Eric Gruner

Eric Gruner began his involvement with WGMC (Jazz90.1) in 1982 volunteering part time on a weekend specialty show that featured new wave pop music.  When the opportunity to do the Monday through Friday early morning show arose he jumped at the chance. The format at the time was a mix of soft rock and contemporary jazz. He was already working part time at WCMF, a rock format radio station which gave him the chance to work with some legendary radio people including Trip Reeb, Dave Kane, Uncle Roger and Brother Wease. “I loved radio and couldn’t believe that my first paying on-air job was at the number one rated station in Rochester” he says.  Eric has also worked at WPXY (pop/top 40) WKLX (classic oldies) and WARM 101.3 where he hosted “Rochester’s Jazz Life” a weekend jazz show.  “I was working at three different radio stations in the same market” he said, adding that is usually frowned on in the radio industry. “At one time I was on the air at two radio stations at the same time – live on one station and pre-recorded on another” All the while Eric continued to be involved with WGMC (Jazz 90.1) and moved to host the Mid-day jazz program when he became the station music director. It was as music director that Eric redirected the station towards full time jazz and eliminated the soft rock. “I thought the station had an identity crisis, going from music by Seals and Crofts to David Sanborn to Genesis to Miles Davis.”  The popularity of the jazz format grew as Eric was promoted to station manager and “Jazz Radio in Rochester” was born. Eric left Jazz 90.1 to take a job in Toronto as program director at Canada’s full-time jazz station Jazz FM 91.  He recently returned to Rochester and Jazz90.1 to host the afternoon 3 ’til 6 jazz program. Eric lives in Webster with his wife and 4 year old daughter. You can contact Eric by emailing eric@jazz901.org.