“The quality goes in before the name goes on.” The “wave magnet” antenna. Zenith manufactured excellent radios in its day. As I recall, the “Transoceanic” shortwave radio was still being produced in the 1970s and 1980s. “Gay colors.” Harks back to a time when “gay” did not necessarily refer to one’s sexual orientation.
The quality of radios manufactured the past few decades does not match radios built in the WWII – 1970s. You would be fortunate to get AM reception in suburbs with today’s radio sets.
There is a new “home improvement” radio show on the horizon. New for KIRO FM. KIRO FM will bring Tami Michaels in on Saturdays for “Inside Out with Tami Michaels.” Michaels has established herself as a pro in the field of this type of fare and is pleasant to listen to. Expect this program to be heavy with sponsor mentions/sponsor integration into the discussions. Topics will include interior design, home/lifestyle products and services, how-to advice and pet topics, among other features.
Tami Michaels is a Pacific Northwest-based interior designer, licensed general contractor, and radio host known for lifestyle and home improvement programming. She has hosted the show Inside Out with Tami Michaels (also referred to as Tami Michaels Inside Out) for many years—over 20–25 years of radio experience in the field. It previously aired Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon on KOMO News Radio (now KNWN) 1000 AM / 97.7 FM.
Michaels is frequently called one of the top (or the #1) lifestyle and home improvement experts in Washington/Western Washington. She is the owner and creative director of Sound Kitchen & Bath, a design firm focused on kitchens, baths, and related projects. She has also been a regular on-air contributor to KOMO TV News with home and lifestyle segments.
Weekend programming on KIRO FM and KNWN FM are a wasteland of endless reruns of snake oil product sales and investment schemes. Tami Michaels is one program, similar to the old Ed Hume gardening show that is listenable.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) yesterday announced the finalists for the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards to be presented Tuesday – – Oct. 20 – – at the Edison Ballroom in New York City.
This annual event celebrates outstanding stations – – personalities – – podcasts and industry leaders.
2026 NAB Marconi Radio Award finalists (not a Seattle entry among them) :
LEGENDARY STATION OF THE YEAR
KFI-AM – – Los Angeles
WCBS-FM – – New York
WIVK-FM – – Knoxville
WJR-AM – – Detroit
WLW-AM – – Cincinnati
LEGENDARY RADIO MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Joey Cummings – – South Seas Broadcasting Inc. – – Pago Pago
Tery Garras – – KXLY-FM – – Spokane
Julie Koehn – – WLEN-FM – – Adrian, Michigan
Mitch Rosen – – WSCR-AM – – Chicago
David Yadgaroff – – Audacy – – Philadelphia
NETWORK/SYNDICATED PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR , Connecticut
El Free Guey Show – - TelevisaUnivision – – Houston
Ryan Seacrest – – Premiere Radio Networks – – Inc. – – Los Angeles
The Bob & Sheri Show – – WKQC-FM – – Beasley – – Charlotte
MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
The Andie Summers Show – – WXTU-FM – – Philadelphia
Ellen K – – KOST-FM – – Los Angeles
Patty Jackson, WDAS-FM, Philadelphia
Karson and Kennedy – – WBMX-FM – – Boston
Riggs – – Katelyn & Erica – – KKBQ-FM – – Houston
LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Paul Castronovo – – WBGG-FM – – Miami
Rebecca Cressman – – KSFI-FM – – Salt Lake City
Karen Dalessandro – – KSLX-FM – – Phoenix
Heather & Matty – – WWLI-FM – – Providence
Justin – – Scott and Spiegel – – WIYY-FM – – Baltimore
MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
The Blake Show with Kelly and Todd – – WMGX-FM – – Portland, Maine
Buzz Jackson – – KIIM-FM – – Tucson
Joe & Tina Mornings – – WZSR-FM – – Crystal Lake, Illinois
Ron Olson and Karen Perrin – – WRVR-FM – – Memphis
Ben Davis & Kelly K – – WDJX-FM – – Louisville
SMALL MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
The Cosmo & Kat Show – – KTXY-FM – – Columbia, Missouri
Chris Lawrence – – WCHS-AM – – Charleston, West Virginia
Ian Rambo – – KQRQ-FM – – Rapid City, South Dakota
The Ryan Smetzer Show – – WIKZ-FM – – Hagerstown, Maryland
Stafford and Frigo – – KDXY-FM – – Jonesboro, Arkansas
The CB radio near Tacoma is on fire these days. There’s so many different personalities on there. You have to check it out. Channel 17. There’s a guy call Potato Head aka Weiner Bender and a whole bunch of other characters on there. Uncensored and uncut. Most of the time it’s a better source of entertainment than broadcast radio is. Also, lots of skip DX, conservative leaning operators and few liberals popping up every once in a while. It’s like the Wild West on the air!
