“WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound” host Mike Saffran offers an impassioned plea to the members of Fleetwood Mac to stop all the infighting and perform again as a complete band — while they still can. This segment originally aired Aug. 15–16, 2021, on WGSU-FM (89.3), as the closing segment of the third episode of season two (featuring The Cars and a cover song by Soccer Mommy).

89.3 WGSU — Geneseo’s Voice of the Valley (Since 1963) | Listen live: bit.ly/wgsu-live

Michael Saffran's Album

WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound (Sea. 2, Ep. 3, Segment 4) | WGSU-FM | Aug. 15-16, 2021

Listener request for “Abraham, Martin and John,” a 1968 song by Dion that pays tribute to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and John and Bobby Kennedy. As heard on the “Saturday Night All-Request Rock ’n’ Roll Jukebox,” with Mike Saffran — oldies call-in request show on WBBF-FM (“99BBF”), in Rochester, N.Y. (aircheck from Feb. 26, 2000).

“Abraham, Martin and John” Request — “All-Request Jukebox” | WBBF-FM | Feb. 26, 2000

WGSU’s Brian and Casey McCormack can’t hide their amusement upon witnessing Geneseo sophomore defenseman Matt Solomon trip and fall during pregame player introductions. Brian — in the middle of reading a “Teddy Bear Toss” promo — describes how Solomon “blew a tire” while high-fiving his Ice Knights teammates.

Geneseo Ice Knights Pregame Show | WGSU-FM | Nov. 23, 2013

Arcane reference to the annual Elba Onion Festival, in Elba, N.Y., during an injury timeout in WGSU’s Oct. 14, 2022, Notre Dame–Batavia vs. Cal-Mum high-school football broadcast.

Final score: Notre Dame–Batavia 19, Cal-Mum 13. Game originally broadcast Oct. 14, 2022, on SUNY Geneseo radio station WGSU-FM (89.3).

89.3 WGSU — Geneseo’s Voice of the Valley (Since 1963) | Listen live: bit.ly/wgsu-live

High School Football: Elba Onion Festival Reference | WGSU-FM | Oct. 14, 2022

Replay of RIT Tigers men’s hockey radio postgame show originally broadcast March 27, 2010, on WITR-FM (89.7) — featuring game highlights and a scoring recap (including play-by-play replays of RIT goals).

WITR RIT Tigers Men's Hockey Postgame Rewind  | WITR-FM | April 7, 2010

Some of the earliest coverage — beginning just after midnight — of the Rochester, N.Y., Ice Storm of 1991 (scoped radio aircheck, WVOR-FM, midnight–5:30 a.m. March 4, 1991).

’91 Rochester Ice Storm: 25 Years Later
By Mike Saffran

March 4, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the devastating Rochester Ice Storm of 1991. The storm’s destructive aftermath — an estimated 285,000 homes and 750,000 people were left without power — is well-documented. But due to the storm’s timing and unexpected impact, archived media coverage of the storm while it was hitting (during the early-morning hours) is scarce.

Most radio stations back then were live and local, 24/7. At WVOR-FM (100.5), I was the all-night DJ — the “opening act” to the popular “Tony & Dee” (Rochester’s number-one rated adult-contemporary morning show in 1991, a few years before they defected to WRMM). Though still fairly young, I had done a lot of radio (including overnight shifts) by then; aside from calls from the usual radio “groupies,” all-night shifts were typically fairly uneventful. But that day’s would be unlike any before it.…

It began for me, a little before midnight, with my drive to WVOR’s Euclid Building, Midtown Plaza, studios. To get there, I needed to drive around tree limbs already in my path (to my surprise). But a few downed branches were nothing like what was to come later on.

After making it up to the studios, my shift started normally enough (with a greeting and “talkover” of a Mike and The Mechanics song). In my first weather forecast — at about 12:20 a.m. — I referenced freezing rain, slippery conditions and “snapping tree limbs along those tree-lined residential streets” (I was thinking of my own street).

Here’s a rundown of the rest of my shift that early morning a quarter century ago — chronicled from a never-before-heard “scoped” radio aircheck representing some of the earliest coverage of the infamous storm.

12:55 a.m. and 1:20 a.m. (estimate): Weather forecasts: Reference to “freezing rain across western New York” (as depicted on Channel 13’s live, in-studio weather radar).

