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WVOF is the student-run radio station at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and the future home of the Fairfield County News Desk of Connecticut Public Radio beginning in August 2008. WVOF is broadcast at 88.5 FM in the Fairfield area and on the World Wide Web.

WVOF
File:Fairfield WVOF.jpg
Broadcast areaFairfield, CT
Frequency88.5 MHz
BrandingWVOF 88.5
Programming
FormatCampus radio
Ownership
OwnerFairfield University
History
Call sign meaning
Voice Of Fairfield
Technical information
ClassA
ERP100 watts
HAAT10 meters
Links
Websitewww.wvof.org

History

WVOF commenced operations in the spring of 1970 as a carrier current radio station heard on 620 AM serving the residence halls located in the quadrangle of Fairfield University. A carrier current system is a method of broadcasting utilizing the electrical wires in a building as an antenna. This type of operating does not require the station to be licensed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).

In the early 1970s then Station Manager Stan Hrniak, who later went on to work for Connecticut public television, made the first application to the FCC for an FM license. The first antenna was placed on Canisius Hall. The station's broadcasts were piped into the Barone Campus Center. WVOF's record library was kept in the basement of Regis Hall and the early news broadcasts were produced with the aid of a UPI rip and read teletype. By 1976 there were two broadcast studios and one production studio in the cramped quarters.

Some of the early student personalities during that time 1970-76 include the following. Hrniak, a senior when the station "went FM" who hosted music and news events. He is widely credited with being the single most influential person responsible for navigating the station's initiative to move to FM. Mick McCullough later became station manager and was a music host as well. Bill O'Neal was a Maine native who worked professionally for a number of stations in Portland after graduating from Fairfield in 1972. Mary Beth Carmody was one of the station's first female hosts. Rich Mcheer was a hockey announcer when the Stags had a club hockey team that played at Bridgeport's Wonderland of Ice. Doc Hynes was a music host and basketball play-by-play announcer who teamed with McCullough blending sports and comedy during game broadcasts, which occasionally got them in hot water with the University administration.

During the mid-eighties, the station was at the vanguard of the American alternative music scene, under the able leadership of music Director Sean "The Hag" Hagearty. In 2002, the Fairfield University's world-wide, state-of-the-art radio station opened for business in a brand new three-studio complex in the John A. Barone Campus Center. WVOF regularly hears from listeners in South America, Europe, the West Coast and Canada.[1]

WNPR provided programming

On June 19, 2008, the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Corporation (CPBN) and Fairfield University announced a partnership between Connecticut Public Radio ("WNPR") and WVOF. Through the partnership, WNPR will locate it's Fairfield County News Desk at the WVOF studios and WVOF will broadcast the WNPR program schedule every weekday morning from 5 to 10 a.m. and every weekday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as weekend mornings from 5 a.m. to noon.[2] Programing provided by WNPR include BBC World Service, Car Talk, It's Your World, Living on Earth, Speaking of Faith, Studio 360, Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!, Weekend Edition, and Where We Live]][3] exploring important issues and ideas that affect where, how and even why people live in Connecticut.[4]

Sports Radio

Bridgeport Bluefish

In 2002, WVOF began carrying Bridgeport Bluefish baseball games, and on July 12, 2006, it carried the Atlantic League All-Star Game.

Fairfield Stags Basketball

WVOF is the home of Fairfield Stags men's and women's basketball. Men's basketball coverage is led play-by-play analyst Bob Heussler with color commentary from Stag basketball legend Joe DeSantis '79. Women's basketball coverage is led by play-by-play analyst John Cummings with color commentary from former UConn guard Maria Conlon. Fairfield University students participate in the production and color commentary for both the men's and women's games.[5]

Fairfield Stags Lacrosse

WVOF is also the home of Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse. Its lead play-by-play announcer for men's lacrosse is Mike Vitale with Fairfield University students participating as color analysts for the games.

Independent Shows

Rock Nation

Join WVOF's Program Director, James Maresca, as he takes you on a journey into the world of classic rock, arena rock, and hair metal from the "Most Rockin' Artists of the 1970s & 1980s". If you are a fan of bands like Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Queen, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, or Van Halen, you will not want to miss this show. Besides 2 high octane hours of in your face rock, listeners are informed about the latest news and area concert dates for the many artists played. In general, everything in the Rock Nation revolves around the central belief "Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you...ROCK!"(as said by Brian May of Queen). So in the words of Def Leppard, "DO YOU WANNA GET ROCKED?!"

Swingin' West with Mike Gross

Mike Gross is the producer and host of the weekly program Swingin' West on WVOF. The program showcases Western Swing music, an American music form born in Texas and Oklahoma in the 1930's. It's an amalgamation of Irish fiddling/Scottish fiddling music, New Orleans jazz and Black Blues, and it evolved in the 1940’s parallel to Big Band Swing. It uses fiddles, mandolins, guitars and steel guitars, in lieu of or along with trumpets, reeds and trombones. The words and vocals tend toward the light, happy side. [6] The Western Swing Society-Seattle inducted Mike into the Pioneers Of Western Swing Hall of Fame on August 11, 2002. And the Academy of Western Artists named Mike Disc Jockey of the Year by in 2000. [7] The show broadcasts on WVOF every Friday afternoon from 1-4 pm EST.

Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault

The "Upper Room with Joe Kelley" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians. The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others. Finally, "The Upper Room" hosts an in-house concert series.[8] Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website NPG Music Club. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. The show broadcasts on WVOF on Mondays from 4-8 pm EST.

Fairfield Alumni in TV, radio, film, and other media

  • Joe DeCamara '00 - Co-Host, Kruk and DeCamara Show, Sports Talk 950; Executive Producer, Jody Mac Show
  • Chris Miles '03 - Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter, WVVA

Radio Major

Fairfield University offers its students a major in radio, through a partnership between WVOF, the Department of Performing and Visual Arts and the Media Center.[9]

References

  1. ^ WVOF to open new studios
  2. ^ Connecticut Public Radio WNPR and Fairfield University WVOF Announce Partnership
  3. ^ Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network - Featured Profile: John Dankosky
  4. ^ Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network - Featured Program: Where We Live
  5. ^ Michelle Morrison, 'Basketball and the Beast,' The Mirror, November 1, 2007.
  6. ^ Western Music Network DJ - Mike Gross
  7. ^ Western Music Network DJ - Mike Gross
  8. ^ Internet Radio Show: Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault- Bio
  9. ^ Fairfield University, New Media / Film / Television / Radio
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