Nick Ritrovato - Formerly Wybf-Fm

01/14/2026

This wonderful illustration of the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia I came across is uncredited.

01/11/2026

Never saw the Grateful Dead. I did see Bob Weir just once, at the Mann Center in July 1992 with Rob Wasserman in an early version of their acoustic side duo Ratdog called Scaring the Children. Acoustic versions of Dead tunes plus other classics like "Little Red Rooster" the Beatles' "Blackbird" and Peggy Lee's "Fever" would be given the Weir twist. Like the Dead, almost anything was game.

Despite Jerry Garcia's enormous legacy even during his lifetime, Bob Weir was always my favorite Dead member. Had his own unique vocal/guitar style and his songs were like no other. And like his bandmates had basically spent his entire Dead career in the shadow of the immense popularity and legacy of Jerry Garcia. Unsung, under-rated, overlooked perhaps by some. Sometimes during Dead shows, during the first set, Weir would pull out what became known as the "cowboy medley" of "Me and My Uncle" Johnny Cash's "Big River" and his own "Mexicali Blues."

I recently read where Weir was reportedly the most recorded musician in history, considering the Grateful Dead taping community and his continuous touring schedule that he relentlessly kept up right up to last Summer's appearances with Dead and Co. in Golden Gate Park. I'm sure Bob is up there right now with Jerry figuring out what tunes they're gonna do.

Bob Weir leaves behind a legacy of great music with not only the Dead but also solo and his other projects. Check out the songs in the comments below.

God bless the great Bob Weir.

01/10/2026

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.

For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music. His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language, and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them. Every chord he played, every word he sang was an integral part of the stories he wove. There was an invitation: to feel, to question, to wander, and to belong.

Bobby's final months reflected the same spirit that defined his life. Diagnosed in July, he began treatment only weeks before returning to his hometown stage for a three-night celebration of 60 years of music at Golden Gate Park. Those performances, emotional, soulful, and full of light, were not farewells, but gifts. Another act of resilience. An artist choosing, even then, to keep going by his own design. As we remember Bobby, it’s hard not to feel the echo of the way he lived. A man driftin’ and dreamin’, never worrying if the road would lead him home. A child of countless trees. A child of boundless seas.

There is no final curtain here, not really. Only the sense of someone setting off again. He often spoke of a three-hundred-year legacy, determined to ensure the songbook would endure long after him. May that dream live on through future generations of Dead Heads. And so we send him off the way he sent so many of us on our way: with a farewell that isn’t an ending, but a blessing. A reward for a life worth livin’.

His loving family, Natascha, Monet, and Chloe, request privacy during this difficult time and offer their gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and remembrance. May we honor him not only in sorrow, but in how bravely we continue with open hearts, steady steps, and the music leading us home. Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings.

📸 Photo by Chloe Weir

01/10/2026

Wow, sad news.

Apparently according to TMZ, the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir had been diagnosed with lung cancer just before Dead and Co's three day Golden Gate Park run this past August.

Bob Weir -- the guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

01/10/2026

David Bowie died 10 years ago today, January 10th, 2016.

I learned about it while listening to the radio driving to do my own show. Around 6:15AM. It was a shock, he wasn't known to have been sick, and his 69th birthday and latest album release (Blackstar) was only two days previous.

On that day, for listeners that may remember, my air shift usually was five hours, 7AM - 12Noon. And had some stuff already planned. It was Rod Stewart's birthday, and I had planned about 20 minutes for Rod's music. I remember I didn't start off with Bowie; I didn't want to have the WHOLE show be just Bowie, so I made the executive decision to go totally Bowie at 11AM, maybe too late for some, and to stay late. I was on the air until 3PM that day (a long on-air shift of 8 hours, 7AM-3PM), and from 11AM-3PM did nothing but Bowie. Practically everything that was on the station's AudioVault computer system, plus a number of choice cuts I flew in from youtube. I don't remember if 'XPN had gone all Bowie or were just spot featuring him. Pierre on 'MMR if I recall probably started at 12Noon with a big block of Bowie that probably never ended, at least during his shift. I had done Rod's birthday set around 10AM I think and had gotten other planned features out of the way by 11. Some PD's would've just canceled all those other features. I'll admit it did feel kind of strange playing the Rod Stewart set at 10 instead of just going into Bowie. His death was a surprise and certainly unexpected. I guess that's why they pay the PD's the big bucks.

