1400 WABY Tribute Page

1400 WABY Tribute Page This is a tribute to 1400 WABY Radio in Albany, NY. In memory of 1400 WABY - Albany, NY

Thanks again Lou Roberts (ex-WABY personality) for this great picture of the WABY Basement at 80 Braintree Street (thank...
02/19/2019

Thanks again Lou Roberts (ex-WABY personality) for this great picture of the WABY Basement at 80 Braintree Street (thanks to Jeff Norton for cleaning up the picture digitally). The Gates on the left was the main transmitter until 1974. The transmitter on the right was used as a backup (and was most likely the original transmitter). In 1974, WABY installed a CCA 1kw transmitter in the studio upstairs.

09/29/2018
09/29/2018
09/29/2018
09/29/2018
09/29/2018
09/29/2018
No relation to WABY Radio...I hope
09/29/2018

No relation to WABY Radio...I hope

Can you imagine asking for all this personal information today? Hey, what about your social security number while you'r...
09/29/2018

Can you imagine asking for all this personal information today? Hey, what about your social security number while you're at it.

WABY Then & Now. Very Sad! Click on each picture.
07/10/2018

WABY Then & Now. Very Sad! Click on each picture.

04/19/2018
WABY "Keeps on Truckin'" Here is the WABY Van from 1972-1973. Note the Olde Golde logo painted on the front doors.
04/10/2018

WABY "Keeps on Truckin'" Here is the WABY Van from 1972-1973. Note the Olde Golde logo painted on the front doors.

John Bulmer on WABY in the early 70s
05/27/2017

John Bulmer on WABY in the early 70s

12/27/2016
Chirbit [Bulmer1953] WABY News Intro - Circa 1961 - from Kerry James

It was great hearing back from Kerry James after all these years. Many of you in Capital District radio may have worked with Kerry at some point. Here is part of the email he sent me:

"Down to the specifics of your e-mail and WABY: I’ve got a real gem for you: Its the news bed Dick Lawrence and I recorded in 1961, the year Toni Brady and Ned Trudeau brought Dick in from WNDR in Syracuse to turn the station around. In that year, we hit #1 in a couple of day parts, including my mid-afternoon show (he said modestly...). Dick was a real perfectionist, and we did many, many takes, to get the sound and delivery he wanted. Dick was working Spotmaster cassette machines and a small Ampex reel-to-reel machine to synchronize the music and SFX with our live announcing.

By the way, I have a lot of material from my years at WTRY, including a blooper reel I compiled when I worked in production. A lot of this stuff has not seen the light of day since that time, but would be of great interest to Capital District radio buffs, I’m sure.

Best Regards,

Kerry"

Audio: artist: Dick Lawrence - Kerry James title: 1961 WABY News Bed year: None genre: Other (id 12) - social audio

WABY's Kerry James - today
12/27/2016

WABY's Kerry James - today

12/27/2016
Chirbit [Bulmer1953] Kerry James on WABY - 1961

Kerry James was a familiar voice in the Tri-Cities from the 1960s to mid 70s. Here is an aircheck of Kerry on WABY from 1961 (from Northeast Airchecks). After WABY, Kerry's warm voice graced the airwaves of WPTR, WAST (Channel 13), WTRY and their sister FM at the time, WDKC. Kerry left the Capital District in the mid 70s to move to Washington, DC where he continued to work in radio. He continues to live in that area to this day.

Audio: - social audio

12/25/2016
Dirk Brady's Obituary on FloridaToday

WABY was owned and operated by Eastern NY Broadcasting Company for several years prior to and during its early 60s heyday, then selling WABY to CCA Electronics in 1970. Two of the minority principals of Eastern were Toni Brady and her partner Edward (Ned) Trudeau. Trudeau served as the station's General Manager, while Mrs. Brady was the Program Director.

According to Broadcasting Yearbook, at one point it appears that Trudeau & Brady also held an interest in WPDM Potsdam, NY along with the WABY (Eastern) majority shareholders the Kyle Family (Kyles held an interest in a few stations in New York state, including WNDR Syracuse and a station in Rochester).

