Claude's Commentary No. 66r2

Today at 8:22 AM
June 1, 2015

Claude’s Commentary No. 66
By Claude Hall

Floods in deep Texas.  More than a dozen dead.  Others missing.  A dam southwest of Dallas about to give way.  That entire part of Texas is a disaster area.  Meanwhile, Lake Mead is drastically low and California suffers intense drought conditions.  True, all infrastructure of America is in horrible shape.  Barrack Obama was never able to fulfill his promise about revitalizing the infrastructure.  But the “communication channels” I discussed in a previous Commentary would, to a great extent, alleviate that situation.  As you’ll recall, my communication channels would include super highways and super railroads as well as aqueducts for the transportation of water.  With considerable ease, a great portion of the flood that hit Houston and San Marcos, TX, could have been transported to Lake Mead.  If we don’t solve this problem now, when?

I have some relatives and close friends in the flood areas.  Woody Roberts and Joe Nick Patowski family are fine, as well as my numerous relatives.  Through a mutual friend, we tracked Bruce Miller Earle down.  He had missed the Wimberley flood.

OTHER MATTERS
Art Holt:  “I am in Albuquerque right now doing family stuff, so am in a pretty safe area. (I hope).  Enjoyed the Don Keyes comments.  He was a good friend as well as a good man to work with.  We also did spare time things … duck hunted and shot at doves out at Gordon’s ranch.  Glad to see him get some recognition.  Keep up the great work.”

Wally Newman:  “I have a radio show with an interesting funding model. Ernie Hopseker suggested I write and tell you about it.  I have enjoyed your columns since I started in radio in the late 1960s at KMPC.  I was a board engineer and had the privilege of working the Gary Owens weekend show.  In the early ‘70s I met Ernie at KGAL in Oregon.  I currently host a live radio show on KLTR-FM in Brenham, TX, playing music from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.  Unfortunately advertisers aren’t much interested in listeners over 50 and at the end of last year I decided to pull the plug.  I told a couple of listeners and they rallied, formed the Society for the Advancement of Doo-Wop, and are paying me to stay on the air.  And they’ve set me up with some advertisers including the local Budweiser distributorship.  It’s the NPR ‘Listener-Sponsored’ funding model and no one is more surprised than me at the support I’ve received.  Could you please include me on your mailing list for Commentary?  Thank you for your years of service to the radio industry.”

Wally, welcome home.

Morris Diamond:  “Hello, Claude, a few issues back you had much conversation about books from various author-correspondents and the books they have written, wanna write or will write – and I got a kick out of it because for a long time I was a candidate for the ‘wanna write’ group – and I did it two years ago.  I am pleased at the reaction I received from those that have read the book which is the true story of my 75 years in the music industry.  The book is called ‘The Name Dropper’ -- subtitle:  People I schlepped with.  Amazon seems to indicate that they are selling the book.  I've been encouraged by readers with their comments – especially those that are not in our business.  For those who get bored with words, will find pleasure with many photos of people I schlepped with lo all these years.  Woody Roberts has written about Willie Nelson being at the age of  82.   I have ties older than that.  But I love to see Willie work … like a teenager … two years ago and I was amazed at his ability to carry a whole show.  I was also happy to see Chuck Dunaway's name showing up on your weekly newsletter.  I recall when my Beverly Hills Records label was doing pretty well.  I had just released a Jaye P. Morgan single of a great song, ‘A Song for You’.  It was getting good airplay all over the U.S. and sales were wonderful.  I got a call from a friend at Columbia Records that they are going all out on a new Andy Williams cover of the same tune.  That concerned me, needless to say.   I got on my bicycle and hit the road.  By the time I got to Cleveland, Andy's record was getting much airplay.  I was able to convince a few stations on my road trip to hang in with my Jaye P. Morgan record.  When I visited with Chuck, he did indicate that Columbia sent a number of radio stations a short letter advising them that they are going to buy time in the fall and to be on the lookout for Andy's record.  That was a very legitimate move and I couldn't blame those stations that had to heed orders from the upper brass.  But I always felt that Chuck Dunaway leveled with me and have always had respect for him.  Love to you and Barbara.”

