BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Friday night, legendary Boston broadcaster Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsburg passed away at the age of 93.
Ginsburg graduated Brookline High School in 1944, and started his professional radio career in 1956 as a disc-jockey at WBOS 1600AM, where he developed a Top-40 show and became heavily influential in Boston's pop and rock scene.
Local rock ‘n’ roll fans might recall Ginsburg’s Friday Night Record Hops at the Surf Ballroom at Nantasket Beach, where he introduced Frankie Avalon, Gene Pitney, and the Rockin’ Ramrods.
In 1958 Ginsburg gained popularity as a radio personality at WMEX, where he became known picked up the nickname "Woo Woo," for his use of sound effects on his show "Night Train."
Ginsburg also worked with WRKO, and in 1970 he became the general manager of WBCN. By 1972, he started as the general manager with WWEL, before joining WBZ for a Saturday night oldies show in 1973. He went on to become partner of Kiss-108 FM in 1979, and by in 1985 he became co-owner of V-66, Boston's video music channel.
Ginsburg retired in 1986 and moved to Ogunquit, Maine with his longtime partner, Carlos Alberto Vega.
Ginsburg was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 2008.The organization said more information about a memorial will be made as it becomes available
In an obituary posted online, Vega said of Ginsburg; "Arnie´s years at WMEX coincided with the growing emergence of Rock and Roll, but also the British Invasion and the popularity of the Pop Folk style of such artists as Peter, Paul & Mary. Arnie introduced the Beatles at both their Boston concerts at the time, as well as the first concert in New England by the Rolling Stones."
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App
(Photo Credit: Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall Of Fame)