Radio 66 International Presents
the Globe as an Internet Stream
WHAV’s French, English and Canadian Connection

A pioneer Internet radio station that literally presents the world to the world is Radio 66 International. The Montreal-based outlet offers a unique listening experience with locally produced entertainment interspersed with programs from other international stations, including WHAV.

Beginning in 2003 in France, Radio 66 International presents its own array of talent and also relays programs from Yarraman, Queensland Australia, Hong Kong and four U.S. stations. WHAV joined Radio 66’s line-up in 2006.

“WHAV’s retro shows are very popular. Our friends at The Ride Radio often mention them. The Great Gildersleeve became topical last week as I was looking for a track by ‘Birdie’s’ daughter Barbara (Randolph). I found it. All this is interesting to me as I’m learning about U.S. radio heritage,” says Peter Martin, an anchor and the driving force behind Radio 66. “Martin,” pictured above, is his radio name. He was born Peter Matthews in London.

Radio 66 carries WHAV’s noon-hour programs, including Chaz Allen’s Little Known Facts, three days a week. The station also simulcasts WHAV’s 1 a.m. block which includes rebroadcasts of Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Suspense, X Minus One, Great Gildersleeve, Our Miss Brooks and The Couple Next Door.

From Haverhill, England to Haverhill, Massachusetts

Martin says his interest in WHAV transcends the programming. “Reading the long and often ‘bumpy’ history of WHAV was fascinating. All those stories of radio pioneers are close to my heart. I like the idea of local radio (I prefer to say local rather than community as the latter conjures up an impression of amateur) because it embraces all levels of broadcasting. Local radio can easily mix international, national and local events. So with local radio you are in touch with what’s going on in The White House at the same time as hearing about a route detour or a road closure just around the corner.”

“And of course, there’s the twin town thing. When I was in the U.K., I lived in a village next to Haverhill,” Martin adds.

Martin was trained at the School of Broadcasting, London, England. He prefers freelance work and served as a cameraman in France for 20 years before recently relocating to Montreal, Canada. He is available for video shoots in Ontario, Quebec and elsewhere in North America. Fluent in both English and French, he also puts his voice, translation and interpretation skills to work in cinema, video, TV and radio. At Radio 66, Martin presents two music shows weekdays, at 6 and 11 a.m., and three on weekends. He also anchors the news.

In case you are wondering, the numerals in Radio 66’s name do not refer to a radio frequency. Rather, it stems from the prefix to his original postal code in France.

While he enjoys WHAV, Martin says, there is room for improvement. “It’s just a shame you don’t have more live presenter shows, but I guess the budget is microscopic.” He is convinced the community needs to step up to the plate. “I’m sure there must be ways of getting lots of small advertisers,” Martin adds.

To listen, or for more information, visit www.whav.net.

WHAV Expands Local News Operation
Listeners Benefit as Lemay Goes Back to His Roots

Marc Lemay was not a student of Edwin V. Johnson, but he may as well have been. Like the legendary WHAV news director and popular Haverhill High School instructor, Lemay strives for objectivity, accuracy and truth in reporting.

Lemay began anchoring WHAV’s hourly local and regional news updates in March — essentially the same job he accepted at WHAV in 1990. Still, much has changed in the business. Breaking news can be instantly relayed from the field to the studio by any combination of live mobile feeds and streaming via Internet. Instead of ripping news off a noisy dot matrix printer, Lemay monitors Westwood One’s MetroSource “wire” via computer. Of course, the old clackety-clacking UPI teletype was still in the newsroom when Lemay entered WHAV, but it was thankfully retired. Recordings today are also noise-free thanks to digital recording and editing technology that has replaced the old Scully or Ampex reel-to-reel decks.

“One of my memories was when I was hosting a show after morning drive and a particular city councilor called me live on the air after I called a certain section of the city ‘the Bradford section of Haverhill’ rather than Bradford. He tried to read me the riot act, until I asked him what police/fire department responded to public safety issues in Bradford. After realizing he was on the air, and that I had a good follow up for him, he never talked to me again,” Lemay recalled.

“One of the first phone calls I received was from Bill Pike, welcoming me and offering up his assistance. I really enjoyed working with Bill when he served as council president because he understood what it was like being in the media and understood that if I were calling, it was usually for something city-related.” Pike gave up hosting the Open Mike Show in favor of local politics just a few years before Lemay arrived at the station.

Listeners began reacquainting themselves with Lemay when he filled in as host of the Open Mike Show last fall. Since then, he has taken over weekend weather duties and provided voiceovers for the station. His newscasts often include the actual voices of many local newsmakers. One even included a cut of Governor Deval Patrick singing “Happy Birthday” to Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini. Lemay said the Open Mike Show and Jack Bevelaqua helped to shape his news-gathering efforts.

“The Open Mike was still a must-listen tradition (in 1990), even with Jack at the helm. Jack was actually one of our own biggest critics usually, and while that drove me mad, it also drove me to be a better news department and station” said Lemay.

Tim Coco, WHAV president and general manager, said “Marc has, as they say, a nose for news. In just his first few days back at the anchor desk, he was scooping all other media. He also has a perfected delivery that even Ed Johnson would give an A plus.”

 “WHAV’s news organization has been gradually expanding as local advertisers realize their messages resonate with audiences and draw customers. There is a direct correlation between growing advertising revenues and increasing the quality of the news operation. It is vital this trend continues” said Coco. WHAV carried Haverhill Hillies hockey live this past winter, and there will be increasing emphasis on local sports, he said.

Lemay got his start in radio as a 13-year-old intern at WALE AM 1400 in Fall River. When the station was sold in 1989, Lemay was there to sign off WALE at 11 p.m., July 19, and sign on again as WHTB the next morning. In 1990, Lemay moved to WHAV when then-Program Director Brian Webster hired him as news director.

After three years at WHAV, Lemay went to work in other areas of communications including Yellow Pages, newspaper publishing, graphic design, television (public access) and Internet.

In 2004, Lemay returned to radio when he joined WCCM. There, he served as afternoon drive host, production director, IT manager, morning show news anchor/co-host and finally morning show host. In March, 2007, he became public relations/media coordinator for Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.

Other programs emanating from the Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom include the Open Mike Show with Jack Bevelaqua, Community Spotlight and Business Bulletin.

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