User:Producer Joe/sandbox

Albert Cocchi

Albert Leonard Cocchi (born June 3, 1959) is an American music historian, radio and TV personality, who has hosted many radio and TV shows, most notably, Video Spotlight for 14 years.

Former Work

It all started in 1977 as Al entered college at Seton Hall University and became a part of WSOU, the university's 2,000 watt radio station. Out of college, Al then became a part of a new media called cable radio and served as Program Director there in Bloomfield, NJ from 1980 to 1983. Cable radio and his meeting of several NJ local bands brought out "New Music Beat", a cable TV music show featuring live performances of those bands at various night clubs throughout NJ.

With the popularity of music videos on MTV, music videos were then included on New Music Beat with the live music performances. That popularity increased so much that New Music Beat was changed to Video Spotlight and featured all music videos along with celebrity interviews, guest VJs and giveaways. The show aired for 14 years from 1984 to 1997, when music video TV's popularity declined and the CTN network where it was seen each week by 2 million viewers, was disbanded. While hosting Video Spotlight, Al interviewed many artists including, Jon Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, MC Hammer, KISS, The Scorpions, Tears For Fears, and countless others. Al was also on the radio during Video Spotlight's TV run as a nighttime host for WRAN in Dover, NJ, a station owned by the legendary DJ, Cousin Brucie.

Current work

After a brief dry run of no tv or radio work, Al created Future Now Radio in 1999 which turned into CyberstormRadio in 2002. The station features new modern/alternative rock along with celebrity interviews, celebrity guest DJs, music news and giveaways. Celebrities who have appeared on CyberstormRadio include Default, James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Geoff Tate of Queensryche, Bruce Kulick of KISS, L.A. Guns, Firehouse, Zakk Wylde, and countless others. CyberstormRadio is currently heard by 1/2 million listeners monthly. While doing internet radio, Al also worked at classic rock WNNY, a Clearchannel owned radio station in Franklin NJ. Al did weekday fill-ins, as well as hosting regular shifts on the weekend.