NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
-affiliated, non-commercial, triple-A station
WBJB-FM
WBJB-FM (90.5 FM, "Brookdale Public Radio, 90.5 The Night") is a non-commercial, member-supported, educational public radio station licensed to Brookdale Community College, serving Central New Jersey with "The News You Need and the Music You L ...
in
Lincroft, New Jersey
Lincroft is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.
. WBJB-FM, Brookdale Public Radio, is also known as 90.5 The Night. Jeff Raspe, who began his career in radio on
Halloween
Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. ...
in 1988, is an avid music enthusiast who has received the Asbury Park Music Award for Top Radio Personality several years running.
WHTG-FM
Prior to joining the WBJB staff, he was a DJ at modern rock radio station WHTG-FM, 106.3 FM, from October 1988 until March 2001. While there he hosted the new music radio show called "The Underground." In March 2001, the station was purchased by Press Communications, and he moved to WBJB.
WBJB-FM
Raspe currently hosts two radio shows at WBJB, "Afternoons With Jeff" on weekday afternoons from 3:00 to 7:00 pm, and "Fresh Tracks," a new music show, at 11:00 pm on Tuesday. They can be heard over the radio in central
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
or at www.wbjb.org online. In the course of his time at WBJB, Raspe has interviewed such notable acts as
Matthew Sweet
Sidney Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964) is an American alternative rock/ power pop singer-songwriter and musician who was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 199 ...
,
Jim Keller
Jim Keller is an American musician, producer, manager, publisher, and composer whose work in the music business spans more than 40 years. He was the co-founder, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter for the American rock band Tommy Tutone bas ...
,
The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in the Republic of Ireland including three number ones. Their first number one, " I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts ...
,
Rich Robinson
Richard Spencer Robinson (born May 24, 1969) is an American musician and founding member of the rock and roll band the Black Crowes. Along with older brother Chris Robinson, Rich formed the band in 1984 (originally called ''Mr. Crowes Garden'' ...
, and
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are an alternative country and folk rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1985 by Alan Anton (bassist), Michael Timmins (songwriter, guitarist), Peter Timmins (drummer) and Margo Timmins (vocalist). The three Timminses ...
, among others.
Absolute A Go Go Records and Miracle Management
Raspe also worked for independent record label, "Absolute A Go Go Records" whose artists have included
Phish
Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended Jam session#Rock, jams, blending of Music genre, genres, and a dedicated Fandom, fan base. The band consists of guitari ...
, The Vestrymen,
Tiny Lights
Tiny Lights was a music group formed by John Hamilton (musician, scholar), John Hamilton (guitar/vocals) and Donna Croughn (vocals/electric violin) in 1985. Original members include Dave Dreiwitz (bass/trumpet), Jane Scarpantoni (cello), John Ma ...
,
The Figgs
The Figgs are a rock ‘n’ roll band formed in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1987. Originally known as The Sonic Undertones, their output includes thirteen studio albums and multiple EPs and singles. They’ve served as the backing band for rock ...
Shelleyan Orphan
Shelleyan Orphan were a British alternative music group that peaked during the 1980s and early 1990s. They played a style of pop influenced by chamber music, and which featured dual male-female vocals.
Career
In 1980, Caroline Crawley and Jem ...
, and
The Figgs
The Figgs are a rock ‘n’ roll band formed in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1987. Originally known as The Sonic Undertones, their output includes thirteen studio albums and multiple EPs and singles. They’ve served as the backing band for rock ...
.
Main Man Records
Raspe also coordinated and served as executive producer on a tribute album for the New Jersey band Winter Hours for Main Man Records called "A Few Uneven Rhymes" in 2008. Artists on the recording included
Gordon Gano
Gordon James Gano (born June 7, 1963) is an American musician widely known as the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American folk punk band Violent Femmes.
Early life
Gano was born in New York City to actor parents Norman and Faye Gano, and ...
(
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, backing vocals), joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza (joined 2 ...
), The Ryan Brothers, (
The Bogmen
The Bogmen are an indie rock band from Huntington, Long Island, New York. The band was formed in 1993 by Billy Campion, Bill Ryan, Brendan Ryan, Mark Wike, P.J. O'Connor and Clive Tucker. Although they were signed by major label Arista Recor ...
),
Matthew Caws
Matthew Rorison Caws (born August 5, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative rock band Nada Surf. Caws is also a member of the indie rock duo Minor Alps, alon ...
(
Nada Surf
Nada Surf is a New York City-based American alternative rock band formed in the 1990s, consisting of Matthew Caws (guitar, vocals), Ira Elliot (drums), Doug Gillard (guitar, backing vocals), and Daniel Lorca (bass, backing vocals).
History ...
), and several members of
The Feelies
The Feelies are an American rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008, and released new albums in 2011 and 2017.
Although not commercially successful, th ...
. In 2011, Raspe was a co-producer on another Main Man Records project; a tribute to the band
The Runaways
The Runaways were an all-female American rock band who recorded and performed from 1975 to 1979. The band released four studio albums and one live album during its run. Among their best-known songs are " Cherry Bomb", " Hollywood", " Queens o ...
called, "Take It Or Leave It: A Tribute To The Queens of Noise, The Runaways". The album, while controversial, was critically lauded and featured performances by artists such as
The Donnas
The Donnas were an American rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1993. The band consisted of Brett Anderson (lead vocals), Allison Robertson (guitar, backing vocals), Maya Ford (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Torry Castellano (dru ...
,
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band, formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1994 by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström. They were later joined by keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford ...
and original Runaways singer
Cherie Currie
Cherie Ann Currie (born November 30, 1959) is an American singer, musician, actress and artist. Currie was the lead vocalist of The Runaways, a rock band from Los Angeles, in the mid-to-late 1970s. After The Runaways, she became a solo artist. ...
.
Personal life
Raspe is known to friends and fans as "Unkajeff." When not in the studio, he frequents local live music venues on the New Jersey Shore. Raspe has been quoted as saying “In other musical communities, you’re lucky to have four or five good bands come out of it every few years. In Asbury, you’ll have four or five good bands to see on a Tuesday.” Raspe has served as the host of the Asbury Park Music Awards at
The Stone Pony
The Stone Pony is a New Jersey music venue in Asbury Park, New Jersey known for launching the careers of many New Jersey music legends, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.WBJB and
The Saint
The Saint may refer to:
Fiction
* Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", the protagonist of a book series by Leslie Charteris and subsequent adaptations:
** ''The Saint'' (film series) (1938–43), starring Louis Hayward, George Sanders an ...
in
Asbury Park, NJ
Asbury Park () is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area.
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 15,188
.
Volunteer work
Raspe has served as volunteer emcee for the annual
Light of Day
''Light of Day'' is a 1987 American musical drama film starring Michael J. Fox, Gena Rowlands and Joan Jett in her film debut. It was written and directed by Paul Schrader. The original music score was composed by Thomas Newman and the cinematogr ...
shows to benefit
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms become ...
. He has also served on the awards committee for the Jersey Acoustic Music Awards.