Ron landed his first radio job at WBOS, hired by Arnie “Woo Woo” Ginsberg, to host a series of ethnic radio shows. After a stint in the US Army, he joined classical music station WBCN. When WBCN changed to a rock-n-roll format, he moved to WGBH-FM, a relationship that continues to this day.
Quincy native Ron Della Chiesa developed an early love for radio when he appeared at the age of 10 on a children’s show on Quincy’s local radio station, WJDA. Fascinated by this experience, he created a radio station in his bedroom, consisting of a cardboard microphone and record turntable; writing his own commercials and newscasts, he began broadcasting to an imaginary audience. He also developed a passion for opera and classical music listening to his father’s collection of Caruso records and other legendary tenors
While a student at the Boston University School of Communication, he landed his first radio job at WBOS, hired by Arnie “Woo Woo” Ginsberg, to host a series of ethnic radio shows, including the Italian Melody Hour, the Polish Variety Hour, Music of the Near East, the Boston Greek Hour and the Irish Hour.
After a stint in the US Army, Ron joined classical music station WBCN, eventually becoming Program Director. When WBCN changed to a Rock-n-Roll format, he moved to WGBH-FM, a relationship that continues to this day, hosting the popular MusicAmerica show more than 18 years, where he interviewed great artists from the world of Opera, Broadway, Film, American Popular Song and Jazz, including Luciano Pavarotti, Eileen Farrell, Robert Merrill, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz, Dave McKenna, Wynton Marsalis, John Williams, Keith Lockhart, Sammy Cahn, Carol Channing, Rosemary Clooney, Harry Connick, Jr., and Frank Sinatra, Jr., to mention a few. He continues to act as the Host for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops live broadcasts from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood
In January, 1997, Ron and his executive producer, Paul Schlosberg, inaugurated the Strictly Sinatra and MusicAmerica shows on WPLM-FM, Plymouth, that still continues Sunday evenings. He also hosts a show featuring Golden Memories of Yesteryear at www.GMMY.com.
Ron is a Boston University Distinguished Alumnus. He is also a winner of the 2010 Ovation Award from Opera Boston, the annual Public Action for the Arts, Man of the Year Award in 2003 and the National Jazz Educators of MA award for his efforts to bring Jazz and American Music to audiences in New England. To celebrate his 50 years in radio, he recently wrote “Radio My Way” with co-author Erica Ferencik. The book includes celebrity profiles from Jazz, Opera and the American Song Book.
Heading into his 75th year, Ron feels fortunate to still be sharing his love for radio with his many fans and friends. As he says: “Stay Tuned, the Best is Yet to Come!”
MASSACHUSETTS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION
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