The DJs of WBER
Andrew
I first heard WBER while in a friend’s car in 1990. I was a live DJ at other radio stations but loved the format at WBER. So here I am. I grew up in the city here in Rochester and graduated with a B.A. degree in Communication from St. John Fisher, and I’m the world’s worst speller (thank you spell check!). Aspirations? To live and work where it is warm, year-round. “Peace, Love & Pancakes”.
My five favorite alternative bands are as follows: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Death Cab For Cutie, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and KISS (I know they aren’t alternative, but they are the greatest band in the world.) *
*This bio is actually Charlie Space Mountain’s. It was mistakenly put here when we switched to the new website years ago and Andrew has requested it remain on his page in honor of the Gr8t One.
*Dedicated to Charlie “Space Mountain”
Brett
Thursday 5:00-7:00 P.M
My older sister listened to WBER during her junior high and high school days (1995-1999) and was a major influence on my music taste growing up. I put in an application after I graduated college in 2011 and was on the waiting list for five years before finally getting involved in September of 2016.
Real World: Been working at Bill Gray’s for almost 10 years and graduated from St. John Fisher with a communications degree in 2011. Wrote Buffalo Sabres news for examiner.com from 2013 until 2016 when the website shut down. Trying to gain valuable experience that pertains to my college degree to help further a potential career in broadcasting or journalism.
DJ Carbon
Wednesday 7:00-9:00 P.M.
I’ve been listening to WBER since middle school in the early 90’s. I used to tape songs off of WBER with my little portable boom box. I remember hearing songs from the debut albums of Portishead and Weezer by listening to WBER. If it weren’t for WBER I wouldn’t be as obsessed with music as I am and probably wouldn’t have gone on to play an active role in college radio at WPTS at the University of Pittsburgh.
DJ Hepcat
Monday: 9:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M.
I discovered WBER in the Summer of my Junior year at FHS while picking strawberries in Penfield (where we made just enough to go get lunch at Taco Bell afterwards). I was lucky enough to land the late shift after the Indie Show here at WBER after college. Adulting and work forced me to step away but I was fortunate to be able to return in the Spring of 2022 . I’m a graduate of the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, lifetime member of Otto’s Army and will never pass up a chance to promote my Cuse Fam. If I am not working, I probably have a controller in my hands – I am DJHepcat on Twitch and every gaming platform.Favorite Bands: Rush, Oasis, Living Colour, Bjork, Beastie BoysFavorite Quote: Think about what you put out into the world, make it a better place – Jeff Cannata
DJ NOVA
Thursday 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Depeche Mode – Black Celebration
Dr. Jay
WBER History: Looking for something new in 1991, started at the beginning of the FM dial. Came across Depeche Mode ‘Personal Jesus’ on 90.5 and haven’t left since. Became a DJ in 1987 by answering an ad in Freetime magazine from Beal’s Rock & Roll Review. Played at bars, weddings, parties etc.
Real World: Software developer for a large local payroll processing company. 2 kids, just became an empty-nester as my youngest went away to college. I went to MCC and finished at Empire State College. Grew up in Buffalo, moved to Halifax Nova Scotia for 6 years and ended up in Rochester in 1983, on my own at the age of 20. Huge Buffalo Bills fan.
Dr. Jay left Rochester in 2023 but continues to support the station in any way he can from afar. And he visits from time to time.
5 favorite alternative bands:
Depeche Mode
Live
The Cure
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Graham Parker & The Rumour
Fav Movie: The Princess Bride
Fav TV show: A tie between NYPD Blue and Game of Thrones
First Concert: Jethro Tull, War Child tour at the Niagara Falls Convention Center 1975
Words to live by: “Try not to act your age.”
Ginger Snap
Tuesday: 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M.
Driving to high school and on Monday mornings, the song “I Don’t Like Mondays” by the Boomtown Rats would play. I haven’t stopped listening. I originally applied to be a DJ during the “Be The Next WBER DJ” contest that Boston Erik won. I got an email 7 years later and my work schedule fit to start the training process.
