NorthEast Radio Watch 12/9/2024: Two Big Losses in Western NY

In this week’s issue… Remembering WNY’s Palvino, Harris – Will King sell Bangor stations? – Kay moves earlier – New signal on LI – Cumulus cuts hit PA, New England – Frizzell sells in NH

By SCOTT FYBUSH

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*They called him “Smilin’ Jack,” because throughout his storied career in western NEW YORK radio, you never saw Jack Palvino in a bad mood.

The legendary broadcaster, who died Sunday at 90, was one of two big losses in our corner of the radio world over the weekend, which will make the annual Rochester broadcasters’ holiday gathering on Thursday a somewhat melancholy affair.

After graduating from the founding class at St. John Fisher College (now University) in 1955, Palvino started his on-air career like so many young broadcasters in Rochester, becoming one of the pseudonymous jocks at WSAY (1370) before heading down the road to Geneva and WGVA (1240).

That small-market station was a sister to Rochester’s WBBF (950), and Palvino soon moved back to Rochester, taking over mornings in 1958 as the station began blossoming into a dominant top-40 force. “Smilin’ Jack” woke up Rochester for 20 years before moving into ownership, joining forces with Bud Wertheimer and Ed Musicus at WVOR (100.5).

The “Heart of Gold” station rose to huge success with Palvino at the helm (and also serving as morning man – “I was the cheapest option we had,” he’d later say). As a full-service outlet mixing AC music and personality with plenty of news and community service, WVOR dethroned market leader WHAM (1180) – and then the Lincoln Group went on to buy WHAM in the mid-1980s, later adding several additional signals to create Rochester’s first major station cluster before selling to Clear Channel in 1997, as well as owning stations in the Youngstown, Ohio market.

Even in retirement, Palvino was a constant sight in the community, serving on the St. John Fisher board of trustees, supporting the communications program at the school, and appearing with Fisher instructor Tom Proietti around town to talk about the history of Rochester broadcasting. He was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016, and even as he struggled with health problems, he was still a regular guest at those Rochester broadcasters’ luncheons as recently as last year. He’ll be missed dearly this year.