WDEV Radio Rangers
History

WDEV 550 AM salesman Mark Struhsacker started the WDEV Radio Rangers group in 1986, to re-create the great live country music radio show feel of the  40s & 50s. One of the great performing groups on WDEV during those years was Waterbury Vermont native, Don Fields, & his Pony Boys.  With no intention of playing live shows outside of WDEV's Waterbury, Vermont studios, The Radio Rangers initially enjoyed corporate sponsorship of Blue Seal Feeds, and were originally known as the Blue Seal Feed Radio Rangers until 1988. During those years, three Blue Seal Feed dealers in Vermont, Central Supplies in Randolph, ET & HK Ide in St. Johnsbury and Woodsville NH, and Lamoille Grain in Morrisville, advertised on the three available commercial breaks in the fifteen minute shows.  Each show consists of the Radio Ranger Theme at the beginning and end of the show, 4 songs, and 3 commercials.  In the early 90s, as Blue Seal Feeds became less inclined to provide local co-op advertising support statewide, the show became available for sponsorship of any sort. Long term advertisers supporting the show today include "Guy's Farm & Yard" (formerly "Lamoille Grain"), KA "Harvey's Manufactured Homes", and "Guitar Sam".

MUSIC & PERSONNEL

The "country style" of music on the WDEV Radio Rangers program, has been as diverse as the people playing it. Mark initially contacted an old associate, fiddler Tony Washburn whose enthusiasm resulted in the fine Radio Rangers Theme Song. Mark further contacted Homer Sands for his bass playing and singing. Mark had worked with both Tony and Homer in banjo playing bandleader Steve Benford's "Buck's Run".  Tony recommended an old friend of his, the late Ray Chaloux.  Ray's silky smooth, highly stylized delivery of the old country standards, as well as his rock steady sock rhythm electric guitar style was the benchmark old style country sound of the Radio Rangers during the early years. As Ray's health declined in the early 90s, he made the decision to leave the show, and was replaced by Larry Beaudry. Larry's national caliber lead and harmony singing and hot electric guitar picking brought a more contemporary feel to the sound. At around the same time, veteran dance hall bassist and fine tenor lead and harmony singer David Rowell assumed the bass slot, replacing Homer Sands as he began to experience conflicts and severe arthritis symptoms in his hands.  Larry Beaudry left for Florida in '93, and was replaced by the great Danny Coane on electric guitar and 5-string banjo. It was at this point, that the band really began to play more genuine Bluegrass music using Danny's banjo, as well as the old Country Standards, and Western Swing material they'd been known for.  Certainly, the Fiddle Tune instrumentals, and faster paced Country standards had always had a "bluegrassy" feel, influenced by Mark Struhsacker's flat picking style of guitar, Tony's fiddle playing, and the close three part harmonies, but now every show, became 1/2 Swing & 1/2 Bluegrass. It was this band that released a cassette in 1997, that quickly sold out.

TODAY

As the early Blue Seal Radio Rangers show gained popularity over WDEV, calls came in for live performances. They’ve been featured performers at Champlain Valley Fair, Tunbridge World’s Fair, Orleans County Fair, Lamoille and Washington County Field Days, Barre Opera House, Trapp Family Music In the Meadow Series, WCAX TV, and Vermont Public Television, the Rusty Parker Park Concert Series, Middlebury Festival On The Green, Vermont Folk Music Festival, First Night-Burlington, Rattling Brook Bluegrass Festival, Basin Bluegrass Festival and major town events, weddings and private parties all over Vermont and parts of New Hampshire. Today, the radio programs are digitally produced, yet employing a single 1940s vintage RCA “ribbon” microphone. There are plans to release a “radio show transcriptions” project on CD in 2007 or 2008. The radio show is still sold out, with the sponsorship of Guy’s Farm & Yard, KA Harvey Manufactured Homes, and Guitar Sam. The WDEV RADIO RANGERS program still airs at 10:30 every Saturday morning, year 'round as it has since 1986 on 5000 watt WDEV AM 550, 25,000 Watt WDEV FM 96.1 and FM 96.5/Barre.