WABC to Honor Radio Pioneer & Air Personality Cousin Brucie

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | 11:50am CT

Cousin Brucie

WABC/New York will honor music radio pioneer and legendary air personality Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow) in recognition of his more than sixty years entertaining listeners. The event will be held this Thursday, September 7 in New York City. WABC will also celebrate 102 years of broadcasting to millions of listeners across the greater New York City area -- and now with streaming, podcasting and the WABC mobile app to listeners around the world.

"I grew up listening to 77WABC and Cousin Brucie," said WABC owner John Catsimatidis. "My dream was to return 77WABC to its glory with compelling and entertaining programming and big-name personalities. Plus, I wanted to bring back music on weekends when we all need a break from news, politics, and business. I called Cousin Brucie and got him back where he belongs -- on 77WABC."

One of first changes Catsimatidis made when he purchased 77WABC in March of 2020 was to bring back Cousin Brucie. On September 5, 2020, about three years to the day of the September 7 gala, Cousin Brucie returned to regaling his fans with the Saturday Night Rock & Roll Party on his original radio home, 77WABC.

"When John called me, I couldn't believe what was happening," exclaimed Cousin Brucie. "Here was a talk radio station owner asking me to come home and play music Saturday evenings on 77WABC. I can't thank John and Margo enough for their vision. It's been fun and rewarding, and the listeners love it."

Cousin Brucie first joined WABC in 1961, just as rock and roll music was becoming popular and a few years ahead of the British Invasion that brought America The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and more. He became the personality and the voice that connected fans to this new music and the bands that made it. He and Ed Sullivan introduced The Beatles at their famous Shea Stadium concert on August 15, 1965.

In the 80s and 90s, Cousin Brucie was heard on WCBS-FM/New York's Oldies station at the time. He also hosted the syndicated "Cruisin' America," which introduced Cousin Brucie to listeners across America. In 2005, Cousin Brucie launched his weekly Sirius/XM Satellite Radio programs.

Cousin Brucie was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1988 and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2001. He is the recipient of the Bravery in Radio Award from William Paterson University for his "inspirational radio programming and lifelong commitment to radio" and an honorary doctorate from Montclair State University for excellence in broadcasting.