DJ Frank Cerami

Frank began his career in Philadelphia radio in the 1980’s joining Philadelphia’s Power 99 as Music Coordinator for the station as well as hosting the "The 70’s Spotlight Dance Party" broadcast every Saturday night from 7 PM until midnight. The music featured much of the Disco, R&B and Funk of the 1970’s. Shortly thereafter, current music from the 1980’s was included with the 70’s music and the name of the show was renamed "The Weekend Dance Party." In the mid 80’s Frank’s show was taken out of the studio and he began to broadcast live from The Ripley Music Hall located on South Street in Philadelphia. Within two years the show moved to The Trocadero night club located at 10th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia where it remained until 1988. From its inception, Frank’s show continually ranked #1 in the ratings until late 1988 when he decided to leave Power 99 and help launch a brand new station in Philadelphia called Q102. Frank was the first employee hired at Q102 by then owners Easy Communications. Most of the music and the music direction of Q102 for the first year were a result of Frank’s influence and based on his experience with audience and music research combined with being a club DJ for many years. Unlike many of his predecessors Frank has always embraced the insights that research could offer him, especially tempered with the "street knowledge" that he acquired at all his dance parties. As a result, Frank was named Q102’s first Music Director. He was also awarded numerous gold and platinum records for his role in discovering and breaking new recording acts that later became national hits. He still has fond memories of meeting many new acts including a very shy and slightly pudgy girl named Janet Jackson. Frank also moved his Saturday night show to Q102 and renamed it "Club 102." In 1990 Frank left Q102 after a management shakeup and went onto work part time at Philadelphia’s 104.5, then called Star 104.5. He simultaneously garnered his first Program Director job in Allentown, Pennsylvania at a CHR (or Top 40) station named Hot 99. In 1994, then Q102 Program Director, Glenn Kalina asked Frank to come back to Q and host a Sunday Night dance party called "The Back in the Day Dance Party" featuring music from the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s. The show was first broadcast from a nightclub called Gotham located on Delaware Avenue, then moved up the street to Maui nightclub and finally to the 8th Floor night club on Delaware Avenue. Like Frank’s previous dance shows, this show continued to garner high ratings and draw record crowds especially during its tenure at the 8th Floor. In 1999, after another management change at Q102, Frank was invited to bring his show to 95.7’s new station, Jammin’ Gold. The show was moved to a Saturday night but continued to broadcast from the 8th Floor nightclub. Frank later continued on 95.7 even though the format of the station changed and it became known as Mix 95.7. With the format change, the dance music now included current hits as well as "Back in the Day" music. Frank began broadcasting from Michael’s Cafe' in Bensalem, Pennsylvania and he added a second broadcast from Adelphia nightclub in Deptford, New Jersey. With the demise of Mix 95.7, Frank first moved his Friday and Sunday night shows to 94.5 PST and most recently, returning to Q102's sister station, the brand new, 106.1, now called Mix 106.1. Most recently, he broadcasted from the Coastline Nightclub in Cherry Hill, NJ. The one constant through all his years in radio and the live dance parties is his love for music; especially dance music (he also has a vast personal collection of Jazz, Classical, R&B and Pop). “I still get the same thrill listening to a new Katy Perry, Rihanna, Gaga, or Usher song as I do when listening to a Madonna song from a couple of decades ago,” Frank commented. The other great pleasure for him is meeting thousands of Philadelphia area residents over the years who have enjoyed the music featured on his shows and who frequent his live broadcasts. “Every week they’re all there, from aged 25 to 50. After all these years, I feel privileged to still be the host for these listeners and for making their weekends something special to look forward to.”