Mike Olszewski – författare

The story of one of Cleveland’s most popular and influential radio stationsBefore FM radio and the commanding album rock stations of the 1970s, there was WIXY 1260, a tiny Northeast Ohio AM radio station that became an entertainment powerhouse. Three visionaries assembled a legendary staff of on-air personalities and, with savvy programming and groundbreaking promotions, created WIXY 1260—a station that would become synonymous with 1960s pop culture. A Midwest juggernaut, WIXY aired everything from surf and Motown to country and the British Invasion. Crossing cultural and generational lines in one of the hottest radio markets in the country, it regularly took in more than fifty percent of the Greater Cleveland audience.Bob Weiss, Norman Wain, and Joe Zingale knew the kind of radio Cleveland wanted to hear. They also knew how to market that sound to make it a lifestyle. They bought a small station with a weak signal and renamed it WIXY, and it wasn’t long before their competition fell by the wayside. Mike Olszewski and Richard Berg spin a lively tale of popular culture that will appeal to everyone from baby boomers to media scholars and cultural historians.“Through extensive interviews with insiders, the authors chronicle WIXY’s relatively brief yet exciting run and how the station came to dominate the airwaves in the ’60s and ’70s with a winning combination of tastemaking playlists, unforgettable on-air personalities, and outlandish promotions. It’s a fun story, recounted with ample humor.” —John Soeder, Music Critic, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland has long enjoyed its reputation as one of the hottest music centers in the country and as the Rock ''n'' Roll Capital of the World. Trends started or gained major recognition in Cleveland and were fueled by local radio stations and their disc jockeys, who connected with their audience and their lifestyles. IN fact, WMMS deejays helped the careers of many in the music industry take off, including David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, and Southside Johnny. Essentially the story of WMMS, Radio Daze captures the radio scene during the ''70s and ''80s, chronicling how this small FM rock station became the top-rated station in Northeast Ohio and made Cleveland one of the most important radio markets in the world. Author Mike Olszewski obtained exclusive interviews with many radio legends, revealing how insidious and destructive the battle for radio dominance became. Among other things, he exposes the story behind the reports of ballot box stuffing by WMMS to win the prestigious Rolling Stone magazine Readers'' Poll for best radio station in the country and some of the dirty tricks played by radio stations to get the edge on their competitors. Radio Daze is an honest and comprehensive look at the birth of Cleveland''s FM radio scene and the sometimes-vicious ratings wards. It will be welcomed by pop-culture enthusiasts and those interested in local music as well as music history.

Essentially the story of WMMS, Radio Daze captures the radio scene during the ’70s and ’80s, chronicling how this small FM rock station became the top-rated station in Northeast Ohio and made Cleveland one of the most important radio markets in the world. Mike Olszewski obtained exclusive interviews with many radio legends, revealing how insidious and destructive the battle for radio dominance became. Among other things, he exposes the story behind the reports of ballot box stuffing by WMMS to win the prestigious Rolling Stone magazine Readers’ Poll for best radio station in the country and some of the dirty tricks played by radio stations to get the edge on their competitors.

The story of one of Cleveland’s most popular and influential radio stations.Before FM radio and the commanding album rock stations of the 1970s, there was WIXY 1260, a tiny Northeast Ohio AM radio station that became an entertainment powerhouse. Three visionaries assembled a legendary staff of on-air personalities and, with savvy programming and groundbreaking promotions, created WIXY 1260—a station that would become synonymous with 1960s pop culture. A Midwest juggernaut, WIXY aired everything from surf and Motown to country and the British Invasion. Crossing cultural and generational lines in one of the hottest radio markets in the country, it regularly took in more than fifty percent of the Greater Cleveland audience.Bob Weiss, Norman Wain, and Joe Zingale knew the kind of radio Cleveland wanted to hear. They also knew how to market that sound to make it a lifestyle. They bought a small station with a weak signal and renamed it WIXY, and it wasn’t long before their competition fell by the wayside. Mike Olszewski and Richard Berg spin a lively tale of popular culture that will appeal to everyone from baby boomers to media scholars and cultural historians.“Through extensive interviews with insiders, the authors chronicle WIXY’s relatively brief yet exciting run and how the station came to dominate the airwaves in the ’60s and ’70s with a winning combination of tastemaking playlists, unforgettable on-air personalities, and outlandish promotions. It’s a fun story, recounted with ample humor.”—John Soeder, Music Critic, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

The story of one of Cleveland’s most popular and influential radio stations.Before FM radio and the commanding album rock stations of the 1970s, there was WIXY 1260, a tiny Northeast Ohio AM radio station that became an entertainment powerhouse. Three visionaries assembled a legendary staff of on-air personalities and, with savvy programming and groundbreaking promotions, created WIXY 1260—a station that would become synonymous with 1960s pop culture. A Midwest juggernaut, WIXY aired everything from surf and Motown to country and the British Invasion. Crossing cultural and generational lines in one of the hottest radio markets in the country, it regularly took in more than fifty percent of the Greater Cleveland audience.Bob Weiss, Norman Wain, and Joe Zingale knew the kind of radio Cleveland wanted to hear. They also knew how to market that sound to make it a lifestyle. They bought a small station with a weak signal and renamed it WIXY, and it wasn’t long before their competition fell by the wayside. Mike Olszewski and Richard Berg spin a lively tale of popular culture that will appeal to everyone from baby boomers to media scholars and cultural historians.“Through extensive interviews with insiders, the authors chronicle WIXY’s relatively brief yet exciting run and how the station came to dominate the airwaves in the ’60s and ’70s with a winning combination of tastemaking playlists, unforgettable on-air personalities, and outlandish promotions. It’s a fun story, recounted with ample humor.”—John Soeder, Music Critic, The Cleveland Plain Dealer