Bud Weiser & Al "Tonto"

Al recorded at WTIT in 1975. Al returned once in 1988 being "in the neighborhood" on a night that we were recording. Al & Bud went to Emerson College together with Many Miles. This shot is from Al's wedding, circa 1980.

WTIT at Gregarious Greg's Nuputials

Johnnie Walker, Bud Weiser & Gregarious Greg

WTIT 10th Year Party 1976

Seated: Gregarious Greg, Female Guest

Standing: Bud Weiser, Ken Kolt, Galloping Gary

Bud Weiser, Debbie Sykura & Bouncing Billy 1976

Debbie Sykura was apart of a lot of parties at WTIT in the late 60's and early 70's. She really was a good friend to all of us. Debbie dated Billy briefly, but worked out better for all of us as a friend. It was Debbie who brought her friend Sally to a WTIT party where she met Many Miles and eventually married Miles. Debbie was featured in a WTIT film, entitled "Film Zero".

Bud Weiser & Ken Kolt 1976

The WTIT 10th Year Party in November 1976.

The Cromwell Studio 1976

Bud in Cromwell.

WTIT's Maplewood Studio 1976

WTIT recorded in the Maplewood Studio in 1975-1976. The DJ Staff was in a state of flux. DJs recording in this studio included: Al "Tonto", Many Miles, Bruce Freeman, Roscoe and Bud Weiser.

The top image shows the windows that led to an upstairs porch where we occassionally recorded. The bottom emage is the more tradional photo of a WTIT Studio.

Bud Weiser 1976

The Cromwell Studio. WTIT's home from 1976 to 1980.

Bud Weiser & Daughter Heather 1975

I think Heather was thinking, "Dad, you are not giving me guitar lessons for another 4 1/2 years. I don't do singing without a six string..."

Bud Weiser 1975

Bud Weiser's DJ Staff Picture at the Maplewood Studio.

The Only Door We Had With Our Logo

The only WTIT Studio that was tacky enough to put their logo on the door. It was The Edgewood Studio (West Hartford) in 1974. It was a tiny cramped studio. We were only there 6 months. Our next studio, The Maplewood Studio did not even have a door. Much as out current digital studio, we took the door off to allow Bud's man-cave to extend from our den took a lit of work from both Kathy and all including Gary Townsend,

WTIT DJ STAFF 1974

Bouncing Billy, Many Miles, Bud Weiser & Gregarious Greg

The Edgemere Studio 1974

Home of WTIT Tape Radio from 1974-1975. DJs that recorded were Johnnie Walker, Gregarious Greg, Bouncing Billy, Galloping Gary and Bud Weiser.

Bud Weiser & Many Miles 1974

After Bud's first wedding in 1973, Johnnie Walker moved to Colorado. Many Miles took his place. After getting married, Miles moved to Atlanta. Ironicly, it was Johnnie Walker who took his place in 1976. Johnnie never left WTIT again.

Bud Weiser and Ed Scarborough 1974

At the Al Conrad studio in Simsbury. Ed was currently at WDRC, Bud at WILI.

Bouncing Billy's Official DJ Staff Pic 1974

Billy in the Glastonbury Studio. WTIT's home in 1973-1974.

Killer Joe and wife Patty 1973

The First Tape Radio Studio

WTIT recorded in The Soby Drive Studio from 1967 to 1973.

A Walk in the Park 1973

This is the last picture of the original 5 DJs. From left: Killer Joe, Bouncing Billy, Bud Weiser, Galloping Gary and Johnnie Walker.

Galloping Gary 1973

Galloping Gary at Bud's first wedding.

WTIT 1973

        Gypsy Joe, Bouncing Billy, Bud Weiser, Galloping Gary & Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker and Bouncing Billy 1973

This shot was taken at a WTIT party during the summer of 1973. In the fall, they left to tour the country together. Billy returned and Johnnie stayed in Colorado for quite a while.

Bud Weiser & Ed Scarborough 1973

Bud was a DJ at WILI and Ed at WDRC (as Ed Mitchell) when this photo was taken. Ed became the "voice" of WTIT (program aids & show openers) in 1973. Rod Allen had moved to Alaska, although most of his announcing work stayed with WTIT through the eighties. Bud also asked Ed to cut openers & aids for WILI. Bud had no idea if the station would use Ed's recorded promos, but thhe management loved them. At that particular time WILI & WTIT sounded a lot alike.

Michael J & Bouncing Billy 1973

At the 100th Tape party at WTIT. Mike (left) voiced a lot of WTIT promos & Program Aids. At the Tape 100 party Michael J with Bouncing Billy.