Upon selling WABY, It appears that Toni Brady and her husband Dirk Brady left the Albany area in 1970 in style, piloting their 40 foot cruiser from Albany to Coca Beach, Florida. The Bradys would then call Coca Beach their home for many years.

Toni Brady died on July 25, 1999. I have not been able to locate an obituary for her. Her husband Dirk passed on May 22, 2012. You can read his obituary here: (If I locate any information on Mrs. Brady's obituary I will post it here).

Read the Obituary and view the Guest Book, leave condolences or send flowers. | Dirk Brady of Cocoa Beach passed away at home on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. He will be remembered for the twinkle in his eye and his warm and gentle personality. Dirk Samulon Brady was born in

12/25/2016
Bernie Wise Dies, Age 87

Bernie Wise was the founder and President of CCA Electronics in Gloucester City, New Jersey when CCA purchased WABY in 1970.

Bernie had a very long, impressive career in broadcast engineering and design. He is credited with bringing the "grounded grid" technology to FM transmitter design. CCA sold WABY in 1979. Mr. Wise passed away in 2013. You can read about his storied career here:

Bernie Wise Dies, Age 87

WABY Welcomes 1600 WXKW to the air in 1961 with this newspaper ad. Unfortunately, WXKW's second incarnation would end r...
12/25/2016

WABY Welcomes 1600 WXKW to the air in 1961 with this newspaper ad. Unfortunately, WXKW's second incarnation would end rather quickly...only 5 years later, after a studio fire (at the Hendrick Hudson Hotel in downtown Troy) took them off the air. This was the second time around for the WXKW call letters. The original WXKW went on the air in 1948 and signed off in 1953 (ironic that the original station made it just 5 years as well). They were at 850 on the dial with 10 kw (hence, X -KW) with SIX towers down in Selkirk. The "New WXKW" was a 500 watt daytimer on 1600---you could yell farther! WXKW and The 1600 frequency were then gone for good from the tri-cities in 1966.

Click on the link below to hear some rare promos and jingles from WXKW, circa 1965:

http://chirb.it/hkxHfC

The WABY story would not be complete without paying tribute to Edward "P*e Wee" Harris, a legend in Capital District rad...
12/25/2016

The WABY story would not be complete without paying tribute to Edward "P*e Wee" Harris, a legend in Capital District radio. P*e Wee hosted a Sunday morning Gospel program and spun all the latest R&B hits on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Many would personally come to know P*e Wee as the owner of the Ten Eyck Record shop on South Pearl Street in downtown Albany.

WAMC has a great story on the background, posted below. However, it appears that P*e Wee may have started at WABY as early as 1955, according to the 1965 Billboard Magazine article for his program on WXKW in Troy (below). His time at 1600 WXKW would be short-lived as WXKW signed off the air for good in 1966. P*e Wee returned to WABY. He passed away in the 80s.

http://wamc.org/post/notable-names-albanys-black-history

WABY Press clippings and Newspaper Ads from 1938 forward:
12/25/2016

WABY Press clippings and Newspaper Ads from 1938 forward:

From WABY's (Brother) Lou Roberts, a picture of the "new" WABY on Air Studio which went into commission in February 1974...
12/24/2016

From WABY's (Brother) Lou Roberts, a picture of the "new" WABY on Air Studio which went into commission in February 1974. In the background is the new 1kw CCA transmitter, which replaced the Gates as the main transmitter around that same period.

The WABY history had a rather interesting chapter in the early 70s. As we remember our all night guy, Bill Marshall. S...
12/24/2016

The WABY history had a rather interesting chapter in the early 70s. As we remember our all night guy, Bill Marshall. Someday I will have to post the audio of a prank the guys played on Bill with some rather now IN-famous commercial copy placed on his show (which he read live on the air) in the wee hours! (Thank God it was 2 am, or perhaps we would have had some 'splaining to do to the FCC) -- As Ricky Ricardo would say!

