Q, then left for St. Louis. He later returned to Connecticut. His last air shift in the Hartford area was at WZMX, which he left in August, 1994.

PRIOR: Armed Forces Radio in Alaska; WSPD Toledo, OH; WCWA Toledo, OH

AFTER: WNAB Bridgeport, CT; WRCQ AM, Farmington, CT; KSD St. Louis, MO; WTIC Hartford, CT; WWYZ Waterbury, CT; WZMX Hartford, CT

TODAY: Ted pursues a freelance voice career from his home in Florida (8-14-11)(e-mail).

RUSS DANA
early 1977 - March 1980

A Providence native, this Roger Williams College theater major was a staple during WDRC FM's album rock days (when the DJ's started each backsell with "FM--WDRC FM." Mainly he hosted the midday shift, 10AM-3PM, though Russ began hosting afternoon drive toward the end of his tenure. Russ was very interested in jazz and later did a Sunday brunch show which was very popular in Boston.

PRIOR: WAAF Worcester, MA

AFTER: WEEI FM Boston; WMJX Boston, MA; WSSH Lowell, MA; LITE FM Providence, RI

TODAY: Russ passed away August 25, 1991.

CHARLIE DANIELS
May 21, 1979 - March, 1980

Charlie started at WDRC AM as the 7PM-midnight man using the name he had used in Boston, Dave Michaels. In January, 1980 he moved to the same slot on FM and changed his name to "Chuck."

PRIOR: WGNG Pawtucket, RI; WRKO Boston, MA; WACQ Boston, MAz

AFTER: WIZD Ft. Pierce, FL; WSHE Ft. Lauderdale, FL; WRC Washington, DC; WDRQ Detroit, MI; KSLQ St. Louis, MO; WFAA & KRLD Dallas, TX

TODAY: After radio he had a lengthy career in electrical engineering, design and inspection. He is semi-retired and living in Los Angeles where he does voiceover work. (e-mail) (3-7-15)

BRAD DAVIS
April 11, 1977 - April 2020

Bradford Wells Davis holds the distinction of working at WDRC longer than any other announcer in the station's history. During his entire tenure he hosted morning drive on WDRC AM (and sometimes FM, depending on the simulcast schedule). Born in Stafford Springs in 1934, and raised in Enfield, Davis was a U.S. Marine veteran. At WTIC TV he hosted a weekly show --a local version of American Bandstand--for 11 years starting in 1958. His background at WTIC Radio and Television included a heavy dose of journalism and it was easy for Brad to segue through various formats during his tenure at WDRC including playing Top 40, oldies, standards and talk. He has long maintained "I am NOT a disc jockey," but rather, a personality. At the end of 2009 he cut back his daily show by an hour and began hosting only every other Saturday morning. On October 20, 2015, Brad was inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Brad observed his 43rd anniversary at WDRC in 2020, although he was off the air by that time.

PRIOR: WACE Chicopee, MA; WTIC AM/FM/TV Hartford, CT; WFSB TV Hartford, CT (e-mail).

TODAY: From January 2017 to March 2018 Brad co-hosted the Brad and Dan Show with Dan Lovallo. In July 2019 the morning show was rebranded The Brad Davis Show with Gary Byron. In late January 2020 Brad came off the air; his listeners were told he had the flu. He was still listed on the Talk of Connecticut website until April 23, after which he was not mentioned at all. Brad lived at the Connecticut Veterans Home in Rocky Hill until his death on November 2, 2021; he was 87.

JEFF DEAN
prior to April 17, 1987 - 1988

Jeff was another one of the satellite-provided voices during WDRC AM's affiliation with "The Oldies Channel."

PRIOR: KPRI San Diego, CA; KBZT FM San Diego, CA

AFTER:

TODAY: ?

BOB DeCARLO
January 12, 1970 - March 6, 1971

A New York native, Bob was raised in Scranton, PA. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and began his radio career at the college station. He had the chance to join Big D in the fall of 1966 when Long John Wade left for Philadelphia, but Bob had recently become program director of WICE and decided to stay in Rhode Island until Charlie Parker called again in 1970. While Bob was WDRC's AM/FM morning man, most people forget he spent his first week on WDRC filling in for the vacationing Ken Griffin, 8PM-1AM. During his stay at Big D, Bob co-hosted a three hour "Battle of the Bands" special on Channel 30 (August 11, 1970). Charlie Parker once said he had tried several times to hire Bob who didn't want to leave his longtime program director's position in Providence. He later made up for it, working in several major markets around the country. For several years Bob was partnered at WUSA Tampa with another WDRC alumni, Judd Otis.

PRIOR: WDFM Penn State University; WICE Providence, RI

AFTER: KQV Pittsburgh, PA; WIOD Miami, FL; WGST Atlanta, GA; KOGO San Diego, CA; WUSA Tampa, FL; KLUV Dallas, TX; WVVE Panama City, FL; WPCB FM Panama City, FL

TODAY: After a stint in Houston, in February 2003 Bob and his wife bought the first of three McDonalds restaurants on Panama City Beach, FL; see his note (8-7-02). He retired from radio on September 30, 2006 (e-mail) (1-25-09).

