2019 WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony May 14, 2019
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Football, Internet, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Travel, TV, Video, Weather.add a comment
Other Hall of Fame ceremony recaps: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020-21, 2022, 2023
Video of the ceremony can be found at the end of this post.
The eighth annual WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony was held Saturday afternoon in the Goldsmith Atrium at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of LIU Post. As you can see above, this year’s inductees were Lew Scharfberg, Fred Gaudelli, and Pete Bellotti.
The ceremony began at 1:10 with an introduction by WCWP Director of Broadcasting Dan Cox…:
…and a video narrated by Bernie Bernard, who was inducted in 2013:
This picture taken during a dissolve was a happy accident because it looks like Lew and Jeff Kroll, the Master of Ceremonies, are pointing at Pete:
Jeff at the mic as M.C.:
Dan had the honor of introducing two of the three inductees. First, was Pete Bellotti, currently of CBS Sports Radio:
Before Jeff’s interview and remembrances from the audience, Pete gave a speech:
Jay Mirabile had an interesting story:
Joe Manfredi, Director of Operations while Pete was a student, was complimentary:
Pete even acknowledged me when referencing the music I provided and hours of co-hosting for WCWP’s live broadcast from Bar Beach Park (now North Hempstead Beach Park) in 2006:
I was about 90 pounds heavier at the time, as I co-hosted with Eli W. Sen:
“It was a fun experience”:
Lew Scharfberg was next, following Jeff’s introduction:
Among Lew’s stories in his speech were the teletype bell ringing frantically on August 16, 1977, as news broke that Elvis Presley had died, and learning of the Dome Auditorium roof collapse during the Blizzard of 1978.
Bill Mozer misremembered one anecdote…:
…and had to be corrected by Dan:
He accurately recalled another:
Neil Marks ribbed Lew, leading to an impassioned defense…:
…but was also complimentary:
Dan Cox chimed in:
The obligatory camcorder shot to use as a cover photo for my YouTube channel:
…and the obligatory alternate perspective:
Lew’s son Dan gave a moving speech:
I told him afterward, “you’re a good son.”
Last up was Fred Gaudelli, who is the executive producer of Sunday Night Football for NBC Sports:
Fred had plenty of stories from his days at C.W. Post, working his way up through ESPN, introducing what became the 1st and 10 line, producing Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football.
At one point, Dan played a clip of Fred calling a furious comeback by the Post Pioneers against James Madison in 1981:
They rallied from 21 points down with two minutes to play, winning 37-36.
Jeff’s closing remarks:
I want to thank everyone for being here today. That’ll do it. That’s it for the 2019 WCWP Hall of Fame induction. Thank you, folks.
Photo ops, starting with the three inductees:
The three inductees with Dan Cox, Bill Mozer (2013), and Jeff Kroll (2015):
Pete and his wife Bridget:
Pete with Dan Cox and Joe Manfredi:
…and me:
The early-to-mid-2000s era of WCWP:
The Scharfbergs:
Dan quickly introduced me to Fred before he left, and took a picture of us:
I posed with him 16 years earlier after he and fellow alum Dan Reagan (“Reegan”) spoke to the broadcasting class I was in:
My parting shot was of Pat and Jeff Kroll:
Pat was inducted last year along with Muffet Provost and John Commins.
Jeff was kind enough to drive me home. We had an interesting conversation along the way, and he recognized my driveway from all the times I’d photographed it after shoveling snow. (Here’s one example.)
Congratulations to Pete Bellotti, Lew Scharfberg, and Fred Gaudelli, the 2019 class of the WCWP Hall of Fame.
Here is the video:
Thanks to Dan Cox for providing the introductory video and highlights of Fred’s play-by-play. My video was shot on a Panasonic HC-V770 camcorder with a Takstar SGC-598 shotgun mic. I periodically switched to my Tascam DR-03 recording from the platform to fill gaps between raw video files and compensate for panning to the audience.
2018 LIU Post & WCWP Homecoming Weekend October 15, 2018
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Football, History, Internet, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Travel, Video, Video Games, Weather.add a comment
Other recaps: 2008, 2009, WCWP 50th Anniversary (2011), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
In all the years I’ve recapped WCWP Homecoming Weekend, this is the first where I consolidate all days into one post. With Sunday photographic help from Pat Kroll, I’m recapping all three days of WCWP’s special block of programming, including coverage of the LIU Post Pioneers‘ Homecoming game against the Saint Anselm Hawks.
