Tribute To Porky Chedwick Volumes 1 to 5

Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, a relatively unknown DJ was making quite a splash here in Pittsburgh. His selection of vinyl was heavily laden with the "Doo Wop" sound, something that caused many parents to raise their eyebrows. Here was a white man presenting a program of "negro" music; blues, R&B, gospel and jazz. This was music that many back in those times considered "race" music. Some parents went as far as to label this controversial DJ a satanic influence on their children.

But, in a time when Frank Sinatra and the big bands were king, Craig "Porky" Chedwick broke all the rules, and the young listeners that flocked to this new sound knew that they were part of something fresh and exciting. "Pork the Tork", the "Daddio of the Raddio," your "Platter Pushin' Papa," the "Boss Hoss with the Hot Sauce" had opened the door to the new genre of Doo-Wop, and the airwaves have never been quite the same since.

Porky Chedwick, now in his eighties, makes his home right here in Brookline. He is a frequent guest at many of the social events here in the neighborhood. You can generally find the "Boss Hoss" hanging out with his good friend Charlie McLaughlin, and if you're lucky you can spend a moment or two chatting with a radio legend whose achievements have been duly honored with a prestigious spot in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

At 87 years of age, Porky is still doing what he loves the most, spinning tunes on Sunday evenings for WLSW in Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Like many old sounds, the Doo-Wop beat has made a big comeback on the oldies circuits. The old artists and fans can still listen to their favorite tunes courtesy of a man often refered to as "Radio's Ignored Pioneer", Brookline's own Craig "Porky" Chedwick.

Porky Chedwick was born in Homestead back in 1917. His career in radio began in 1948 with a stint on WHOD, a tiny station located behind a Homestead candy store. The station was subsequently renamed WAMO. Porky began playing blues and R&B records, albums by musicians like Bo Diddley and bands like Little Anthony and the Imperials. White teenagers devoured this music, establishing a trend that has continued ever since.

And, to his infinite credit, Chedwick refused to play covers of these songs played by white musicians. As the "Boss Hoss" told the Tribune-Review in 1998, "I wouldn’t even play Elvis Presley’s version of ‘Hound Dog.’ I played Big Mama Thornton’s."

With WAMO broadcasting such sounds in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Pittsburgh was on the cutting edge of a musical trend. This was perhaps the first and only time this ever happened. Neither WAMO nor WHOD had the broadcast strength to compete with giant stations like KDKA directly, so Chedwick and other DJ's compensated by developing signature styles. Chedwick came up with many nicknames for himself, so many in fact that to recite them all would take several minutes and leave a tongue twisted for several more.

Porky invented so many crazy words that he claimed his own "Porkology" dictionary. The Daddio struggles to convey the wonder of his life’s work. "I got a calling, an inspiration, I was getting certain vibrations to be in big-time radio. When a community radio station opened up in Homestead in 1948, there was a place for me to get on the air."

Among his many notable achievements, Pork the Tork essentially invented the concept of oldies. While Chedwick often spun the records of new acts, he had a special interest in music recorded years ago. They were oldies even when Chedwick first played them. He bought unwanted dusty 78s, records by black acts, and dropped the needle on them. "The falsettos, the bass, the togetherness. They wrote about poverty and handicaps I could understand. This was a message nobody was getting. I blew the dust off them. I was giving kids the music. One day they would know I was speaking the truth." He had invented his signature "Porky Sound."

Porky Chedwick's career moved from WHOD and WAMO to KQV in 1972, and then to WNRZ from 1985 to 1986. After a 10 year "retirement", Pork returned to WAMO in 1996, then moved to WWSW in 1998 and finally WLSW in 2000. The call letters might have changed, but the doctrine of "Porkology" has remained the same after all these years. Whenever Porky Chedwick takes control of the microphone, you can expect a generous helping of the Doo-Wop classics that have become his trademark sound.

Pork the Platter Pushin' Papa has been, and continues to be, honored and feted at various tribute concerts, the most prominent of which may have been "Porkstock," an annual summer gathering in the late 1990s where fans of R&B oldies gathered to hear their favorites. In 1998, Chedwick was enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He’s the only Pittsburgh disc jockey to be so honored.

