{"id":5443,"date":"2010-04-14T10:10:50","date_gmt":"2010-04-14T14:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/news\/article.php?ArticleID=5443"},"modified":"2018-05-08T13:48:09","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T17:48:09","slug":"5443_radio-legend-cousin-brucie-comes-to-montclair-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/college-of-communication-and-media\/2010\/04\/14\/5443_radio-legend-cousin-brucie-comes-to-montclair-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Legend, Cousin Brucie Comes to Montclair State"},"content":{"rendered":"

Broadcast industry icon Bruce Morrow, better known by his on-the-air name, Cousin Brucie, recently visited Montclair State University\u2019s DuMont Television Center to tape an interview for the Department of Broadcasting\u2019s weekly magazine show, Carpe Diem<\/em>, and to lead a master class for students.<\/p>\n

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A 50-year veteran of the broadcast industry, Morrow was a hugely-popular radio personality for New York area hit radio from the late 1950s until the mid 2000s. He now broadcasts internationally on SIRIUS XM Radio, is a partner in a company that at one time operated 92 radio stations around the nation, and has just completed his third book, Rock & Roll\u2014and the Beat Goes On<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Already an established presence in the world of rock and roll radio by the 1960s, Morrow, together with Ed Sullivan, holds the distinction of having introduced The Beatles at their legendary 1966 Shea Stadium concert. \u201cThe amount of energy in that stadium was amazing,\u201d recalls Morrow. \u201cThere were 65,000 screaming teenagers\u2014mostly girls\u2014and when the band started playing, you couldn\u2019t hear a thing over the noise.\u201d<\/p>\n

After being interviewed for Carpe Diem<\/em> by Jeff Friedman, director of the DuMont Television Center, Morrow conducted a master class for Broadcasting students speaking about his life, and about radio\u2019s past, present, and future. \u201cYou guys are in for a ride,\u201d he told the students. \u201cLearn your basics and listen to your teachers\u2014they\u2019ve been there. Ask questions because that\u2019s how you\u2019re going to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morrow spoke of the importance of responsibility to the listening audience, and knowing what the audience wants to hear as two of the keys to success. He also commented on the change over the years in the way that radio hosts relate to their audiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose of you who have heard me on the air understand my kind of broadcasting is not too common anymore,\u201d said Morrow. \u201cI speak to<\/em> people\u2014most broadcasters speak at<\/em> people. I make people feel very comfortable, as if they know me\u2014because I make them feel<\/em> that they know me. I talk to them, never at them. Try to remember that,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n

In addition to giving advice and entertaining the attendees with his stories, Morrow also had words of praise for the Broadcasting students and faculty who worked on the Carpe Diem<\/em> taping. \u201cIt was a great experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was as professional as I\u2019ve ever seen and I\u2019ve been on every T.V. network and every cable network. Congratulations, it was really great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morrow will be returning to the Montclair State University campus on May 15, 2010 to speak at the College of the Arts Convocation ceremony and receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. \u201cThis honor means so much to me,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been in all kinds of Halls of Fame and I\u2019ve been honored all over the country, and this probably is my number one. This means more to me than anything else because it recognizes accomplishment by peers, by educated people, and by people of an institution of this prestige.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Image Gallery<\/h2>\n

Click on an image below to enlarge photo.<\/p>

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