WNDR

CLEVELAND — Former disc jockey Peter C. Cavanaugh — whose long and successful radio career started at Syracuse’s WNDR in the 1950s — is featured in a new exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  The interactive exhibit gives listeners the chance to see how radio (and its trusted personalities) helped launch the […]

SYRACUSE — Since the great majority of our Pictures of the Week document recent events, we’re always glad to receive reader submissions that give us the chance to take a trip back in time.  And this is one of those weeks — we’re headed back to the mid 1970s for a look at the talent […]

NEW YORK CITY — Kevin Patrick, the writer of a blog called “So Many Records, So Little Time,” writes to tell us of a recent post in which he recalls listening to Jim O’Brien on Syracuse’s WNDR during the era of rock’s British Invasion.  Patrick recalls how he wrote to O’Brien, asking him to play […]

SYRACUSE — There will be a new radio home for minor league baseball’s Syracuse Chiefs this season: The Score 1260 (WSKO).  The news was just announced this afternoon during On the Block with Brent Axe.  Jason Benetti, who called the games last year, will return for his second season behind the mic.

SYRACUSE — Longtime WNDR personality John “Happy Jack” McNamee has died.  According to family members, McNamee, who spent roughly 25 years on-air at the station, died on Sunday at the age of 83.  Calling hours are set for Thursday evening.  Updated 7/21 with link to obituary.

SYRACUSE — Longtime sportscaster Claude “Red” Parton has died, according to a report from ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV).  Parton’s career spanned more than six decades, starting with WSYR in 1939.  He’d eventually work at a number of other radio stations before moving into television.

SYRACUSE — It’s been decades since “Happy Jack” Macnamee sat behind the microphone at WNDR, but his familiar voice returned to the airwaves for a short time this past weekend.

CALIFORNIA — If former WNDR/WFBL/WTLB/WJMK jock Peter Cavanaugh’s 2002 book Local DJ was a film, you might say most of his memories of Syracuse were lost “on the cutting room floor” … until now.  Cavanaugh tells us the original, uncut Syracuse section he wrote is now available online, free of charge.

TENNESSEE – Are retired broadcasters ever really retired?  In many cases, the answer is “no,” and now, you can add former Syracuse personality Dave Laird’s name to the “proof positive” list for that argument.

SYRACUSE — He was best known by his on-air names “Johnny C” and “Johnny Vann.”  Former WNDR, WOLF and WFBL broadcaster John L. Creveling has died.  Memorial services will take place tomorrow in Durham, NC, but an “audio tie-in” will be provided in North Syracuse.