Radio One Buffalo Oldies “Big WECK” 1230 WECK Cheektowaga/Buffalo NY and its network of translators has announced the addition of longtime Buffalo personality John ‘JP’ Piccillo as programming consultant and 9am-4pm host.
Piccillo exited middays at Cumulus Classic Rock “97 Rock” WGRF-FM last month after 28 years in order to work from home to care for his elderly parents. He told the Buffalo News he was on family leave after Cumulus ended the ability to work remotely, “That was the key to everything,” said JP of making the station switch. “I had the No. 1 rated show in that time period at 97 Rock and nothing suffered from doing it at home. Buddy swooped in and saved the day for me. He kept me in radio.”
The deal had been announced locally earlier this month, but then rescinded with Piccillo telling the News, “It just didn’t work out. I wish Buddy and his crew all the very best.” Now it has worked out and he will debut on WECK on Monday, May 1. WECK owner Buddy Shula began his career as Piccillo’s intern at 96.1 WPHD in 1983.
Radio One Buffalo, LLC, a leading local radio station has named John “J.P.” Piccillo as programming consultant and 9am-4pm show host on Buffalo’s Oldies Station, BIG WECK.
WECK 1230AM/100.1FM/102.9FM/100.5FM Buffalo, NY is the top-rated Oldies station in America (AQH Share-Nielsen 2023)
JP arrives from Classic Rocker WGRF-FM 96.9 in Buffalo, NY after spending nearly three decades at the legendary station that’s called “97 Rock.”
“I’ve been blessed to be able to build a successful career doing what I love in my hometown”, says JP. “What makes it even better is doing it with someone like Buddy Shula whom I’ve known for the better part of 40 years. We share many of the same philosophies about music, radio, and our community. I’ll be consulting with Buddy on some very exciting things that will be great for our BIG WECK superfans, along with continuing my Monday-Friday workday show. I’m counting the days to bring the people of Buffalo the coolest music in the history of the world.”
JP is slated to begin with The BIG WECK (1230am/102.9fm/100.1fm/100.5fm) on May 1st and takes over consulting duties immediately.
Owner and President Buddy Shula added “JP has been my mentor and radio inspiration since June 12th, 1983, the day he put me, a star-struck kid on the radio! I was JP’s intern while attending Lancaster High School. This is really a dream for me, and the BIG WECK.
Shula continued, “The professor JP is back!”
