Bobb Angel, legendary morning host of WADK’s Morning Report, signed off after 58 years on the air on Friday.
Angel, who has been called “Newport’s dad” and “the voice of Newport” this week by longtime fans, hosted his final broadcast on AM 1540 and FM 101.1 WADK.
The 79-year-old broadcaster will continue calling high school and college sports games for the station, a role he’s held since the 1970s.
“I felt so fortunate to meet so many of the people I met. Many of them became friends, others just acquaintances,” Angel said during his final show. “It really did evolve into a privilege to be able to relate to and communicate with our listenership for morning after morning after morning.”
Bruce Newbury, the longtime midday host, will take over the morning slot beginning Monday. The station plans several programming changes, including new local and syndicated shows.
“Bob, you and Marconi, that’s all I can say. You’re in a running for the longest time involved in radio broadcasting,” said Bonnie Gomes, owner of 3G Broadcasting, during Angel’s final broadcast.
“Bob, I gotta tell you, when I bought the stations and found out that you came with the deal, it was a happy and humbling event for me. You have. You’ve been a staple in that Rhode island market for a million years. Your sports broadcasting, your involvement in the community, everything you’ve done. You are Mister Newport for sure,” Gomes said.
Newport City Councilors Jeanne Marie Napolitano and Lynn Underwood Ceglie also called into Angel’s last show, praising him and thanking him for all he’s done for the community.
Angel joined WADK in 1967 after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Broadcasting. He has served in various roles at the station, including general manager.
Angel was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame in 2010 and has been named Rhode Island Sportscaster of the Year seven times.
As he signed off, Angel reflected on his path to broadcasting. “If you knew me in my early years… if you knew Bob Angel when he was, I don’t know, 13, 14, if I was in the room, you’d hardly know it. And very quiet, stuttered a bit,” he said. “And for some reason, when I was around 20, 21, I went to the Rhode Island School of Broadcasting after I heard an advertisement just to see what it was all about. You know me, Mr. Shy, Mr. Stutterer, looking into radio of all things. And that was in 1967 and I haven’t stopped since.”
