R.I.P.: WEQX Founder-Owner Brooks Brown

Brooks Brown

Brooks Brown, independent owner and operator of Modern Rock WEQX 102.7 FM in Manchester, VT (Albany, NY Market), has passed away.

Brown founded the long-running Modern Rocker almost three decades ago, and refused any offers to sell his station over the years.

A message posted Friday night on 'EQX's Facebook page reads,

"A heartbreaking day in EQX-land. Goodbye to Brooks Brown, creator and owner of EQX. A god among men, he was a bright light of independent spirit in a sea of corporate ownership. He created an oasis of independent rock that would reach and touch all of you. He made the world about a thousand times more interesting. Thank you for EQX, and for teaching us the very definition of independence. But today, we are heartbroken. - Words spoken by [longtime 'EQX DJ] Donna Frank and felt by all."

Brown built the 'EQX studio himself, and was involved in building its antenna as well. If something broke or needed repairs, Brown was always the one to fix it. He founded 'EQX in the '70s after moving to the Manchester area and couldn't find a radio station to suit his advertising needs.
An article in 2009 in the Albany By Times-Union noted, for 25 years, Brooks remained true to his vision of running an alternative radio station. He's rejected all offers from companies buying up independents and draining the life out of them. He's never changed formats, starting out playing modern rock, still playing modern rock and in recent years furnishing the bands for some of the Capital Region's best festivals.

"Brooks is like the old-time radio-station operator, where the same guy owned it for years and years. And he knew what it was all about," says Peter Rief, a radio aficionado from Malta who for years was WGY 810 amafternoon news anchor and now works on radio shows including the nationally syndicated Mike Gallagher Show. "He may be a little bit quirky. He may be a little bit odd. But you knew what he was about.

"Nowadays, radio stations change hands so fast that you don't know who's at the wheel. It's usually some banker somewhere in New York who doesn't really care. Brooks cares," Rief said.

WEQX is the only radio station serving the Capital Region that has not changed hands in the past 25 years, excluding college and religious stations, said Joe Reilly, president of the New York State Broadcasters Association.