Just after 2 a.m. (estimate): First hint of storm’s severity in references to scattered power outages, winter storm warning and weather-related problems with the station’s signal (but I still dutifully read a ski-phone live promo). Though I don’t specifically recall how often or for how long the station’s signal dropped (nor if I alerted an engineer or if we were running on backup power), it was never a fun shift whenever technical difficulties arose.

2:55 a.m. (following a gap in the aircheck tape when the station likely was off air): Live public-service announcement and weather forecast (kept pretty basic — probably due to other in-studio distractions by then).

3:35 a.m. (estimate): “Numerous power outages due to falling tree limbs.”

3:55 a.m.: First reference to upcoming closing/cancellations list.

4:20 a.m.: First official school closings (only six so far). Along with its “sister station” (WHAM), WVOR probably was one of the first stations to air closings.

4:34 a.m.: First comprehensive closings/cancellations list — including Village of Bloomfield closure. (Whew! Ever notice how morning-show hosts switch off whenever reading long lists of closings? Well, that’s because it’s not easy reading them all by yourself!)

4:55 a.m.: Updated closings/cancellations list — highlighted by Rochester City Schools closure. (Note “rustling” copy sound — had someone from WHAM just handed me an updated list?)

5:09 a.m.: Additions to closing/cancellations list (and into the “home stretch,” at long last, for my shift).

5:18 a.m.: Big breath for my final read of closings/cancellations and, after commercials, last weather forecast before turning it over to Mike O’Brian (in for Tony & Dee) and Steve Hausmann.

Sometime after 5:30 a.m.: Headed home…

READ MORE: http://on.fb.me/1LpG9Fe

Early Coverage of ’91 Rochester Ice Storm | WVOR-FM | March 4, 1991

Classic WGSU-FM (89.3) sports audio (c. April 21, 1983).

Rochester Red Wings Opener ‘Snowed Out’ | WGSU-FM | April 21, 1983

Bill Coffey, of the “Coffey and Casper” morning show on WBEE-FM, in Rochester, N.Y., calls Mike St. John, who was subbing for Bill and Marti Casper that day — aircheck from July 3, 1998.

Bill Coffey call-in to Mike St. John | WBEE-FM | July 3, 1998

Mike St. John, on WARM 101.3 (Rochester, N.Y. ), sends love to nurses and healthcare workers — with special kudos to the Rochester Friendly Home for being named to Newsweek’s “Best Nursing Homes” list; and thanks to UR’s Strong Memorial Hospital ER staff (aircheck from Nov. 9, 2019).

Mike St. John ‘Shout-out’ to Nurses and Healthcare Workers | WARM 101.3 | Nov. 9, 2019

Studio 86: The State of Radio (Season 2, Episode 10) (22:00)

In this episode, Mike Saffran, an RIT associate director for new media and adjunct professor of communication, discusses his research exploring radio listeners' perceptions about local radio with Studio 86 guest host Will Dube. (Note: In August 2012, Saffran left RIT to become a lecturer in communication and WGSU-FM faculty director at SUNY Geneseo. See http://www.geneseo.edu/communication/Michael_Saffran/)

Studio 86 – The State of Radio | Feb. 3, 2009

During coronavirus isolation, the “kids” make their TikTok videos. But I prefer working in audio … so I made this (for when telemarketers call).

A tribute to: Seinfeld, George Costanza, Art Vandelay, Vandelay Industries … and job-hunt slackers everywhere! 😉

Vandelay Industries Voicemail Message | March 28, 2020

Partial scoped radio aircheck, WQRV-FM (“The River”), Rochester, N.Y. – morning drive, June 30, 1999.

AM Drive (Fill-in) on “The River” | WQRV-FM | June 30, 1999

Mike Saffran/All Requests “name shout” jingle (featuring Donovan/Mellow Yellow song snippet), WBBF-FM (“99BBF”), Rochester, N.Y.

Mike Saffran/All Requests “Name Shout” Jingle | WBBF-FM | c. 1998-1999

Final request of the night (midnight Feb. 13/14, 1999) on the “Saturday Night All-Request Rock ’n’ Roll Jukebox,” hosted by Mike Saffran, on WBBF-FM (98.9)/“99BBF,” Rochester, N.Y.

