Eli Polonsky

Now back on the radio every Tuesday! Scroll down profile for info.

Personal Information

Photo gallery links (chronological, newest on top):

For other and more recent photos, go to my Photo Albums on Facebook!

w/Doug Gesler of WMBR's "Lost Highway", Regattabar, Cambridge, MA July 19, 2007
At Fessenden Radio History Symposium, Marshfield, MA October 7, 2006
With Debess and Katrinka, "Gathering Of The Vibes", Mariaville, NY August 20, 2006
With DNC "Goats", "Gathering Of The Vibes", Mariaville, NY August 20, 2006
With former fellow WMBR DJ Leigh C. - WMBR, Cambridge, MA May 13, 2006
At "Gathering Of The Vibes" festival, Mariaville, NY August 14, 2005
At "Gathering Of The Vibes" festival, Mariaville, NY July 17, 2004
(2'nd right) Pre-Phil & Friends DeadNet Party, Boston MA November 23, 2003
With "Terrapin Boardies", Wormtown Festival, Greenfield, MA September, 2003
Sunflower child, homeopathy class hotel lobby, Waltham MA May, 2003
With musician Al Kooper (right), WMBR, Cambridge MA April, 2003
Interviewing Al Kooper on-air, WMBR, Cambridge MA April, 2003
Watching Phil Lesh & Friends, "Gathering Of The Vibes", Mariaville, NY July, 2002
(Far left) Ryefest II DeadNet Traders Gathering (#1), Rye, NY July, 2000
(Far left) Ryefest II DeadNet Traders Gathering (#2), Rye, NY July, 2000
(On right) Sleep deprived at Ryefest II, Rye, NY July, 2000
Relaxing at "Gathering Of The Vibes", Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT, June, 2000
At DeadNet "Vermont Goat Gathering", Londonderry, VT April, 2000
Playin' In The Band, DeadNet VGG, Londonderry, VT April, 2000
(Upper left) 25'th High School Reunion, Newton, MA November, 1999
(On left) High School High-Jinx, Newton, MA September, 1972

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I've been involved in radio broadcasting in the Boston area for 29 years, mostly on
non-commercial and public radio stations. My profile on Public Radio Exchange -
My profile on my radio show "Lost & Found" blog

I'm in my 29th year as a host of the "Lost & Found" 1960s/'70s music show, which
airs weekdays 12 noon - 2 PM ET on WMBR 88.1 FM from M.I.T. in Cambridge, MA.

I currently host every Tuesday, and I do my best to recreate late 1960s/early 1970s
progressive FM "underground" radio including album rock, psychedelia, folk-rock,
country-rock, blues and more, often including some vintage Dead and related music.

From September 2006 to September 2008, I shared the show with "FM underground"
radio pioneer Larry Miller, who was one of the first progressive FM radio DJ's in the
country on KMPX in San Francisco in 1967! It was an honor to share the show with
someone with such a radio heritage as Larry Miller. Larry's work obligations prevent
him from continuing regularly, but he will make guest appearances from time to time.

WMBR 88.1 FM can be heard on-air in greater Boston, northeastern MA, and parts of
southern NH. WMBR signal coverage map - WMBR live web stream options

Past show playlists are available on our "Lost & Found" show blog, requests for my
Tuesday editions of "Lost & Found" are welcome anytime at elipolo@earthlink.net.
Streaming audio archives of the past two weeks "Lost & Found" shows are here.

"Eli Polonsky interviewed me on his show, playing old and new recorded examples.
Some of the better time I’d ever had on the air!"
- Former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten, 4/30/01.

Audio clips: Grateful Dead & family WMBR station breaks
Click links below to listen! Low bandwidth .mp3 files.

