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She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock n' Roll  by Gillian G. Gaar. Discusses Allison's role in early free-form radio.

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[5] Sad News for Nightbird Fans...

Allison "The Nightbird" Steele died of cancer in 1995. The December 31st, 1995 Sunday edition of the NY Times, Magazine section, published a tribute to her by former colleague Vin Scelsa.

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[6] Personal Remembrances of Allison via E-Mail

From Arthur S.....
      I too share your experiences with the Nightbird. I grew up in the New York area. Her radio show was so enjoyable, it literally would let me forget all my cares and worries. I am an extremely picky listener but I could listen to an entire broadcast and like every song. She played new age music before the term existed. In my personal opinion, her voice was the best I have ever heard. And if this was not enough, she was a true spiritual philosopher in a world where such people are always an endangered species.
      But there is a sad note here. Her presence was shoved aside for music that I consider crude and inferior (and I love Cream, Hendrix, etc.). The last few years of her life she was on the radio at 3 a.m..How a person with her many talents could be denigrated has always been a source of indignation with me. It is a sad note when society lets such a talented person fade away. I actually wish that I could hear all the many broadcasts that I missed as well as the ones that I did hear.
      As I am writing this, I am listening to a relatively new CD by Jade Warrior. They are as New Age as a band can get. I first heard them in the early 70's on one of Allison's shows. They were about 20 years ahead of their time. This was just one of the reasons that I still think of her.

From John A.....
      Thank you for the Allison Steele page. I don't know how many sleepless nights that soothing voice and tender spirit sat thru with me. To this day I am a poor sleeper. Finding your page and playing the wav files (it was after 2:00 am!) was eerie - I crossed a bridge to a time long gone by. I had not thought of Allison for years - I moved away from the metro area right after I graduated high school to attend college, always figuring that I would return . . . that there'd be plenty more nights of listening . . .
      My sister mentioned it to me when she died. Feels like a part of your youth went with her, doesn't it? Thanks again, and have a good night . . .

From Steve R.....
      Thanks for your webpage on Allison Steele. It took me back to such wonderful days of radio listening to hear the pre-Columbian flute music and Allison's soothing voice telling us that there is no time or dimensions... that we should fly with her. Only 39 seconds of Allison's nightly program introduction but a lot of memories there.
      I'm sure you know that after WNEW-FM let go Allison and many of the other original DJ's, she worked for several years doing Adult Standards on WNEW-AM and running her boutique on E. 60th St., "Just Cats". Then her last radio home was overnights on K-Rock before Howard Stern. Let's give some credit to GM Tom Chiusano for keeping her on the schedule through all of her stomach cancer treatments till she died. If you remember, her last year she'd do the show when she was up to it and Max Kinkle and others would fill in when she was not able to do it.
      I'm also going to look through my parents' attic for a record from the U.S. Army Reserve. Allison used to host a half-hour show called "Nightbird and Company" where she'd interview rock performers and play their music. My college radio station would play the shows, which included two commercials for the Army Reserve. The programs came on two vinyl disks.
      Thanks again for this website. As Allison would sign off, "I wish you peace, joy and a really great day."

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[7] Why a Page for Allison Steele?!

Because Allison Steele and the other announcers on WNEW-FM in New York in the late 1960's are an integral part of my youth, and formed major pathways in my adolescent little brain! Just listen to Allison's introduction to her show! Yes, we were all like that in the late 60's early 70's... Living in the ozone and happy to be there! Yup, it was a naive state of bliss, but it was wonderful while it lasted!
      And by the way, I actually met Allison briefly after a concert in Central Park in New York in the late 1960's, and she was just as gracious in person as she was on the air.

I have no idea if any radio stations might be re-running any of Allison's shows. If you can hear her on your radio (and you're not just having an acid flashback from the 60's or 70's) please let me know!

In other WNEW FM DJ news... Rosko continued doing voice-overs for television commercials through the 1980's into the 1990's, and unfortunately passed away Aug.1, 2000 after a long battle with cancer. Zacherly was still alive and kicking in October 2000 when he appeared in the Halloween issue of TV Guide (with 2 pictures!).

This small but exciting part of the WWWeb is brought to you by Robert Haycock.  E-Mail me with any questions, comments, suggestions, or information about Allison Steele.  Sorry, but because of Massive SPAM problems my E-Mail link has been "hidden". See the info box at the bottom of this page for more info, thanks!