Skip Weshner
Encyclopedia
Skip Weshner was a disc jockey
on stations in New York
and Los Angeles
from the mid 1950's until the mid 1980's. In particular, he hosted a popular show on KRHM-FM in Los Angeles. He hosted "Accent On Sound" on WBAI (FM) and later WNCN (FM) in New York City from about 1959 through about 1964. There was also about a year during which he broadcast on WRFM (105.1)(The biographical info mentions WBFM, but the correct call was WRFM; the program was sponsored by the Electronic Workshop on 8th Street). This was the first "folk music" show heard in New York City. Skip lived at 18 Jones Street in Greenwich Village. His show was often broadcast from his home studio, built by WNCN Chief Engineer, Martin Gersten. The Clancy Brothers were frequent guests. The show was sponsored regularly by Rudy Bozak and Joe Grado. Blind musician José Feliciano
was probably first heard on New York FM radio on Weshner's show. During the first session, Feliciano accidentally fell down the stairs of Weshner's duplex apartment.
Weshner often broadcast from Greenwich Village
, including The Bitter End
on Bleecker Street
and the Cafe Feenjon on MacDougal Street
. At the New York Hi-Fi Show at the New Yorker Hotel, c. 1963, Weshner's live broadcast included the then relatively unknown Bob Dylan
. Weshner is also remembered for inviting artists such as Gordon Lightfoot
and John Denver
to his show.
Weshner was married to Lynne Taylor (d. 1979) of The Rooftop Singers
. After the group's hit single "Walk Right In
" in early 1963, they moved to California.
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
on stations in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from the mid 1950's until the mid 1980's. In particular, he hosted a popular show on KRHM-FM in Los Angeles. He hosted "Accent On Sound" on WBAI (FM) and later WNCN (FM) in New York City from about 1959 through about 1964. There was also about a year during which he broadcast on WRFM (105.1)(The biographical info mentions WBFM, but the correct call was WRFM; the program was sponsored by the Electronic Workshop on 8th Street). This was the first "folk music" show heard in New York City. Skip lived at 18 Jones Street in Greenwich Village. His show was often broadcast from his home studio, built by WNCN Chief Engineer, Martin Gersten. The Clancy Brothers were frequent guests. The show was sponsored regularly by Rudy Bozak and Joe Grado. Blind musician José Feliciano
José Feliciano
José Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
was probably first heard on New York FM radio on Weshner's show. During the first session, Feliciano accidentally fell down the stairs of Weshner's duplex apartment.
Weshner often broadcast from Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, including The Bitter End
The Bitter End
The Bitter End is a nightclub in New York City's Greenwich Village. It opened its doors in 1961 at 147 Bleecker Street under the auspices of owner Fred Weintraub. The club changed its name to The Other End during the 1970s...
on Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street is a street in New York City's Manhattan borough. It is perhaps most famous today as a Greenwich Village nightclub district. The street is a spine that connects a neighborhood today popular for music venues and comedy, but which was once a major center for American bohemia.Bleecker...
and the Cafe Feenjon on MacDougal Street
MacDougal Street
MacDougal Street is a one way street in Greenwich Village in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The approximate six-block street is bound by Prince Street and West 8th Street. It has been the subject of many songs, poems, and other forms of artistic expression. MacDougal Street has been...
. At the New York Hi-Fi Show at the New Yorker Hotel, c. 1963, Weshner's live broadcast included the then relatively unknown Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. Weshner is also remembered for inviting artists such as Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
and John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
to his show.
Weshner was married to Lynne Taylor (d. 1979) of The Rooftop Singers
The Rooftop Singers
The Rooftop Singers were an American progressive folk-singing trio in the early 1960s, best known for the hit "Walk Right In". The group was composed of Erik Darling and Bill Svanoe with former jazz singer Lynne Taylor ....
. After the group's hit single "Walk Right In
Walk Right In
Walk Right In is the title of a country blues song written by musician Gus Cannon and originally recorded by Cannon's Jug Stompers in 1929, released on Victor Records, catalogue 38611. It was reissued on album in 1959 as a track on The Country Blues....
" in early 1963, they moved to California.