DJ Vinnie Peruzzi R.I.P.

[DiscoMan]

Disco Vinnie died Friday of lymphoma. As important to the Boston music scene as Sunny Jo White and JoJo Kincaid.
I include an excerpt from his obituary in the Boston Globe:

"The Quincy native was well known for the antics he added to his show as he spun the disco tunes for three decades at Kiss 108 FM, WNTN, and most recently Star 93.7 FM.

On Friday, Mr. Peruzzi died after a yearlong battle with lymphoma. He was 51.

Keeping close tabs on the ebb and flow of disco music's popularity, Mr. Peruzzi sneaked disco songs onto his playlist after disco fell out of favor in the music industry, recalled Jerry McKenna, a longtime friend and the program director at Star 93.7.

Mr. Peruzzi, known by his on-air nickname, "Disco Vinnie," ardently defended the genre when it came under attack.

"Musically, the 1970s got a bad rap, but if you really listen to it, the music from the 1970s sounds a lot better than the stuff that's out now," Peruzzi told the Globe in 1993. "A lot of the stuff that's out now are samples or remakes from songs of the 1970s...

Globe reviews from the late 1970s said he often would get "amiably annoyed at critics who put down disco and is anything but elitist himself."

"The name may change from disco to something else, but danceability is the key, and we think we've got it," he told the Globe in 1978. "

Rest In Peace Disco Vinnie I'll remember you always.
I listened to his Saturday and Sunday night broadcasts until he became too sick to continue them.

[superfly]

I read this in the paper this morning and could not believe it. I have not listened to any radio in Boston for awhile and had no idea he was sick. I had to come here and see if anyone mentioned it. I'm so sad over this news. Vinnie is a legend here in Boston and he will be missed terribly.
First Sonny Jo White and now Vinnie Perruzi ... the two best Boston radio dj's in my life time and both taken away much too early.



RIP Vinnie. I used to call into your shows all the time when I was just a little kid, and you always played my favorite disco songs ...

:(

[Bernie]

I never had a chance to meet or hear Vinnie's Disco show (except for e-mails from his staff), but over the years he was always a friend to this site by telling his listneres about it. From the many e-mails I had received about him over the years it was obvious he was the Disco ambassador in the Boston area. I am sure he will be missed and my thoughts are with him and his family.

[paul]

Yah, I remember Vinnie back in da day spinning it. Damn! And so young. Rest in peace mi amigo!