I left for the Abrams Communications Building, home to WCWP, at 11:00 on Friday morning. I was there within half an hour and I immediately got out my equipment. There were shows to record, including one for me to host.
Unlike the previous three years, I was not the first show of the weekend. That honor went to 1960s Post Scripts, hosted by Art Beltrone and Jay Elzweig, who were with WCWP when it began:
Art Beltrone:
Jay Elzweig:
The show was packed with interviews and had occasional music.
The first guest was William Rozea, part of C.W. Post College’s first graduating class in 1959:
Also among Art and Jay’s guests were Jarron Jewell, LIU Post’s senior library assistant for archives and special collections:
Rita Langdon, LIU Post Executive Director:
Mark Bilker, another member of the Class of 1959:
Alan and Carol Fritz from the Class of 1966:
Bernie Bernard, Class of 1972:
Dan Cox, Class of 1985, and WCWP Director of Broadcasting:
Art, a Marine Corps veteran, presented Dan with banner from Vietnam, part of the Vietnam Graffiti Project.
…and Edward Keller, a Vietnam Graffiti Project volunteer and fellow Marine:
1960s Post Scripts concluded with “Yesterday” by The Beatles, which led into my show, Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri.
As my second song played, I took a picture of Art Beltrone and Jay Elzweig:
Before he left, Art gave me a copy of Vietnam Graffiti: Messages from a Forgotten Troopship, by him and his wife Lee.
My setup in Studio 2:
I had Jeff Kroll take a picture of me at the board. He suggested I have my headphones on:
I belong to a few Discord servers and my fellow members know I’d be on. I gave them all a shout-out at one point during my show, including the servers’ proprietors: Norm Caruso a.k.a. the Gaming Historian, Game Dave, and Anna a.k.a. Circuits & Coffee. I gave Game Dave a personal shout-out after playing a Keiko Matsui song because he recommended her music over in-game music in one of his videos. I couldn’t recall which one on the air, but it was for the Famicom game A Week of Garfield (relevant portion at 7:40, unless you want to watch the whole thing):
Now that you’ve seen that video, here is my aircheck video:
If you just want the audio, click here for it. Click here for the transitions, and a PDF of the playlist.
From one Mike to another: Magick Mike Hendryx (Mike Schanzer) followed me:
Pat and Jeff Kroll:
After the above picture, I packed up and got a ride back home. After a pasta dinner, I got to work editing Friday’s video and audio. I decided to wait until downtime after arriving back at Post on Saturday to edit Friday’s pictures.
Here is my Friday video, featuring plenty of 1960s Post Scripts, followed by two talk breaks each from my show and Mike Hendryx’s show:
I left for LIU Post at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon. Once on campus, I set up my equipment at WCWP, edited pictures on my laptop, and then headed to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium for part of the Pioneers’ game against Saint Anselm.
I spent much of the second quarter in the press box. Calling the game were Jeff Kroll and Neil Marks:
Video of the game was also streamed online with WCWP audio:
The scoreboard console:
A defensive stop:
The Pioneers’ third touchdown drive:
“Touchdown, Pioneers!”
The extra point:
That’s the end of the first half:
The Pioneers went on to win 37-6. If this was their last game against Saint Anselm, as they are heading to Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) next season (likely under a new name), they won all 15 of them. Highlights can be viewed here.
The next few pictures were taken on the way back to WCWP:
Ted David took this great picture of me:
Banners and trophies inside the Pratt Recreation Center:
Back at WCWP…:
Jett Lightning, Lew Scharfberg (standing), Ted David, Bill Mozer, Jay Elzweig:
As usual, Bernie Bernard was on after the game:
Lisa Seckler-Roode regailed Bernie with many stories from her days working for record companies and as a personal assistant to The Who guitarist Pete Townshend:
Bernie – or rather, Maura – with her fellow reverend, Fr. Michael Tesmacher, who she and I know as Mike Tes:
Mike and I have known each other since 2002 when we worked on the public access show, The Long Island Rainbow Connection.
