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Brother Wease is the On Air name of Alan Levin and is the name he is known by to family and friends. (born November 1, 1946 in Rochester, NY), a radio personality from Rochester, New York. He is now heard on WFXF 95.1 FM "The Fox" in Rochester.

Radio career

Brother Wease hosted a morning show on WCMF-FM for twenty-three years. The latest incarnation was titled "Radio Free Wease".[1] He also intermittently hosted a Saturday morning music show.

And one of Rochester's best-known morning hosts is facing two sexual-harassment suits. Alan Levin, aka "Brother Wease" of WCMF (96.5), is being sued by former co-host Cindy Pierce, who says his lewd remarks about her forced her off the air. He's also being sued by former WCMF account executive Jodi Strada, who says Wease humiliated her by on-air sexual references. http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-991114.html

In January 2008, Wease's contract expired, and on February 6, 2008, officials from station owner Entercom Communications said that they had discontinued negotiations.[2] The staff of "Radio Free Wease" continued on the air without him, and the station announced that the show's name would change to "The Break Room." Alan is originally from Rochester, NY but worked in Philadelphia for a few years and fell in love with Howard Stern on a rock station there.

From March through September 2004, Wease hosted both his WCMF show and a similar program on WBUF, WCMF's Buffalo sister station which was using an FM talk format. The WBUF version aired between Howard Stern and Don and Mike. When Wease was diagnosed with cancer (see below), WBUF pulled the plug on Wease's show because of consistently low ratings and went to a Jack FM format.

Wease hosts a three hour show on XM Satellite Radio's Virus channel in December 2006 but No one in the Biz thought of using him on a national show knowing he is a one trick pony in a small market like Rochester Ny.

Wease served as an emcee for Woodstock '94 and Woodstock 1999.

Gregg "Opie" Hughes of The Opie and Anthony Show has referred to Brother Wease as his mentor.^{[citation needed]} Hughes worked with Wease at the same station in Rochester when he was first breaking into the business. When the FreeFM portion of The Opie and Anthony Show was syndicated to Rochester in the summer of 2006,.Wease has never been able to equal the success of opie.

Nationally syndicated talk radio host Stephanie Miller was once a co-host with Wease, using the on-air name "Sister Sleaze". ^[1]

Wease is credited with popularizing the term "315'er", a joking way of referring to residents of the rural area east of Rochester, (telephone area code 315).This is actually the only original idea he ever came up with and it is rumored that a intern actually came up with the idea and Wease stole it without remorse.

On February 7, 2008, Wease's long-running show on WCMF left the air, as Entercom announced it was not able to reach an agreement with the host.^[2]He has never recovered and is now nervous about keeping his new job

Wease first accepted a job as a sales executive at Clear Channel Communications due to a "no compete" clause in his previous contract. He then returned to the airwaves on November 17th, 2008, on WFXF "95.1 THE FOX" with a new supporting cast, including female co-host Lilly (formerly on XM's Ron & Fez Show) and Jamie Lissow, a national stand-up comic, and follows the successful format Wease set up in the WCMF era.

Personal life

Wease is known for his openness with listeners, including the sharing of much of his personal life. He is a war veteran, having completed three tours of duty in Vietnam. He has been married three times and has six children. He met his current wife, Doreen, when she was a guest on his show. He is a motorcycle enthusiast and an avid poker player.

His work history includes stints as a concert promoter, a mail carrier, and an overnight disc jockey. He is part owner of Physical Graffiti[3], a tattoo parlor on Ridge Road.

Wease founded a charity called Wease Cares[4] in honor of a friend who died after a long bout with cancer in 1998.

Wease is well known for promoting Rochester and supporting Local Charities.

Cancer

Wease announced on his February 2 2005 show that he had been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare form of sinus cancer.^[3] Wease underwent seven weeks of radiation treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, during which he intended to broadcast from a makeshift studio in his apartment for as long as he was physically capable.^[4] Wease never missed a show, despite being able to broadcast for only a few minutes on certain days. During his treatment, WCMF established "Kick Cancer's Ass," a campaign which raised nearly $100,000 for children with cancer. Wease returned to Rochester following his treatment. He learned in August 2005 that the treatment for his cancer had been successful.^[5]

References

^ Rochester City Newspaper profile of Stephanie Miller
^ http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4a304dd1-3838-4e39-b7f3-83a4dc65a8f3
^ article on Wease's cancer in the Democrat and Chronicle, 2 February 2005
^ article on Wease's broadcasts from New York, Democrat and Chronicle, 10 March 2005
^ article on Wease's cancer in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 3 2005

WXXI.org. "War Letters: Rochester Writes Home".
Say What?, interview with Wease, City Newspaper, a Rochester alternative newspaper, March 31 2004 [5]
10nbc.com (2 February 2005). "Popular DJ battling cancer". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Spevak, Jeff (February 3 2005). "Radio host shares anxiety with early-morning fans". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
OLIVEIRI, CHAD (March 31 2004). "Say what?". City Newspaper. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
MarksFriggin.com (January 25 2006). "Stern Shit List". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

