Syracuse Radio: 'Big Mike' Fiss Retiring From WZUN

Longtime Syracuse radio personality "Big Mike" Fiss is retiring after 40 years on the airwaves.

According to syracuse.com, Galaxy Communications announced his retirement Wednesday morning; he'll host his final on-air show next Wednesday, Nov. 22 on WZUN 102.1 FM Sunny. Big Mike has been the host of the morning show on the Galaxy-owned radio station for the past 16 years.

"A while ago I decided this would be my last year doing morning radio. Wow, it's been 40 years!" Fiss said in a statement.

Mike Fiss

"Amazing to think I've actually made a good living announcing the time, temperature and having fun! I have many great memories, so the decision to retire comes with mixed emotions. No doubt I will miss the on-air laughs with co-workers, guests and especially listeners. I am grateful to all. With no long goodbye, my last morning show comes up in a week on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I sure have a lot to be thankful for. I love the people of Central New York and my plan is to do more as a community volunteer, and also sleep in a little later!"

Fiss also thanked Galaxy, his many listeners, and his wife Willie "for putting up with me for all these years."

"She now has the burden of being my entire audience, as every morning over coffee I will tell her the time, temperature and try to be funny," he joked.

Galaxy CEO Ed Levine thanked Fiss for his time and generosity -- "Big Mike has been a one man goodwill machine" -- and said he hopes he'll remain a part of the company's family.

His first job in radio was in Bangor, Maine making $22 a week at WABI. Years later, as a morning show jock on Y94FM (WYYY), 'Big Mike' Fiss would be recognized three times as Billboard Magazine's Personality of the Year.

According to cnyradio.com, Fiss grew up in The Bronx, spending the first 21 years of his life in a New York City housing project. While earning his Bachelor's degree at City College of New York, he picked up spare change as a cabbie, bank teller, Chinese food deliveryman, toy demonstrator at Macy's, musician, and worked some at Yankee Stadium.

After his first foray into radio in Maine, he worked as an investigator with the NYS Department of Labor during the 1970s while honing his radio chops part-time in Plattsburgh (WIRY), Albany (WOKO) and Hudson (WHUC). Big Mike in the Morning debuted in Fort Pierce, Florida at WOVV in 1977. Two years later he brought the show to 94 Rock (WSYR-FM) in 1979 where he worked through the station's format change from AOR to A/C and the birth of Y94FM (WYYY) in 1983.

After being let go from the station in 1990, Fiss went to Columbus, Ohio (WSNY) for three years and returned to Y94FM in 1993. In September 2001 he moved to his current morning gig at Sunny 102 (WZUN).