Frank Boyle: “Claude, speaking of Country, Willie Nelson and Bill Mack -- you will recall that WBAP/Ft. Worth and WMAQ/ Chicago were the first 1A -- 50KW Clear Channel stations (of the 24 clears) to go Country.  WBAP changed, thx to Hal Chestnut/GM and Ted Norman/GSM -- owned by billionaire Carter Family who also owned WBAP-TV and Ft. Worth Star Telegram Daily newspaper.  As a classy opening promotion, WBAP bought 50 pairs of the then $150 Tony Lama custom cowboy boots for Christal, its National Sales Rep. for its Mgt and sales guys in its 10 national offices.  About a month later, Hal Chestnut got a call from Helen Davis, VP-head of media dept. at New York ad agency Doyle, Dane & Bernbach -- for American Airlines.  Helen said she knew that WBAP-AM had changed format to Country.  That Hal should know the Christal sales people were making fun of the change to ‘Shit Kickin' Music’.  And refused to wear the Tony Lama boots.  Biggest single stockholder in American Airlines was the Ft. Worth Carter family, owner of WBAP.  American Airlines was big advertiser on WBAP/ KSCS.  American's home base was Dallas/Ft. Worth.  My boss, Bob Eastman and his wife, Anne were on a cruise around Sweden/Norway.  I was his No 2. I got a call from legendary Sol Taishoff, founder and publisher of Broadcasting Magazine.  Sol said, ‘Frank, I'm calling you for the Carter family, owners of WBAP-AM/KSCS-FM in Ft. Worth.  They wonder if Eastman reps would consider repping their Ft. Worth radio stations. They and I know you already rep KXOL-AM there, and its group owned by long-time friend of the Carter Family -- Wendell Mayes, group owner from Brownwood.  That it would be a difficult decision for Eastman to make that change from one of your charter clients.  Having said all that, would you consider going to Ft. Worth to discuss such a change?  They are impressed with the job Eastman has done repping another 1A - 50KW Clear Channel station -- WMAQ-AM/Chicago owned by NBC that recently changed to Country’.

“I answered that any radio rep worth his salt would have to seriously consider repping one of the 24 most powerful radio stations in the nation. ‘Who should I call to make an appointment to fly down?’  He said, ‘Hal Chestnut.  His private number is –‘.  Then I asked Sol why was Sol calling us, not the Carter Family?  Sol said, ‘If you knew the Carter family -- they would not want to hear you say NO’.  We took the Carter family offer -- to rep WBAP/KSCS.  Their prior rep had done $180,000 in national sales last year.  We, Eastman, did $1,200,000 in our first year -- $7,500,000 in our biggest year.  Eight months earlier, I'd gotten a call from Jack Thayer, president NBC Radio, asking me to be at WMAQ/Chicago at Merchandise Mart Bldg. in two days for an emergency meeting with Charlie Warner and Bob Pittman, his PD.  At that meeting I met Bob Pittman for the first time -- knew Charlie when he was GM in Pittsburgh and hired Pittman there to be his 19-year-old PD.