Bud Weiser Recording in Simsbury 1973

Rod Ewing of WDRC introduced Bud Weiser to a guy named Al Conrad. Al also had a Tape Radio station. Al had a state-of-the-art recording studio. Two of WTIT's announcers (Rod Ewing and Ed Scarborough, both of WDRC) recorded a lot of show openers and program aids in the WNR studio in Simsbury. Bud, Gary and Billy recorded WTIT's year end Countdown show's of the years top music for several years at Al's studio. While Al never appeared on WTIT, Al asked Bud to do two versions of the year end Countdown 1973, one for WTIT and one for WNR. We haven't hear from Al since the late 80's, but he has had a professional recording studio for years in Hartford.

Miles & Sally at the Tape 100 Show & Party 1973

This was Miles' first recording at WTIT. Normally we do not "debut" a DJ at a WTIT Event. The only other time has happened was on Tape 500, Harvey Walbanger's debut. Sally was Miles' first wife and they met at a WTIT party.

WTIT DJ Staff 1974

From left: Many Miles, Gregarious Greg, Bouncing Billy and Bud Weiser.

WTIT Tape 100 Show & Party 1973

From left: Sue, Michael J., Bouncing Billy

Killer Joe and the Cake at Tape 100

March 1973 in the Soby Drive Studio.

Bud Weiser 1973

In the Glastonbury Studio.

Rod Ewing (Rod Allen) of WDRC recording WTIT promos 1972

In 1971 Rod Ewing became a good friend of mine. He was the first "pro" DJ to record show openers and promos for WTIT. Here Rod is at a mutual friend's (Al Conrad) recording studio cutting the bits. His recordings were used for over ten years.

Killer Joe in the WTIT Studio in 1972

Killer Joe was one of the original five DJs. While he did not "join" the DJs until 1968, he was heard on WTIT Tape Radio Shows almost from the start of WTIT. The original five DJs were:
Bud Weiser, Bouncing Billy, Galloping Gary, Killer Joe and Johnnie Walker.

Bouncing Billy 1972

Bouncing Billy in the WTIT Studio.

Bull Durham 1971

Bull Durham was part of the Kingswood DJs that recorded at WTIT in the late sixties and early seventies. It was at Bull's house we recorded the WTIT Marathon in 1968.

For that story, click here.

WTIT 1970

       Jumping Johnnie, Galloping Gary, Bud Weiser, Bouncing Billy & Gypsy Joe

Bull Durham, Bouncing Billy & Johnnie Walker

1970. The picture has a second exposure that is Teddy Q.

Killer Joe 1970: Give Peace a Chance

The View from the Balcony 1970

WTIT Worldwide Headquarters aka/My House. Maybe the only time this balcony was used.

Killer Joe at Work 1970

The majority of the photos of the original DJs at WTIT were taken in black & white in 1970. Galloping Gary took most of the pictures, since it was his film and camera. Killer Joe was trying to do his job when Gary approached.

Teddy Q. 1970

Teddy Q. is another of the Kingswood DJs. He recorded on WTIT in the late 60's & early 70's. Ted returned for both our "10th Year Party" in 1976 and WTIT's 20th Anniversary Party in 1987.

WTIT DJs Ride the Budmobile 1970

The Original Five DJs: Bouncing Billy, Killer Joe, Galloping Gary, Bud Weiser & Johnnie Walker

Galloping Gary 1970

WTIT: Putting Our Heads Together 1970

Johnnie Walker

Bouncing Billy Bud Weiser
Galloping Gary Killer Joe

Bull Durham in 1970

Bull Durham was one of the DJs I met at Kingswood School. Our WTIT Blog has the story of how I wound up at that school. Click here for the story.

"Not Abbey Road" Outtake 1970

It took a lot of attempts before we got this shot the way we wanted it. Gary knew we had screwed it up already and was pointing out the mistake. This shot is more commonly used because the serious shot, as you'll see is damaged.

Bud Weiser 1970

Bud in the Soby Drive Studio. The reel-to-reel tape deck was actually Johnnie Walker's because WTIT's was on the fritz. The mono tape deck, behind Bud, was WTIT's first recorder. By 1970, we used it for jingles. Today, everything is on one computer. We haven't recorded on an actual tape, since 2000.

Gary on Guitar 1970

Galloping Gary on his guitar, the double exposure has Bouncing Billy appearing to be behind Gary.

WTIT DJ Staff 1970

This is the actual photo taken in 1970. The version in our WTIT.net "Year by Year" Photo Gallery is enhanced through air brushing. From left: Johnnie Walker, Galloping Gary, Bud Weiser, Bouncing Billy, Killer Joe

Not Abbey Road 1970

Across from the Soby Drive Studio, WTIT in 1970 mimicks the "Abbey Road" album. From left: Joe, Billy Johnnie, Gary & Bud

Bud Weiser Sitting on Joe's VW 1970

On the day we took the WTIT DJ first staff photo shoot. As previously noted, most of the shoot was photographed by Johnnie's college buddy, Chuck. We worked a lot of hours. Toward dusk on a day in the summer of 1970. Bud Weiser was taking a "smoking" break toward the end of the day's photo sessions.