WBLI

 WBLI-FM, located at 106.1 on the radio dial first emerged in 1971, replacing WPAC-FM. They originally broadcast from a trailer before moving to the Wedgewood Building on Main St. in Patchogue, and later from a custom building in Medford. 

The station had Block Party Weekends. Held every Labor Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July, the station would play one artist for an entire hour, all weekend long. It had a Saturday Night disco show called "Club 106" during the disco days, and a Sunday Night Oldies show known as "Only Gold" during the 70's through the mid 80's hosted by Don Nelson.

DJs from the '70s & '80s included Barry Neal, Randi Taylor, Bruce Michaels, Nick O'Neil, Chris Tyler, Bill Terry (was PD in the '80s), Jeff Thomas (also the PD), Scott Taylor, Don Nelson, Rick Sommers, Keith Allen (now of B103 Long Island), Rob McLean, Mary Ann (aka J.J. Kennedy of WLTW/New York City),Carl Dayton, TK Townsend, Brooke Daniels, Larry Adams, Scott Miller and Kelly Hart.

Its most recent incarnation began in 1996. Under Doc Medek and Al Levine as M-D/night jock the station redeveloped it's sound, voiced by Billy Moore, and a new jingle package, playing the current records, and had night show features like the "Fresh 5 at 9", and the "New Music Challenge" return. When Cox Radio took over 'BLI they evolved into a more mainstream playlist voiced by Kurt Flood, Mark Driscoll, Jennifer Vaughn, and Brian James. In 2006, Beau Weaver took over as voice of 106.1 BLI.

In 1996, the station dropped the Syndicated weekend Program "Open House Party" on Saturday nights in favor of a disco show hosted by Party Marty Mitchell, also the longtime host of the B-103 Disco Party, and currently, The K-JOY All Request Party Marty Saturday Night Show. Open House Party continued on Sunday nights until November of 96. Party Marty's show would continue until 1998 when "CLUB BLI" would begin, playing current club music. CLUB BLI is the current Saturday night show featuring occasional live broadcasts from popular Long Island clubs.

The morning program, known as "BLI in the Morning" features Dana DiDonato, "Big Gay Randy", Drew,and Ted Lindner with news and traffic. The show has benchmarks such as Dana's crush of the week, Randy's Happy Horoscopes, the Dirt report, Phoney-Phone crank calls; a staple of former co-host Steve Harper, and Hersday, a feature that was pioneered by former co-host Maria Garcia.

WBLI, which is currently owned by Cox Radio and licensed to Patchogue, New York, is programmed by Jeremy (J.J.) Rice who has been with the station since 1998. 

Sources:

70sKid. “WBLI-FM.” Long Island 70s Kid, 23 July 2013, www.longisland70skid.com/wbli-fm

“WBLI.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Dec. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBLI#:~:text=History-,Early%20years,off%20the%20air%20at%20sunset