Jeff Jensen and his son, Jackson:
Bernie and Lisa:
Ward Henry watching Bernie’s next-to-last aircheck of her show:
Bobby G. (standing) and Mike Riccio were next:
They hosted their special Homecoming countdown show:
Joining them was Jett Lightning (center):
Mike Riccio:
Bobby G.:
Jett Lightning:
Mike and Bobby:
Before I left, I had Pat Kroll take a shot of me and John Zoni, both of us with our glasses off:
John hosted the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. He’d go on to host a music show at midnight.
Here’s the Saturday video:
After transferring photos, videos, and audio files to my computer and eating a late dinner, I went to bed early. I woke up at 5:30 AM. My second Instrumental Invasion of the weekend was scheduled to air at 6AM. When I accessed the WCWP app on my iPhone X, I heard silence (except for light static). Apparently, there was an automation glitch that kept the scheduled 2AM and 4AM pre-records from running. At 6AM, I briefly heard the start of the 4AM show, then 12 more seconds of silence, and finally my show. Here is the aircheck, the show transitions, and the playlist.
Bobby G. informed me on the WCWP Alumni Association Facebook group that the show also aired at 2AM, which was its original slot before a change was made two weeks ahead of Homecoming. So, not only did my show air without a hitch, it aired twice! Bobby called it an “extra bonus.” Jeff Kroll added, “Yessir BONUS time!”
I listened to the entire show. I lied in bed, looking up at the ceiling for the first 45 minutes, then went to the computer to edit, which I continued to do long after the show ended.
Jay LaPrise (“la-PREE”) hosted Sunday’s first live show from 8 to 10AM. Here’s how he signed on.
I may not have been at WCWP in person on Sunday, but I was there in spirit, not just with my show, but with the show’s filename on the stream page for several hours afterward:
As the day progressed, I periodically recorded more airchecks. Here are two from Billy the Kid (Billy Houst), on from noon to 2:00.
Joe Honerkamp was at the mic from 2:00 to 4:00. Here he is with his daughter Diana:
Lew Scharfberg and Bill Mozer, with a photobombing Neil Marks:
Jeff and Pat Kroll, and Lew Scharfberg:
Neil Marks’s wife Lita:
Jeff Kroll assisting Neil Marks at the board during his 6:00 to 8:00 show with Pat Kroll:
Pat and Neil during their show:
From 8:00 to 10:00, Alana hosted a special Homecoming edition of The Rockin’ Sunday Show:
Jeff Kroll had the last shift from 10:00 to midnight:
And with that, the 41st annual WCWP Homecoming Weekend is in the books. It was a weekend I won’t soon forget, nor will my fellow alumni. I’ll leave you with the kind works Ted David left on my Facebook timeline:
May I publicly acknowledge C.W. Post alum Mike Chimeri. As I mentioned on the air during Homecoming Weekend on WCWP Saturday, his Friday jazz show was worthy of any shift at the former CD 101.9 or the current Watercolors channel on SiriusXM.
Add to that his superior skills as a photographer/archivist and he’s one amazing guy. I spent some time with him Saturday at the station and then down at the football game. Just a super talented guy, pleasant company and proud to call him a friend and “fellow alum!”
Thank you very much, Ted.
2017 LIU Post & WCWP Homecoming, 2018 Hall of Fame Announcement October 16, 2017
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Football, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Travel, Video, Weather.add a comment
Other recaps: 2008, 2009, WCWP 50th Anniversary (2011), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Later in this recap, I share the aircheck from my pre-recorded Homecoming Weekend show that aired early yesterday morning. To see and hear my live show on Friday, along with other photos and audio from the three hours that followed my show, click here.
I didn’t arrive at LIU Post until 1:20 on Saturday afternoon, but I was already there in the form of voiceovers I recorded for Pete Bellotti’s WCWP Homecoming Weekend show prior to the Post Pioneers’ Homecoming game against the Southern Connecticut State Owls. As with my show yesterday, my VO garnered rave reviews from my fellow alumni when I arrived at the Abrams Communications Building. Pete Bellotti led the praise followed by John Commins, Bill Mozer, and Jay Mirabile, who ran the board during Pete’s show.
My segments, along with any references Pete and Jay made to me, can be heard here:
The “smooth jazz”/”Weather Channel music” bed they played was “Shakin’ the Shack” by Dave Koz on Lucky Man (1993), his second album.
After putting down my equipment and posing for two pictures, which you’ll see later, I made my way to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium to take some pictures.
Skies were partly to mostly cloudy while the air was warm, especially when the sun peaked through, and humid.
