Product Code Database
Vincent Anthony Scelsa (born December 12, 1947, in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American broadcaster who was at "the forefront of the FM radio revolution" as the host of several freeform radio show, the best-known titled Idiot's Delight. His eclectic mix of music, reviews, and lengthy interviews with authors and artists has established Scelsa as a fixture in late night New York City radio for decades.
When WPLJ restricted the air personalities' ability to pick their own music to play, Scelsa moved to WNEW-FM 102.7 where he hosted late nights and evenings from 1973 through 1982. In 1981 he was namechecked on Ramones' "It's Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World)" on the album Pleasant Dreams. Similarly, when WNEW instituted fixed playlists for all personalities in 1982, Scelsa moved on again. He surfaced briefly once again at WLIR before devoting the next two years to off-air endeavors. He joined then-new rock station WINS-FM-FM 92.3 K-Rock in 1985 and hosted a freeform program there through the end of 1995. His Sunday night show at K-Rock became known as "Idiot's Delight," and many fans of the show participated in the online e-mail group "Idiot's Delight Digest."
In January 1996, K-Rock changed its format from classic rock to alternative rock (except for Howard Stern in the morning, who remained all talk). Scelsa opted to leave the station rather than restrict his playlist to the newer rock and shortly thereafter returned to WNEW-FM where he continued hosting "Idiot's Delight". For a period of time at WNEW, Vin channeled his doubts regarding the station's commitment to his show by playing a different version of the standards chestnut "I'll Be Seeing You" each week. Yet Vin remained in place at WNEW through several programming formats until the end of 2000.
During the last years of this WNEW stint, "Idiot's Delight" usually did not have a fixed ending time. Rather, the show was officially scheduled to run from 8:00 pm Sunday nights through 2:00 am Monday mornings, but in actuality ended as late as 4:30 am, depending upon when Vin felt the show had reached an appropriate conclusion. The final 'Idiots Delight' on WNEW was particularly memorable. It aired on December 31, 2000, and ended at around 3:30 am on January 1, 2001.
In addition to the Saturday night WFUV broadcasts, Scelsa began hosting two additional hours of "Idiot's Delight" live on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's "The Loft," (initially called Sirius Disorder). The four weekly hours of Sirius/XM shows are repeated early Friday mornings and on Sunday nights.
On his March 28, 2015, WFUV show, Scelsa announced he would be retiring from radio. His last show on SiriusXM aired on April 30, 2015, and his final radio show aired on WFUV on May 2, 2015.
From 1994 to 1996, Scelsa also selected music and wrote the liner notes for Grooves, a 14-volume budget series of compilations from Time Life Music featuring adult alternative artists. Most of the Grooves CDs featured an exclusive track of a live performance from "Idiots Delight".
Scelsa has appeared on stage numerous times, notably as Vladimir in the Luna Stage production of Waiting for Godot.
|
|
