WTBQ contemporary Christian music program wins major award

Warwick’s sense of community brought Bob Taylor closer to his roots WARWICK - Warwick Radio WTBQ (AM 1110/FM 93.5) recently learned that its weekly contemporary Christian music program, Positive Sounds, hosted by Bob Taylor and airing at 7 p.m. on Saturday evenings, had earned the 2011 Communicator Award of Excellence. The announcement was made by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. According to the Music Industry Newswire, the Communicator Awards are the largest and most competitive competition honoring creative excellence for communications professionals and the Award of Excellence is the highest honor in the Radio Programs Category. “Having the ability to program music that encourages the lives of people with the message of God’s love is a blessing to all who are touched by it,” said Taylor. “The goal is to remind New York area listeners that God is on their side, and loves them no matter how bad things seem to be in their lives. I am blessed by the opportunity that WTBQ has given me to create this program. The success is proof of God’s favor in action.” Taylor and Frank Truatt, owner and manager of WTBQ, have much in common. They both grew up in Bergen County, N.J., and both developed a passion for radio broadcasting early in life. Taylor, who has a degree in radio broadcasting, began working with Truatt at WTBQ in 1994. He served as a frequent consultant and advisor until 1998 when he accepted a position with a radio network in Portland, Or. “But it was never 'good bye,” he said. 'This town is very special’ In 2000 he returned to the East Coast to work for Sirius Radio and later returned to WTBQ as a programming specialist. Before WTBQ obtained its FM station, Taylor stated that he recommended more talk radio on the AM band, which subsequently proved highly successful. Based on practical research as well as his faith, Taylor then suggested that there was a great market for contemporary Christian music. “Good music is good music,” he said. “And our Saturday night ratings were non-existent at that time. Now we are in the number one position with Men 18-34 years old and ranked number two with Women 25-54 years old in the Newburgh-Middletown, N.Y., market. “Most station owners,” he added, “would have turned my suggestion down but Frank Truatt had the vision to say, 'yes.’” Having worked in many areas of the country, Taylor believes none have the same sense of community as Warwick. “I look out this studio window and I see beauty and peace,” he said. “I felt we needed this music to help bring the word of God here. This town is very special.” Taylor lives in Secaucus, New Jersey with his wife, Suzanne. - Roger Gavan Good music is good music .... Most station owners would have turned my suggestion down but Frank Truatt had the vision to say, 'yes.’” Bob Taylor, host of Positive Sounds, the now awarding winning contemporary Christian music program on Warwick Radio WTBQ.