Jeff Kurzrock
I joined WBER back in the summer of 1993 during my college years to get more radio experience. After graduating from college, I followed Jennifer V to WMAX and became her assistant. The spring of 1997 brought the timely death of WMAX. I then moved on to work at WCMF for a couple of years. I’m thrilled to be back and working at WBER, hands down the best radio station in Rochester. After hosting 1st Impressions from 2001-2008, I stepped down due to family commitments. You’ll now hear me on Mondays, at noon until 2:00pm.
Joey
Friday: 8:00-11:00 A.M.
1986: Back in the day my Mom read that WBER offered a summer radio camp. I enrolled because I had always been fascinated by radio and being a D.J.. 1989-90: I started my first radio show on WBER 90.5 FM while attending my senior year in high school at McQuaid. 1993: During the summer of my senior year at the State University At Geneseo, I returned to WBER and interned for Jennifer V and also had my own show again. My dream job after college was always to work at WBER full time. 1994: After I graduated, I stayed at WBER doing my own weekly show and created the Indie Show. In December, Jennifer took a job at the WMAX and I applied for the job of Assistant Program Director and Music Director. I started full time at WBER as Assistant Program Director and Music Director on January 15, 1995. 2001: During the Summer of 2001, I was promoted to the position of WBER Station Manager and Program Director. I am very lucky to have a job that I love and look forward to every day.
Matt D.
Saturday: 10:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
I discovered WBER in 1993, it was the only station truly playing alternative music, electronica music, and heavy bands like Tool, Deftones, and Rage Against the Machine. As for the DJ part, I have always wanted to be a radio DJ, I applied in the Spring of 2024 when my life was settled and thankfully I was contacted.
Real World: My full-time job is as a Fiber Engineer for Avangrid, I have an AAB in Marketing from M.C.C. I graduated from Hilton High School in 1995 and received my Broadcasting Certification from B.O.C.E.S in 1996, my aspiration has always been to be a radio DJ, made a reality in 2025 thanks to WBER.
5 Favorite Alternative Albums:
- Nine Inch Nails-Pretty Hate Machine
- Peal Jam-Ten
- Prodigy-The Fat of the Land
- Portishead-Roseland NYC Live
- Rage Against the Machine-Self Titled
First concert: Spin Doctors/Soul Asylum/Screaming Trees
Favorite movie: Shaun Of The Dead
Favorite beverage: Death Wish Coffee!!!
Favorite Quote (words to live by): What if changing the world was just about being here, by showing up no matter how many times we get told we don’t belong, by staying true even when we’re shamed into being false, by believing in ourselves even when we’re told we’re too different? And if we all held on to that, if we refused to budge and fall in line, if we stood our ground for long enough, just maybe…The world can’t help but change around us. – Mr Robo
The Mayor of Nikville
Thursday 9:00 P.M.-Friday 12:00 A.M.
I moved from Atlanta, GA to Rochester in 2000 and discovered BER while on Dr. Laura detox. (Atlanta is a big Dr. Laura town and I got hooked with her insight, insults, and charming personality). I realized that BER was unlike any station I had heard before, offering new music selections like no other and playing true variety (Similar to a Canadian radio station I used to listen to in hometown of Detroit). I was an avid listener when I heard about the “Who Wants To Be The Next WBER DJ Contest” on the FMS. I made it to the wild card round that first year, but lost to now WBER DJ Furious Yellow. Distraught and heartbroken I turned to Dr. Laura. She got me back on solid ground, and soon after I was recording my mic brakes in my basement, researching bands and churning out countless sit-ups and push-ups accompanied with many late nights discovering the nuances of alternative music. (Is it The Pretenders or is it just Pretenders?). Thanks to great listener support I won the DJ contest the following year and can be heard every Thursday night bringing the weekend in with musical style.
MC Em
Saturday 7:00-9:00 P.M.