CHRIS DeCHELLIS
November 2005 - 2006

Chris DeChellis joined DRC FM as a utility personality, filling in various shifts.

PRIOR: ?

AFTER: ?

GARY DeGRAIDE
May 4, 1971 - April 6, 1973

Son of a Providence legend, Gene DeGraide, radio must run in his blood. Gary's time at WDRC included several shifts, including the utility shift dreamed up by program director Charlie Parker. On Sunday, he simulcast from 9AM-noon; Monday and Tuesday he was off; Wednesday morning from midnight to 6 he filled Rod Allen's AM/FM shift and came back at 7PM to do Joe Hager's 7PM-midnight on AM; Thursday he did 6PM-midnight for Pete Ross on FM; Friday he did his own FM show from 3-6PM; Saturday he did his own show from 10AM-3PM on AM. For the Christmas season of 1972, Gary and his wife, Susan, (a professional singer) recorded a series of customized jingles to complement the usual "Friends" package produced by TM. When Gary left for WRKO, he did all-night as "Gary Matthews."

PRIOR: WARV Warwick, RI; WICE Providence

AFTER: WRKO and WMEX, both Boston, MA; WPRO Providence, RI; WPJB FM which became WWLI Providence, RI; WSTL Providence, RI

TODAY: Gary was doing voiceovers in Crestwood, Kentucky but may now be living in Tennessee (7-5-22).

WALT DIBBLE
May 19, 1968 - April, 1977

A Greenwich native, he attended high school in Stamford and the New England School of Radio, in Bridgeport, in 1948. When Walt replaced Joe Barbarette as news director at WDRC, it marked the beginning of a long stay in Hartford. After Big D he spent another 20 years in a similar post at WTIC, working with the legendary Bob Steele, and later Ray Dunaway. When his newscasts included Cincinnati Reds scores, Walt had more than the usual interest--his son, Rob, was a pitching star for the club.

PRIOR: WSTC Stamford, CT; WICC Bridgeport, CT; WAVZ New Haven, CT

AFTER: WTIC Hartford, CT

TODAY: Walt died of leukemia on July 21, 1997 at the age of 67.

CHIP DONOVAN
July, 1980 - September, 1981

Chip graduated from Curry College in Milton, MA with a major in communications and a minor in secondary education. During his stay in Hartford, he hosted Solid Gold Saturday Night on WDRC AM. He also hosted the afternoon slot, 2-7PM before replacing Bill Pearson on the 7PM-midnight shift. A man of many names, he was known as Charlie Donavon in Springfield..

PRIOR: WJBQ Portland, ME

AFTER: WHYN Springfield, MA; WSRS Worcester, MA

TODAY: Chip concluded a nine year run at WSRS in March, 2003; his current whereabouts are unknown. Listen for him using his real name, Ned Smith (10-10-04).

DAVE DONOVAN
May, 1974 - July, 1975

A child prodigy, he started his radio career while still in high school in Waterbury. At WDRC he was used on several shifts. Today, he is the promo voice of the FOX and CBS Television Networks. Visit his web site for all the details.

PRIOR: WWCO A/F Waterbury, CT

AFTER: WRC/WKYS Washington, DC; WRQX Washington, DC; KHTZ, KKHR, KIIS, FOX Television, all Los Angeles, CA

TODAY: Today, using his real name, Joe Cipriano, he is one of the leading voice talents in the broadcast industry, based in Los Angeles. See his note (1-13-00). (e-mail).

DENNIS DONOVAN
prior to August 18, 1985 - after July 7, 1989

Born on May 14, 1960, Dennis was from Waterbury where he graduated from Crosby High School before studying at the University of New Haven.

PRIOR: WNVR Naugatuck, CT; WKCI New Haven, CT

AFTER: WJBX Bridgeport, CT; WDAQ Danbury, CT; WWCO Waterbury, CT; WWYZ Waterbury, CT

TODAY: Dennis lives in West Palm Beach (8-22-20) (e-mail).

TIM DONOVAN
August-September, 1970

Timothy "Chip" Hobart's resume reads like a Rand McNally atlas. He worked at many stations, usually not staying too long. Charlie Parker used him briefly as an FM fill-in, but since he had just come from WPOP, Chip used the name "Tim Donavon." Thus, he becomes part of the trivia question: what last name has most been used at WDRC (there have been 4 Donavons and 4 Roberts)? His radio sojourns have taken him acorss the country and back again to his native New England.

PRIOR: WDOT Burlington, VT; WDEV Waterbury, VT; WJOY & WVMT Burlington, VT; WKBR Manchester, NH; WKOX FM Framingham, MA; WAAB Worcester, MA; WTRY Troy, NY; WTOR Torrington, CT; WTBY Waterbury, CT; WPOP Hartford

AFTER: WNHC New Haven, CT; CKLW Windsor, ONT; WRKO Boston, MA; WOKY Milwaukee, WI; WIXY Cleveland, OH; WKRQ Cincinnati, OH; WEZE Boston, MA; WYSP Philadelphia, PA; KROY Sacramento, CA; KSFM ?; WVBF Framingham, MA; WDAI FM Chicago, IL; WJEZ Chicago, IL; KDWB FM Minneapolis, MN; WAPP New York, NY; WHTT Boston, MA; WQFM Milwaukee, WI; WVMX Stowe, VT; WCLX Burlington, VT/Westport, NY

TODAY: Chip passed away in Vermont on March 17, 2021 after a long battle with cancer (12-23-21).

