Lon Helton at Country Aircheck was the first to report that incoming Country Radio Hall of Famer Joe Wade Formicola passed away Tuesday after a brief illness. Formicola hosted mornings on WWWW/Detroit from 1987-1995. He was named CMA Personality of the Year in 1988. Formicola’s show was syndicated by Westwood One from 2010-2015. Joe shared this picture with Radio Ink back in 2016, which was taken when he worked at WKIX in Raleigh. Arrangements are pending.
Formicola is the second of this year’s inductees to pass away prior to the ceremony being held on June 21. The late Linda Lee from WYCD/Detroit passed March 31 on the eve of being presented with an ACM Award for Major Market Personality. She and Formicola worked together for a time in Detroit. Both will now be honored posthumously in Nashville next month.
There are those who help us along the way. Joe Wade gave me – a college student in 1980 – an opportunity to work for him at Raleigh’s WKIX radio. Promotions, overnights, then sales! (He was the remote king!) As conservatives, we had great conversations. Professionally, I am better for his commitment to me. Praying for his loved ones, now.
I was privileged to work with Joe at WKIX. Thanks for posting the card that he provided. Had not seen that in years!
-John Low
Raleigh, NC