Wow I just scrolled down and saw this. Absolutely hilarious some days on the CB on channel 17! It isn’t just a bunch of truckers on there either. Some of those guys and gals are running big stations that sound like actual broadcast stations. There’s a guy called Trailer Park who sounds like he has broadcast equipment. Another guy called Bad Company who sounds like a morning or late night talk show host. Says all kinds of amusing and intelligent things. Also the cuss fights between certain groups. Can’t believe someone else on here has heard this. Cool
Ross Douthat a conservative columnist at The New York Times, is leaving to join the CBS News program “60 Minutes” as a correspondent, the show’s executive producer said in a memo to staff on Tuesday.
Mr. Douthat, who joined The Times in 2009, is among a group of journalists joining for the show’s 59th season, which will premiere on Sept. 13. The writer Sebastian Junger and Gianna Toboni, a former Vice News correspondent, will become contributors, along with Trevor Phillips, a British journalist who joined CBS last month. Norah O’Donnell, the former anchor of “CBS Evening News,” will be a correspondent as well.
They are the first significant hires at the long-running Sunday program since CBS’s new editor in chief, Bari Weiss, orchestrated a shake-up that led to the departure of three top correspondents this spring, including the veteran journalist Scott Pelley.
Ms. Weiss has been trying to rebuild the “60 Minutes” staff in recent weeks after a tumultuous period. In moves that rattled the program’s personnel, she dismissed the correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, along with the show’s senior leadership team, including its former executive producer Tanya Simon.
— New York Times
The other notable hire was Norah O’Donnell, who has previously worked for “60 Minutes” and has now been named an official correspondent.
O’Donnell’s appointment was expected. Douthat’s wasn’t.
Douthat and Weiss were colleagues at The New York Times and, for those who fear Weiss will push CBS News and even the irreproachable “60 Minutes” to the right, this move will be examined under a microscope.
New York Times opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury: “For 17 years and in thousands of columns, Ross has left an indelible mark on this report: arguments so carefully built that even readers who arrived hostile stayed to see how they’d hold up. He was right about things early, wrong about things honestly and never, not once, boring.”
It is, unquestionably, a loss for the Times, as Douthat was among the Gray Lady’s most prominent conservative voices.
“I’m told that there have been dozens of screen tests conducted in recent weeks for potential ‘60 Minutes’ correspondents, a practice several veteran television executives I spoke to described as odd. As they noted, those under consideration for a job on broadcast television’s most prestigious news program should already have a body of work to review and a screen test would also do little to shed light on a journalist’s investigative reporting skills. In any event, CBS News has been asking those interested in a job to participate in the tests — even those under contract at other networks, creating somewhat of a stir within the industry.”
— Oliver Darcy, Status media newsletter
Sidebar: The tests themselves are also, well, unusual. Some have featured mock interviews with a person playing Ghislaine Maxwell, the close Epstein associate. Weiss has long wanted to secure an interview with Maxwell, So, in that context, perhaps the Maxwell mock interview makes a little sense, though it is nevertheless a bizarre way in which to interview for any job, never mind ‘60 Minutes.’
Elise Woodward, who has spent two decades as UW football’s sideline reporter, will move to the booth in 2026 as the team’s new play-by-play announcer, Washington athletics announced Tuesday morning. She replaces Tony Castricone, who departed for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in June. UW will hire a separate play-by-play announcer for men’s basketball.