Bowie remains a legend. Even John Lennon in one of his last interviews (December 6th, 1980) namedropped "Ziggy Stardust" a bunch of times to BBC interviewer Andy Peebles.

Just a few days after Bowie's death a tribute show at the Colonial theater all of a sudden sold out and became the hottest ticket in town. And I was in the first row of this incredible show thanks to my good friend Bob. Woody Woodmansey from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust era band and legendary producer Tony Visconti were the featured anchor players as the show served as a mourning vehicle/celebration of music for both audience and performers alike. A truly one of a kind experience it was.

This week in Philadelphia is Bowie week with a number of events/shows at different venues featuring many local musicians paying tribute to Rock's true chameleon.

God bless the Thin White Duke.

01/08/2026

A Happy Big 8-0 today, Wednesday January 8th, to the great Robby Krieger, guitarist for the Doors.

Robby wrote many of the Doors' biggest hits including 'Light My Fire" "Touch Me" "Love Me Two Times" and "Love Her Madly." Robby also wrote "Tell All the People" which Jim Morrison originally refused to sing because of the lyric "get your guns" until the song was specifically credited soley to Krieger, instead of The Doors. Robby also still plays to this day a blues style of slide guitar called "bottleneck."

Robby and drummer John Densmore are the surviving two from the Doors. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Rock's greatest storyteller, died sadly in 2013.

Happy big 8-0!

01/06/2026

Wikipedia puts the release date for this as January 15th, but everybody else it seems is going by today.

50 years ago today, January 6, 1976, one of the great live albums of all time, "Frampton Comes Alive" by Peter Frampton was released. Back in the era of other classic double live albums, it became and still is one of the best selling live albums of all time. It also introduced many to the sound of the talk box, a wire connected to a guitar, a pedal, and connected to a vocal mic which was given to Frampton by engineer Bob Heil, who previously gave one to Joe Walsh, where it appeared on his classic "Rocky Mountain Way" a few years earlier.

Later on June 17, 1976, Peter co-headlined with Yes what may have been the largest attended concert in Philadelphia ever at JFK Stadium.

Peter's career "blew up" going from an underground FM darling to a Bonafide Top 40 pop star for a few years.

Several years ago Peter was diagnosed with a rare degenerative muscle disorder, but remained active touring right up to just this past year. We continue to send good thoughts, wishes, and hopes his way.

01/04/2026

Peter Gabriel has announced a new album, "O/I." In keeping with the lunar theme of his last studio album, 2023's "I/O," the lead single “Been Undone” arrived on the first full moon of the new year. As with the "O/I" campaign, each song has a “Dark-Side” and “Bright-Side” mix: one released each month on the full moon, the other on the new moon. The release schedule lines up so that the full album will be available at the end of 2026.

"Been Undone (Dark Side Mix)"

Been Undone is the first new song from Peter Gabriel's forthcoming album o\i. Written and produced by Peter Gabriel and recorded at Real World Studios, Bath ...

01/03/2026

Happy big 8-0 today to Led Zeppelin's secret weapon John Paul Jones!

01/01/2026

Philly's own Bacon Brothers, actor Kevin and his older brother Michael, with a song about the son of a Philly mummer who goes out to CA to chase their dreams only to find "one long bummer" even includes the mummer spoken creed "here we stand at your door...." and classic Beach Boy like backing harmonies.

Surprised this has never gotten wider attention, I don't know of any other Phila station giving this FM airplay other than when I would air this on WYBF the first day after New Year's I would get back every year.

Happy New Year!

Provided to NikkinMusic by NikkinNew Years Day - The Bacon BrothersNew Year's Day№1℗ 2009 Forosoco Music, LLCReleased on: 2009-05-07Generated by Nikkin555

12/31/2025

Happy New Year!

George Harrison - Ding D**g, Ding D**gSubscribe to not miss any updates and videos: https://GeorgeHarrison.lnk.to/SubscribeYTListen to George Harrison: https...

12/30/2025

God bless The Cure's Perry Bamonte.

🙏🙏🙏

Provided to YouTube by Rhino/ElektraFriday I'm In Love (2022 Remaster) · The CureWish℗ 1992, 2022 Fiction Records Ltd.Vocals: Robert SmithGuitar: Robert Smit...