Jeff Gill was born in New Haven, Connecticut on August 16, 1954, and grew up in a nearby rural town. At the age of 11, he discovered a fascination with radio in all of its aspects - programming and music as well as the technical and performing elements. While in high school, he dj’d music programs over the intercom, played saxophone in the band, and performed in a couple of school plays. He completed his BA in Communications at Seton Hall University in 1976, where his studies were most concentrated in the areas of broadcasting, theater, speech, psychology, history, music, and literature. He was very active at the campus radio station, and performed a fair amount of textbook dictation-to-tape for blind students living at his dormitory.
After some false starts, Jeff did eventually develop a radio career. By 1978, he had his first paying job as an on-air fill-in at WADS in Ansonia, Connecticut. But developments at a tiny community station in which he was also involved - WLNV in neighboring Derby - were what was really capturing his imagination. As this CETA-funded operation evolved from cable casting to 10-watt FM, it adopted a daytime format of folk, country, and bluegrass, thus filling a void in the local market that had occurred at that time. Jeff went on to become the station’s music director and the director of that format.
One day while on the air, he had what can best be described as an epiphany. He recalls saying to himself, “Somehow, if it were ever possible for me to have a real career in this business, I want to do this kind of programming - this music - more than anything else.” WLNV is now gone, long since absorbed into a larger public broadcasting chain. But Jeff’s desires and aims have remained largely unchanged to this day.
His first full-time professional opportunity occurred in 1979 at WNCS in Montpelier, Vermont, one of the early New England pioneers of the diverse, album adult alternative format, now known simply as "triple A." While residing in that state, he went on to work at WSNO and WCVR as well. Seeking better social, professional, and cultural opportunities, Jeff moved to the Boston area in 1983 and has made eastern Massachusetts his home ever since. He has worked in various capacities at WCMX in Leominster (Music Director), WDLW in Waltham (air work; co-producer of a syndicated program), WCAV in Brockton (air personality), and WUMB in Boston (various duties). Several delivery odd jobs have sustained him in a career that can be described as sporadic at best.
However, if there was one involvement with a radio station that Jeff would consider his crowning jewel - the one that made it all worth while - it was his affiliation with WADN in Concord from 1993 to 1997. Although billed as the nation’s only commercial folk station at the time, he was an avid critic of its crossover musical approach and bland familiarity. Nevertheless, Jeff eventually established himself there, prevailing to become Music Director in 1994 and finally, Program Director in 1996, just months before the station changed its format to “personal finance” in December of that year.
Along with his broadcast duties, Jeff produced the acoustic music concert series at Concord’s Colonial Inn in 1995 and 1996. His previous concert producing experience had come in the summer of 1993 when he originated and produced an acoustic series at the Hatch Shell in Boston.
"The memories and people I met through WADN had a powerful effect on my life," he remarks. "I had to carry on the legacy."
And carry on he did. In late March of 1997, Jeff teamed up with former WADN intern and computer wiz Jim Black, purchased the station’s music library, and founded Folk Image, this unique web site. We continue to build on all the hard work Jeff began at WADN.
Jeff's Other Web Sites:
Troubadour 1700 - Part 15 AM station network and Internet stream. Jeff's current music/broadcast project.
WADN - Memories of the former Concord, MA radio station.
The Search for Bianca - Brazilian exotic dancer and beloved friend who disappeared in July 2004.
