When I heard that Pete Fornatale died, I did not just think that another page had turned; it felt more like an era had really passed away. Pete died on April 26, 2012, at age 66 from a brain hemorrhage after a week in intensive care at Beth Israel Medical Center here in New York. It is not just a sad day for this city but for the country and all fans of rock and roll music.
Pete had been involved in radio since his college days at Fordham University on WFUV, and then he moved on to WNEW-FM in 1970, where his legendary status would begin. He would become one of those deejays known as a "pioneer" by fans and musicians alike, for he took the concept of radio differently than the popular jocks of the day, those with a Top 40 mentality that dominated the city's airwaves.
As a kid I remember having to live with the Harry Harrison and Cousin Brucie type jocks who spun records (all 45s) on AM radio. In those days we all listened to WABC here in New York City and heard the same songs over again and again, and the format included the insufferable "Instant Replay" that could mean you heard Freda Payne's "Band of Gold" five or more times within an hour. Now, that was a great song, but enough was really enough.
Along came Fornatale with the idea of playing records the way I listened to them at home, meaning playing the whole side of an album (or sometimes the whole thing) without commercial interruption. To this young rock music fan this was heaven for sure, since my allowance was small and I had a trusty tape recorder. I can still remember taping Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Beatles, and my other favorites this way. Despite the static and the sometimes bouncing microphone (because I couldn't sit still with that music going), I loved those tapes and wish I still had them now.
While many jocks talked over the end of songs, Pete let the music take its sweet time. As a great song like Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" ended, he would be like us at home, letting the needle go out of the groove after the last note and then spoke reverently afterwards. It was like being in the cathedral of rock and roll with Pete being the high priest, and I loved every one of his services and then some.
Article comments
1 - Dr. Joseph S. Maresca
Pete was an enthusiastic advocate for the music industry of the 60s and onward to the current period.
2 - Victor Lana
Thanks for the comment, Dr. M.
3 - Brian
Such a great loss, and to die so young. I remember my tape recorder listening to zeppelin stairway to heaven while dancing with my moms broom for practice. Such a great era clean good fun times. This will be the memory I have of Pete.