As you can see, the press box is vacant:
I didn’t realize that there was a new press box. That’s where Jeff Kroll and Neil Marks called the game. Joel Feltman was the field reporter.
Shortly after I left the field, the Pioneers scored a touchdown. With the extra point, they led Southern 21-7.
On the way back, I stopped in the campus bookstore in Hillwood Commons and bought an LIU Post polo shirt, which I changed into at WCWP.
Bill Mozer wrote a familiar phrase on the whiteboard in Studio 3:
The next two pictures were taken before the field trip and shirt purchase, starting with Pete Bellotti:
Next, Jay Mirabile:
I had Bill Mozer take a picture of me in my new shirt:
Then, I took one of him:
John Zoni was the studio update reporter for the Homecoming game:
He provided those updates at halftime:
The Pioneers would go on to win 52-35. The Owls got within a touchdown twice, but Post hung on.
As always, Bernie Bernard, who earned her doctorate in theology the week before, followed the game:
As you can see, Grandfather Rock Chris MacIntosh dropped by:
For 36 years and counting, Chris has hosted Rock N Soul Gospel on WCWP.
At 5:00, the WCWP Alumni Barbecue began, and the 2018 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame were announced by Ted David.
Before the announcement, he posed with Chris:
The 2018 inductees are Muffet Provost, John Commins, and Pat Kroll (née Champion). Chris MacIntosh will receive the inaugural WCWP Lifetime Achievement Award. It will be for those that have worked at the station, but did not attend LIU Post.
Scenes from the announcement:
Ted David requested I take pictures of the inductees outside.
We started with John Commins and Pat Kroll:
John and Pat with Ted (a 2014 inductee):
John, Pat, and Chris MacIntosh:
John, Dr. Bernie Bernard (2013 inductee), Chris, Pat:
Then, Ted suggested I get in a few shots, starting with John:
John, me, Pat and Jeff Kroll:
The station transmitter:
Bobby Guthenberg, a.k.a. Bobby G., suggested I take a few pictures of John Commins and Bruce and Tamara Leonard, who had shows at 10PM and midnight, respectively. I took these in Studio 1:
John also asked for a picture with his wife Marilyn:
The WCWP sign in Studio 2:
Later in Bernie’s show, she interviewed May Pang, former secretary to John Lennon and Yoko Ono:
May will be appearing at the Heritage Trust Building on November 10 for An Evening with May Pang: Loving John Lennon. More information can be found here.
A shot from Bernie’s last aircheck, which featured (from right to left) Mike Riccio, Bobby G., and Alan Seltzer:
Prior to the picture, she interviewed WCWP alumna Fran Fried, whose appearance on Jeopardy! airs tomorrow.
Bernie then gave way to the aforementioned Mike and Bobby:
They interviewed me during their third aircheck. Here’s a vidcap:
After this, I edited photos, airchecks, video, and this post all on my laptop in Studio 3. I edited more yesterday. Conversation abound behind me and I soaked it all in. I also listened on the boombox as Mike and Bobby G.’s show continued in Studio 2.
Watch the finished video, with three talk breaks each from Bernie’s and Mike and Bobby’s shows, below:
The middle talk break from Bernie’s show is the Hall of Fame announcement. The video was monetized by Universal Music Group because of the beginning of “Pinball Wizard” during Mike and Bobby’s first talk break. Thanks to UMG for not making me remove the song.
I always enjoy catching up with my fellow alumni and meeting new people, like Joan Yonke, the Director of Employee and Alumni Engagement at LIU Post. She told me that she saw my recap of last year’s Homecoming recap when she was researching the position, which she began in July.
Congratulations to Chris MacIntosh on his WCWP Lifetime Achievement Award, and to 2018 WCWP Hall of Fame inductees Muffet Provost, John Commins, and Pat Champion Kroll.
Until next year, I’ll leave you with the aircheck from my pre-recorded Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri that aired at 4AM yesterday, preceded by the end of Bruce and Tamara Leonard’s live! midnight to 4AM show:
I recorded the show on September 21, but put the songs and liners in my Adobe Audition multitrack session the day before.
Here are the transitions between songs:
And the playlist.