Phil Lesh & Eli Polonsky WMBR Station ID/Organ Donation PSA
Bob Weir "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID
Bill Kreutzmann "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID
Mickey Hart "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID
Donna Jean Godchaux-McKay "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID
Tom Constanten "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID
Vince Welnick "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID (((( R.I.P. Vince ))))
Merl Saunders "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID (((( R.I.P. Merl ))))
Robert Hunter "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID
Wavy Gravy "Lost & Found" WMBR Station ID

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I also currently work as a part-time overnight announcer and on-air engineer at
WBUR 90.9 FM, Boston's NPR News Station.

WBUR 90.9 FM Boston is heard throughout most of southeastern New England.
WBUR-FM 90.9 signal coverage map - WBUR live web stream options

WBUR is also heard on the following signals on Cape Cod and nearby islands:
WBUR-AM 1240 W. Yarmouth, MA - WSDH-FM 91.5 Sandwich, MA -
WCCT-FM 90.3 Harwich, MA

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More radio history:

In 2005 I worked at WUMB 91.9 FM at U. Mass. Boston, then a Public Radio folk music station,
for which I produced a two-hour special documentary program "A Folk Radio Special Tribute
To Jerry Garcia" focusing on the folk, folk-rock and traditional musical influences in Jerry's
career, which aired August 4, 2005 and August 9, 2007. The playlist and more information
about this show is at http://folkradiojerrytribute.blogspot.com
"Think of it as a storm of good karma. A very rare occurrence, lasting a very limited time"
- An appropriate listener comment on this show that I found on another message board

In April 2000 I was David Gans' guest live on "Dead To The World" on KPFA in Berkeley, CA.
This program aired nationally as two segments of the Grateful Dead Hour in June 2000.

From 1986 to 1994 I was a frequent substitute host for the 1960s/'70's music show "Psychedelic
Regressions" on WZBC 90.3 FM, the student/community station at Boston College. (This show
ended when original host Jamie Cohen and I no longer had the personal time to continue it).

In January 1992 I was one of five hosts of a five-day six-night special program "The Grateful
Dead Orgy" on Harvard University college station WHRB 95.3 FM Cambridge, MA. One of
the most fun times I ever had on the radio!

From 1986 through 1990 I was a commercial "oldies" DJ and on-air engineer at a couple of
longtime heritage New England stations WMEX 1150 AM Boston and then WKBR 1250 AM
Manchester NH, both of which I listened to in their original Top 40 incarnations in the 1960s.
Unfortunately, it was the end of the road for both of these stations as music stations on AM
could no longer compete well with more powerful, higher fidelity FM stereo stations.

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Some other stuff:

I'm on Facebook

Local Boston Dead tribute band: Playin' Dead (formerly "Electric Hummus")

Originators of two of my favorite musical styles together:
Jerry Garcia with 1950's R&B pioneer Hank Ballard

My favorite vehicle: From 1978 - 1983 I drove a 1967
21-window sunroof VW Bus that looked like this one.

My family of visual artists:
My Father: Arthur Polonsky - Bio and Art Samples
My Mom: Lois Tarlow - Recent Work Samples
My brother Gabriel's professional animation studio: Gabriel Polonsky Studio
My brother D.L.'s website: D.L. Polonsky

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OVER 38 YEARS OF SEEING GRATEFUL DEAD (& MEMBERS) CONCERTS!

* means that I have the show and can burn it for trades (my time permitting).

