Ron Soldano WCFA Radio 101.5 FM
 I love music. Couldn’t live without it anymore
than I could without food, water and air.
I like all kinds, it really depends on my mood at
the time. Music’s effect on me can be so much
so that it can even change that mood once the
tune is played.
My music collection consists of a wide variety
that includes rock oldies, country, Irish,
blues, gospel, classical and jazz. Something for
every mood of the moment.
Of all these, musical forms I would have to
say I listen to jazz most often. It’s a pure American
art form – our music. Documentary film
maker Ken Burns says “Jazz has been called the
greatest expression of American Democracy; a
music built on individualism and compromise, independence
and cooperation.” “Jazz is Americas
greatest cultural achievement.”
One of the stations I have lways had preprogrammed
on my car radio is WRTI, 90.5
FM, Temple University’s jazz station. Its strong
signal can usually be picked up at the Jersey
Shore. Several years ago however, I discovered
much to my surprise, we had our own local
jazz station.
WCFA, 101.5 FM, located in Cape May, is a
24 hour commercial free radio that describes
itself as “jazz and more”. It operates with a special
FCC license for non-profits that permits it
to broadcast a low power signal (83 watts) that
covers a 10 mile radius. The reason for the special
license is that it is considered a community
station and is actually an arm of the Center
for the Community Arts.
The CCA is a multicultural educational organization
whose mission is to foster interest
in the arts and humanities in the local community.
The organization was founded in 1995 and
its offices as well as its radio studio are located
in a small house on Lafayette St.
The old Franklin Street School, currently
being restored, will re-open as a community,
cultural center and the future home of the CCA
and WCFA radio.
Although the studio is in Cape May, its 100’
antennae is actually located in Wildwood Crest
atop the water tower. This was arranged
through the efforts of Wildwoods Mayor Ernie
Troiano and Water Utility Director Gary
Ziegler.
One day about a year and a half ago, I was
delighted to hear a long time friend had become
an announcer at the station. Ron Soldano,
local realtor extraordinaire, was now the host
of his own radio show. Even if you don’t know
Ron personally, you may be familiar with
his billboard ads for the real estate company
he works for. These feature a huge
picture of “himself” as well as his name, Ron
Soldano, accent on the Sold.
Besides being an award winning real estate
agent, he is also a veteran broadcaster
and huge fan of radio. It is actually his greatest
passion and has been all of his life.
Ron’s love affair with radio began at age
7 when he received every kids dream gift
of the early 1960’s, a small transistor radio,
complete with personal ear plug.
Top 40 AM radio was still a big and influential
part of our lives at that time.
It was the “DJ’s” however, that made
radio. Every station had its own star announcers.
Their unique styles, electric personalities
and distinct voices identified their
station as much as the call letters and type
of records they played.
Those of us from the Philadelphia area
had Dan Donovan, Joe Niagra, Hy Lit, Jerry
Blavat and others. Ron though, grew up in
the New York area and his radio heroes
were Cousin Brucie, Ron Lundy and his favorite,
Dan Ingram.
Ron joined his high school radio committee
but for some reason never got behind
the microphone. He would have to
wait 24 years for his first opportunity.
Ron graduated high school and entered
the skilled trade of a tool and die maker.
He worked in a research and development
department in his home town until he had
the urge to move and seek new horizons.
He relocated to the Jersey Shore in
1978 and wanted a new career challenge.
Ron never forgot his first love, radio, and
wandered into the WCMC Studio in Wildwood.
He met and was nterviewed by our
own local radio star, Bill Wotring. Ron related
his long interest and asked if there
might be an opening for a novice but eager
to learn broadcaster. There was not, so he
found himself in several other types of work
until 1984 when he became a licensed real
estate agent in the Wildwoods.
Ron was a natural in this field with his
ingratiating personality and communication
skills, no doubt honed through the years of
listening to his broadcast heroes. My own
father always said, “If you have the power of
communication you can succeed in anything.”
Ron left the Wildwoods in 1996 to
work with Coldwell Banker James C. Otton
Real Estate in Stone Harbor. His talent in
this profession earned him the “million
dollar club award” several times and his
opinion on the subject was valued enough
for interviews with the New York Times (3
times), Worth Magazine and many others.
In 1996 Ron finally got his first chance
to get behind the mike, although it was to
advertise real estate in a recorded commercial
(WRDR 104.9). Not long after this
he was invited to do a kind of info commercial,
chatting with the announcer in special
real estate segments, three times per
week. It was at this time he really came to
understand the power of radio. The phone
rang off the hook after each show with potential
customers.
