Nearly three years after Chris DiPaolo’s untimely death at the age 49, the radio stations he owned in Westerly and Coventry have sold to a new owner who promises the stations will continue with robust local news, information and entertainment coverage.
Rick W. Schmidt of Yonkers, New York, and owner of Greater Hits USA, an “oldies” show he launched 14 years ago that has expanded to 140 stations from Australia to the United States, is the new owner of WBLQ and WWRI.
Schmidt, like DiPaolo, was bitten with the radio bug early.
At nine, Schmidt said, he was listening to Dan Ingram on WABC, and by the early 1970’s he and some friends operated their own “little station … complete with homemade jingles.” He became a DJ at roller rinks and clubs, and in 2011 launched Greatest Hits USA that now plays internationally. His company, Turn Up Your Radio LLC, is the new owner of the Westerly and Coventry stations.
Chris DiPaolo started his radio career at the age of 15 for a Hope Valley station. In the years after, he served as a newsman, disc jockey, sales representative and manager. In 1994, Chris started his own low power station. Through a series of events Chris developed WBLQ and WWRI.
Under DiPaolo’s leadership the stations grew – WBLQ as news and information primarily covering Westerly, Hopkinton, Charlestown, and Richmond in Rhode Island, and Stonington and North Stonington in nearly Connecticut. WWRI is a music station covering much of the Kent County area.
DiPaolo became a huge presence in the communities served by his stations, serving on the local chambers of commerce, the local Rotary Club, and setting up remote broadcasts throughout the region.
After Chris died suddenly nearly three years ago, his father, Thomas, an educator, began running the stations, a challenge for someone without radio experience. Thomas was intent on keeping his son’s dream alive, while looking to sell the station to someone with the same passion for radio. Thomas a former Westerly Superintendent of Schools is executive director of the Rhode Island Superintendents Association.
(Frank Prosnitz, WhatsUpNewp News Editor, is also the Morning Show host on WBLQ radio)