Peter Cavanaugh was a radio jockey and radio station manager in the 1960s and 1990s, and a major contributor to the Flint Michigan rock and roll boom of the 1960s.
Peter Cavanaugh | |
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| Born | Peter Lawrence Cavanaugh September 8, 1941 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 13, 2021 (aged 79) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Education | Le Moyne College |
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| Years active | 1964-2019 |
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Early life and career
editBorn September 8, 1941, in Syracuse, New York, Cavanaugh was exposed to radio drama at an early age, his father Donald Cavanaugh, died broadcasting live t in the summer of 1948.[1] Thanks to a local Parish's Catholic youth ministry, teenage Cavanaugh got his first chance to broadcast. He also met his future wife Eileen Scaia through the Catholic Youth Organization. At the age of 16, he had an overall audience share of 58% at his hometown station, WNDR.
After high school, he worked full-time as a disc jockey, earning a BA in political science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, before moving to Flint, Michigan where he began work as a local DJ. Cavanaugh premiered artists such AC/DC and The Who to the United States. Cavanaugh moved from the air to control the radio and served as general manager of WTAC.[2] In 1977, he began working for Reams Broadcasting, becoming the general manager of WWCK-FM in Flint, Michigan, and also hosted their "Sunday 60s" radio program every Sunday morning.[3][4][5]
Retirement
editLocal DJ
editIn 2002, Cavanaugh self-published an autobiography published via Xlibris.[citation needed]
Featuring in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame
editIn 2011, Cavanaugh was chosen as one of the Radio DJs to be listened to in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "On the Air: Rock and Roll and Radio." exhibit.[6]
References
edit- ^ Cavanaugh, PeterC. (2001). Local DJ : a rock 'n roll history. [United States?]: Xlibris. ISBN 14010-4164-7. OCLC 50542496.
- ^ "PETER CAVANAUGH LEGENDARY RADIO EXEC/PROMOTER HAS DIED". Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ "Peter Cavanaugh - Local DJ". www.famousinterview.ca. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ Seiling, Susan (August 13, 2021). "Peter Cavanaugh Obituary". Tribute Archive.
- ^ "Flint rock n' roll radio legend Peter C. Cavanaugh dies at 79". mlive. August 15, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ Bialczak, Mark; Post-St, The; ard (September 8, 2011). "Former WNDR-Syracuse DJ Peter C. Cavanaugh earns spot in Rock Hall exhibit". syracuse. Retrieved January 4, 2022.