The sounds of NJ
A highlight of the New Jersey Radio Museum will be to showcase the sights and sounds of New Jersey radio from Marconi to today. We sincerely thank the many who have donated these to the museum – from the interested radio stations, jocks, aircheck collectors, and aficionados. We always seek additional materials, no matter how large or how small, to help grow our collection and share with the public. If you have anything, please contact any of the NJRM execs or you can email us directly at njrm@njrm.org. Please note NJRM in the subject. Thank you!
[updated 5/18/2011]
Jay Sorensen interviews Herbert W. Hobler, co-founder of WHWH 1350 Princeton, NJ, and former owner of WPST 97.5 Trenton, NJ.
[12/31/2010]
Our first recording is a collection of clips from the glory days of New Jersey radio. 1932-1994. Enjoy!
Lonnie Tucker said
First let me thank you for some of the leg work that we are in the process of gathering. My Name is Lonnie Tucker, Formerly of WNJR Radio, I’ve work in every facet of the business. I was New Jersey Stringer covering North Jersey, and New York Medial an Assistant New Director for WNJR and WVNJ (JOY); my upward spiral included Public Affairs/Production Manager, Assistant PD, Assistant Music Director (eventually Director) on air personality (DJ), (Lonnie T) or T On Your Box. I’ve worked every shift known to man. And the privilege to hosting a 72 hour marathon radio show (when we all got snowed in)hosted many talent shows, MC- rock and roll program, participated in New Jersey and New York Concerts, Symphony Hall, Prospect Park, Branch and Weequahic parks in Essex County. As the Music and Public affairs Program person, I help coordinated community events; Newark’s Beautification; Family Unity Day, Attacks/King Parade, Toys for Tots, and nearly all our radio on site remote broadcasts. and Many other business operations parts. The reason why I’ve mentioned these enjoyable events and career growth opportunities , resulted from a former listener recently stating to me that we (the New Jersey Announcers/DJs ) should record the history of our contribution to all music. Like yourself I have been on a quest for locating and finding those radio pioneering (black/white/Hispanic/ etc.) those guys and gals giants, that has made public and commercial radio that connected to people.
I am honored to know that there is a place where the archives will be kept and safe for many years to come. And I do look forward to more information about your set up. I respectfully thank you for those who has passed on may there names be enshrined for their contributions to our State and The World.
My e-mail address is wellstucker@live .com
Respectfully
Lonnie Tucker, Che, Csw
Rich Phoenix, RMC said
Lonnie, so many thanks for your response. In assembling our archives, we at NJ Radio Museum hoped to be able to gather evidence of stations no longer in existence. This is true of WNJR, of course, and if you are referencing the WVNJ with studios and xmitter in Livingston, that is yet another station of the past. If it is the Oakland, NJ WVNJ, that is fine, too. They are in existence and decidedly on the air, although we have little archival material on them. WNJR is a fascinating case. It played an important role in quelling the riots of the late ’60s/early ’70s and, if my history is accurate, it was NJR’s staffers that coined the term “Soul Brother,” to designate White-owned businesses that had been historically fair to the minority community. To have one single station play such a singular role in highly troubled times when there were countless other radio signals available to serve Newark and its environs, it is a bit of history that deserves much more than a brief footnote; and, perhaps you can help tell the tale. Years later, I was privileged to work with the fabled Charles Green who was part of that remarkable WNJR era. We were colleagues at another missing NJ radio station — WERA in Plainfield.
The Aural/Oral History is a project that’s growing every day. The NJRM has been around for at least 10 years. Its beginnings had many fits and starts; but, we have been fortunate to have highly dedicated volunteers who have built-in museum space in Dover, Morris County; plus we have had highly successful fundraisers in the past that drew crowds and entertained many. These fundraisers also came to fruition with a great deal of volunteer efforts from many individuals. So, we have embarked on the aural/oral history project, since true radio history is best heard. Photos and the printed word are OK, but radio is an aural medium that deserves the utmost respect — to be heard and appreciated in an environment that is as near as possible to the form in which the programming originated. Please keep in touch, Lonnie, as we will eagerly look forward to recording what you have to say about your years in NJ radio! Rock On! Rich Phoenix, RMC – NJRM President
Anonymous said
Rich I’m truly touch by your words and footnote to a past of turbulent times. as I review some 4,000 LP I have and over 2,000 45s, I can’t help recalling great times that was be a part of history. Your mentioning of Charlie Green really do it. besides running the news department and community talk shows at WNJR, Charlie was a people connector. Before me was the late Jocko Maxwell, There were other guys I also enjoyed learning the business from: was Herman Amis, Bill Franklin, Dean Webb, Reggie Wells, John L Frazer, Jeff Dixon, Steele Colony, Jerry Love, Pat the Cat, Clint Miller, George Hudson, Fred Mills, Fred Buggs, Jake Jordan Henry Singleton, Larry Joe Williams, Donnie Simpson,, Carlos De”Jesus, Jose Guzman, Mike Thomas and lets me not forget those sweet talking ladies like: Stella Marrs, Robin Johnson, Sharmaine Foster, Romona Brabham, Cleo Rowe, and of course the show week and daytime hos beside Charlie were: Kitty Taylor, Bernce Bass, Dr. Seymour Charles and the NBN amd MBN feeds on stories around the world Gerald Bentley Ron Pickney Vince Sanders, and a great host of many others,. While our voices in many cases lies in silence, the connection, up=close and personal and caring attitude lives on forever, ask and teen,or young adult that were in the thousand at concerts,, shows, discos, and let not for get the record companies, all of them were top shelf with the A&R representatives like mike Bernardo, Rubin Rodriguez, and others that spent hours bring their Artists products for air-play. As you can imagine the story doesn’t end there ,. I am sure I missed out on a lot of places that allowed us to grace their doorways and halls like; peppermint Lounge, the Lincoln, Leroy’s Name of the Game, 20 Grand Lounge, Perks Silver Edge, Club LaRuge, Tingles, Zanzibar, Club Evergreen, Mr. Wes, Club Company Two, the Budweiser Super-fest, Dupes, Playboy Club (Vernon)cornet, Fullman’s Onion Inn, Cornet, Synonymy Hall, Paradisco,Terrace Ball Room, the Garage, Plato’s Retreat and other public places of gatherings. I must find the photos, and appearances for your archives…and we must talk to develop and sale this story that connected to the communities of New York and Northern New Jersey.
Lonnie T, Still on the BOX