To the Daddio of the Raddio, Pittsburgh's Platter Pushin' Papa and Boss Hoss, the community of Brookline is honored to have such a wonderful, charismatic and charming person as one of our neighbors. May the legendary spinster continue to grace the airwaves with the doctrine of Porkology.

CD 1 Tribute_To_Porky_Vol_01.rar
1. Porky Chedwick - Intro
2. Johnnie & Joe - Over The Mountain, Across The Sea
3. The Spaniels - You Gave Me Peace Of Mind
4. The Poets - Vowels Of Love
5. The Crests - 16 Candles
6. The Cliques - Girl Of My Dreams
7. Mattie Jackson - I Want To Flop
8. Eddy Ware - Lima Beans
9. The Robins - Smokey Joe's Cafe
10. Lucky Millander - Chew Tobacco Rag
11. The Penguins - Pledge Of Love
12. The Four Pearls - Look At Me
13. The Keynotes - One Little Kiss
14. The Cadillacs - My Girl Friend
15. Bo Diddley - Roadrunner
16. Todd Rhodes - Gin Gin Gin
17. The Penguins - Hey Senorita
18. Clifton Chenier - Boppin' The Rock
19. The Precisions - Eight Reasons Why I Love You
20. The Moonglows - Ten Commandments Of Love
21. The Five Satins - (Do You Remember) In The Still Of The Night
22. The Embers - Solitaire
23. Donnie Elbert - What Can I Do
24. Ricky Lyons - Have No Fear
25. The Fiestas - Last Night I Dreamed
26. El Venos - Geraldine
27. Lee Diamond - Hattie Malattie
28. Lee Maye - Honey Honey

CD 2 Tribute_To_Porky_Vol_02.rar
1. Lee Andrews & The Hearts - Long Long Lonely Nights
2. The Dells - Oh What A Night
3. The Channels - That's My Desire
4. The El Capris - Ooh But She Did
5. The Moroccos - Red Hots & Chili Mac
6. Larry Dale - Drinkin' Wine
7. Johnnie & Joe - I'll Be Spinning
8. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Two People In The World
9. The Majors - Les Qua
10. The Bel-Aires - White Port & Lemon Juice
11. Rex Garvin - Emulsified
12. The Duvals - Cotton
13. Lee Diamond - Mama Loochie
14. The Olympics - Big Boy Pete
15. The Jaguars - The Way You Look Tonight
16. The Teen Queens - All My Love Belongs To You
17. The Cufflinks - Guided Missiles
18. Bill Robinson & The Quails - Quit Pushing
19. The Willows - Church Bells May Ring
20. The Spaniels - Great Googely Moo
21. The Moonglows - Sincerely
22. The Students - So Young
23. The Flamingos - A Kiss From Your Lips
24. The Monotones - Book Of Love
25. Billy Bland - Let The Little Girl Dance
26. The Platters - Beer Barrel Boogie
27. Rudy Ray Moore - Buggy Ride
28. The Versatones - Bila
29. The Royaltones - See Saw
30. The Dubs - Is There A Love For Me
31. Larry Allen - Somewhere There's Paradise

CD 3 Tribute_To_Porky_Vol_03.rar
1. The Four Voices - Honest Darling
2. Jerry Butler - For Your Precious Love
3. Donnie Elbert - Have I Sinned
4. Bertha Tillman - Oh My Angel
5. The Dominos - Sixty Minute Man
6. The Olympics - Shimmy Like Kate
7. The Roosters - Fun House
8. Tina Dixon - Parrot Bar Boogie
9. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow
10. Bobby Taylor - Seven Steps To An Angel
11. Lee Andrews & The Hearts - Teardrops
12. The Spaniels - I Need Your Kisses
13. Marino's Choice - Cherry Juice
14. The Church Street Five - A Night With Daddy G
15. Red Prysock - Hand Clappin'
16. The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
17. The Chantels - Maybe
18. The Dubs - Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely
19. The Baltineers - Moments Like This
20. The Counts - Wailing Little Mama
21. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - Let's Go Let's Go Let's Go
22. Bo Diddley - Gunslinger
23. The Caps - Red Headed Flea
24. The Clovers - Blue Velvet
25. The Tuneweavers - Happy Happy Birthday Baby
26. The Five Jets - I'm Stuck
27. Otis Williams & His Charms - In Paradise
28. The Aladdins - Munch
29. The Chantels - He's Gone
30. The Flamingos - Love Walked In

