Mark Simone
Mark Simone is an American radio and television personality, best known as the host of
Early life and education
Mark Simone was born in the 1950s in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Emerson College, where he studied broadcasting. The day after his graduation in 1977, he was hired to host a nightly show on WPIX-FM in New York City, marking the beginning of his professional career.Career
Early radio career
At WPIX-FM, a prominent FM music station in New York, Simone hosted a show that blended music, talk, comedy, listener calls, and interviews with emerging artists such as The Police, Blondie, Madonna, and Elvis Costello. The program received positive reviews from critics for its innovative format. In his early 20s, Simone became the youngest talk show host on a major New York station when he joined WMCA, hosting a daily 6–8 p.m. program. WMCA was a historic talk radio outlet featuring talk show legends, e.g., Barry Gray, Bob Grant, and Larry King.In the 1980s, Simone spent two and a half years co-hosting a daily three-hour comedy show with Steve Allen on the NBC Radio Network, featuring guests like Jay Leno, Mel Brooks, and Bill Maher. From the mid-1980s, Simone hosted a four-hour afternoon show on WNEW-AM, a station known for pioneering personality radio. The program featured classy music from artists like Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, A-list guests, live audiences, and in-studio performances by figures such as Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Tony Bennett. Attracting celebrity listeners such as Frank Sinatra, Jackie Onassis, and Cary Grant, it was profiled in The New York Times in 1992 for its appeal to high-profile audiences.
WABC and later radio work
On January 2, 2013, after 14 years at WABC, Simone rejoined WOR in New York City, hostingSimone had the "longest running and highest rated host on the New York dial", according to Barrett, and was nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame in 2023, one of 24 nominees selected from over 2,800 submissions. The show's podcast ranks #246 in the Apple Podcasts. Simone was ranked #39 in the TALKERS Magazine "Heavy Hundred" list — identifying the 100 most influential radio talk show hosts in America — for both 2023 and 2025. He rated #36 on the same list for 2024.
When Simone "inked a new three-year deal" in September 2023, WOR Program Director Tom Cuddy said, “it’s been a blast watching Mark grow into becoming the highest-rated radio talk host in his time slot.” Thea Mitchem, iHeartMedia New York EVP of Programming added, “It’s no surprise that Mark holds the longevity record for NYC radio talk show hosts. Mr. New York, Mark Simone, is in a class of his own.”
Simone hosted a popular Saturday night Sinatra show for two years and
Television and other work
For almost two decades Simone has co-hosted the weekly featureSimone has made numerous television appearances in 25 years, including as a regular contributor on Fox Business Network, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, and as an occasional guest host. He has appeared on shows such as
Simone has taught master classes on music at universities, including one on Frank Sinatra at Hofstra University as part of a symposium. Recognized as one of New York City's leading musicologists, he is also a popular master of ceremonies, having appeared at venues like Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Broadway theaters, the Kennedy Center, and the White House.
Simone serves on the board of directors for the Police Athletic League of New York City, a charity supporting youth programs.