The 40th anniversary Homecoming Weekend concluded with Jeff Kroll at midnight last night. Here’s how he signed off:
2017 WCWP Homecoming Weekend, first five hours October 14, 2017
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Education, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Video, Video Games.2 comments
For the third year in a row, I led off the 60-hour Homecoming Weekend block of alumni-hosted shows on WCWP, LIU Post’s campus radio station. Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri kicked off the festivities yesterday at noon.
The Homecoming Weekend block began in December 1977 as Oldtimers’ Weekend. Here is a flyer made for the inaugural block:
And here’s the press release.
The block would move to the weekend of homecoming the following year, but wouldn’t be called Homecoming Weekend until 1980.
Back in the present, my mother drove me up to LIU Post at 8:10 AM. I arrived at LIU Post about a half hour later.
Three hours remained until my show. I passed the time by setting up in Studio 2, browsing the web in Studio 3 (which is as an editing room and classroom) on my laptop – which I brought to edit the aircheck audio and video after my show – and played a word search in a Nintendo 3DS game called Crosswords Plus.
Along the way, fellow alumni Jeff and Pat Kroll arrived, as did Joel Feltman.
Eventually, noon came and I was on the air. While my first song – “Happy Hour” by the recently departed Chuck Loeb – was playing, I took some pictures:
An hour into the show, I had Pat Kroll take a picture of me:
Ted David, who came on after my show, listened to me on his drive up to the station. He was very complimentary of every facet of my show, especially my music selections and delivery. He repeated those compliments early in his show. After spotting my camera, he took this picture of me:
Ted’s right. This was a great show. From my perspective, it was nearly flawless. The only mistake was having the CD 1 pot (potentiometer) down at the start of “One More Time” by Herman Jackson. Here is how I looked and sounded during the talk breaks:
Thanks to Shanachie for not penalizing me for the excerpt of “Stratosphere” by Najee. They claimed the copyright on the video and are getting revenue. I thank them for the joy their artists provide me.
11:45 AM UPDATE: I just noticed that my camcorder swayed back and forth on the tripod while recording. I hope it doesn’t give any viewers motion sickness.
10/17/17 UPDATE: I have since acquired an alternate recording of the show via internet stream. The constant tone from my FM tuner recording in the above video is gone. Here is how the aircheck sounded on the stream:
I mentioned during the show that David Benoit hosts a show on an 88.1 FM in Long Beach, California, but neglected to elaborate. The call letters are KKJZ-FM and it’s known as KJazz 88.1 FM. Like WCWP, it emanates from a college campus: Long Beach State. David’s show airs weekdays from 8AM to noon Pacific (11AM to 3PM Eastern).
Here’s how the transitions between songs during the show sounded (10/17/17 UPDATE: Also via the stream):
And here’s the playlist.
As I noted Ted David followed my show:
As I further noted, Ted complimented me during his show:
Thank you, Ted, not only for the compliments, but for the aircheck.
Ted then gave way to Pat Kroll:
Pat had me take a posed shot:
Then, I took a pic of Pat and Jeff:
Next door in Studio 3, I asked Bruce and Tamara Leonard to pose for a pic:
Then, Bruce had me pose with Tamara:
And before I left for home, a shot of Ted David and Joel Feltman:
It’s 8:05 AM as I post this. I’m headed back up to LIU Post this afternoon for Homecoming, the WCWP Alumni Barbecue and the announcement of the 2018 class of the WCWP Hall of Fame. I should have a recap of the day up by Monday.
2016 LIU Post & WCWP Homecoming, 2017 Hall of Fame Announcement October 10, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Comedy, Football, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Travel, Video, Weather.add a comment
Other recaps: 2008, 2009, WCWP 50th Anniversary (2011), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Later in this recap, I share the aircheck from my pre-recorded Homecoming Weekend show that aired early yesterday morning. To see and hear my live show on Friday, click here.
After kicking off Homecoming Weekend on Friday, I returned to the campus of LIU Post for Homecoming itself.
On my way to campus, I put on WCWP, whose signal wasn’t entirely clear at first, and listened to the Post Pioneers‘ Homecoming game against the Saint Anselm Hawks. The game had begun moments earlier and it was already 14-0! As my mother turned toward the Abrams Communications Building, where WCWP is located, the Pioneers scored their third touchdown to go ahead 21-0.
When I made my way from WCWP to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, all part of my Homecoming Day routine, it was 35-14 with a minute to go in the first half.
Before standing by the gate adjacent to the field, I photographed the carnival rides in the parking lot:
Skies were cloudy and the air was mild and humid. There was spotty drizzle, but not enough to scare me away. (My camera isn’t weatherproof.)
