This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds

One of the craziest air personalities to ever work at WBVP was a guy named Sylvester Sergi, or “Syl” as he was nicknamed, became part of the staff in 1955 and made an immediate impact with his flamboyant on air routine.  Sergi referred to  himself as “Syl the Pill”.  Kenneth Britten wrote  about Sergi in his publication “Local Radio”, published in  in 1990. “Syl Sergi was hired as an announcer and following in the tradition of  (WBVP morning show host) Arnold Fletcher, (he) would soon establish himself as another unique individualist. Syl developed a style of speech that was years ahead of its time and appealed to the youngsters of that rock ‘n roll age. He was a flower child before they existed. He was also notorious for his trademark opening comment, ‘This is Syl the pill, from College Hill, to give all the girls a thrill.’ Sergi also became famous for challenging car drivers to beep their horns if they were tuned in to him and inviting everyone to a wiener roast the night his home caught on fire.”  While he was only on the air at WBVP a few years, the stories that circulate around about Syl Sergi are quite numerous and he continues to be one of the more recognizable names from the early  days of the radio station.

Sergi was heard in the evenings on WBVP, from six until sign off at midnight.  In those days, WBVP was not on the air 24 hours a day as it is now, so some  of the duties of the evening announcer would have been to air the National Anthem and then power off the transmitting equipment.  Often times, Sergi and another popular Beaver Falls youngster who would make quite a name for himself in the radio world, Jim Reynolds, would alternate days on the evening shift after Reynolds’ hiring in 1960.

Sergi moved on in 1961, but came back to make a guest appearance during the 50th anniversary celebration of WBVP in 1998.  Joining Syl on that day was yet another local broadcaster, Gene DeSimone.  DeSimone was also from Beaver Falls and worked at WBVP, but also hosted an air shift for a while in the 1950’s at WRYO in Rochester.  WRYO was on the air from 1949 to 1953 and was heard on the dial at 1050 A.M.

“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Abbey Carpet and Floor,  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing,  Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County,  Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, Kitchen City, Laughlin Insurance Agency,  Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins.

This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.

Through the years, many famous bands have been a part of WBVP, WMBA and sister F.M. radio station, WWKS.  National acts like Tiny Tim, Tony Bennett,  Motely Crue and Great white have been live on the air in the Beaver Falls studio.  Many local bands have also enjoyed having their music air on the stations, or have been interviewed, like B.E. Taylor, Donnie Iris, The Granati Brothers, Sidewinder, Dawn Savage and The Neon Oranges, among many others, but the band that perhaps has had the longest and deepest relationship with the radio stations over the years is The Jaggerz.

In March of 1970, The Jaggerz ‘ hit song “The Rapper” spent 6  weeks on the Billboard Magazine top 10 list. It was one of three songs released  by the group to crack Billboard’s top 100.  The original group consisted of Jimmy Ross, Benny Faiella, Jim Pugliano, Donnie Iris, Thom Davies and Bill Maybray.  They were all from in and around Beaver County.

So, it only makes sense that in June of 1968, it was while listening to WBVP and driving through Beaver Falls, that the Jaggerz heard themselves for the first time being played on the radio.  Jimmy Ross remembers the day well. “We had just recorded ‘Baby I Love You’ in Philadelphia, and on that day.  Bill Maybray and I  were driving up 7th avenue in Beaver Falls in a 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne sedan.  We were heading to a rehearsal at Club Naturale and the song came on the radio.  We pulled over to the side of the road to listen.  It was the first time that we ever heard one of our songs on the radio”.   Club Naturale was a popular bar and nightclub that was located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 9th street in downtown Beaver Falls.  A few years ago, the building was razed and an empty, grassy lot is now on that corner.

In 1973, Jimmy Ross and Donnie Iris joined WBVP show host Tony Scott, also know as Sam Nicotero, in the studio and presented him and the station with plaques to honor the station for being supportive of the band and its music.  One of the plaques is still on display in the station offices at 1316 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls.

The tradition will continue this May, as The Jaggerz, now comprised of Ross, Faiella, Hermie Granati, Dennis McAbee, Paul Martello and Chris Patarini, will perform at the WBVP 70th Anniversary Gala to be held on May 25, 2018 in the Grand Ballroom of the General Brodhead Hotel in Beaver Falls.

“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican Food,  Laughlin Insurance Agency and Rochester Manor and Villa.