“Having the opportunity to be the voice of University of Washington football is the honor of my lifetime,” Woodward said in a statement Tuesday. “As a Dawg, I take so much pride in the rich history and tradition of Husky football. I am so thankful for the last 23 seasons that I spent on the sidelines, but I’m also beyond excited to trade in my rain gear for the warmth of the Bob Rondeau radio booth.”
Woodward, a former UW women’s basketball player, has more than three decades of broadcasting experience and most recently served as the first voice of the WNBA’s Portland Fire. The Eugene, Ore., native has also previously done work with the Storm and SuperSonics during her long tenure in Seattle.
“Elise has built an outstanding career as a sports broadcaster at both the national and local levels.” UW athletic director Pat Chun said in a statement. “She has established herself as a trusted voice within the Husky community through her years covering UW Football, Women’s Basketball, and Seattle sports. She knows this university, its traditions, and the rich history of this role. We couldn’t be more excited to have Elise carry forward the legacy of being the voice of Husky Football.”
As a basketball player for the Huskies from 1993-97, she helped UW reach the NCAA tournament three times. She also received her degree from UW in broadcast journalism.
Woodward will begin her tenure on Sept. 6 when UW opens its season the Apple Cup against Washington State at Husky Stadium.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
Jake García, most recently a sports reporter for KPNX 12/Phoenix, just wrapped up his time there—his last day was July 27. Garcia is transitioning in August to a faculty role teaching journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He also announced that he is getting married in August. García is a proud Arizona State University graduate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communication from ASU’s Cronkite School. While studying for his master’s, he worked as a sports reporter for Arizona PBS (KAET), contributed to SunDevilSource.com, and did work for the Pac-12 Networks.
His career path took him to KDRV NewsWatch 12 (Medford, Oregon): Sports reporter (roughly May 2017–June 2019). This was an early-market stop after college.
KVUE (Austin, Texas): Joined in July 2019 as a sports reporter/MMJ and later weekend anchor and sports/culture reporter. He spent nearly three years there, covering local and Texas sports (including the Longhorns), and ran community initiatives like fitness/fundraising challenges during the pandemic.
KING 5 (Seattle): Sports reporter starting around May 2022 (a TEGNA sister-station move from KVUE). He covered Pacific Northwest sports before leaving the role for his gig at
12 News / 12Sports (Phoenix, KPNX)
The 83-year-old “You’re So Vain” singer broke her silence about her absence from the spotlight in a statement obtained by People, in which she also revealed that she underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s is a nervous system disorder that affects movement, often causing tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems.
Carly Simon explained that her physical struggles began with arthritis, leading to three joint replacement surgeries on her knees and hip.
When her mobility continued to decline, leaving her unable to walk without considerable help or stand up from deep furniture, an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic confirmed the Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Freddie Cannon was a high-energy American rock and roll singer and songwriter known as “Boom Boom” who scored major chart hits like “Palisades Park” and “Tallahassee Lassie”. Born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. on December 4, 1936, in Revere, Massachusetts, he emerged from the Boston music scene in the late 1950s. His national breakthrough came in 1959 with “Tallahassee Lassie,” which he co-wrote with his mother. He followed it with “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” and his biggest career smash, 1962’s “Palisades Park”. Strongly inspired by early rhythm and blues and rock pioneers like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, he used a driving, percussive guitar style and an intense vocal delivery.
He held the record for the most appearances on Dick Clark’s famous musical variety program American Bandstand, performing on the show more than 100 times. He continued performing on international oldies circuits for decades until passing away from cancer on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89.
Zenith Portable & Pocket Radios
Jason Remington • July 29, 2026
Great reception — wherever you go! (ad from 1941)
Zenith
Steve • August 1, 2026
“The quality goes in before the name goes on.” The “wave magnet” antenna. Zenith manufactured excellent radios in its day. As I recall, the “Transoceanic” shortwave radio was still being produced in the 1970s and 1980s. “Gay colors.” Harks back to a time when “gay” did not necessarily refer to one’s sexual orientation.