My family moved to this area when I was in college, and I was pleased to discover this cool station at 90.5 FM when I was visiting during a break in 1998. More than a decade later, I was again living in the area and heard an ad for a “Be The Next DJ” contest and, rather uncharacteristically, decided to enter. I was an alternate that year and only made it through a few rounds. The next year, I was a regular competitor and lasted a bit longer, but did not win. Nevertheless, I let Joey know I was interested in learning, and a few years later, he had a spot to train me.
Nicole Noon
Friday 5:00-8:00 P.M.
When I first came to Rochester to attend RIT for photography, I discovered WBER and it was like making my first friend in the area. The music made me feel like I was home. And you couldn’t beat commercial-free. Twenty-some-odd years later I put in an application to DJ and about 5 years after that got an email reply.
Real World: Originally from Chicago but have made my home Rochester since 2008. I’m a Realtor of nearly 12 years and associate broker of my real estate team, the Sold by Noon Team. I’m a mom of 4 boys which includes a set of twins. My hobbies include working and working out. Sometimes I get to travel, that’s cool
5 Favorite Alternative Albums/Bands: I can’t pick 5. There are too many 4-way and 5-way ties so I’ll leave it at the top 3 favorite bands: Pixies, Nine Inch Nails, and Rage Against the Machine.
Patrick
I first heard WBER while I was in middle school. The format and music made me an instant fan. I went to MCC for communications in 2007, but life happened and the thought of being a DJ faded into the past. One day I was working in the building where the studio is, and I asked the DJ if they were hiring. I was told to send Joey a message. So, I did. A few months later I got a response asking if I was still interested. Of course I jumped at the opportunity.
I was born and raised in Rochester, NY and graduated from School Of The Arts in 2002. I’m currently the Custodial Supervisor for Monroe One. When I’m not working, I’m probably playing video games or just living life with my wife and son.
5 Favorite Alternative Albums:
Deftones – Adrenaline
System Of A Down – Toxicity
Flaw – Through The Eyes
A Perfect Circle – Thirteenth Step
Slipknot – Iowa
First concert: Kansas, it was a free show in the Kodak/ High Falls parking lot.
Favorite beverage: I am a caffeine junkie, coffee, Monster, Mountain Dew.
Favorite book: Alices’ Adventures In Wonderland/Through The Looking Glass.
Favorite quote/words to live by: “When you can’t find the words, there’s a song for that.”
Pop Ice
Friday: 8:00-11:00 A.M.
I have been a R.E.M. fan ever since my first listen of Radio Free Europe from my cassette tape of Murmur back in 1983. I have been hooked ever since. I also really like the Mayor of Nikville. He is the best DJ we have at the station… well actually maybe the best DJ is Sloan Kristy. Yep, definitely SK, sorry Mayor, you’re number 2. I think that still means you are Ruben Studdard… at least that’s what Furious Yellow said, Furious said you’d know what that meant.
Is this my real bio? Maybe… but what is real is that I’m a slacker.
Vernicus
Because I have to travel often for my job, I moved to Rochester in May 2008 with my wife (a native of Canadice), our 2 young daughters and our black cat so that my wife could be close to her family while I am out of town. Not long after moving here, I was on my way to the airport for one of those frequent business trips and I discovered New Wave Wednesday. It was like someone had raided my personal music collection! I immediately programmed 90.5 into my radio and it has been preset #1 ever since. After listening to the station for a while, I heard Jen say that she would miss a NWW show one week. Loving the show and having been a college DJ throughout the ‘90’s, I naively emailed Jen and offered to sub for her. She very politely informed me that there are many people waiting to be DJ’s (I had no idea it was a volunteer gig) and that there is a training program before you can go on the air. She recommended that I contact Joey about the Be the Next ‘BER DJ Contest. I did and ended up taking second place to Curtastrophe in a split decision in the 2012 contest. It took a long time to get over the heartbreak of that loss, but I entered the 2013 contest with my eyes on the prize and after 2 years of hard work I finally won! It was the first and only thing I ever won on WBER.