“Bob Pittman came into meeting with a pony tail – jeans, Grandma Moses glasses, sweat shirt. He said, ‘Next Saturday WMAQ is going Country.  It'll be different from the other local Country station -- WJJD-AM. They play 1,500 tunes a week. WMAQ will be Top 40 Country.  We'll play The Hits -- maybe 100 a week.  With mind boggling promotions -- giving away new cars and new homes.  We're printing half a million badges -- saying ‘Listen to WMAQ is gonna make me rich’!  WMAQ went from 11th to second to WGN in 2 ARB Books.  Never looked back.  All the Nashville smartasses who originally made fun of Bob Pittman's Top 40 Country now came to Chicago to get on his knee asking: ‘How'd you really do this miracle?’  WMAQ and WBAP made it ‘couth’ for Agency Time buyers to buy time on what  they previously put down at ‘Shit Kickin' Music'.  Charlie and Bob got promoted to New York to run WNBC/ WYNY-FM.  WYNY-FM became No. 1 most listened to FM in whole USA.  At that time Eastman was privileged to rep WIRE-AM -- with Don Nelson/ GM – top-rated Country station in US.  Our most fun was repping Jim Phillips at Country KHEY, El Paso and KRIO, McAllen. Time Buyers were willing to pay us to bring Jim back to make calls on them. Stand up comedian -- did small rope tricks like Will Rogers.  Bill Mack/ WBAP/ KSCS (Silver Country Stereo) had Willie Nelson on the air often and together in WBAP's outside Concerts.  Claude, you personally can remember how tough it was for Country format to get accepted even by its local radio peers.  We at Eastman were proud to make Ad Agency and Advertiser calls with Tony Lama boots, big brass belt buckles, Stetson 10-gal hats.  I always wanted to be Tom Mix or Hopalong Cassidy.”

Great stuff, Frank.  Just FYI, there was a day when I wore boots in Los Angeles.  Worked out great in an MG.  Lord, but I loved that MG!

Allen Shaw: “I knew Ken Dowe was great at everything that had to do with radio but I did not know that he is also a great writer.  His recollections of Bill Stewart, Gordon and Mr. Mac were hilarious and insightful.  I still think you are the greatest writer, but Ken Dowe is not very far behind.”

Ken Dowe, like most of us, has been “around the horn.”  He has some great tales stored up.

Chuck Dunaway:  “Bill Stewart called me about 40 years ago and wanted to ask me some questions for a book on programming he was writing.  I’ll bet if you contacted his widow she could get a copy for you.  I’m sure they saved his memories. The last time I saw Don Keyes was at the second or third Texas radio convention ... the one Bill Young and I hosted in Houston.  Don was in the restroom and having a hard time breathing.  Dinner was going on and I offered to help ... he told me to go back to dinner and he’d be OK ... He had an inhaler and was using it to get his breath ... I have one now.  Don was sitting at our table and did return to dinner a few minutes later.  The lesson is do not smoke.  I was on the Kinney Jet coming back from a radio convention in California ... we made a stop in San Antonio to pick up Jerry Wexler ... he had Doug Sahm with him.  Jerry was very excited about Tex-Mex music at the time.  Take care.”

Me?  I’m still interested in Tex-Mex.  Part of my soul, I guess.  Just FYI, Don Whittemore also knew the LP.  I think Don Whittemore knows everything!  Just FYI, I wrote Bill Stewart’s daughter about that book.

Woody Roberts:  “I'm sure you'll get a ton of responses to your question.  You picked a real good one, ‘Wanted: The Outlaws’ was the first country album to go Platinum.  It was a fixup of old Waylon and Willie tracks and had songs by Waylon's lovely wife Jessie Colter and by Tomball Glazer.  The late Chet Flippo wrote the album notes, he also had reported to Rolling Stone Magazine on the initial Willie 4th of July Picnic.  Shortly after that event the writer moved with his wife Martha from Austin to NYC and into the RS offices.  Told me he just wanted to see what it was like in the Big Apple so would be back in a couple of years.  Chet never returned and instead moved to Nashville.  Nashville?  Go figure.  Waylon, Tomball and Chet are no longer with us.”

Just FYI, Woody Roberts bought me a copy of “Lorelie of the Red Mist” by Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury from Amazon.com.  My next read.  Right now, I’m about half way through “Son of Tarzan” by Edgar Rick Burroughs.

Bob Sherwood:  “Dear Kindly Ol’ Uncle Claudius, whilst ruminating on the tragic death of a 4-year-old child who shot herself in the face after finding a stolen gun in her New York City apartment and our government’s inability to enact intelligent, reasonable gun management laws I was suddenly reminded of the most powerful phrase I ever heard from an artist in four decades in radio and the music business.  It came from Johnny Cash’s recording of ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ – ‘But I shot a man in Reno.  Just to watch him die’.  I just went downstairs to listen to it and got the same chill I first got when playing it on KROY 47 years ago.”

