Pete Fornatale
Encyclopedia
Peter Fornatale (born August 23, 1945) is a New York City disc jockey who played an important role in the progressive rock era of FM broadcasting
.
Starting with WOR-FM in 1966, FM was demonstrating a large rift from AM broadcasting
. Fornatale was a key figure in this trend with his weekly program, "Campus Caravan," which was heard on Fordham University
's WFUV
from 1964 to 1970. He began professionally in 1969 at WNEW-FM and also worked at WXRK
(née WKTU). He returned to WFUV in 2001 and is heard weekly on his current shows, "Mixed Bag" and "Mixed Bag Radio," which is also on XM satellite radio. He won the Armstrong Excellence in Broadcasting Award in 1983.
He is a native of the Belmont section of the Bronx and attended Fordham Preparatory School
and Fordham University, where he received a B.A. in Communication Arts in 1967. He is a member of the board of World Hunger Year
.
Fornatale has also written many books on popular music culture. He has hosted many rock-related programs on WNET, PBS's station in New York City. He has been an on-air consultant for rock music shows and specials on VH1, MTV
and HBO.
As of the Summer of 2011 (and, at least, through Spring 2012), Pete Fornatale will continue to tour the Northeast area with two different multimedia programs to support his most recent book releases. The show titled "Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock" focuses on Pete's experiences as an on-air personality during that period, and it is highlighted by Woodstock-related anecdotes based on events that occurred throughout the DJ's lengthy career as an interviewer, DJ and author. The program titled "How Terribly Strange to be 70" looks at the tumultuous history of Simon & Garfunkel, beginning with their early years when they performed as the duo 'Tom and Jerry'.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
.
Starting with WOR-FM in 1966, FM was demonstrating a large rift from AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
. Fornatale was a key figure in this trend with his weekly program, "Campus Caravan," which was heard on Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
's WFUV
WFUV
WFUV, 90.7 FM in New York City, is Fordham University's 50,000-watt, non-commercial radio station, with studios on campus and its antenna atop nearby Montefiore Medical Center. First broadcast in 1947, WFUV has an airstaff which includes such New York radio veterans as Pete Fornatale , Dennis...
from 1964 to 1970. He began professionally in 1969 at WNEW-FM and also worked at WXRK
K-Rock
K-Rock is a common radio brand, generally carried by radio stations airing a modern rock format. CBS Radio has owned the K-Rock brand in the United States since 1986. Then known as Infinity Broadcasting, CBS acquired the K-Rock brand after purchasing noted Los Angeles rock station KROQ-FM , its...
(née WKTU). He returned to WFUV in 2001 and is heard weekly on his current shows, "Mixed Bag" and "Mixed Bag Radio," which is also on XM satellite radio. He won the Armstrong Excellence in Broadcasting Award in 1983.
He is a native of the Belmont section of the Bronx and attended Fordham Preparatory School
Fordham Preparatory School
Fordham Preparatory School is a private Jesuit all-boys high school located in the Bronx, New York City, with an enrollment of approximately 950 students. It is located on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University....
and Fordham University, where he received a B.A. in Communication Arts in 1967. He is a member of the board of World Hunger Year
World Hunger Year
WhyHunger is an organization that seeks to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by folk singer Harry Chapin, a social activist who was as well known for his humanitarian efforts as for his guitar ballads, and 95.5 WPLJ New York, legendary radio D.J. Bill...
.
Fornatale has also written many books on popular music culture. He has hosted many rock-related programs on WNET, PBS's station in New York City. He has been an on-air consultant for rock music shows and specials on VH1, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and HBO.
As of the Summer of 2011 (and, at least, through Spring 2012), Pete Fornatale will continue to tour the Northeast area with two different multimedia programs to support his most recent book releases. The show titled "Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock" focuses on Pete's experiences as an on-air personality during that period, and it is highlighted by Woodstock-related anecdotes based on events that occurred throughout the DJ's lengthy career as an interviewer, DJ and author. The program titled "How Terribly Strange to be 70" looks at the tumultuous history of Simon & Garfunkel, beginning with their early years when they performed as the duo 'Tom and Jerry'.