[1] Rochester City Newspaper profile of Stephanie Miller

[2] ttp://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4a304dd1-3838-4e39-b7f3-83a4dc65a8f3

[3] rticle on Wease's cancer in the Democrat and Chronicle, 2 February 2005

[4] rticle on Wease's broadcasts from New York, Democrat and Chronicle, 10 March 2005

[5] rticle on Wease's cancer in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 3 2005

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 And one of Rochester's best-known morning hosts is facing two sexual-harassment suits. Alan Levin, aka "Brother Wease" of WCMF (96.5), is being sued by former co-host Cindy Pierce, who says his lewd remarks about her forced her off the air. He's also being sued by former WCMF account executive Jodi Strada, who says Wease humiliated her by on-air sexual references. http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-991114.html
-In January 2008, Wease's contract expired, and on February 6, 2008, officials from station owner [[Entercom Communications]] said that they had discontinued negotiations.[http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/NEWS01/80207007] The staff of "Radio Free Wease" continued on the air without him, and the station announced that the show's name would change to "The Break Room." Alan  is originally from Rochester, NY but worked in Philadelphia for a few years on a rock station there.
+In January 2008, Wease's contract expired, and on February 6, 2008, officials from station owner [[Entercom Communications]] said that they had discontinued negotiations.[http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/NEWS01/80207007] The staff of "Radio Free Wease" continued on the air without him, and the station announced that the show's name would change to "The Break Room." Alan  is originally from Rochester, NY but worked in Philadelphia for a few years and fell in love with Howard Stern on a rock station there.
-From March through September 2004, Wease hosted both his WCMF show and a similar program on [[WBUF]], WCMF's [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] sister station which was using an [[hot talk|FM talk]] format. The WBUF version aired between [[Howard Stern]] and [[Don and Mike]]. When Wease was diagnosed with cancer (see below), WBUF pulled the plug on Wease's show and went to a [[Jack FM]] format.
+From March through September 2004, Wease hosted both his WCMF show and a similar program on [[WBUF]], WCMF's [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] sister station which was using an [[hot talk|FM talk]] format. The WBUF version aired between [[Howard Stern]] and [[Don and Mike]]. When Wease was diagnosed with cancer (see below), WBUF pulled the plug on Wease's show because of consistently low ratings and went to a [[Jack FM]] format.
-Wease hosts a three hour show on [[XM Satellite Radio]]'s Virus channel in December 2006.
+Wease hosts a three hour show on [[XM Satellite Radio]]'s Virus channel in December 2006 but No one in the Biz thought of using him on a national show knowing he is a one trick pony in a small market like Rochester Ny.
 Wease served as an emcee for [[Woodstock '94]] and [[Woodstock 1999]].
-Gregg "Opie" Hughes of [[The Opie and Anthony Show]] has referred to Brother Wease as his mentor.{{Fact|date=January 2009}} Hughes worked with Wease at the same station in Rochester when he was first breaking into the business. When the FreeFM portion of The Opie and Anthony Show was syndicated to Rochester in the summer of 2006,
+Gregg "Opie" Hughes of [[The Opie and Anthony Show]] has referred to Brother Wease as his mentor.{{Fact|date=January 2009}} Hughes worked with Wease at the same station in Rochester when he was first breaking into the business. When the FreeFM portion of The Opie and Anthony Show was syndicated to Rochester in the summer of 2006,.Wease has never been able to equal the success of opie.
 Nationally syndicated [[talk radio]] host [[Stephanie Miller]] was once a co-host with Wease, using the on-air name "Sister Sleaze". <ref>[http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/profiles/Stephanie+Miller/ Rochester City Newspaper profile of Stephanie Miller]</ref>
-Wease is credited with popularizing the term "315'er", a joking way of referring to residents of the rural area east of Rochester, (telephone [[area code 315]]).
+Wease is credited with popularizing the term "315'er", a joking way of referring to residents of the rural area east of Rochester, (telephone [[area code 315]]).This is actually the only original idea he ever came up with and it is rumored that a intern actually came up with the idea and Wease stole it without remorse.
-On February 7, 2008, Wease's long-running show on WCMF left the air, as Entercom announced it was not able to reach an agreement with the host.<ref>http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4a304dd1-3838-4e39-b7f3-83a4dc65a8f3</ref>
+On February 7, 2008, Wease's long-running show on WCMF left the air, as Entercom announced it was not able to reach an agreement with the host.<ref>http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4a304dd1-3838-4e39-b7f3-83a4dc65a8f3</ref>He has never recovered and is now nervous about keeping his new job
 Wease first accepted a job as a sales executive at [[Clear Channel Communications]] due to a "no compete" clause in his previous contract. He then returned to the airwaves on November 17th, 2008, on [[WFXF]] "95.1 THE FOX" with a new supporting cast, including female co-host Lilly (formerly on XM's [[Ron & Fez]] Show) and Jamie Lissow, a national stand-up comic, and follows the successful format Wease set up in the WCMF era.