Solid State
Reader Submission • August 1, 2026
The quality of radios manufactured the past few decades does not match radios built in the WWII – 1970s. You would be fortunate to get AM reception in suburbs with today’s radio sets.
Doubleday's Dollar Book Club
Jason Remington • July 29, 2026
People used to read stories from these… (ad from 1960)
Capitol Record Club
Jason Remington • July 29, 2026
Hurry! This offer won’t last! (ad from 1960)
Tami Michaels Home Improvement Moves To KIRO FM
Jason Remington • July 29, 2026
There is a new “home improvement” radio show on the horizon. New for KIRO FM. KIRO FM will bring Tami Michaels in on Saturdays for “Inside Out with Tami Michaels.” Michaels has established herself as a pro in the field of this type of fare and is pleasant to listen to. Expect this program to be heavy with sponsor mentions/sponsor integration into the discussions. Topics will include interior design, home/lifestyle products and services, how-to advice and pet topics, among other features.
Tami Michaels is a Pacific Northwest-based interior designer, licensed general contractor, and radio host known for lifestyle and home improvement programming. She has hosted the show Inside Out with Tami Michaels (also referred to as Tami Michaels Inside Out) for many years—over 20–25 years of radio experience in the field. It previously aired Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon on KOMO News Radio (now KNWN) 1000 AM / 97.7 FM.
Michaels is frequently called one of the top (or the #1) lifestyle and home improvement experts in Washington/Western Washington. She is the owner and creative director of Sound Kitchen & Bath, a design firm focused on kitchens, baths, and related projects. She has also been a regular on-air contributor to KOMO TV News with home and lifestyle segments.
Weekend NewsRadio Blah Blah Blah
Jason Remington • July 29, 2026
Weekend programming on KIRO FM and KNWN FM are a wasteland of endless reruns of snake oil product sales and investment schemes. Tami Michaels is one program, similar to the old Ed Hume gardening show that is listenable.
Personality Radio In Seattle?
Jason Remington • July 29, 2026
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) yesterday announced the finalists for the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards to be presented Tuesday – – Oct. 20 – – at the Edison Ballroom in New York City.
This annual event celebrates outstanding stations – – personalities – – podcasts and industry leaders.
2026 NAB Marconi Radio Award finalists (not a Seattle entry among them) :
LEGENDARY STATION OF THE YEAR
KFI-AM – – Los Angeles
WCBS-FM – – New York
WIVK-FM – – Knoxville
WJR-AM – – Detroit
WLW-AM – – Cincinnati
LEGENDARY RADIO MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Joey Cummings – – South Seas Broadcasting Inc. – – Pago Pago
Tery Garras – – KXLY-FM – – Spokane
Julie Koehn – – WLEN-FM – – Adrian, Michigan
Mitch Rosen – – WSCR-AM – – Chicago
David Yadgaroff – – Audacy – – Philadelphia
NETWORK/SYNDICATED PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR , Connecticut
El Free Guey Show – - TelevisaUnivision – – Houston
Ryan Seacrest – – Premiere Radio Networks – – Inc. – – Los Angeles
The Bob & Sheri Show – – WKQC-FM – – Beasley – – Charlotte
MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
The Andie Summers Show – – WXTU-FM – – Philadelphia
Ellen K – – KOST-FM – – Los Angeles
Patty Jackson, WDAS-FM, Philadelphia
Karson and Kennedy – – WBMX-FM – – Boston
Riggs – – Katelyn & Erica – – KKBQ-FM – – Houston
LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Paul Castronovo – – WBGG-FM – – Miami
Rebecca Cressman – – KSFI-FM – – Salt Lake City
Karen Dalessandro – – KSLX-FM – – Phoenix
Heather & Matty – – WWLI-FM – – Providence
Justin – – Scott and Spiegel – – WIYY-FM – – Baltimore
MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
The Blake Show with Kelly and Todd – – WMGX-FM – – Portland, Maine
Buzz Jackson – – KIIM-FM – – Tucson
Joe & Tina Mornings – – WZSR-FM – – Crystal Lake, Illinois
Ron Olson and Karen Perrin – – WRVR-FM – – Memphis
Ben Davis & Kelly K – – WDJX-FM – – Louisville
SMALL MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
The Cosmo & Kat Show – – KTXY-FM – – Columbia, Missouri
Chris Lawrence – – WCHS-AM – – Charleston, West Virginia
Ian Rambo – – KQRQ-FM – – Rapid City, South Dakota
The Ryan Smetzer Show – – WIKZ-FM – – Hagerstown, Maryland
Stafford and Frigo – – KDXY-FM – – Jonesboro, Arkansas
The CB radio near Tacoma
Robert • July 29, 2026
The CB radio near Tacoma is on fire these days. There’s so many different personalities on there. You have to check it out. Channel 17. There’s a guy call Potato Head aka Weiner Bender and a whole bunch of other characters on there. Uncensored and uncut. Most of the time it’s a better source of entertainment than broadcast radio is. Also, lots of skip DX, conservative leaning operators and few liberals popping up every once in a while. It’s like the Wild West on the air!
