Elton Spitzer owned the Long Island station back in the 1970’s and according to Newsday, when the album rock format had grown stale and faced more competition back in 1982, he flipped it to a British New Wave format stating, “This sounds like more fun.” WLIR was introducing Long Island and parts of New York City and Connecticut to artists including U2, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and New Order. He died due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Elton Spitzer, at the Hempstead office of WLIR-FM in 1974. Picture Credit: Newsday / Dick Kraus
