CNY Radio: Talker Bill Keeler Finds New Radio Home

Graphic Courtesy of CNYRadio.com

Bill Keeler will return to morning radio on 92.7 The Drive (WXUR) on Tuesday, Sept. 8, airing live weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m.

The announcement was first reported CNYRadio.com. He will be joined by former WIBX colleagues Davey Smith and Jeff Monaski, plus Jay Aiello. The show will also stream live on Keeler’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Live 365 and The Drive’s website.

Keeler was let go earlier this month from Townsquare Media’s 950 WIBX, along with Smith and Monaski. WXUR is dropping the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show” to make room for the local program.

Keeler said local ownership was a deciding factor. “Local radio works when it’s actually local,” he said. “It means the people making decisions live here, work here, know the businesses, know the charities, know the important players and, most importantly, know the people listening.”

He added that the new show will include “everything we did at IBX, plus all the things they wouldn’t let us do.” He also noted he is returning to studios he built 20 years ago and will work with Program Director “Genesee” Joe Trisolino and station owner Mindy Barstein.

Barstein, WXUR’s GM and owner, said the hire returns radio to “entertaining, informing and serving the local community.” With Keeler in the morning and Genesee Joe in the afternoon, she said The Drive will be “the only full time live radio station playing music you won’t hear anywhere else.”

Trisolino called Keeler “a local radio legend” and said the move gives the station a fully local lineup. “This is why WE DARE TO BE DIFFERENT,” he said.