WBZ's new morning anchor says the job is 'a homecoming'

By Clea Simon, Globe Correspondent  |  December 15, 2006

An era is ending at news radio WBZ-AM (1030). Gary LaPierre, who finishes four award-filled decades as the morning anchor , will make his last report Dec. 29. On Monday, he introduced his successor on the air. Ed Walsh will take the anchor's seat in January, but joined the staff this week to learn the studio's ropes. The city he already knows.

"This is a homecoming for me," says Walsh. Born in Somerville, raised in Natick, he is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and has an adult son, one of four children, living on the South Shore. "I grew up listening to Gary. He's been an institution since I've been in high school."

Actually, Walsh, who most recently worked in New York City for WCBS, has a closer acquaintance with LaPierre. Before leaving Boston for Phoenix and then New York, Walsh spent eight years at WRKO-AM (680) in the '80s. This week, says Walsh, "We were remembering a trip we made to Dallas when Ronald Reagan was running for [reelection as] president. I was there for WRKO, and Gary was there for WBZ. We met with the delegates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and there was a full complement of TV and newspaper reporters. And the one individual who seemed the best known, the one person whom the delegates wanted to meet, was Gary LaPierre."

Walsh says following LaPierre " is one of those once-in-a-career opportunities. " Plus, he adds, "WBZ has a special place in the industry in that it is not just a top news station, it really is the premier station in the region."

Walsh himself is no slouch. A morning drive veteran, he has also been in charge of news and programming in New York and Phoenix. He's won multiple awards, including honors from the Associated Press for his coverage of the 9/11 attacks .

Back in Boston, he says, the first stories he's looking to tackle are political, especially the state's new governor and Barack Obama's foray into New Hampshire . But his higher priority is just to be there every day. "For a lot of people, the first voice they hear in the morning is the voice that comes out of the clock radio or the voice that comes out of the car radio. The morning news anchor has a very important role in the way most people start their days."

WILD-AM (1090) has given up its short-lived gospel sound to return to an all-talk format. . . . WXRV-FM (92.5) has been hosting an online music memorabilia auction to benefit those affected by the recent explosion in Danvers. Proceeds from the auction, which ends today at noon, will benefit the Danversport Victims Fund , administered by Danvers Bank . For details, see wxrv.com . . . . "Mike" WMKK-FM (93.7) is asking listeners to donate to the Franciscan Hospital for Children and taking requests from those who do. The bigger the donation, the likelier the song will be played at the time requested. Anyone who donates more than $250 will receive a $100 gift card to Simon Malls. Donations and requests can be made at 937mikefm.com . Patients from the hospital will be at the station today from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m . . . . Cambridge-based "Living on Earth," which airs locally on WBUR-FM (90.9) on Sundays, 7-8 a.m., will present a holiday special, "The Season of Light," on Dec. 24.