[Description by Uncle Ricky]

The generation of New York City Rock ‘n Roll teenagers who remember groups (not gangs) on street corners singin’ songs, also remember Alan Fredericks. He hosted The Night Train show on WGBB, WHOM and WADO. He never had a full-time prime-time position on New York radio, but he filled in for Symphony Sid. He passed away at the age of 70, on July 31, 2005.

REELRADIO thanks contributor Michael DeMonti for two very fine hours of Mr. Fredericks on WCBS-FM at the conclusion of the 1989 Rock and Roll Radio Greats Reunion Weekend. (Commercial announcements have been removed.)

This exhibit, presented in two parts and in a combined and ‘scoped (music removed) version, is all about early “rock ‘n’ roll” music radio in New York City. Fredericks talks by phone with Dan Ingram, Jack Spector, and Don K. Reed. WCBS-FM PD Joe McCoy and General Manager Rod Calarco join Alan in the studio. For unscoped listeners, there’s a lot of music, group names and song titles that are representative of genuine New York City Doo-Wop!

Fredericks features airchecks from WADO on the Symphony Sid show, and a later aircheck on the Night Train show, along with his recollections of WADO history. He tells the story of Time Square Records and describes the sub-culture of collectors and “strange things” that were “running around” there in the early ’60’s.

In 1966, Alan Fredericks left radio and eventually enjoyed a successful career as a writer and editor for Travel Weekly. Considered widely-quoted and influential in the travel industry, he reportedly enjoyed his appearances on several WCBS-FM Radio Reunions in the ’80’s and ’90’s.

[Credit for background on Alan Fredericks to David Hinckley, NY DAILY NEWS]