R.I.P.: Former Longtime Detroit Personality Joe Wade Formicola

Joe Wade Formicola

WYCD 99.5 FM program director Tim Roberts said it best, writing “my heart is saddened by the passing of another great member of the WYCD family.”

Just two months after beloved DJ Linda Lee passed away from cancer, longtime Detroit country morning show host Joe Wade Formicola died Tuesday night.

“Joe and I worked together years ago and of course, he worked with Linda here,” Roberts said.

Lon Helton at Country Aircheck made the announcement, saying incoming Country Radio Hall of Famer and Local Radio Networks’ Joe Wade Formicola died after a brief illness.

Formicola hosted mornings on WWWW/Detroit from 1987-1995 and was named CMA Personality of the Year in 1988. His show was syndicated by Westwood One from 2010-2015 and his career stops also included programming KENR/Houston and serving as OM/PD at WKIX/Raleigh.

Sadly, with Linda Lee, he is the second of this year’s inductees to die prior to the June 21 ceremony. Lee and Formicola will now be honored posthumously in Nashville next month. Arrangements for Formicola are pending.