RIP Pete Fornatale

[twocorgis]

I just got word that one of my childhood heros (and one of the greatest DJs to ever live) left us this morning at the far-too-young age of 66. Pete, along with Scott Muni, Vin Scelsa, Alison Steele, Dennis Elsas, and Meg Griffin, comprised the core of the early days of free-form radio in New York City in the early '70s, which coincided with my musical awakening. Some of you all might know Pete through his "Mixed Bag" series of radio programming, or even through his book on Simon and Garfunkel's "Bookends". Vin is still doing his "Idiot's Delight" program on Sirius/XM's "The Loft", and also on local NY station WFUV, and I hope he continues for a very long time. I had the pleasure of meeting Pete quite a few times due to his close association with a good friend (thread here). Same friend just posted a great picture of Pete and Vin in younger times that I thought I'd share here. That's Pete on the right.

So much of my life is intrinsically tied to these people, and it's sad indeed to see another one of them go.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Sandy, his obit was in the Boston Globe this morning. Apparently his style of programming was a first, and the start of FM radio the way it is today...maybe I said that wrong...the way it became (??). Known for playing a lot of music that was not the "hit of the day," did I get that right?

I know what you mean about these voices from the past. Within the past few months one of the last jocks from WBZ passed away in Florida; while I was not particulary enamoured of his style and what was to become, he was indeed on of the last voices from the past when I grew up listening to the British Invasion.

Time for a stiff drink and some oldies, eh?

 

[twocorgis]

Sandy, his obit was in the Boston Globe this morning. Apparently his style of programming was a first, and the start of FM radio the way it is today...maybe I said that wrong...the way it became (??). Known for playing a lot of music that was not the "hit of the day," did I get that right?

I know what you mean about these voices from the past. Within the past few months one of the last jocks from WBZ passed away in Florida; while I was not particulary enamoured of his style and what was to become, he was indeed on of the last voices from the past when I grew up listening to the British Invasion.

Time for a stiff drink and some oldies, eh?

It sure is Bill, and to paraphrase "Airplane", "It looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking" :lol:

On a more somber note. Pete's obit made it to the NY Times today as the lead story, and that's not faint praise at all. "Complications from a stroke" it was.