Joe Szadok and Jeff Kroll, on the right end of the press box (their left), called the game for WCWP:
The series of pictures below are the touchdown to increase the Pioneers lead to 41-14, followed by the extra point that made the score 42-14:
The Pioneers would go on to rout the Hawks 63-20 (thanks to a missed extra point) and improved their record to 6-0.
On my way back to WCWP, I zoomed my camera lens to 300 mm lens as an Emirates airline jet flew low in its descent toward JFK International Airport:
The spotty drizzle intensified to a light rain shower, so I had to put my camera under my jacket for the rest of the walk back. Except for walks to and from Hillwood Commons for snacks from the vending machine, I didn’t leave WCWP until my dad picked me up an hour into Mike Riccio and Bobby G.’s radio show. More on that later.
I was pleasantly surprised to see faces from my early days at WCWP, especially Joe Manfredi, the former director of operations:
Also on hand were Billy Houst and Karen Fiorelli, who took this picture of Joe, him, me, and Jay Mirabile:
Jay is my biggest champion, always propping me up on Facebook, complimenting me and my talents.
John Zoni hosted the halftime and postgame shows:
Bernie Bernard, who once again had a show after the football game, spoke to Jeff and Joe, still in the press box, during the postgame show:
Here’s Bernie, moments into her show:
When she wasn’t playing music, she played host to a cavalcade of alumni, starting with Bobby Guthenberg, AKA Bobby G.:
Next were Jeff Kroll, fresh from the press box, and Pete Bellotti to announce the 2017 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame:
The 2017 inductees are Neil Marks, John LiBretto, and John March.
Jay Elzweig gathered by Jeff and Pete’s mic to discuss his history with WCWP and “The Original Hootenanny” show:
Jay resurrected “The Hootenanny” in a show that aired at 4AM yesterday following my show.
Bill Mozer, who had his camcorder and 4-channel portable recorder set up in Studio 2, also spoke briefly. I was diagonal from Bill’s setup and shot the pictures you’re seeing here from the same spot.
After a few songs, David Kaplan was next to speak:
He invited his daughter Alexa, a student at LIU Post, to join him at the mic.
David and Alexa gave way to more songs, then Roger Luce and Mike Schanzer (AKA Magick Mike Hendryx):
Mike had a solo segment, as well:
Unlike on Friday when he followed me, I followed him in the interview chair (via vidcaps):
Bernie’s last aircheck of the show included Jett Lightning and Wolf German, a former student of hers:
Wolf is enthusiastic and affable, and it was a pleasure to meet him. Jett agreed.
Jett stuck around for Mike Riccio and Bobby G., and Bill Mozer checked on his setup:
After the above picture, I packed up the camcorder and tripod and left Studio 2. I came back in for one final shot during Mike and Bobby’s phone interview with Chuck Taylor:
As you see, Jay Elzweig stopped by the studio before he left for the night.
When I got home, I edited pictures, selected which to post here and Facebook, and began mixing camcorder video with my recording from the FM tuner and studio board. All the while, I listened to the rest of Mike and Bobby’s show, and Bruce Leonard and John Commins after them. Here’s the final cut of the video, which I rendered and posted to YouTube yesterday afternoon:
While waiting in Studio 3 for my dad to pull into the parking lot, I had Jeff Kroll take pictures of me with Alana Leider:
…and John Zoni:
Then, I took pictures of Pat Kroll and Lew Scharfberg:
Alan Boritz and Pat Kroll:
Lew Scharfberg, Jeff Kroll, Bruce Leonard:
…and finally, Bill Mozer and Bernie Bernard:
Thus ended a busy day at LIU Post. It’s always great to catch up with alumni I know and meet alumni for the first time. It’s also great to hear the various shows throughout Homecoming Weekend. “I’m listening to the very end,” I wrote in the WCWP Alumni Association Facebook group during Jeff Kroll’s 10PM show last night. “You sound great, Jeff.”
Here’s how Jeff signed off just before midnight:
Until next year, I’ll leave you with the aircheck from the prerecorded Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri that aired at 2AM yesterday:
…and the playlist.
As I noted last week, I recorded the show from home. It sounded great on the web stream, which I was awake to listen to.
