ON AIR • WA1LYT
[email protected] Watch "Talking With Tom" on YouTube
TC
Thomas Coss www.tomcoss.net • WA1LYT
Connecticut Airwaves Legend • Call Sign: WA1LYT

The Voice of Connecticut Radio, Polka & Community.

Tom’s voice is well known on the airwaves in radio and television throughout Connecticut. From starting his career at WMMW 1470 AM in Meriden to hosting Talking With Tom live on YouTube and operating Amateur Radio station WA1LYT for over 30 years.

6+
CT Radio & TV Stations
WA1LYT
30+ Yrs Ham Operator
43+ Yrs
Polka & Accordion
LIVE
YouTube & FB Talk Show
Watch on YouTube (@ThomasCoss-m2s) [email protected] Explore Broadcast History
STUDIO A • MERIDEN, CT
WA1LYT / 1470 AM
Thomas Coss at the broadcast console in his studio with ON AIR sign, reel-to-reel tape deck, vinyl records, and VU meters

Thomas Coss at the Broadcast Desk

Shure SM7B • Analog VU Console • Reel-to-Reel Archive

-20-30+3
VU CH-L
-20-30+3
VU CH-R
Studio Console Active
Signal: +1.5 dB • Stereo
Live Radio • 3 Stations
PolkaRadio!
Fun Tower Radio
Polka Jammer Network
01 // BIOGRAPHY & PERSONAL STORY

"Hi, my name is Tom Coss — welcome to my place on the web."

I was born and raised, and lived most of my life in the Meriden, Connecticut area (known affectionately as the Silver City). After graduating from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and studying electronics at H.C. Wilcox Technical School in Meriden, my lifelong passion for connecting with people through sound and radio took flight.

Beyond the broadcast booth, my hobbies include ham radio (WA1LYT), music, accordion playing, traveling, visiting New York City, polka dancing, and going out to eat with friends. When it comes to dining out, nothing beats great pizza, pasta, and Chinese food!

I always love meeting new people and staying in touch with old friends from across Connecticut and around the world. Thank you for visiting my website — I hope you will come back again and tell your friends about www.tomcoss.net.

Tom's Passions & Favorites

🎙️ Radio & TV Broadcasting 🪗 Accordion Playing 📻 Ham Radio (WA1LYT) 💃 Polka Music & Dancing 🗽 Traveling & New York City 🍕 Pizza, Pasta & Chinese Food
“
WORDS TO LIVE BY • TOM'S PHILOSOPHY
“If I had one thing to say about all of my years of life on this earth, it would be: life is short, love and pray hard. We are here only for a short time, so we should live life to its fullest, and try to do the best we can with what we got, and above all, pray for each other every day.”

“Thank God for all the friends He sends our way to help us in the journey thru life. Never give up — look up — always have faith! Worry looks around, sorrow looks back, faith looks up.”

— Thomas Coss
Meriden, Connecticut
Original Archive: 1999
Modern Edition: 2026
02 // ON THE AIRWAVES

Connecticut Radio & Television Career

From commercial AM/FM stations and university transmitters to local cable television in the Meriden area, explore the stations where Tom Coss brought music, polka, and conversation to life.

WMMW • 1470 AM Meriden, CT

Where Tom's Radio Career Began

Located in the historic Wilcox building at the corner of Church and Colony Streets in Downtown Meriden. After graduating from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Tom launched his career here and co-hosted the beloved Sunday Polka Show (12:00 Noon – 2:30 PM) alongside Meriden "Polka King" Walt Solek.

Career Debut & Sunday Polka Church St, Meriden
WFCS • 107.7 FM New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State College

Broadcasting from New Britain — home to Connecticut's vibrant "Little Poland" community — Tom hosted dedicated polka and community radio programming on WFCS from Central Connecticut State College (CCSU).

Polka & Campus Broadcasts New Britain, CT
WNTY • 990 AM Southington, CT

Live Remote & Studio Broadcasts

At WNTY in Southington, Tom hosted live broadcasts including the popular Patty Ann's Polka Show, transmitted live on location from the Stonecrest Restaurant in Plainville, Connecticut.