I bought the Cash single and wore it out without ever removing it from the little RCA 45 rpm player that attached to my radio.  About guns.  I’m in Germany right after WW2.  In uniform.  I pass a gun shop.  Some of the most beautiful guns I ever saw.  Etched.  Single shots.  And, yes, any former Nazi could buy one.  The most beautiful guns were over and unders … shotgun with a rifle under, i.e. two shots.  We caught a German once carrying a rifle while we were on maneuvers in the Black Forest.  Turned out he was a game warden.  Yes, Germans had guns.  Me, I’m still nervous at the time about letting one cut my hair in the PX!  The Constitution that allowed us to carry weapons did not allow us to carry an AK-47.  Sorry.  I suggest a gun you have to load every damned time.  Give clay pigeons a chance.

Dick Carr:  “Claude ... I smiled with the mention of Frank Ward filling in on a weekend on WNEW.  When I was PD, I ran into him quite by accident at a NYC restaurant and we had lunch.  We recounted our days in Buffalo ... talked about 1957 when he was at WWOL and I was at WBNY. Dick Lawrence's ears must have been burning that day because we spoke of him.  Frank was intrigued with what it might be like to be a deejay on WNEW and I gave him the chance to do the Milkman show one holiday weekend. He sent me a bunch of notes about various equipment changes he recommended.  And then just like that, after his Sunday overnight show he was gone!  He left me a brief ‘thank you’ note and that was the last time I ever saw him ... the year was 1968.”

I heard that show.  It was great!  I hoped at the time that he was auditioning for a regular job as, as I recall, his deal with WWOL was over.

Herb Oscar Anderson:  “Storz ... Stewart ... I don't remember which one came up with the one hundred thousand dollar contest ... the contest to end all contests ... really ... it almost did ... hide a check for 100,000 dollars and give the clues on the air ... honest ... this in 1953 when a dollar was a dollar ... got a little hairy on WDGY.”

So, right HOA.  Now and then, we think “The Last Contest” was the biggest and the best.  But then we remember that Storz “Treasure Hunt.”  Whew!  Bill Stewart told me that people came in from Canada.

Al Herskovitz:  “This has nothing to do with your weekly missive (which I thoroughly enjoy).  But I’ve been meaning to relate this to you for some time.  A couple of years ago, while shopping in a neighborhood market here in Bradenton, FL, I was stopped by a total stranger because I was wearing a University of Connecticut teeshirt.  It turned out that he, too, was a UConn graduate.  While I had a couple of years on him in age, in conversation I went on to learn he was from my hometown of Bridgeport, and we even attended the same high school.  Further, he now currently lives just around the corner from my house here in Bradenton.  Werner Vogler is a General Motors executive who, previously, had been assigned by GM to deal with governments in Middle Eastern countries.  While in the Middle East he met and became a close friend of a U.S. official.  That American bureaucrat subsequently wrote a book that Werner thought I would be interested in reading. It was an account of the successful Israeli air attack on Iraq’s nuclear facility in 1981.  That American government official and author was Dan McKinnon.  In light of all of our other connections Werner was shocked that I knew him.  Yes, it was the very same McKinnon whom I had met through you at a Billboard convention in San Francisco when McKinnon owned KSON in San Diego.  We all went sailing together through San Francisco Bay on his yacht ... you, Barbara, Eileen, I and, as I recall, Jack Thayer. Talk about coincidence! A total stranger! Same hometown! Same High School! Same College! Accidental meeting in Florida!  Near neighbor!  Mutual friend!  You can’t make up stories like this!”

I really liked Don McKinnon.  Jack G. Thayer, of course was a member of this family.  Miss those guys!