2016 WCWP Homecoming Weekend, first few hours October 7, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Education, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Video.add a comment
For the second year in a row, I was the leadoff hitter, so to speak, for the WCWP Homecoming Weekend. Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri kicked things off at noon today.
I left the house just before 9:00 and took the Hicksville-Wantagh Community Shuttle to Hicksville LIRR Station. Once I got there, I had to wait a half hour for the n20H to arrive. I was at LIU Post by 10:15.
Once I got to WCWP, LIU Post’s campus radio station, I set up in Studio 2 and took a few pictures:
Eventually, noon came and the show began. After my first aircheck, I had Jeff Kroll take a picture of me at the board:
Jeff and his wife Pat were in the building during my show, as were Bruce Leonard and Magick Mike Hendryx, whose show followed mine.
I took two more pictures during the show:
Overall, I had a great show. There were a few mistakes and flubs, but that always happens in a live broadcast. Here’s how I looked and sounded during talk breaks:
And here’s how the transitions between songs sounded:
Now that you’ve heard the airchecks, and seen their video equivalent, here’s the playlist.
I’ll be back at LIU Post and WCWP tomorrow for Homecoming and the announcement of the 2017 class of the WCWP Hall of Fame.
Before we go, here are two pictures from the start of Magick Mike Hendryx’s show, engineered by Bruce Leonard, and video of his opening aircheck:
15 years in radio; two shows on WCWP next weekend October 3, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Education, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Sports.add a comment
Wednesday marks 15 years since my first radio show on Webradio WCWP, now known as MyWCWP. The maiden voyage of The Mike Chimeri Show, a contemporary jazz instrumentals show (naturally), embarked at 7PM on Friday, October 5, 2001. The first song I played was “Mountain Dance” by Dave Grusin.
Unfortunately, I didn’t think of recording the show for posterity, which I’ve done for all but one show since, but I did save the playlist:
mcs001
88 shows followed, plus another 95 after 10 months at WGBB.
I miss the days of having a weekly show, which I haven’t had since Evening Jazz on 88.1 WCWP in 2010, but I’m proud to have a show each Homecoming Weekend. Like last year, however, I will have two shows on Homecoming Weekend, and at the same times. The shows will bear the name Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri.
The first show kicks off the weekend, live on Friday, October 7, at noon Eastern. I pre-recorded the second show two weeks ago from home and it will air early Sunday, October 9, at 2AM Eastern.
The live show will consist of all but three songs from albums released this year. The other three songs are from last year. Among the artists you’ll hear are Chuck Loeb, Yellowjackets, Richard Elliot, and Gerald Albright.
The pre-recorded show is a 50-year music journey, running from 1966 through 2016. Expect to hear Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Chet Atkins, David Benoit, Acoustic Alchemy, and plenty more.
Both shows can be heard locally on 88.1 FM, and worldwide at WCWP.org and on the TuneIn app.
In between, I can be found at LIU Post on Homecoming Day itself – Saturday, October 8. I’ll mostly be at the Abrams Communications Building, home of WCWP, but I plan on dropping by the Pioneers’ football game against Saint Anselm College, their 2014 Homecoming opponent.
Later in the afternoon, the 2017 class of the WCWP Hall of Fame will be announced. I always look forward to the announcement, and then the ceremony itself each spring.
I hope you’ll be listening to WCWP all Homecoming Weekend long. I’m honored to get the ball rolling again this year. Jeff Kroll wraps the weekend up at 10PM on October 9.
2015 in review December 30, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Radio, Weather.add a comment
The following is an excerpt of an end-of-year post WordPress created for MikeChimeri.com. Scroll down for my editorial.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 9,400 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
2015 was an on-and-off year for MikeChimeri.com. But when we were on, there was plenty to write about: eight jazz shows, five WCWP events, five winter storms (plus more that I didn’t post pictures from), this website’s 10th anniversary, and a bit more. Check the archives (screen left) to see what I posted by month.
There will be more to write about in 2016. Until then, have a happy, healthy, and gainful new year.
2015 LIU Post & WCWP Homecoming, 2016 Hall of Fame Announcement October 11, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Football, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Video, Weather.add a comment
Other recaps: 2008, 2009, WCWP 50th Anniversary (2011), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Earlier 2015 Homecoming Weekend posts: FM 50th Anniversary Celebration, First few hours of shows on Friday
Later in this recap, I share the aircheck from my pre-recorded Homecoming Weekend show that aired early this morning. To see and hear my live show on Friday, click here.