Agree about the CB
Tony • July 30, 2026
Wow I just scrolled down and saw this. Absolutely hilarious some days on the CB on channel 17! It isn’t just a bunch of truckers on there either. Some of those guys and gals are running big stations that sound like actual broadcast stations. There’s a guy called Trailer Park who sounds like he has broadcast equipment. Another guy called Bad Company who sounds like a morning or late night talk show host. Says all kinds of amusing and intelligent things. Also the cuss fights between certain groups. Can’t believe someone else on here has heard this. Cool
NY Times Columnist Joins 60 Minutes
Reader Submission • July 28, 2026
Ross Douthat a conservative columnist at The New York Times, is leaving to join the CBS News program “60 Minutes” as a correspondent, the show’s executive producer said in a memo to staff on Tuesday.
Mr. Douthat, who joined The Times in 2009, is among a group of journalists joining for the show’s 59th season, which will premiere on Sept. 13. The writer Sebastian Junger and Gianna Toboni, a former Vice News correspondent, will become contributors, along with Trevor Phillips, a British journalist who joined CBS last month. Norah O’Donnell, the former anchor of “CBS Evening News,” will be a correspondent as well.
They are the first significant hires at the long-running Sunday program since CBS’s new editor in chief, Bari Weiss, orchestrated a shake-up that led to the departure of three top correspondents this spring, including the veteran journalist Scott Pelley.
Ms. Weiss has been trying to rebuild the “60 Minutes” staff in recent weeks after a tumultuous period. In moves that rattled the program’s personnel, she dismissed the correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, along with the show’s senior leadership team, including its former executive producer Tanya Simon.
— New York Times
A face made for TV.
The Mirror Cracked
Jason Remington • July 28, 2026
Well, Andy Rooney was no beauty. I could probably name quite a few commentators on network tv news that fit that category.
Raising eyebrows
Bill • July 29, 2026
The other notable hire was Norah O’Donnell, who has previously worked for “60 Minutes” and has now been named an official correspondent.
O’Donnell’s appointment was expected. Douthat’s wasn’t.
Douthat and Weiss were colleagues at The New York Times and, for those who fear Weiss will push CBS News and even the irreproachable “60 Minutes” to the right, this move will be examined under a microscope.
New York Times opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury: “For 17 years and in thousands of columns, Ross has left an indelible mark on this report: arguments so carefully built that even readers who arrived hostile stayed to see how they’d hold up. He was right about things early, wrong about things honestly and never, not once, boring.”
It is, unquestionably, a loss for the Times, as Douthat was among the Gray Lady’s most prominent conservative voices.
Washington’s found a new — yet familiar — voice of Husky football.
Reader Submission • July 28, 2026
Elise Woodward, who has spent two decades as UW football’s sideline reporter, will move to the booth in 2026 as the team’s new play-by-play announcer, Washington athletics announced Tuesday morning. She replaces Tony Castricone, who departed for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in June. UW will hire a separate play-by-play announcer for men’s basketball.