On this bit, Mike is joined in the studio by “Big Daddy” Dave Beck, host of the “All-Request Saturday Night House Party,” airing at the same time on “sister station” WBEE-FM (92.5) — its studio located right across the hallway on the sixth floor of the B. Forman Building in downtown Rochester. Mike solicited Big Daddy’s advice about what song to play for a caller.

Mike adds: It’s my recollection that it was fairly commonplace (during my five years’ hosting “The Jukebox”) for Dave (he was there for all of those five years) to “pop in” on my show (and wind up on the air, as a result) from time to time (even though he, too, was busy hosting a request show, across the hall, on “The Bee”) — particularly toward the end of our shifts (both shows ran 7 p.m.–midnight) when he might’ve been dropping off or checking logs for the next day (or some other “official” task — he was very meticulous). Truth be told: As a general rule, I didn’t like people “dropping in” unannounced — because I was focused on my show (as a real request show, and taking actual phone calls that needed editing, it was intense … and required great concentration). But in Dave’s case, because I had become so accustomed to his brief (they typically were short) visits, I truly didn’t mind — and, in fact, as I think you can tell from the interaction, I came to rather enjoy “pop ins” from Dave (who I considered a good friend – and, on Saturday nights, my “friendly rival/competitor”).

I was surprised to find this clip (on a “scoped” aircheck) while looking for another one (after Dave’s passing on July 28, 2020) that I hoped to share. I’ll keep searching for the other one (and will probably find additional ones, too – as I said, he would “pop in” periodically). But hearing this one made me smile (and laugh out loud — because of the “real Dave” we hear: “What is it?… You asked me for my help, I’m giving you help!” (he was annoyed with me for “vetoing” his suggestion — but, having a specific “sound” in mind for the show, I would routinely veto certain requests … though usually nicely, by convincing listeners to ask for something else. :-)

All-Request Jukebox: Final Request of the Night (“Big Daddy” Stops By) | WBBF-FM | Feb. 13, 1999

WGSU’s Mike Saffran shares memories of friend and former radio colleague, longtime Rochester radio personality “Big Daddy” Dave Beck, who passed away July 28, 2020. This segment originally aired Aug. 2–3, 2020, on WGSU-FM (89.3), as the concluding part of “WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound.”

89.3 WGSU — Geneseo’s Voice of the Valley (Since 1963) | Listen live: bit.ly/wgsu-live

WGSU Flashback: A Continuum of Sound (Ep. 5, Segment 5) | WGSU-FM | Aug. 2–3, 2020

“Big Daddy” Dave Beck, host of the “All-Request Saturday Night House Party,” airing simultaneously on “sister station” WBEE-FM (92.5), stops by the “Saturday Night All-Request Rock ’n’ Roll Jukebox,” hosted by Mike Saffran, March 18, 2000, on WBBF-FM (98.9)/“99BBF,” Rochester, N.Y. (Both stations’ studios were located on the sixth floor of the B. Forman Building in downtown Rochester.)

Mike adds: Having recently reached, at the time, the five-year mark (pretty long by radio standards) as host of “The Jukebox,” I somehow had managed to get a little “press” for the milestone. After interviewing me, the reporter asked me for additional sources (like any good reporter would). I had recommended Dave, as someone who, as my “friendly competitor” across the hallway, knew me (and my show) enough to be able to say a few words.

The article (including a very complimentary quote from Dave) ran on a Wednesday. Three days later, as both Dave and I were hosting request shows from our respective studios, I was having fun, throughout my show, referring to the article (since it’s not an everyday occurrence). As I told my listeners: I’ll try to get “Big Daddy” to stop into the studio. In my mind, I was thinking, ‘Of course he’ll agree to come over … after all, he usually pops in for one reason or another anyway.’

But, to my surprise, my recollection all these years later is that at first he didn’t — despite at least a couple requests! In fact, in a segment prior to the one you’ll hear here, I can remember (even though it’s now more than 20 years later) — and I can tell from the tone of my voice — that I was stalling before putting on the next song … thinking he was about to join me (and, probably, from also seeing him out in the hallway). Plus, that’s why I also introduced him with: “Took a little bit of arm twisting!”