Yesterday was my third day in row on the campus of LIU Post: Homecoming Day.
I arrived about an hour earlier than previous years. When I made my way to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, the LIU Post Pioneers and Merrimack College Warriors were in the second quarter of their game.
On the way to Bronko Piersall Field, I shot pictures from the carnival and signs in the parking lot:
The annual press box shots…
Jeff Kroll and Neil Marks were back in the lower booth calling the game. Jeff’s wife Pat is to his left (screen right) and Joel Feltman is to Neil’s right (screen left).
Pat photographed Jeff and Neil before kickoff:
Unfortunately, the Pioneers did not score while I was by the field:
They did, however, miss a field goal:
Disappointed, I walked to WCWP, where I spent the rest of the day.
The Pioneers would trail the Warriors 3-0 at halftime, but score 20 unanswered points in the second half. The Warriors got back within 3 twice and had two chances to regain the lead. They couldn’t, and the Pioneers hung on to win 27-24.
Now for the WCWP portion of the day…
The Studio 1 clock:
Maura “Bernie” Bernard’s show followed the football game:
Pete Bellotti announced the two 2016 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame: the late Ann Gaffney…:
…and Joe Honerkamp:
Bruce Leonard called in – speaking with Neil Marks, initially – and spoke with Bernie on the air following the announcement:
Jeff Kroll chimed in on Joe’s induction:
Jay Mirabile and me:
Pete Bellotti, me, Jay Mirabile:
Pete Bellotti, Bernie Bernard, Joe Honerkamp, Dan Cox, Bobby Guthenberg:
The inductees:
John Zoni in Studio 2:
Bernie made way for Mike Riccio and Bobby G.:
Back in Studio 2, Bill and Debbie Mozer:
Bernie Bernard and me:
It was a fun few days of Homecoming festivites for me. It’s always great to catch up with my fellow alumni. The compliments I received for my multimedia work – pictures, video, and audio – have made this year extra special.
Now, here’s video from some of Bernie’s show followed by the start of Mike and Bobby’s show:
There was one part of Bernie’s show that I missed: Ted David called in. Here’s how that sounded:
That’s what I meant by the compliments I received. Thank you very much, Ted.
At 2:00 this morning, the second of my Homecoming Weekend shows aired: a bonus edition of Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri. I recorded the show two weeks ago. Naturally, I have pictures to show for it:
Here is the aircheck from the show:
And the playlist:
I’ve been listening to the rest of the WCWP Homecoming Weekend throughout Sunday.
2015 WCWP Homecoming Weekend, first few hours October 10, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Education, Football, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, TV, Video.add a comment
I was honored to kick off this year’s WCWP Homecoming Weekend with a live edition of Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri yesterday at noon.
I went right to bed after getting home from the 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday night because I had to get up at sunrise yesterday morning. That allowed me time to edit pictures and video that you saw in the above post before getting a ride from my father up to WCWP at around 8:45.
As a result, I arrived 2 1/2 hours early, which gave me plenty of time to set up. I took a few pictures when I entered Studio 1:
The next six pictures were taken while my show was on the air:
Joel Feltman took this shot:
LIU Post/WCWP alumnus Tom Murphy caught some of my show on 88.1 FM. When he heard it was Homecoming Weekend, he decided to drop by the station. He was complimentary of the music I played.
His fellow alum Dan Cox requested a picture, and I was more than happy to oblige:
Tom wasn’t the only one complimentary of my show. Jeff and Pat Kroll, and the aforementioned Joel Feltman, were equally laudatory.
After my show, it was Jeff Kroll’s turn:
He’ll be on plenty this weekend.
Jeff’s setup:
Next on the schedule was Joel Feltman:
On my way to the bus stop, heading for home, I noticed a familiar name on the LIU Post Alumni Walk: Fred Gaudelli. This sign was posted by Pell Hall:
There’s also a Ted David sign by the Great Lawn, which I took a picture of two weeks ago:
I’ll be back later today for Homecoming itself and the announcement of the 2016 WCWP Hall of Fame class. (10/11 UPDATE: Click here for the recap.) I’ll conclude this post, no pun intended, with my show’s playlist:
…along with video and audio of my aircheck, which includes the beginning of Jeff’s show:
MikeChimeri.com 