Grateful Dead shows attended - click linked dates for pictures

04/02/73 Boston Garden (with New Riders Of The Purple Sage) *
07/27/73 "Sound Check", Watkins Glen, NY (w/Allman Bros. & The Band) *
07/28/73 "Summer Jam", Watkins Glen, NY (w/Allman Bros. & The Band) *
11/30/73 Boston Music Hall (part of Dick's Picks 14)
12/01/73 Boston Music Hall *
06/28/74 Boston Garden (part of Dick's Picks 12)
06/12/76 Boston Music Hall
05/07/77 Boston Garden *
05/14/78 Providence Civic Center *
11/13/78 Boston Music Hall
11/14/78 Boston Music Hall
01/18/79 Providence Civic Center
05/12/79 Alumni Stadium, U. Mass Amherst (with Patti Smith and Roy Ayers' Ubiquity) *
10/27/79 Cape Cod Coliseum, So. Yarmouth, MA *
11/04/79 Providence Civic Center
05/12/80 Boston Garden *
09/04/80 Providence Civic Center
09/06/80 State Fairgrounds, Lewiston, ME (w/Levon Helm's Cate Bros. and Roy Buchanan) *
03/12/81 Boston Garden
05/13/81 Providence Civic Center
04/15/82 Providence Civic Center *
04/17/82 Hartford Civic Center
04/18/82 Hartford Civic Center
09/18/82 Boston Garden
04/20/83 Providence Civic Center
06/18/83 SPAC, Saratoga NY *
10/20/83 Centrum, Worcester, MA
10/21/83 Centrum, Worcester, MA
06/24/84 SPAC, Saratoga NY
10/08/84 Centrum, Worcester MA
10/09/84 Centrum, Worcester MA
04/02/87 Centrum, Worcester, MA *
09/09/87 Providence Civic Center *
04/09/88 Centrum, Worcester MA
07/02/88 Plains Speedway, Oxford, ME (with Little Feat) *
07/02/89 Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro, MA (with Los Lobos)
03/19/90 Hartford Civic Center
09/25/91 Boston Garden (Dick's Picks 17)
03/27/93 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
03/28/93 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
03/29/93 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
09/24/93 Boston Garden
09/25/93 Boston Garden
09/26/93 Boston Garden
09/28/93 Boston Garden
09/29/93 Boston Garden
09/30/93 Boston Garden
07/13/94 Highgate, VT (with Yussou N'Dour)
09/27/94 Boston Garden
09/28/94 Boston Garden
09/29/94 Boston Garden *
10/01/94 Boston Garden *
10/02/94 Boston Garden
10/03/94 Boston Garden *
06/15/95 Highgate, VT (with Bob Dylan opening)

The Other Ones:

09/15/00 Fleet Center, Boston (Ziggy Marley opened)
11/18/02 Fleet Center, Boston (w/Robert Hunter)
11/19/02 Fleet Center, Boston (w/Robert Hunter) *

"The Dead":

06/15/03 Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN *
06/21/03 The Meadows, Hartford, CT (w/Steve Winwood)
06/22/03 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA (w/Steve Winwood) *
08/10/03 "Joan's" Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh, NY *
06/12/04 Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
07/31/04 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
08/01/04 SPAC, Saratoga, NY
08/03/04 The Meadows, Hartford, CT
04/18/09 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
04/19/09 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
04/26/09 XL Center, Hartford, CT

"Furthur":

02/18/10 Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, NH
06/30/10 LeLacheur Park, Lowell, MA
07/30/10 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
11/19/10 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
03/04/11 Orpheum, Boston
03/05/11 Orpheum, Boston
07/21/11 Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA
07/22/11 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT

Individual Grateful Dead members shows attended:

Jerry Garcia:

06/05/73 Old & In The Way, Orpheum, Boston
12/02/77 JGB, Orpheum, Boston
03/14/78 JGB, Music Hall, Boston (Robert Hunter opened)
02/15/80 JGB Orpheum, Boston * (Rachel Sweet opened)
07/25/80 JGB Orpheum, Boston (Dr. John opened)
02/07/81 JGB Orpheum, Boston (Jonathan Edwards opened)
11/13/81 JGB Orpheum, Boston (Peter Rowan opened)
06/28/82 Garcia & Kahn Opera House, Boston (Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson opened)
11/14/82 JGB Shapiro Gym (Brandeis University), Waltham, MA
12/03/83 JGB Orpheum, Boston (Rick Danko opened)
11/13/91 JGB Centrum, Worcester, MA
11/11/93 JGB Providence Civic Center
11/15/93 JGB Centrum, Worcester, MA

Phil Lesh & Friends:

