WOW RADIO – MEET CT'S NEW AWARD WINNING RADIO STATION

WOW RADIO – MEET CT'S NEW AWARD WINNING RADIO STATION

By Kat Gullage

BEHIND THE SCENES ST WOW Radio with Brian Smith and Pam Landry

Did you know there is a radio station in Wallingford CT? Neither did I! But it exists and it's legal! WOW Radio spins your favorite tunes from the 60s to the 90s, featuring familiar radio voices, providing local news and weather updates and hosting a variety of special guests including community leaders, organizations and live bands. My editor invited me on a behind-the-scenes look at the studio. He told me he was inside a local car dealership. I was like, “Really?” He said yes, it's at WOW Toyota of Wallingford. Okay

I've been to my share of car dealerships. I was impressed as soon as I pulled into the driveway. Brand new surface, tons of shiny new cars perfectly parked, architecturally pleasing building towering over the complex. I made my way to the showroom and my first word was “Wow”. There is literally one of Denny Hamlin's NASCAR race cars hanging from the freaking ceiling. Another NASCAR hot rod, the M&M car, is mounted on the wall. In addition, there is a video arcade and a playland. The whole place is stylish and modern but also welcoming. My next stop was the radio station.

I've also been to a few studios. I didn't expect what I found. WOW Radio it is the most beautiful thing I have seen. Large space with state of the art technology, all shiny and new! The duo at the helm were none other than local radio veterans Brian Smith (remember the Smith & Barber show on WPLR?) and Pam Landry (remember her Landry' Luncheonette lunch show, also on WPLR?).

Even with top-of-the-line components, you need people with masterful multi-tasking skills, and this team has a handle on that. They played music and news, offering live interactions with the guests of the moment, and yet they immediately recognized my editor and I when we entered the room.

Paul Walsh, talented local artist and spokesperson for the Connecticut Fallen Firefighter Memorial, was being interviewed. The Connecticut Fallen Firefighter Memorial is a mouthful, and Smith had to be careful not to trip over it. Remy Adair, a talented and creative young lady who wrote a song about fallen firefighters, was also in attendance. He had a bit of laryngitis so he couldn't sing the song live in the studio. The experienced crew immediately adapted by having her read the song and talk about what inspired it.

Smith and Landry also helped Remy polish some Halloween candy. I was stationed on Smith's side of the platform, so I gathered most of my information from him. I learned about the haunted junk situation. Container number one was an R2D2 replica that was somehow always on the road. The second canister had some sort of electronic mechanism and chattered at will. Fingers crossed for wastebasket number three. Our editor, Ralph Beauchamp, took to the microphone briefly and introduced our website, myampmusic.co, featuring local music happenings, interviews, reviews and photos.

Contribute photos

Time flew by watching everyone's choreography. The show was good, I enjoyed it! As it was over, Smith asked if I had taken pictures. I said yes, I had only captured a few honest ones. He explained that he prefers to wear shades in photos, that's kind of his thing. He stores them next to his cobweb tights. Which is probably pretty close to the recent award given to Smith and Landry as the best radio show in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine poll. Like I said before, this is the real deal.

Ralph invited me to sit down as he interviewed the DJs. We entered the conference room one after the other until the end WOW Radio The team was filed. Smith, Landry, Paul, Holly and Robin production crew. Ryan who built the studio was also present. He informed me that the studio, this technological mother-house, was built in three months! Owner Steve Zion was the last to join us.

I gushed over the quality of his Toyota Dealership / Radio Station. I asked about the service area. Zion stood up and said “Come with me.” We ditched everyone and he gave me a private tour of the inner workings. More “WOW” from me. The area where you pull your car in is like a Daytona 500 pit stop. You could eat off the floor where the mechanics work with the most advanced lifts I didn't even know existed. A line from Jurassic Park came to mind “no expense spared”.

We rejoined the group. Ralph took the helm for the interview questions and I continued to observe. Zion truly believes in radio. “It's the one thing people take with them everywhere.” He built his customer base exclusively on radio. AMAZING SUCCESS broadcasts on their own app and website (WOWRADIOCT.COM). The metalhead in me asked about the band. Another radio station putting us in a classic rock coma? AMAZING SUCCESS it's broadcast throughout the facility, so it makes sense that they don't have Slayer or Megadeth in their rotation.

They offer a Smith and Zion show from 08:00 to 11:00, Smith and Landry from 11:00 to 15:00 and repeat at 17:00. Also, Holly and Robin have a fun Mixtape show that airs Saturday and Sunday at 7pm. There is an interactive option in the app called “Shout Out”. You record a message and it automatically sends it to the group that will be played on the show.

WOW Radio is already an established champion of the community. They participate in many local events and are honored to represent at each of them. I have to say that the loyalty and teamwork here is second to none. The crew lives and breathes enthusiasm and positivity for every task. That says a lot about Mr. Zion and its leadership. Some of their tags are “Will, Will, AMAZING SUCCESS you” and “Where the AMAZING SUCCESS factor is high.” Give WOW Radio a shot, not only do they deserve our support, but you'll find them to be a Wonder Of Wonders!

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