BRIAN DOW
April, 1977 - 1979

Born November 1, 1935 in Waltham, MA, Brian C. Dow served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. A journeyman reporter, he worked in the WDRC news department and was an instructor at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting.

PRIOR: WEXT West Hartford, CT; WBIS Bristol, CT; WINF Manchester, CT; WHNB TV Hartford, CT; WRCH Farmington, CT; WHCT TV Hartford

AFTER: WTIC Hartford, CT

TODAY: Brian died October 14, 2002, in Bristol, at the age of 66.

BILL DRAKE
November 14, 1969 - December 28, 1969

True radio aficionados will see this name and do a double take. To be sure, this was NOT the man who developed the "more music" Drake format. Bill worked at WCCC before his obligation to Uncle Sam. After getting out of the Army, he did six weeks of weekend shifts at WDRC to prepare for the launching of the station's first permanent all-night show--and his new air name. (Also see DIK HADDAD). Trivia...Bill's Big D debut was from 11PM-1AM on a Friday night, doing the last two hours of the Ken Griffin show.

PRIOR: WINF Manchester, CT; WCCC Hartford, CT

AFTER: Executive VP & Creative Director of Mintz & Hoke Advertising, Avon, CT.

TODAY: Bill/Dik is a freelance writer and producer in West Hartford; see his note (1-10-12) (e-mail).

JILL DUNAY
prior to December 21, 2001 - late 2005

A native of Groton, Jill has been dancing since the age of three. She is a graduate of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts and was a Fine Arts/Theater major at Eastern Connecticut State College where she was active in a theater group called Circles '96 that performed off-Broadway in New York. She also attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Jill delivered traffic updates afternoons on the Doug Taylor show.

PRIOR: ?

AFTER: WTNH TV New Haven, CT

TODAY: In February 2006 Jill was married; she and her husband moved to Hawaii (1-25-09).

STEVE DUNN
prior to March 16, 1974 - May, 1974

In early 1974, Charlie Parker reshuffled the deck and released Pete Sullivan from morning drive. His replacement was Steve Dunn, but the magic lasted only a few weeks.

PRIOR: WSTC Stamford, CT; WRYM New Britain, CT; WCCC Hartford, CT; WELI New Haven, CT; WGSM Long Island, NY

AFTER: WTIC Hartford, CT; WWEL Medford, MA; WCRB Waltham, MA; WBUR Boston, MA

TODAY: Steve is a successful freelance voice talent in Boston, MA (781-344-7811) (4-13-00) (e-mail).

BOB ELLSWORTH
February 2, 1971 - June 21, 1971

Robert J. Ellsworth was a child protege who gave a piano recital in Carnegie Chamber Hall at the age of 14. The New Yorker was a graduate of Colgate University and joined the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in the South Pacific. He was wounded by shrapnel - leaving him with a lifelong scar on his throat. Bob received a Purple Heart and bronze Star with a V for Valor. He later served 23 years with the Army Reserve and the Connecticut National Guard. During the fifties and sixties WTIC listeners recognized Bob's unmistakable booming baritone. He was also the first 11:00 p.m. news anchor on Channel 3 starting in 1957. When the WDRC news department had an opening, he was hired by Walt Dibble to do afternoon drive news. Later in his career, Bob was reunited with WTIC colleague Dick Bertel at the Voice of America.

PRIOR: WTIC AM/FM/TV Hartford, CT; WRYM New Britain, CT

AFTER: WKSS Hartford, CT; Voice of America, Washington, DC; WJMJ Prospect, CT

TODAY: Bob passed away on October 9, 2009, at the age of 84.

PAUL ENTRESS
1942-1944

Born in Hartford on February 19, 1917, Paul was infected with the acting bug during his time as a student at William H. Hall High School (Class of 1935). He starred in numerous productions and continued his love for theater while attending Federal College in Hartford. He joined the workforce at National Fire Insurance Company and was active in the company's dramatic presentations. That's when he came to the attention of WDRC, acting in some of their performances before joining the staff in 1942. Like many WDRC colleagues, Paul served in the military during World War II, earning an Army Good Conduct medal. He was a staff sergeant, doing service in Okinawa and Korea. After the war he continued his broadcast career using the non de plume Paul Knight. In May 1970, Paul was appointed assistant director of the new Stratford camopus of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting.

AFTER: WRIB Providence, RI; WNOC Norwich, CT; WTXL West Springfield, MA; WBZ Boston, MA; WCOP Boston, MA; WWNH Rochester, NH; WEHW/WKND Windsor, CT; WPSB/WEZN Bridgeport, CT

TODAY: Paul Wadsworth Entress died in Glastonbury at the age of 101 on October 17, 2018 (5-28-21).