“Having the opportunity to be the voice of University of Washington football is the honor of my lifetime,” Woodward said in a statement Tuesday. “As a Dawg, I take so much pride in the rich history and tradition of Husky football. I am so thankful for the last 23 seasons that I spent on the sidelines, but I’m also beyond excited to trade in my rain gear for the warmth of the Bob Rondeau radio booth.”
Woodward, a former UW women’s basketball player, has more than three decades of broadcasting experience and most recently served as the first voice of the WNBA’s Portland Fire. The Eugene, Ore., native has also previously done work with the Storm and SuperSonics during her long tenure in Seattle.
“Elise has built an outstanding career as a sports broadcaster at both the national and local levels.” UW athletic director Pat Chun said in a statement. “She has established herself as a trusted voice within the Husky community through her years covering UW Football, Women’s Basketball, and Seattle sports. She knows this university, its traditions, and the rich history of this role. We couldn’t be more excited to have Elise carry forward the legacy of being the voice of Husky Football.”
As a basketball player for the Huskies from 1993-97, she helped UW reach the NCAA tournament three times. She also received her degree from UW in broadcast journalism.
Woodward will begin her tenure on Sept. 6 when UW opens its season the Apple Cup against Washington State at Husky Stadium.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
You Go, Girl!
Jason Remington • July 28, 2026
A well-deserved bump up the food chain!
Former KING 5 Reporter Takes Education Post
Jason Remington • July 28, 2026
Jake García, most recently a sports reporter for KPNX 12/Phoenix, just wrapped up his time there—his last day was July 27. Garcia is transitioning in August to a faculty role teaching journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He also announced that he is getting married in August. García is a proud Arizona State University graduate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communication from ASU’s Cronkite School. While studying for his master’s, he worked as a sports reporter for Arizona PBS (KAET), contributed to SunDevilSource.com, and did work for the Pac-12 Networks.
His career path took him to KDRV NewsWatch 12 (Medford, Oregon): Sports reporter (roughly May 2017–June 2019). This was an early-market stop after college.
KVUE (Austin, Texas): Joined in July 2019 as a sports reporter/MMJ and later weekend anchor and sports/culture reporter. He spent nearly three years there, covering local and Texas sports (including the Longhorns), and ran community initiatives like fitness/fundraising challenges during the pandemic.
KING 5 (Seattle): Sports reporter starting around May 2022 (a TEGNA sister-station move from KVUE). He covered Pacific Northwest sports before leaving the role for his gig at
12 News / 12Sports (Phoenix, KPNX)
Singer Carly Simon has revealed that she has Parkinson's disease.
Jason Remington • July 28, 2026
The 83-year-old “You’re So Vain” singer broke her silence about her absence from the spotlight in a statement obtained by People, in which she also revealed that she underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s is a nervous system disorder that affects movement, often causing tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems.
Carly Simon explained that her physical struggles began with arthritis, leading to three joint replacement surgeries on her knees and hip.
When her mobility continued to decline, leaving her unable to walk without considerable help or stand up from deep furniture, an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic confirmed the Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Recent Death: Songwriter/Singer Freddie Cannon
Jason Remington • July 28, 2026
Freddie Cannon was a high-energy American rock and roll singer and songwriter known as “Boom Boom” who scored major chart hits like “Palisades Park” and “Tallahassee Lassie”. Born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. on December 4, 1936, in Revere, Massachusetts, he emerged from the Boston music scene in the late 1950s. His national breakthrough came in 1959 with “Tallahassee Lassie,” which he co-wrote with his mother. He followed it with “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” and his biggest career smash, 1962’s “Palisades Park”. Strongly inspired by early rhythm and blues and rock pioneers like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, he used a driving, percussive guitar style and an intense vocal delivery.
He held the record for the most appearances on Dick Clark’s famous musical variety program American Bandstand, performing on the show more than 100 times. He continued performing on international oldies circuits for decades until passing away from cancer on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89.