Brother Wease

Brother Wease is the stage name of Alan Levin (born November 1, 1946 in Rochester, NY), a radio personality from Rochester, New York. He was most recently heard on WCMF-FM in Rochester.

Radio career

Brother Wease hosted a morning show on WCMF-FM for twenty-three years. The latest incarnation was titled "Radio Free Wease".[1] He also intermittently hosted a Saturday morning music show.

In January 2008, Wease's contract expired, and on February 6, 2008, officials from station owner Entercom Communications said that they had discontinued negotiations.[2] The staff of "Radio Free Wease" continued on the air without him, and the station announced that the show's name would change to "The Break Room." Wease was rumored to be making several hundred thousand dollars as host of the program and as one of Rochester's most popular morning shows.

Wease is a champion of all things Rochester, and is adored by his listeners as the city's foremost proponent of cultural events and recreational activities.

From March through September 2004, Wease hosted both his WCMF show and a similar program on WBUF, WCMF's Buffalo sister station which was using an FM talk format. The WBUF version aired between Howard Stern and Don and Mike. When Wease was diagnosed with cancer (see below), WBUF pulled the plug on Wease's show and went to a Jack FM format.

Wease hosted a three hour show on XM Satellite Radio's Virus channel in December 2006.

Wease served as an emcee for Woodstock '94 and Woodstock 1999.

Gregg "Opie" Hughes of The Opie and Anthony Show has referred to Brother Wease as his mentor. Hughes worked with Wease at the same station in Rochester when he was first breaking into the business. When the FreeFM portion of The Opie and Anthony Show was syndicated to Rochester in the summer of 2006, Hughes refused to allow the show to compete against or replace Wease's show in the mornings. The Opie and Anthony Show is therefore broadcast in Rochester during the afternoon via tape delay.

Nationally syndicated talk radio host Stephanie Miller was once a co-host with Wease, using the on-air name "Sister Sleaze". [3]

Wease is credited with popularizing the term "315er", an insulting way of referring to residents of the rural area east of Rochester, (telephone area code 315).

As of February 7, 2008, Wease is no longer on the air. Entercom announced "We did our best to try and bring Wease back to WCMF, but in the end, were not able to reach an agreement. We understand that he intends to pursue other opportunities."

Shortly thereafter he accepted a job as a sales executive at Clear Channel Communications. Brother Wease will return to the airwaves on November 17th, 2008, on 95.1 THE FOX. A new supporting crew is being assembled. Lilly of the stellar The Ron and Fez Show announced on October 7th that she will be joining the show.

Controversies

• In one of Howard Stern's books he claimed Wease was but one of many national hosts imitating him.
• In a February 26 2004 "community letter" to Wease, Bruce E. Darling of the Rochester Center for Disability Rights took Wease to task for on-air comments “regarding an incident involving a woman who uses a wheelchair.” Darling and added “Your comments were offensive to our community and we ask that you apologize on the air.”
• Wease was sued in the amount of $17 million by former co-host Cindy Pierce, who said his lewd remarks about her forced her off the air. The suit was later settled out of court for an unspecified amount.
• Wease was sued by former WCMF account executive Jodi Strada, who said Wease humiliated her by on-air sexual references.

Personal life

Wease is known for his openness with listeners, including the sharing of much of his personal life. He is a war veteran, having completed three tours of duty in Vietnam. He has been married three times and has six children. He met his current wife, Doreen, when she was a guest on his show. He is a motorcycle enthusiast and an avid poker player.

His work history includes stints as a concert promoter, a mail carrier, and an overnight disc jockey. He is part owner of Physical Graffiti[4], a tattoo parlor on Ridge Road .

Wease founded a charity called Wease Cares[5] in honor of a friend who died after a long bout with cancer in 1998.

Cancer

Wease announced on his February 2 2005 show that he had been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare form of sinus cancer. Wease underwent seven weeks of radiation treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, during which he intended to broadcast from a makeshift studio in his apartment for as long as he was physically capable. Wease never missed a show, despite being able to broadcast for only a few minutes on certain days. During his treatment, WCMF established "Kick Cancer's Ass," a campaign which raised nearly $100,000 for children with cancer. Wease returned to Rochester following his treatment. He learned in August 2005 that the treatment for his cancer had been successful.

References

• WXXI.org. "War Letters: Rochester Writes Home".
• Say What?, interview with Wease, City Newspaper, a Rochester alternative newspaper, March 31 2004 [6]
• 10nbc.com (2 February 2005). "Popular DJ battling cancer". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Spevak, Jeff (February 3 2005). "Radio host shares anxiety with early-morning fans". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• OLIVEIRI, CHAD (March 31 2004). "Say what?". City Newspaper. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• MarksFriggin.com (January 25 2006). "Stern Shit List". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Brother Wease official web site
• Radio Free Wease official web site
• Wease Cares Charitable Foundation