Patty Ann's Polka Show Live Southington / Plainville
WKCI • KC101 FM Hamden, CT

Southern Connecticut Airwaves

Part of Tom's extensive commercial broadcasting journey across the state of Connecticut, serving listeners throughout the Greater New Haven and Hamden region at WKCI.

Regional Radio Broadcasting Hamden, CT
WWUH • 91.3 FM Hartford, CT

University of Hartford Radio

Broadcasting from the University of Hartford, Tom co-hosted polka and specialty music programs alongside John Prytko Jr., reaching listeners across the Greater Hartford Capitol Region.

Co-Host with John Prytko Jr. West Hartford / Hartford
CABLE-TV RAVE Meriden Area, CT

Tom's Own Television Program

Expanding from radio to television, Tom produced and hosted his own television program on Cable-TV RAVE in the Meriden area, welcoming renowned polka musicians and community personalities as studio guests.

Host & Producer • Cable TV Meriden, CT
🎓

Broadcast & Technical Education

Graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting (Hartford/Stratford, CT) & studied Electronics at H.C. Wilcox Technical School (Meriden, CT).

Licensed & Trained Broadcaster
MODERN BROADCASTING • YOUTUBE LIVE

"Talking With Tom" — Live Interactive Talk Show

“TALKING WITH TOM WITH YOUR HOST TOM COSS IS A TALK SHOW ON YouTube WHERE VIEWERS CHECK IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH THEIR COMMENTS IN LIVE CHAT!!! ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN IN ON THE SHOW!!!”

Continuing his decades-long tradition of warm, interactive broadcasting, Tom hosts Talking With Tom on YouTube (@ThomasCoss-m2s) as well as live community broadcasts and Tom Coss and The Silver City Polka Party updates on Facebook. Viewers check in every week from across Connecticut, the United States, and around the globe.

Subscribe on YouTube (@ThomasCoss-m2s)
Follow "Tom Coss and The Silver City Polka Party" on Facebook

Recent "Talking With Tom" Broadcasts

Direct links to official YouTube episodes hosted by Thomas Coss

49+ Videos
TALKING WITH TOM — WED 10/21/26 YouTube WITH THOMAS COSS
Live Global Chat Broadcast • Duration: 44:33
Watch Episode →
TALKING WITH TOM — WED 10/14/26 ON YouTube WITH THOMAS COSS
Live Global Chat Broadcast • Duration: 35:09
Watch Episode →
TALKING WITH TOM — WED 9/30/26 YouTube WITH THOMAS COSS
Live Global Chat Broadcast • Duration: 38:07
Watch Episode →
TALKING WITH TOM — WED 9/23/26 ON YouTube WITH Thomas Coss
Live Global Chat Broadcast • Duration: 34:54
Watch Episode →
TALKING WITH TOM WITH THOMAS COSS — WED 9/16/26 ON YouTube
Live Global Chat Broadcast • Duration: 40:22
Watch Episode →
Vintage pearl-keyed piano accordion resting on a wooden stage beside a classic broadcast microphone
The Silver City Polka Party Tradition

From live accordion performances at Meriden weddings, festivals, and social occasions to Sunday afternoon radio broadcasts across New England.

03 // ACCORDION & POLKA HERITAGE

43+ Years of Polka Music & Accordion Performance

An accomplished accordion player and lifelong polka music ambassador, Tom has performed live at weddings, birthday parties, festivals, convalescent homes, and local social venues throughout the Meriden area — as well as hosting some of Connecticut's most cherished polka broadcasts.

WMMW 1470 AM • MERIDEN

Sundays with Walt Solek

Co-hosted the Sunday Polka Program from 12:00 noon to 2:30 PM on WMMW alongside Meriden's legendary "Clown Prince of Polka," Walt Solek.

WNTY • SOUTHINGTON / PLAINVILLE

Patty Ann's Polka Show

Hosted live remote broadcasts of Patty Ann's Polka Show straight from the Stonecrest Restaurant in Plainville, CT.

WWUH & WFCS • HARTFORD & NEW BRITAIN

University Polka Airwaves

Co-hosted polka shows with John Prytko Jr. at the University of Hartford (WWUH) and hosted polka programs from Central Connecticut State College (WFCS).

