Classical 95.9 WCRI

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Classical 95.9 WCRI, News Radio 1180 WCNX, and Billboard Connection Providence are owned by Judson Group, Inc., a company that includes the son and grandsons of broadcasting pioneer Ted Jones, founder of Charles River Broadcasting Company and Boston's legendary classical music station, WCRB. Judson Group acquired Classical 95.9 WCRI and News Radio 1180 WCNX from Charles River Broadcasting in 2006 and is committed to carrying on the Ted Jones tradition of radio excellence

Classical 95.9 WCRI is the only classical music station exclusively serving Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut. WCRI reaches an upscale, educated and active listening audience throughout southern New England. With its transmitter situated on Block Island, WCRI provides a strong, clean signal to Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut.

In addition to popular classical movements and pieces, WCRI presents specialty programming such as Mozart Block at Nine O'Clock, Sunday Brunch and All-Time Classics.

Classical 95.9 WCRI is the sister station of News Radio 1180 WCNX (Hope Valley).

Click HERE to learn more about advertising on Classical 95.9 WCRI!

Steve Murphy

Steve Murphy is a 20-year broadcasting veteran who has primarily worked as a classical announcer, but has also dabbled in easy listening, news, and commercial voiceovers. Steve’s radio travels have taken him to stations on Cape Cod, on Boston’s North Shore, and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he became an award-winning broadcaster and critically acclaimed concert singer. He has soloed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on many occasions, including a 2004 subscription concert appearance as a headliner in Charles Ives’ General William Booth Enters into Heaven, which was recorded for radio broadcast throughout North America.

When not on the air, Steve enjoys volunteering, attending concerts, and watching classic game shows. He also loves driving the highways and byways of this great nation, preferring to “take the road less traveled by” (his favorite is any road that’s not an Interstate highway). Steve is an admitted sports junkie and is a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. He is married and has a grown son, two teenaged daughters, and an adorable adopted dog that was rescued from a puppy mill.

Don Spencer

Don was born and raised in New England. His favorite place is the top of Mt. Washington, “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” Don’s favorite selections from classical music are Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Rossini’s William Tell Overture, and any symphony by Mozart, Beethoven or Brahms. Between programs on the Classical Station I love to play golf, hike and bike. Recently I’ve started to re-learn everything I forgot about playing the piano and trombone. I’m also a big fan of Count Basie-style swing music, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

Larry King

Larry King, sometimes known as The Real Larry King since that is his real name, grew up outside of New York City where he was inspired by the radio stations and on-air personalities he heard as a child. Larry was also interested in music, especially classical and jazz. He was first trumpet in his high school band, played in his town’s concert band and symphony orchestra, and won a prestigious student music award from Lincoln Center in New York. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, majring in both Music and Speech/Communication and sang in the college’s glee club that toured both in the United States and South America. It was during his junior year that Larry became involved with the college radio station. His professional broadcasting experience has been at radio stations on Cape Cod and Boston. His favorite classical composer is Beethoven and his favorite orchestra is the Boston Symphony. Larry’s high school aged son David is first ‘cellist in his award-winning high school string ensemble that performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in April, 2006.

Gary Arruda, News, Weather & Sports

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Gary has been working in radio for over 4 years. His career started at WHUS, the student radio station at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. After graduating from UConn, Gary attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Pawcatuck, CT. Gary has been working at Classical 95.9 WCRI since 2005 and lives in Westerly, RI.

Mike Maino, Host of American A Capella and Conducting Conversations

Mike Maino has spent over 45 years of his life immersed in the world of singing, speaking and entertaining. He joined the Barbershop Harmony Society at the age of 10, and has sung in many popular championship groups. As an MC, his experiences include hundreds of live stage shows, that have taken him from California to Newfoundland, Seattle to Bermuda, and just about every major performance venue in between. His voice over work at Aviti Productions, in Providence, led to TV commercial work for Comcast, in the Boston area, and now to the Judson Group, at WCRI and WCNX.

Dr. Mark P. Malkovich, III - Host of My Music Sundays from 8pm to 9pm

Dr. Mark Malkovich has been the general director of the Newport Music Festival for over thirty years and has brought the Festival to international prominence. He is considered an expert in the field of chamber music and is himself a pianist of note, having studied with Dorothy Crost Bourgin of the Chicago Musical College, William Beller, Chairman of the Piano Department of Columbia University, and Adele Marcus of the Juilliard School. Malkovich’s personal record collection of more than 15,000 discs contains many rarities, especially of pianists, gathered from his travels around the world. He is listed in Who's Who in America, Celebrities in International Music, and Leading Personalities of the World. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Salve Regina University, an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Rhode Island, and he has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was invited as the sole American adjudicator to the First Tbilisi International Piano Competition in Georgia. He has also been inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, one of only 390 illustrious Rhode Islanders in the history of the State, from Roger Williams to the present.