User:Anson2995/projects/Brother Wease
Brother Wease is the on-air name of Alan Levin (born November 1, 1946 in Rochester, NY), a radio personality from Rochester, New York. He is currently heard on WFXF 95.1 FM "The Fox" in Rochester.
Radio career
[edit]Levin began his on-air career as a morning talk show host in 1985 on Rochester's WCMF (96.5), using the name "Brother Wease." His show, called "Radio Free Wease," was among the highest rated shows in the market. He left that show and the station in January 2008 when his contract expired.[1] Levin and officials from station owner Entercom Communications tried but failed to negotiate a new contract.[2] His co-hosts remained and took over the show, which was renamed "The Break Room."
Shortly after leaving WCMF, Levin accepted a job as a sales executive at Clear Channel Communications due to a "no compete" clause in his previous contract.[3] He then returned to the airwaves on November 17th, 2008 on WFXF "95.1 THE FOX"[4] with a new supporting cast, including female co-host Lilly Hisenaj (formerly on XM's Ron & Fez Show) and Jamie Lissow, a local Rochester stand-up comic.[5] This new incarnation is called "The Wease Show." [6]
From March through September 2004, Wease hosted both his WCMF music show and a similar program on WBUF, WCMF's Buffalo sister station which was using an FM talk format. He hosted a three hour music show on XM Satellite Radio's Virus channel in December 2006.
Other
[edit]Personal Life
[edit]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.[7] 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.
Wease served as an emcee for Woodstock '94 and Woodstock 1999.[8] His work history also includes stints as a concert promoter and a mail carrier, and he is part owner of a tattoo parlor in Rochester called Physical Graffiti[1].
In 1997, Wease founded the Wease Cares Childrens Fund to raise money for children with cancer.[9]
Cancer
[edit]Wease announced on his February 2 2005 show that he had been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare form of sinus cancer.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
Legal Troubles
[edit]Levin was sued twice by former co-workers in the late 1990s over comments he made about them on the air. Cindy Pierce, a former co-host, says his lewd remarks about her forced her off the air. Account executive Jodi Strada claimed Wease humiliated her by on-air sexual references.[13] Both suits were settled out of court.
References
[edit]- ^ Brother Wease out at WCMF. - Radio Insight, February 7, 2008
- ^ Brother Wease may not return to WCMF - Messenger Post News, February 7, 2008]
- ^ Brother Wease to join WFXF - Radio Insight, February 27, 2008
- ^ Brother Wease is Back - RNews, February 27, 2008
- ^ The Wease 411 - Freetime Magazine
- ^ Brother Wease.com - official site
- ^ War Letters: Rochester Writes Home - Wease shares some of his own letters.
- ^ About.com Radip Personalities
- ^ Wease Cares Childrens Fund
- ^ Wease Reveals He Has Cancer on Wease's cancer in the Democrat and Chronicle, 2 February 2005
- ^ Wease Continues to Broadcast on Wease's broadcasts from New York, Democrat and Chronicle, 10 March 2005
- ^ Wease Returns Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 3 2005
- ^ Radio News
Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:American radio personalities Category:People from Rochester, New York Category:American Jews