CD 4 Tribute_To_Porky_Vol_04.rar
1. Little Caesar & The Romans - Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me Of You) (3:39)
2. Malcom Dodds & The Tunedrops - It Took A Long Time (3:04)
3. Kelly St. Clair - I Say Please (2:44)
4. The Harptones - A Sunday Kind Of Love (3:00)
5. Smokey Joe - Signifying Monkey (3:18)
6. Bo Diddley - Say Man (3:12)
7. Little Joe & The Thrillers - Peanuts (2:25)
8. The Royal Teens - Short Shorts (2:41)
9. The Jacks - Why Don't You Write Me (2:49)
10. The Flairs - In Self Defense (3:01)
11. The Symphonics - All Roads Lead To Heartbreak (2:43)
12. Freddie & Lou - You'll Be Mine Tonight (2:31)
13. The Kings - Elephant Walk (2:16)
14. Doc Starkes - Apple Cider (2:12)
15. The Du-Droppers - Can't Do Sixty No More (2:51)
16. The Novas - Take 7 (1:52)
17. Jimmy Reed - Baby What You Want Me To Do (2:25)
18. Tiny Bradshaw - Breaking Up The House (2:43)
19. Pete Antell - Night Time (2:15)
20. Clyde McPhatter - Treasure Of Love (2:11)
21. The Spaniels - Play It Cool (3:02)
22. The Marathons - Peanut Butter (1:59)
23. The Blue Sonnets - It's Never Too Late (2:43)
24. Tony March - Five Minutes To Love You (2:45)
25. Jimmy McHugh - I Don't Want Everything (2:59)
26. The Dubs - Chapel Of Dreams (2:31)
27. Hal Paige - Big Foot May (2:41)
28. Lenny Capello - Cotton Candy (2:14)
29. Baby Earl - Back Slop (2:37)

CD 5 Tribute_To_Porky_Vol_05.rar
1. The Falcons - I Found A Love (3:00)
2. The Aladdins - Please Love Me (2:44)
3. Larry Tamblyn - This Is The Night (2:20)
4. The Mar-Keys - Last Night (2:39)
5. The Dells - The Springer (2:30)
6. Bo Diddley - Diddley Daddy (2:30)
7. Teddy & The Continentals - Ev'rybody Pony (2:14)
8. The Turbans - I'll Always Watch Over You (2:58)
9. Robert & Johnny - We Belong Together (2:45)
10. The Moonglows - Most Of All (3:04)
11. Buster Brown - Fanny Mae (2:59)
12. The Nite Caps - Wine Wine Wine (2:26)
13. The Coasters - Idol With The Golden Head (2:23)
14. Earl Bostic - I Got Loaded (2:30)
15. The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away (2:27)
16. The G-Clefs - Symbol Of Love (2:30)
17. The Arabians - My Heart Beats Over And Over Again (2:21)
18. The Untouchables - You're On Top (2:29)
19. Johnny Ace - Pledging My Love (Original Pressing) (2:30)
20. Piney Brown - Walk A Block And Fall (2:27)
21. Richard Berry - Have Love Will Travel (2:57)
22. Ronnie Haig - Don't You Hear Me Calling Baby (2:52)
23. The Del Vikings - Whispering Bells (2:23)
24. Big Joe Turner - Flip Flop & Fly (2:48)
25. The Avalons - Malanese (2:27)
26. The Falcons - Your So Fine (2:30)
27. The Versatones - Tight Skirt & Sweater (2:19)
28. The G-Clefs - I Understand (Just How You Feel) (2:46)
29. Porky Chedwick - Porky Closing (1:05)