Ed Gardella / Host
Ed Gardella shows
“It seems there was always music in the house, mostly because of my mother. She was a big fan. On Sunday it was opera and classical and Carlo Butti during dinner at 2:00. Growing up, there was Frank Sinatra, always Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and the big bands. As a teenager, I often listened to WNEV in Worcester and WNEW out of New York City and became familiar with the American Songbook. Following high school and three years in the Marine Corps, I attended radio school in Boston. I worked in commercial radio for a few years in Ware (W-A-R-E) and in Leominster (W-L-M-S). I used to listen to Joe Slezak on WNEB and eventually became friends nearly 50 years ago. Of course, I was only two.
My path took a completely different turn in my late 20’s when I joined the Worcester Police Department. I found WICN, again thanks to my mother, and have been a fan for forty+ years. On occasion, while still working, Gene Petit would ask me to ‘fill-in’ and shortly after retirement in 2000, I was asked to host the Friday Jazz Matinee, now called Standard Time. I open every hour with a Sinatra song in memory of my mother.
I fill my hours each week volunteering at UMass Medical Center and doing some committee work and fundraising. I particularly like being involved with the Plant the Seed Foundation and serving on the board of the 365Z Foundation. For recreation, I enjoy traveling, biking, hiking and, of course, still dreaming about that elusive “hole in one” on the golf course.
Over the years I have met many talented, knowledgeable and dedicated men and women at WICN. Dedicated to the music they love and excited about introducing new music and artists to our listening audience. As for me, I’m still in love with the American Songbook but enjoy listening to many of the programs WICN has to offer. There really is no station like it. The small administrative staff works tirelessly and most of the on-air personnel and behind-the-scenes staff are volunteers. People who give of themselves for little or no money to keep us going every day…for nearly 50 years. I am proud and humbled to be a part of WICN.”
Email: ed@wicn.org
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