Simon pontin biography

It was June of 1976 when “this fine British gentleman” Simon Pontin joined the staff of WXXI after serving in the mid-60s playing the "real classic hits" at classical WBFB-FM.

Simon was known to always have some gimmick or plan up his sleeve. Like the April Fool’s Day broadcast “LIVE from Cobbs Hill Reservoir.” However, when WXXI President Bill Pearce went up to the hill, no one was there. The entire thing was a creation of Simon’s, done live from the studio, complete with sound effects of water and runners.

Then there was “Garbage Day in the Wedge.” Simon lived in the South wedge and on Thursdays he would announce to listeners that it was “Garbage Day in the Wedge.” So, it only seemed appropriate that on Thursday, June 26, 1986 Simon would broadcast live from the back of a garbage truck parked in the Wedge.

In June 2009, WXXI Classical launched the