Latrobe Polka DJ Dies

A beloved Latrobe polka DJ has died.

Joseph Kozenko, best known by his on-air handle “Joey Kaye”, was a staple on Latrobe radio stations WQTW (now WXVE) and WTRA (later WCNS, now WJFG) since the 1960’s and lasting through the end of the 20th century.

Kaye was a 1968 graduate of the former Columbia School of Broadcasting, funded by the GI Bill following his discharge from the US Air Force, where he served for more than ten years. He balanced his radio career concurrent with a 33-year tenure at Latrobe’s Rolling Rock beer.

During the latter part of his career, starting in the 1980’s, Kaye hosted “The Joey Kaye Polka Party”, which ran on WQTW. The show aired on Sundays, sometimes for extended periods during Pittsburgh Steelers football season.

WQTW’s simulcast-originating station, WLSW, held the radio broadcast rights to Pittsburgh Steelers football for Fayette County. However, because WQTW did not hold the same rights for Westmoreland County (those belonged to WCNS), it was required to “black out” those games, thus necessitating separate programming on WQTW. Given Kaye’s popularity, listeners didn’t seem to mind.

Kaye also engineered high school football broadcasts for Derry on WQTW, as well as “taking care of the place” when the local studio building would sit vacant for extended periods of time.

Kaye was 89. He is survived by two daughters and their spouses, and a granddaughter, as well as two sisters. He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia in 2010. His funeral was yesterday, followed by interment at Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.