Larry Irons:  “Hi, Claude: I know this is probably too long to post in its entirety, but because I first heard about this book on your blog, I wanted to let you know what I thought about it. If you do decide to post it, please feel free to edit it as you see fit.  I just finished ‘Psychedelic Bubblegum’ by Bobby Hart with Glenn Ballantyne.  This autobiography is entertaining, amusing, poignant, historical and very well written, and is a wonderful account of the struggles of trying to make it in the world of a songwriter and performer.  He chronicles the extreme ups and downs, both personal and professional, he faced along the way, and how timing, luck and faith in God had so much to do with his success.  Bobby Hart originally started out with the idea of becoming a disc jockey, even enrolled at the Don Martin School of Radio in Hollywood.  But LA radio was nothing at all like the country radio station he grew up listening to in Phoenix.  He thought the LA jocks sounded manic, nothing like the down-home, country-style jocks in Phoenix.  After a very short time in LA, his dreams of becoming a disc jockey quickly morphed into the idea of becoming a singer/songwriter.  From there he would add being a producer and publisher.  Along with other songwriting partners through the years, Bobby Hart has written some of the most iconic songs of the 60s and 70s.  With Tommy Boyce, the theme to the Monkees television show: ‘Hey, Hey We're the Monkees’, as well as ‘Last Train to Clarksville", "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" and ‘Valleri’.  With Wes Farrell and Tommy Boyce, ‘Come a Little Bit Closer’ for Jay & the Americans.  With Bobby Weinstein & Teddy Randazzo, ‘Hurt So Bad’, which was written for Little Anthony & the Imperials and was covered by both the Lettermen and by Linda Ronstadt, and was one of the very few songs to ever reach the top 10 by 3 different artists in 3 different decades.  He writes openly and candidly about his legendary friendships with Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Brian Hyland, Del Shannon, Clive Davis, Leon Russell, Paul Williams, Barbara Eden, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Michael Sembelo and many others.  And, of course, he writes extensively about his lifelong friendship and professional relationship with Tommy Boyce.  He also talks about the women with whom he had romantic and lasting relationships. Becky, his high school sweetheart and first wife.  Becky is the mother of his two sons, Bobby Jr. and Bret.  Claudia Jennings, who at the time was an actress, model and Playboy Playmate of the Year.  Claudia died tragically in an automobile accident October 2, 1979, at the age of 29; and his current wife, MaryAnn, whom he married in 1986.
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“This book contains ‘life lessons’ which he attributes to his  new-found (at the time) spiritualism through the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, that helped him along the way and ultimately changed his life forever.  One of these lessons, that he had to learn the hard way, dealt with the concept of karma, which I found particularly amusing.  I won't give it away, but it deals with ‘borrowing’ another band's identity and hit song (without their permission or knowledge) and trying to cash-in on it.  Suffice it say it was a bad idea, and the lesson he learned (in his own words) was this: ‘A stubborn, unwanted action can often be avoided by thinking about its likely consequences before you do it, mentally following it through to its logical, misery-making conclusion’.  I'll close this with: I've read a lot of musical autobiographies and hands down this is the best.  Bobby Hart's easy going story-telling style coupled with his humility, sincerity and sense of humor, make this one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. I know my endorsement doesn't mean squat, but if it were up to  me, I'd give ‘Psychedelic Bubblegum’ 5 stars!”

Lots of people picking up on the book, according to Don Graham, super sage of promotion.  I, too, thought it a great book.  And just think:  I was there!

Don Sundeen:  “When I was in LA for the Record Promotion Men’s Reunion, great fun, I also had dinner with Don Graham and Scott St. James at Musso & Franks, a sparkling evening filled with amazing stories.  Afterwards, Don gave me an advance copy of Bobby Hart’s new book, ‘Psychedelic Bubble Gum’, to read on the plane home.  I’m no book reviewer, but I do study the history of the radio and records businesses, and Bobby’s book fills in a lot holes.  I knew he and Graham had been friends for 40 years, and the true story of the Monkees alone explains a lot of that relationship.  His time with Tommy Hart and their breakup is honestly explained, but common to music groups.  I think readers who were engaged in the rock world around that time will find it interesting and informational.”

