Brother Wease has hosted his final radio show, according to reports from several news outlets.
Wease, host of The Wease Show on WAIO-FM (95.1), an iHeartMedia station known as Radio 95.1, made the announcement on air on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Here’s what we know so far.
Who is Brother Wease?
Wease, whose real name is Alan Levin, started in radio in 1983 as an advertising salesman at Rochester classic rock station WCMF-FM (96.5). The Vietnam War combat veteran took over a late-night slot in 1984 and moved to mornings in 1985 as the host of “The Brother Wease Morning Circus,” which became one of the most highly rated programs in the market.
He shared his life, including a cancer diagnosis and treatment, with listeners — and he shared the spotlight with a rotating cast of characters. A number of personalities who got their start on the show went on to become huge stars in other markets, including Greg “Opie” Hughes, BJ Shea and Stephanie Miller, who was known to Rochester listeners as “Sister Sleaze.”
In late 2007 after Entercom bought WCMF, contract talks between Wease and the company broke off. He disappeared from local radio at the start of 2008, and a no-compete clause in his old contract kept him off the air until November of that year, when he took over as morning show host on Radio 95.1.
In 2023, Wease requested to move the early morning show from 6 to 9 a.m. to the 9 a.m.-noon timeslot.
Wease was the first Rochester radio personality to be inducted into the Museum of Broadcast Communications Radio Hall of Fame in 2021 and is also a member of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, inducted in 2023, and the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame as of 2009.
Another familiar face out at iHeartRadio
Deanna King, who co-hosted with Wease for a time, also announced her departure from the station through an X post on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
“Thank you for all of your kind messages,” the X post reads. “I no longer work at @iHeartRadio #StayTuned.”
iHeartMedia announces change of 95.1 to rock-focused station
iHeartMedia Rochester announced the change of Radio 95.1 to rock-focused station ROCK 95.1, “Rochester’s Real Rock,” on Thursday.
The change is effective immediately and “delivers a bold-high-energy sound featuring artists including Three Days Grace, Metallica, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Papa Roach and more,” according to a Sept. 4 iHeartMedia news release.
The shake-up has resulted in the following lineup: “Rover’s Morning Glory” from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., midday host Aly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., John DiTullio and Jeremy Newman from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Mark Maira from 6 p.m. to midnight.
“We’re excited to bring a fresh, authentic rock experience to Rochester,” area president Bob Morgan said in the news release. “ROCK 95.1 is built for fans who live and breathe rock, and we’re proud to deliver the music and personalities they crave.”
The company did not provide the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle with a comment on the departure of Brother Wease and Deanna King.
Social media reacts to Brother Wease announcement
Contributing: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reporter Marcia Greenwood
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Radio icon Brother Wease abruptly announces final show: What we know now
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
