Sometimes things work out perfectly. This column about Classic Rock/Hits posts on the exact day of Townsquare Media Classic Rock WPDH/Poughkeepsie’s actual 50th birthday as a Rock station. On this day in 1976 the station abandoned country music to become an Album Oriented Rock station serving the Hudson Valley.
To get the full scoop on how the station is celebrating half a century of Rock, I spoke with Joe Limardi. He is the Townsquare Media Classic Rock Format Lead and WPDH Brand Manager. Limardi shared what the station has planned, and the list of festivities does not disappoint.
On the air, it kicked off Memorial Day weekend with the history of PDH from A to Z. The station played every song in the library worthy of a spin, in alphabetical order. Ironically, Limardi did this feature for the first time ten years ago. “I did this for the 40th and at that time I said, ‘I’m sure I won’t be here for the 50th.’ Well, be careful what you wish for.”
WPDH Kicks Off 50th With an A-to-Z Rock Marathon
He says the A-to-Z list is extensive because of the different eras of the station’s history. Signing on in 1976 meant a lot of sixties music aired in the beginning. Then in the eighties, the station was hit-focused and hair bands dominated. “You’d hear Bon Jovi or Def Leppard or Ozzy and artist separation didn’t exist,” Limardi says. “That’s where the perception that WPDH was a big hair station came from and now listeners expect it.”
Off-air the celebration started a few weeks earlier with a dinner for station clients and airstaff. The evening included tables full of memorabilia including T-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers along with some surprises. “I had forgot we did Boris and Robin show comic books,” Limardi recalls. They also displayed the giant hunk of a tree a winner carved the call letters into. It was from a “Show Us Your PDH” promotion.
The next phase comes up over the weekend of June 6th and 7th, the station invited hosts from across its history back to guest on the air. The response, according to Limardi, has been overwhelming. “It was supposed to run Saturday and Sunday with everyone getting an hour. But so many people said yes it will probably have to start on Friday.”
Then comes the return of an old WPDH tradition, a roof-a-thon. This goes back to the days when the station’s morning show used to camp on the roof of a convenience store and collect money for charity. That weekend will wrap up with a concert at a legendary venue called The Chance. “It’s a theater where WPDH hosted a ton of shows but sadly it’s been closed for probably five years.” But Limardi won’t let that stop him. “They’re reopening for one night only to do a last chance at the Chance WPDH anniversary concert with several tribute bands. It’s our way of paying tribute to The Chance and to WPDH.”
Motorcycle Giveaway, Bethel Woods Concert, and a Revived Eagle Logo
The celebration will roll on all summer with the giveaway of a 50th anniversary motorcycle. It will wrap in the fall with a concert at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The Classic Rock act performing has yet to be announced. The WPDH team also revived the station’s iconic Eagle logo with a special 2026 glow-up and is selling merch that Limardi describes as “flying off the shelves.”
This is a gigantic, well-planned celebration. But when it comes to anniversaries, some programmers worry. Highlighting a station’s longevity can make it sound dated and risk making listeners feel their age. Limardi, of course, sees it differently.
“I don’t think of this as sounding old. It’s a celebration. We’ve planted our flag in Rock for the Hudson Valley for 50 years and that’s an accomplishment,” he says. “Not many brands can say they’ve been around for 50 years consistently the way we have.”
Joe Limardi Reminds His Staff They Are the Stewards of WPDH
Plus, he’s not only honoring the past. Limardi says he’s also looking to the future and, most importantly, enjoying this moment. It’s a sentiment he conveyed at a staff meeting. “I reminded the staff they’ve been given an incredible opportunity. For 50 years, people have been turning on this microphone saying WPDH. Not many people get to do that,” said Limardi. “What I’m trying to make them feel is that they are the keepers of this flame right now. They are the stewards of WPDH in 2026. And if we do it right WPDH is going to go on long after we’re 50 years old, so I want everyone to sound proud.”
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Mike Stern is a Classic Rock columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. He has been with Jacobs Media consulting stations in the Classic Rock, Rock, Alternative and AAA world for more than a decade. Prior to that he programmed stations in Chicago, Detroit, Denver Las Vegas and other markets. He also worked as News/Talk Editor for Radio and Records, wrote about Top 40 Radio for Billboard Magazine and had his own radio talent coaching business called Talent Mechanic.