Okay, Okay -- By popular demand, here is an aircheck of the In-Famous "Mufflin Laboratories" spots that were read live on the air in the middle of the night (Thank God). Listen, as WABY goes Animal House with this prank (which I had nothing to do with I might ad)....
http://chirb.it/yeKPdK

WABY's Chris Martin remembers 60 years in local radio!
12/24/2016
Chris Martin of Albany recalls 60 years on local radio

WABY's Chris Martin remembers 60 years in local radio!

Host played big band albums and old-time programs on WABY During a 60-year career on local radio, Chris Martin spun untold thousands of big band albums and classic compilations of old-time radio programs. After he fell at a gas station while en route to WABY early one morning last year and fractured...

Billboard Magazine Article from 1972 when WABY Switched to Oldies.
12/23/2016

Billboard Magazine Article from 1972 when WABY Switched to Oldies.

The WABY "Olde Gold" Record Album from Post Records - Circa 1973. 1. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry2. Venus - Fra...
12/23/2016

The WABY "Olde Gold" Record Album from Post Records - Circa 1973.

1. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry
2. Venus - Frankie Avalon
3. A Million to One - Jimmy Charles
4. Johnny Angel - Shelly Fabares
5. Chapel of Love - Dixie Cups
6. Wolly Bully - Sam The Sham & The Pharos
7. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - Righteous Bros.
8. Hanky Panky - Tommy James & The Shondells
9. House of the Rising Sun - The Animals

Side 2:

10. The Letter - The Box Tops
11. Harper Valley PTA - Jeannie C. Riley
12. Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond
13. O-O-OH Child - Five Stairsteps
14. Put Your Hand In The Hand - Ocean
15. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
16. Vehicle - Ides Of March
17. Nice To Be With You - Gallery
18. Brand New Key - Melanie

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Albany, NY
12205

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Comments

Just saw these on eBay. A few LP Promo ads.
Berny...here is the WABY tribute page
Hey guys and gals, drove by 80 Braintree last weekend (obviously before the snow) and saw that the lot next to the building was cleared. Took some pics. I think Chartock is going to put a new transmitter bldg. there and tear down the current one.
And then, it happened! Empire pulled the plug on all of the stations including WABY where the station went dark last month, because of Joe Reilly's retirement. WABY has been the oldies station on 900 AM when it was the home of my favorite Bob Green on middays. I hope WROW's "Magic 590/100.5" and WGNY-FM's "Fox Oldies" will help benefit from the loss of WABY. Now, the station is now going dark. Here is an article about what happened from last month.
HI A FRIEND OF MINE WHO GOES TO FLA. FOR THE WINTER, USE TO GET WABY ON HER PC, AN WHEN HERE IN TOWN, AND LISTENED ON AM WABY CHANNEL..., BUT, CAN'T, FIND IT, AND SHE IS SO UPSET...DOES ANYONE KNOW, IF THEY ARE STILL ON THE AIR? AND IF SO WHAT CHANNEL? THANK YOU SO MUCH, HAVE A BLESSED DAY...
Excerpted Air from the days WABY broadcast an eclectic hybrid Christian/Community/Gospel format.. https://soundcloud.com/davelucas-net/waby-one-christiangospel-hybrid-circa-1980 https://soundcloud.com/davelucas-net/waby2tradio
There was a time during the 1980s WABY broadcast an eclectic mix of Contemporary Christian, Christian Rock, Gospel and Christian Jazz....
When are they going to realize what a mistake they made and get a decent station back on.
You ruined a lovely station. Thank goodness your competitor WROW has kept the oldies format. Ed Barkowski
Whoa! WHY did you change your format??? Shame on you! Great talents like David Allan, Jerry Crouth and Bob Green gone without even a hint of changes to the loyal listening audience? Boo!
Looking for air checks and photos of WABY's P*e Wee Harris for my buddies at Proctors Theatre who are honoring him soon in their Gospel Jubilee. Can anyone help?
Mini reunion of some of the 70's crew of 1400 WABY Radio, Albany NY. Funny so many here in Florida. Hope to have more next time :> There WILL be a next time. https://www.facebook.com/1400WABY/