Shortly later, Ron’s civic mindedness and
obvious broadcasting talent inspired NJN to
ask him to host what would come to 6 annual
pledge drives on public television. In 2003
he wrote, produced and starred in a commercial
for the United Way of Cape May
County.
The following year Ron once again began
a new run of radio advertisements, but this
time on WSNJ 1240AM in Bridgeton. Radio
host Jonathon Casey became friends with
Ron through their studio work which led to
Ron co-hosting some of Jonathons shows. The
station manager was very impressed and soon
Ron had his own interview show. His long
time dream finally came true.
Among his interview guests were Noel
Neill, the original Lois Lane on the Superman
TV show, recording artist Danny Wright,
Mark Lane, President Kennedys New York
City campaign manager and radio icon Cousin
Brucie, one of his childhood heroes.
The highlight of his life though, was his
chance to interview his favorite DJ, Radio Hall
of Fame inductee, Dan Ingram. Ron says this
was a very surreal experience and still finds
it hard to believe.
By the way, Ron tells me I was actually
the first person he interviewed on WSNJ
when I was there to talk about the Hereford
Lighthouse! You could never tell though, it
was just like he had been doing it for years –
a real natural.
In July 2007, as fate would have it, Ron
got a phone call. It was Bill Wotring, formally
of WCMC and now WCFA radio. Twenty nine
years after Ron had first inquired about a job,
Bill was calling to ask Ron if he was interested
in working for Cape Mays new radio
station. (Bill did not recall their first meeting).
Ron didn’t have to think too hard about
this offer. It would be a volunteer position
(as all WCFA announcers are) for a good
cause and you get to pick and play great jazz!
Ron will be celebrating two years with the
station in July 2009.
He has played music, conducted interviews,
done live remote broadcasts and has
created several of his own theme shows including “Crooners Corner” and “The
Soundtrack of Your Life.”
Ron’s love of music mirrors mine and includes
a wide variety although I think jazz
and big bands are his favorite. He loves the
music of John Coltrane, Billy Ecstine and
Edguardo Cintron, Latin jazz stylist. He is also
a huge fan of Carlos Santana who he thinks
can’t be labeled just as a rock musician because
his style is so uniquely innovative.
Ron says he does not prepare very much
for his music shows because he likes them
to be more spontaneous and instinctive. His
music selections are always diverse and interesting
with bits of music history and trivia
between songs, along with a little good humor.
He fits the description of a “renaissance
man” very well because of his interest, knowledge
and passion of many things. He is also a
people person who truly loves to talk with
and listen to others and is very proficient in
the lost art of conversation. These talents
make him a perfect choice for community
radio.
Ron also enjoys his live remote broadcasts
which WCFA presents about once per
month. These are usually underwritten by
some organization to raise awareness of a
special event. He recently had one on the
beach in Wildwood to cover the Annual Polar
Plunge. This is a benefit to help the N.J.
Special Olympics. Over 600 brave people
participated. The air temperature was 27degrees
with a wind chill of 9. The water temperature
was 33 degrees and there was ice
on the beach!! Unbelievably it attracted an
audience of about 1000.
Sometime this Spring Ron will launch a
new talk show that will be called “Ron’s Beat
on the Street”. He will be interviewing people “On the street and in the know” as he phrases
it, covering all types of subject matter with
cultural interest. He points out that music
will be “sprinkled” into this show at appropriate
places. It should be the only one of its
kind in Cape May County.
Ron envisions his future as just doing radio
interviews, maybe as he says as “the voice
of the people”. I think this is his destiny.
Ron has some very strong personal philosophies
about life and his advice to friends
and listeners is always “Stay healthy, stay
grounded, stay true to lifes plan and stay true to
yourself.” As a friend I know he practices what
he preaches.
Until his new talk show airs in the Spring,
you can continue to hear him play great jazz
on his Thursday night show, 6 – 9.
Sometimes I loose all hope in society (just
watch reality TV for a few minutes) but when
I turn on WCFA and hear the likes of Billy
Ecstine, Miles Davis, Pat Martino, Rene Marie – Ahhhh – Everything is right with the world
and I know civilization still has a chance.
The radio station is constantly looking
for volunteers. No experience necessary. They
will train you for whatever the job is. They
are also seeking underwriters to help support
them. If you, your business or organization
would like to help this valuable resource
please contact them.
WCFA ~ Ron Soldano
712 Lafayette St. Cape May NJ 08204
609-884-7525 or 609-368-4615
info@centerforcommunityarts.org
www.RonSoldano.com
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