So, finally, late in the show, he stopped in … and this is what it sounded like … LIVE. Trust me … through the years, I’ve put a lot of listener phone calls on the air, at many different stations. But, aside from morning shows (which are run differently and do air live calls), for a request show like this, the phone calls were never aired live (though they were intended to “sound live”). Not much was left to chance. But this was live! Dave — possibly even waiting for the illuminated “On Air” light outside the studio before entering (in order to catch me a little off guard) — shared that he had been “misquoted” in the article … and he called me a “no-talent bum”!

What he said took me totally by surprise … and I loved it! (I knew he was only kidding, of course! :-) And the moment was a true representation of our “friendly rivalry.”

For a lot of reasons (Dave Beck being one of them), Saturday nights, back then, are some of the fondest memories of my life, to date.

All-Request Jukebox: ‘You’re a No Talent Bum’ | WBBF-FM | March 18, 2000

Scoped radio aircheck: “’70s at 7”/“Jukebox Saturday Night”/“Backseat Memories,” hosted by Mike Saffran, 7 p.m.–midnight, Dec. 30, 1995, WKLX-FM (“Oldies 98.9”), Rochester, N.Y.

Mike adds: I was honored and privileged to serve, for more than five years, as the host of the heritage Saturday night request show, “The Jukebox,” on Oldies 98.9 WKLX (later known as WBBF/99BBF). I have miles, literally, of “scoped” aircheck tapes … and it has long been a goal of mine to digitize and share “Jukebox Saturday Night” (WKLX) and “Saturday Night All-Request Rock ’n’ Roll Jukebox” (WBBF) tapes — but not just for my sake. Rather, as a long-running request show airing actual callers talking about their real lives, the tapes represent not only Rochester radio history … but Rochester history.

Sometimes (possibly depending upon who was the program director at the time), the show began (at 7 p.m.) with “’70s at 7,” and ended with “Backseat Memories.” Other times, it was just “The Jukebox” — straight from 7 p.m. to midnight (so, I probably could safely describe all shows in the archive simply as “The Jukebox” — as the heritage Saturday night show was commonly known).

This particular night included both “’70s at 7” and “Backseat Memories” — sandwiched around “The Jukebox.” It featured a “shout out” to the Buffalo Bills who, earlier in the day, defeated the Miami Dolphins, 37–22, in the AFC Wild Card game, at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The on-air celebration (at the 05:26 mark) featured playback of the Bills’ “Shout” song (although only the song’s beginning and ending are heard on this scoped aircheck).

I had almost forgotten how much fun it was hosting this show! (But airchecks bring it all back!) It was intense, too … because every request was a real caller.

Other “highlights”:
• ’70s TV theme songs used as “music beds” during “’70s at 7”
• “Coin into slot” sound effect used before start of songs during “The Jukebox”
• “Cricket” sound effects used between songs during “Backseat Memories”
• B. Forman Building and Midtown (where the radio studios were located) references (sometimes with the weather forecast). (Most of the buildings comprising Midtown Plaza, including the Forman Building — the long-time home of the radio stations —  were demolished beginning in 2010.)
• America Online “trial membership” live plug
• “Oldies Night with Nick at Night” at The Garage Door (an old Rochester bar) live plug
• City Mattress sponsorship (live mentions)
• Lots of phone calls/requests! (We aired real requests on this show! But this was before the arrival of VoxPro. On later — especially ’BBF-era — shows, phone-call editing was tighter. But these aren’t bad for reel-to-reel tape, if I do say so myself!)
• My “signature sign-off”

“’70s at 7”/“Jukebox Saturday Night”/“Backseat Memories” | WKLX-FM | Dec. 30, 1995

Scoped radio aircheck: New Year’s Day, 6 a.m.–noon, Jan. 1, 1996, WKLX-FM (“Oldies 98.9”), Rochester, N.Y.

New Year’s Day ’96 | WKLX-FM | Jan. 1, 1996

Scoped radio aircheck: “’70s at 7”/“Jukebox Saturday Night”/“Backseat Memories,” hosted by Mike Saffran, 7 p.m.–midnight, Jan. 6, 1996, WKLX-FM (“Oldies 98.9”), Rochester, N.Y.

Mike Saffran

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