LIVE ACCORDION & CABLE TV

RAVE TV & Community Stage

Hosted his own cable polka TV show on RAVE TV featuring polka greats as guests, and founded the North American Accordion Aficionados community.

04 // AMATEUR RADIO STATION

Ham Radio Operator

WA1LYT

For over 30 years, Tom has been an active licensed Amateur Radio operator under the FCC call sign WA1LYT. Trained in electronics at H.C. Wilcox Technical School in Meriden, Tom has connected with fellow operators across Connecticut, the United States, and around the world.

OFFICIAL QSL STATION PROFILE WA1LYT — THOMAS COSS
QRV • MERIDEN, CT (FN31)
Call Sign
WA1LYT
QTH Location
Meriden, CT USA
Experience
30+ Years Active
Look Up WA1LYT on QRZ.com → ARRL (Newington, CT) FCC Wireless Info
Amateur Ham Radio transceiver station with glowing analog meters and world map
WA1LYT SHACK • CONNECTICUT
73s to all fellow Amateur Radio operators worldwide
73 DE WA1LYT
05 // PRESERVED ARCHIVES & TRIBUTES

In Memoriam & Scrapbook Memories

Preserved from Tom’s original 1999 website: heartfelt tributes to Connecticut polka and broadcasting pioneers, plus cherished family and music memories.

MERIDEN "POLKA KING" Passed April 1, 2005

Walt Solek

Known as the "Clown Prince of Polka" and Meriden's Polka King. A polka musician for 75 years and Sunday afternoon DJ on WMMW 1470 AM for 28 years (where Tom co-hosted with him). Composer of Julida Polka, Who Stole The Kishka, and Pierogi Polka. Inducted into both the Meriden Hall of Fame and the Polka Music Hall of Fame.

Forever remembered in the Silver City
WMMW PIONEER 1947–1969 • d. 1993

Stanley E. Saleski

Original host of the famous Silver City Polka Party Show on WMMW in Meriden from 1947 to 1969 and publisher of Polka News. Inducted into the Polka Music Hall of Fame in 1980.

Polka Music Hall of Fame Inductee
WRYM RADIO ANNOUNCER Hartford, CT

Stanley A. Ozimek

Beloved radio DJ and announcer for WRYM radio, broadcasting Polish and polka programs directly from the Polish National Home in Hartford, Connecticut.

Polish National Home • Hartford
ANNOUNCER & DJ Meriden / New London

Joe Bondrowski ("Big Joe")

Well-known announcer and DJ from Meriden, CT, and fellow graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Worked closely with Dick Pillar at Polkabration in New London, Connecticut.

CT School of Broadcasting Alumnus
ORCHESTRA LEADER Meriden, CT

Vic Meyers

Leader of the renowned Vic Meyers Orchestra in Meriden, CT. Recorded acclaimed albums including Polkas from the Heart and Polkas from Yesteryear, featuring the classic hit Under the Warsaw Bridge.

Vic Meyers Orchestra • Meriden
DEAR FRIENDS Southington & Meriden

Walter E. Michalak & David Carrasquillo (N1LEU)

In loving memory of dedicated Southington polka supporter Walter E. Michalak (d. Jan 8, 2005) and Meriden friend and fellow Ham Radio Operator David M. Carrasquillo (N1LEU) (1964–2024). May they always rest in peace.

Forever in our prayers
06 // COMMUNITY & DIRECTORY

Tom’s Favorite Links & Resources

Curated from Tom’s original GeoCities directory — connecting listeners with New England Polka bands, radio airwaves, amateur radio stations, and Polish-American cultural heritage.

📜 Tom’s Original GeoCities Directory (1999–2009) ↗

🪗 Polka Bands & Legends

📻 Polka Media & Heritage

🥟 Cuisine & Community

📡 Radio & Technical

07 // STAY IN TOUCH & SIGN THE GUESTBOOK

Say Hello to Tom Coss

On Tom's original 1999 website, the Guestbook was where friends, radio listeners, and fellow Ham operators checked in. Send Tom an email directly or leave a public message and QSL greeting below!

Direct Email Contact
[email protected]
For show inquiries, polka requests, QSL cards & personal greetings
Email Tom ↗

Listener & Ham Radio Check-Ins

Continuing the tradition from Tom's 1999 Guestbook

4 Entries