Jay Hickerson: Guest of Honor

Jay Hickerson

Jay Hickerson, pianist and entertainer, has served as musical conductor, piano teacher and pianist with various orchestras throughout Connecticut and other Northeastern states for more than 45 years. Jay received a Bachelor’s Degree (Music Theory) from the Hartt College of Music, and a Master’s Degree (Education) from Southern Connecticut State University.  He was a founding member of the New Haven Chapter of the Connecticut State Music Teacher’s Association and served as its first president.

Jay is a also a noted radio historian, and, as Chairman of FOTR, Inc. (Friends of Old-Time Radio, Inc.), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, he organized an annual convention which was heavily attended by collectors and fans of the radio medium, as well as actors, actresses, writers, directors, and others who have been and still are active in the entertainment industry. “In the 1960s and 1970s, as a pianist and entertainer, I often played radio theme songs and asked the audience to identify them,” Jay recalled. “In 1970, at one of the parties, a guest of a friend, Sal Trapani, had recordings of old radio shows, which intrigued me. I contacted Sal, and we subsequently met. After that initial meeting, Sal gave me 100 shows on four quarter-track reels. Thus, my collection of old-time radio shows began. This meeting also started a friendship with Sal, and in 1970 we tossed around the idea of having a radio convention.”

Jay Hickerson's ULTIMATE GUIDE book currently in its fourth revised edition. (Photo courtesy of Terry Salomonson.)

In connection with his radio-related activities, Jay publishes Hello Again, a national newsletter for collectors (subscription information at the bottom of this page).  He used his newsletter to help spread the word about a convention being established and the response was tremendous.

The 1971 event would be referred to as “The First East Coast Convention of Golden Radio Buffs.” The convention was later re-named S.A.V.E. (Society of American Vintage-Radio Enthusiasts), later renamed “The Friends of Old-Time Radio.” Under all these titles, the convention spanned a successful forty years until 2011, when Jay decided it was time to retire. At the 2011 event, Jay was bestowed recognition for his accomplishments over the decades, with awards, gifts and two standing ovations.

Jay Hickerson at FOTR (Photo courtesy Sean Doughtery.)

Jay has also authored several books on the subject, and served as a consultant for Ken Burns’ 1991 documentary, Empire of the Air.

One of his books is The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to All Circulating Shows. This book has become the Bible for many historians to consult when researching any subject dealing with old-time radio. First written in 1992, the book was revised in 2001, 2005 and the latest revision (4th edition) in 2010. The book is available from our sponsor, www.CoverOut.com.