NYC Radio: 77WABC To Honor Radio Legendary Cousin Brucie

77WABC and its owners John and Margo Catsimatidis will honor music radio pioneer and legendary air personality Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow) in recognition of his more than sixty years entertaining listeners. 

The gala event will be held this Thursday, September 7 in New York City. 77WABC will also celebrate 102 years of broadcasting the best in news and entertainment to millions of listeners across the greater New York City area and now – with streaming, podcasting, and the 77WABC mobile app – to listeners around the world!

“I grew up listening to 77WABC and Cousin Brucie,” Catsimatidis said. “My dream was to return 77WABC to its glory with compelling and entertaining programming and big-name personalities. Plus, I wanted to bring back music on weekends when we all need a break from news, politics, and business. I called Cousin Brucie and got him back where he belongs -- on 77WABC.”

“When John called me, I couldn’t believe what was happening,” exclaimed Cousin Brucie. “Here was a talk radio station owner asking me to come home and play music Saturday evenings on 77WABC! I can’t thank John and Margo enough for their vision. It’s been fun and rewarding, and the listeners love it.”

One of first changes Catsimatidis made when he purchased 77WABC in March of 2020 was to bring back Cousin Brucie. On September 5, 2020, about three years to the day of the September 7 gala, Cousin Brucie returned to regaling his fans with the Saturday Night Rock & Roll Party on his original radio home, 77WABC.

“This is radio done right,” stated Chad Lopez, President of Red Apple Media and 77WABC. “John’s programming instincts have been spot-on! We’re giving listeners what they want -- big-name talent and a winning mix of news, music, lifestyle, and entertainment programs. Our success, in just three years, has been phenomenal, and Cousin Brucie is a very big part of that.”

Cousin Brucie first joined 77WABC in 1961, just as rock and roll music was becoming popular and a few years ahead of the British Invasion that brought America The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and more. He became the personality and the voice that connected fans to this new music and the bands that made it. He and Ed Sullivan introduced The Beatles at their famous Shea Stadium concert on August 15, 1965.

In the 80s and 90s, Cousin Brucie was heard on WCBS-FM 101.1, New York’s oldies station at the time. He also hosted the nationally syndicated Cruisin' America, which introduced Cousin Brucie to listeners across America. In 2005, Cousin Brucie launched his weekly Sirius/XM Satellite Radio programs.

Cousin Brucie was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1988 and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2001. He is the recipient of the Bravery in Radio Award from William Paterson University for his “inspirational radio programming and lifelong commitment to radio,” the TALKERS Magazine 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, and an honorary doctorate from Montclair State University for excellence in broadcasting.

He has appeared in films such as Dirty Dancing and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, had featured roles on Broadway in Grease and Memphis and made countless television appearances, including PBS’s My Music series, and more. His philanthropic work includes the Variety Children's Charity and his longtime support of Why Hunger, thanks to his close friendship with organization’s founder, the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. Cousin Brucie is also the author of several critically acclaimed bestsellers, including Cousin Brucie: My Life in Rock & Roll Radio, and Doo Wop: The Music, the Time, the Era.