The Author Events Series presents Erin Riley | The Mighty WMMR
In Conversation with John DeBella
In the early 1980s, the scrappy radio station 93.3 WMMR was on the verge of a major takeover of the Philadelphia airwaves. Erin Riley, who had her finger on the pulse of new artists like Bon Jovi, whose music would define a generation, was hired as the station’s Music Director in 1983.
The Mighty WMMR is Riley’s affectionate and nostalgic oral history of the station’s early years, especially its 1980s heyday, covering everything from the pioneering influence of The Marconi Experiment and the success of The Morning Zoo to how WMMR broke artists like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and local favorites The Hooters onto the national scene. Featuring anecdotes and memories by beloved on-air personalities including John DeBella, Pierre Robert, and Michael Tearson, Riley chronicles the memorable songs and musicians; concerts, contests, and clubs; and the live broadcasts that marked the height of an unforgettable era in Philadelphia radio.
Riley breezily captures the station’s impact on listeners, which made WMMR a perfect storm of the times, the culture, and the counterculture. The Mighty WMMR is a captivating look back at Philadelphia’s rock history and the station that shaped a city and a generation.
Erin Riley built a 40-year career in the music business, programming hit songs for major-market stations including KROQ-FM Los Angeles and WMMR-FM Philadelphia. She led the Philadelphia GRAMMY Chapter and founded Rock & Roll After School, where kids wrote and performed original songs. Riley is the author of A Dark Force: 20 Years with a Covert Narcissist. She lives in Philadelphia and serves as Music Supervisor for the hit series The Recording Artist.
Accomplished radio personality and producer with nearly 48 years of experience in broadcasting, entertainment, and radio innovation, John DeBella was a Pioneer of the Morning Zoo format and instrumental in shaping the New Rock/Alternative radio format. Recognized nationally for delivering top-rated radio programming, fostering community engagement, and leading philanthropic initiatives. He is an inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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