Peter Salvatore Fornatale (August 23, 1945 – April 26, 2012)[1] was a New York City disc jockey and author of numerous books on rock and roll. He is considered a "pioneer of FM rock",[2] who played an important role in the progressive rock era of FM broadcasting.[3] He was the first person to host a rock music show on New York City's FM band, commencing November 21, 1964, on WFUV. By broadcasting progressive rock and long album tracks, he was noted for introducing a musical alternative to Top 40 AM radio in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Billboard called his station "a legend, affecting and inspiring people throughout the industry."[2]
He gave early exposure to country-rock bands like Buffalo Springfield and Poco, and did one of the first American interviews with Elton John.[2] In 1991 he was co-host of "Paul Simon Live in Central Park" and was often called to be an expert guest commentator on PBS specials, including those featuring Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor and others.[4]
^"Peter S. Fornatale, Class of 1963". Fordham Preparatory School. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
^ abcDouglas Martin (April 27, 2012). "Pete Fornatale, a Pioneer of FM Rock, Dies at 66". New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2012. Mr. Fornatale was at the forefront of the FM revolution, along with WNEW-FM colleagues like Scott Muni, Rosko, Vin Scelsa, Dennis Elsas, Jonathan Schwartz and Alison Steele (who called herself 'the Nightbird').
^Heyer, Paul; Crowley, David (2006). Communication in History: Technology, Culture, Society (5th ed.). Boston, Mass: Allyn & Bacon. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-205-48388-4.
^Cite error: The named reference profile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Peter Salvatore Fornatale (August 23, 1945 – April 26, 2012) was a New York City disc jockey and author of numerous books on rock and roll. He is considered...
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Douglas (April 27, 2012). "PeteFornatale, a Pioneer of FM Rock, Dies at 66". New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2012. Mr. Fornatale was at the forefront of...
1976). "WNEW-FM" (Interview: Audio). Interviewed by PeteFornatale. New York City. Fornatale, Pete (November 3, 1976). "Interview with Brian Wilson" (MP3)...
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Thyme (Vinyl booklet). Simon & Garfunkel. Columbia Records. CS 9363. PeteFornatale (2007). Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends. New York City, New York: Rodale...
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