Former WBLI mainstay Al Levine lands two new radio gigs

Al Levine, the former WBLI/106.1 FM host who left the Patchogue-based station after a 30-year run in June, has landed.

Landed in two places, in fact: As host of a Wednesday night program for the Neptune City, New Jersey-based WWZY/107.1 FM; and as staff member for Garden City-based WHPC/90.3 FM, the radio station of Nassau Community College where he'll also teach students in an adjunct-like role.

A pop music specialist with an unusually extensive palette — unsurprising given his nearly three-decade run as host of WBLI midday show "On the Scene" — his four-hour Wednesday show for WWZY is titled "The Boss Radio Hall of Fame," and will "throw a spotlight on classic artists," Levine said in a phone interview Wednesday. (The station's nickname is "The Boss.")

"I'm open to do more [and] will occasionally fill in for others on weekends but all of that is a work in progress," he said. "For now, it's 'The Boss Radio Hall of Fame' and there may be more."

Private equity giant Apollo Global Management took control of Atlanta-based Cox Media Group's 13 TV stations in February 2019, then a month later the combined company began to explore a sale of all 61 radio stations, according to reports at the time. Those stations included a pair of Long Island institutions: West Babylon-based WBLI and WBAB/102.3 FM.

During a tumultuous time for all radio stations across the country, WBLI and Levine long remained an island of relative calm. That ended in June when he was swept up in companywide layoffs which led to the departures of other well-known Cox radio personalities around the country.

A key part of Levine's role at BLI involved training other DJs, a skill he'll bring to NCC, according to Shawn Novatt, faculty director of WHPC. "He was responsible for helping the talent at WBLI when they were first starting out become who they are now, so when he became available, I approached him about doing the same thing here," Novatt said. "His 30-plus years is something you just can't buy and he'll work here with students and community volunteers alike, offering advice on how to make shows stronger and career advice along the way too."

And what kind of advice should a three-decade-plus radio veteran who's seen a troubled industry buckle during his watch give those students?

"I encourage them and tell them it's an art form that translates into a lot of different things down the road," Levine says. "It could be podcasting or social media. There are a lot of walks of life these kids are moving toward — hotel management, health care — and there's a lot to be said about saying the right thing at the right time. It's about communicating and there's a lot I can offer them."

Meanwhile, Levine has certainly not forsaken radio himself. "I'm still open to opportunities and [WWZY/ WHPC] is a great start."