The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Born in 1917, Mike Pedicin, Sr. grew up in West Philly, hanging around 66th and Lansdowne. At the age of nine, he received an alto sax and took lessons for a buck a week. He was one of the earliest performers on the WCAU broadcast, “The Children’s Hour” hosted by this organization’s first president and first chairman of the board, Stan Lee Broza. The program ran for thirty years with the last ten being on both radio and television. Pedicin was on the show for 8 years.

When attending Overbrook High School, Mike put together his first big band. His first professional job took place during 1940 where he earned $20 a week. It was at the Red Top Bar in Seaside Heights, NJ. He and the guys in the band shared a basement apartment with the bartender.

Marie, Pedicin’s wife, passed away during the nineties. They had two children and five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren at last count. He lives in Ardmore and his sister lives across the street from him.

(Left to right) Al Mauro, Sam Cocchia, Lou DeFrancis and Mike Pedicin, Sr.
WPTZ Television, Channel 3 Philco
1942

Mike and his group appeared on WPTZ, Channel 3 shortly after the station went commercial in 1941. Pedicin started cutting records in the early fifties with a rock and roll beat, similar to that of the legendary Bill Haley. In 1956, his group recorded “Shake a Hand” that made it into Billboard’s Top 100.

Pedicin didn’t like being on the road so as people grew older and tastes evolved, Mike got employment at private parties and debutante balls. He continued to perform until his musical retirement in 1998.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com