Daily News from New York, New York • 422

DAILY NEWS Sunday, February 18, 1990 RADIO 2rv Jl 9 nn rn There's no end to the fun and games for Mark Simone and his cast of characters City Lights By BERNADETTE DUNCAN dead, but he wouldn't listen." (And yes, always a gentle but satirical breeze blows through the afternoons at WNEW, saving Simone from ever seeming too lovable.) Another regular feature, "Name That Song," calls on the talents of the supremely groovy pianist "Mr. Keys," otherwise known as producer Paul Dver. Dver, who has played characters "Marvin the barber" and "Jerry the waiter" on the de funct WNBC "Soupy Sales Show" (1985-87), bangs out a few notes on the in-studio piano and callers guess the tune. What sort of mad scientist conjures up such goings-on? According to Dver, "Mark's nee upon a time, he was just another caller to a top 40 radio station where he grew up. "I was 15 or 16 and a regular caller," says Mark Simone.

"Sometimes I'd call as myself, or as different characters." (In fact, he still calls talk shows today "but usually in other Then Mark Simone grew up to field his own regulars between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on VVNEW (1130 AM), oh a variety show that is truly all things to all listeners. Stand by for show music of the '40s, '50s and '60s; radio standup from comics ap- -v Jfejt i in i I r- i vn isA: ran into Robert Morley. I tried to convince him he was dead, but he wouldn't has been on the radio track since he was 16.

mind is an incredible catalogue. And he" knows the streets of New York." WNEW program director Quincy McCoy says, "I've known him for quite a few years but I really don't know him. I can tell you this, he's very quick, very witty and has an edge. He can be a wise guy." A wise guy indeed. How else but with these characteristics does a 21-year-old break into the New York market? Starting at 16, he hopscotched from WDRQ in Detroit in 1971, to WFTN in Franklin, N.H., in 1972, onto WPRO in Providence and WWEL in Boston (simultaneously) for the next four years.

Simone finally broke into New York on WPIX in 1976. By 1980, he was also juggling a gig on WMCA (and continued the following year Bond historian, and collector of British first editions of the novels. He lives in midtown and schmoozes with pals (such as Jackie Mason they go back 12 years) at the Friars Club. Simone used to do standup at Dangerfield's and The Bottom Line. And although he appeared in the "Bachelor of the Month" column in Cosmopolitan (November 1982), Simone clearly states he does not want to marry ever.

pearing in and around town; juicy reports from the mouths of local gossip columnists, and guests galore mostly by. phone and often jn unusual circumstances. (For instance: Telly Savalas on the set of "Kojak," Engelbert Humper-' dinck on the golf course, Rob--in Leach from an airplane.) Simone himself, now 35, has become an about-the-town aficionado, reporting daily on his nightly ventures. And venture he does. His calendar is crammed with dinner dates, press events, parties, restaurant openings, Broadway plays.

Gossip columnists call him for the buzz. And amidst all these comings and goings on the air, Simone opens his grab bag of fun and games. Most notably, a Simone invention (though some may argue) called "Dead or Alive." Simply put, Simone mentions a famous name and callers guess whether the star is dead or alive. Of course, sometimes mistakes are made. "I was in London," Simone explains, "and ran into Robert Morley.

I tried to convince him that he was Check It Out DANDY DONNY Singer Donny Osmond, now all grown up at 32, will try his hand as a disc jockey when he fills in this morning for Shadoe Stevens on the ABC Radio Network's "American Top 40" series, heard here on WPU (95.5 FM) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Osmond is no stranger to the countdown charts, having had 28 top 40 hits during his two-decade career, originally as the youngest member of the singing -Osmond family, then with sistejvMane, and finally sclo. George iViciKsian ma, Wm MM EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE: Simone on WMCA only). In 1983, he joined WNEW (and in the years that followed teamed up with Steve Allen for two years for a grand comedy show that went national).

i uch is Mark Simone, ra-. dio personality. But who is Mark Simone, private citizen? "He's one of the best dressers," says McCoy (He shops at Hermes, and claims to own 1,500 neckties.) He's also a self-proclaimed James new music they have managed successfully, as the new album, "Heritage," shows. It was a good omen to hear this disc hours after years of struggle finally forced Nelson Mandela's release: The opening "inter lude is an instrumental aperitif titled "Soweto." From there, the band (which also includes Sheldon Reynolds on guitar and Sonny Emory on drums, plus the EWF Horns) jumps into "radio-active" with "Takin' Chances" and "Heritages' the latter featuring; the Boys. The union is a' kirkin' nnp as is thf nairinir with M.C.

Hammer on "I'd have to come home night once in awhile." It's possible that every radio market needs a Mark Simone: Free of the burden of having to be just another radio bad boy, he's the one who rouses you into playing New Yorker, lets -you peek into hot spots and glamorous lives, and before coming up for air, he'll probably leave you laughing. (Bernadette Duncan is a producer for Westwood One's NBC Radio Network.) day's show (WBAI, 99.5) Also on 'BAI, Max Schmidt's "Golden Age of Radio," Suns. a.m., and Lee Ryan's "Thursday WBAI Arts Magazine" p.m.) Few months ago I heard a smokin' session on (yes) WBAI and it turned out I was listening to an old buddy, Chico Alvarez, who hosts "Third World Gallery" (Tues. 9:30 a.m.-noon) featuring Monk, Arsenio, Bird, Aretha GOT LIVE: Wynton Marsa-lis is at the Village Vangard March 6-11 Two buddies I intend to drop in on are at the Blue Note tonight, Ray Baretto Dave Valentin and another old friend, Jon Lucien, follows (with Monty Alexander) Tues. thru Sun.

Bottom Line, Friday, Norman Connors; March 3, Kenny Rail kin. at By PABLO GUZMAN EARTH, WIND FIRE: Any group with a name this cool in what's sure to be these environmentally aware '90s doesn't need me to invent a subhead for 'em. And maybe it's time we approached EWF as tho' they were a new group, because in a sense, they are tho' one with a rich legacy from a previous life. What Maurice White, Verdine White, Philip i Bailey, Andrew Woolfolk, 'and Ralph Johnson set ouF to accomplish two years'ago by re-forming the band to be taken seri ously again as purveyors ol 4 "Wanna Be the Man." But the special blast for me is hearing EWF become the accompaniment to the charged musical vision of, yes, Sly Stone (who also sounds great). The track is "Good Time," and if there is any justice, you will be hearing them all at home or in your car, or on the radio especially radio, if it's up to the challenge.

OFF-OFF RADIO: If you think there's somethin' mis-sin' from the country on YNY, listen to Tom Tortor-ella's "Country Music Alternatives" (Sats. 2-3 p.m.). Tom finds new bluegrass bands like Small Change and established artists neglected on commercial radio like Nanci Griffith, as well as "founding fathers" like frtiggs the centerpiece of next Satur fir a.