He was one of the first FM disc jockeys who thrived when given the chance to choose their own music, venturing beyond playing pop hits. Frequently, he would play lesser known songs that had personal meaning for himself or listeners. He was a good friend to many musicians who enjoyed his intelligent interviews and his knowledge of rock-n-roll. One of his best recording artist friends was Billy Joel, who at 23, had just released his Cold Spring Harbor album and was trying to promote it. Sciaky subsequently featured it on one his Sigma Sound Studios broadcasts.
Sciaky lived on the Main Line, near Philadelphia. His house was home to a substantial, well-organized music collection, as well as a rather large iguana, perhaps five feet long. The resting iguana would sometimes startle first time guests when it moved slightly and caught their attention.
He was married to Judy (Feldshur) Sciaky from 1969 until his death. They had one child in 1985, Monica, an opera singer with a doctorate in vocal arts, who married Eiki Isomura, who has his doctorate in conducting and is the son of violist Kazuhide Isomura.
Death
Sciaky died of complications from diabetes on January 29, 2004, in New York City, at the age of 55. E Street drummer Max Weinberg and singer-songwriter Steve Forbert served as pallbearers at his funeral, which was attended by 1500 people.