11/06/99 State University, State College, PA (w/Bob Dylan)
11/13/99 Continental Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ (w/Bob Dylan)
11/14/99 Centrum, Worcester, MA (w/Bob Dylan)
04/08/00 Orpheum, Boston
04/09/00 Orpheum, Boston
04/10/00 Orpheum, Boston
04/11/00 Orpheum, Boston
07/22/00 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA (w/Bob Dylan)
10/01/00 Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT
10/04/00 Orpheum, Boston
10/05/00 Orpheum, Boston
10/06/00 Orpheum, Boston
10/07/00 Orpheum, Boston
04/30/01 Roseland Ballroom, New York City, NY *
07/20/01 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA (Ratdog opened)
07/21/01 The Meadows, Hartford, CT (Ratdog opened)
11/23/01 Orpheum, Boston
07/05/02 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY *
07/06/02 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY *
07/13/02 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA (w/Robert Hunter, Mickey Hart's Bembe Orisha) *
09/01/02 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO (Willie Nelson opened) *
11/23/03 Orpheum, Boston
11/24/03 Orpheum, Boston
11/25/03 Orpheum, Boston
12/01/05 Agganis Arena, Boston University
02/22/06 Lupo's At The Strand, Providence, RI
10/09/07 Orpheum, Boston
06/21/08 Bank Of America Pavilion, Boston (w/Levon Helm Band)
08/02/08 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT

Bob Weir (pre-Ratdog):

03/05/78 Bob Weir Band w/Brent Mydland, Paradise Rock Club, Boston
11/04/80 Bobby & The Midnights w/Brent Mydland, Orpheum, Boston
01/29/82 Bobby & The Midnights w/Brent Mydland, Orpheum, Boston
08/02/92 Weir & Wasserman Great Woods Amphitheater, Mansfield MA

Bob Weir & Ratdog:

11/23/98 Orpheum, Boston (Alana Davis opened)
11/10/99 The Palladium, Worcester, MA (Jiggle The Handle opened)
11/22/99 Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI (Beth Hart opened)
06/24/00 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
11/15/00 Lupo's, Providence, RI (The Persuasions opened)
11/25/00 The Palladium, Worcester, MA (Ratdog canceled by fire after The Persuasions opened)
07/20/01 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA (opening for Phil & Friends)
07/21/01 The Meadows, Hartford, CT (opening for Phil & Friends)
03/07/02 Orpheum, Boston
10/11/02 Orpheum, Boston
10/18/03 Orpheum, Boston *
04/02/04 The Palladium, Worcester, MA
04/03/04 Waterville Valley Resort, Waterville, NH (Assembly Of Dust opened)
04/23/05 Orpheum, Boston (Assembly Of Dust opened)
08/12/05 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY *
11/12/05 The Palladium, Worcester, MA
04/01/06 Orpheum, Boston
08/19/06 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
11/10/06 Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA
03/12/07 Capitol Center, Concord, NH
03/13/07 Orpheum, Boston
07/10/07 Bank Of America Pavilion, Boston (w/Keller Williams)
08/11/07 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT (w/Keller Williams)
08/12/07 Boarding House Park, Lowell, MA (Jack Kerouac/Neal Cassady tribute)
05/31/08 Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
11/08/08 Orpheum, Boston
07/25/09 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT

Mickey Hart:

12/01/91 Planet Drum, Berklee Performance Center, Boston
10/24/98 Planet Drum, Avalon, Boston MA
05/12/00 Mickey Hart Band w/Vince Welnick, Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach NH
07/13/02 Bembe Orisha, Tweeter Center, Mansfield MA (opening for Phil & Friends)
08/19/06 Rhythm Devils w/Billy Kreutzmann, Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
08/10/07 Mickey Hart Band, Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
07/31/10 Rhythm Devils w/Billy Kreutzmann, Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
09/04/10 Rhythm Devils w/Billy Kreutzmann, Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
07/24/11 Rhythm Devils w/Billy Kreutzmann, Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT

Billy Kreutzmann:

10/01/86 "Go Ahead" w/Brent Mydland, The Channel, Boston (w/Robert Hunter, opening)
08/19/06 Rhythm Devils w/Mickey Hart, Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
06/05/08 Bill Kreutzmann Trio, The Roxy, Boston
08/02/08 Bill Kreutzmann Trio, Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
07/31/10 Rhythm Devils w/Mickey Hart, Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
09/04/10 Rhythm Devils w/Mickey Hart, Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
07/24/11 Rhythm Devils w/Mickey Hart, Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT

Donna Jean Godchaux-McKay - Donna Jean Godchaux Band:

08/12/05 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
08/13/05 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
08/19/06 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
08/20/06 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY
08/11/07 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
08/02/08 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
07/25/09 Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
01/28/11 Mill St. Brews, Southbridge, MA (w/Tom Constanten)

Tom Constanten:

11/10/90 Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA (w/Robert Hunter)
04/23/91 The Channel, Boston (w/Merl Saunders Band, Papa John Creach, more...)
06/02/92 w/Dead Ringers, Old Vienna Kaffeehaus, Westborough, MA
08/29/92 Loon Mountain Music Festival, Lincoln, NH
10/07/93 Old Vienna Kaffeehaus, Westborough, MA
06/08/95 Harper's Ferry, Allston (Boston) MA, (w/Jiggle The Handle)
08/07/99 Gathering On The Mountain, Poconos, PA
08/08/99 Gathering On The Mountain, Poconos, PA
05/13/00 The Palladium, Worcester, MA (w/David Gans, Merl Saunders, more...)
08/05/00 Gathering On The Mountain, Poconos, PA
08/06/00 Gathering On The Mountain, Poconos, PA
04/12/01 Partner's Pub, Fitchburg, MA (w/The Knot)
04/19/01 Linwood Grille, Boston (w/Eddy's Shoe)
06/22/02 Polish-American Country Club, Gardner, MA (w/The Knot)
08/13/05 Gathering Of The Vibes, Mariaville, NY (w/The Zen Tricksters)
10/15/05 Berklee Performance Center, Boston (w/Jefferson Starship)
07/01/07 "Summer Of Love 40th Anniversary Tour", Northampton, MA
08/16/09 "Heroes Of Woodstock 40th Anniversary Tour", Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA
01/28/11 Mill St. Brews, Southbridge, MA (w/Donna Jean Godchaux)

Brent Mydland:

03/05/78 w/Bob Weir Band, Paradise Rock Club, Boston
11/04/80 w/Bobby & The Midnights, Orpheum, Boston
01/29/82 w/Bobby & The Midnights, Orpheum, Boston
10/01/86 "Go Ahead" w/Billy Kreutzmann, The Channel, Boston (w/Robert Hunter, opening)

Vince Welnick:

10/22/98 Missing Man Formation, Harper's Ferry, Allston (Boston) MA
08/08/99 Missing Man Formation, Gathering On The Mountain, Poconos, PA
05/12/00 w/Mickey Hart Band, Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
05/29/03 w/Gent Treadly, Anastasia René, House Of Blues, Cambridge, MA

Robert Hunter:

03/14/78 Music Hall, Boston (opening for Jerry Garcia Band)
??/??/?? Jonathan Swift's, Cambridge, MA
??/??/?? Jonathan Swift's, Cambridge, MA
08/08/84 Jonathan Swift's, Cambridge, MA
10/01/86 The Channel, Boston (opening for "Go Ahead")
11/10/90 Somerville Theater, Somerville MA (w/Tom Constanten)
11/16/93 Middle East Club, Cambridge MA - Spoken word recital
11/14/98 The Roxy, Boston
05/08/02 Somerville Theater, Somerville MA
07/13/02 Tweeter Center, Mansfield MA (w/Phil & Friends)
11/18/02 Fleet Center, Boston (w/The Other Ones)
11/19/02 Fleet Center, Boston (w/The Other Ones)
03/16/03 Somerville Theater, Somerville MA