Then he explains about something I printed, by mistake sans attribution, in Commentary No. 64, the item mentioning Stan Cornyn:  “Although this was attached to my website, it was written by contributor Bob Shannon who has already done 20 Questions with John Sebastian, Ken Dowe and Chuck Dunaway (fascinating, Chuck tells it like it was warts and all), and is now in the process of preparing a great interview with Bob Sherwood talking about his amazing career.  Bob was reminiscing about an interview he had done with Stan some years ago and I reprinted it.  Thanks for the mentions.”

Whups!

Dick Summer: “Hey, Claude, thanks for the ‘you're a good writer’.  Coming from you that's golden.  It's one of the chapters in my book.  (‘Staying Happy Healthy And Hot’)  Where did you live in Brooklyn?  I was born and grew up in Bay Ridge.  It was neat.  Good, hard working people.  Lots of stickball and street football.  Beautiful babes.  One of the many reasons I was determined to make it to NY radio was Jeannie Campbell.  She turned me down for a date in High School, and I had good enough numbers that I was pretty sure she must have listened at least a few times.  ‘Ha, Jeannie Campbell!  No, I won't play Misty for you’."

Somewhere near Pratt Institute.  It was a goodly walk to the old Fox Theatre where Murray the K tossed all of those shows.  By the time I lived there, however, the Fox Theatre was no longer a music mecca.  Bobby Vee told me once about being in a show there.  Last night, a burly varmint taller than a sage brush comes in and says that the house hadn’t done as well as expected and everyone was kicking back.  Bobby told me that all of the shows had been packed all week.  “So, I told him I was sorry to hear that and slipped him a twenty and got out of there quick.”

Tom Russell:  “Claude: Looks like I should get Woody Roberts ‘The Rose of Roscrae!’  Have moved to Santa Fe this week, and in a few weeks we begin our West Coast portion of the tour.  Denver, Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego, LA, Santa Ynez, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Sutter Creek, Reno, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver … hitting some radio along the way, especially KPIG in San Luis and Santa Cruz.  The record continues to make a few friends … here's some of the buzz quotes, below.  I keep enjoying your blog.  Reminds me of when music cut deep through my bones and my ear was tuned to the radio late at night.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zLha1neU8k
www.tomrussell.com
www.facebook.com/russelltom

Larry Cohen:  “Claude: With all of the fanfare & interest emanating from the W. Coast re. the iconic Bobby Hart, the following is a bit of East Coast history regarding Hart as told to me by Frank Lipsius, president/owner of Jamie/Guyden Records in Philadelphia.  In 1962-62, Dandelion Music, was purchased by the late Harold Lipsius, CEO/ owner of Jamie/Guyden Records & it became & grew to be the firm’s most important publishing arm for the next 5 decades.  Fabor Records was part of Dandelion & J/G acquired whatever masters belonged to Fabor, but not the label rights by itself.  According to Frank Lipsius, Fabor then revived the label without J/G & then sold it to Shelby Singleton.  Bobby Hart recorded on Fabor Records under the names(s) of Robert Luke Harshman & Robert Luke Hart.  Interesting to note that Frank e-mailed me that although he is not sure whether he has the original physical tapes or not, that J/G owns the rights to ‘Love Whatcha' Doin' to Me/ Stop Talkin', Start Lovin’ recorded by Robert Luke Harshman on Fabor Records & ‘Girl of My Dreams’/ ‘Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby’ recorded by Robert Luke Harsh on Fabor.  These were part of the masters that came with the Dandelion acquisition some 54 years ago.  If you punch into the SEARCH bar the name, Robert Luke Harshman, you will see these titles listed next to his name.  I don't have his autobiography, but it will be interesting to see if he included Fabor Records as part of his chronology.
F.Y.I., FABOR RECORDS was located in Malibu, CA.

A Dear Friend of Mine Regarding a Future Newsletter:  “Your mention earlier in the month brought two responses (Chuck Buell and John Long) -- which isn't surprising since no one knows to whom they're writing, yet.  My goal is to give all of your readers a link if they have a website or product.  I put up a few that came to mind, but ultimately I hope to have a very long list.  I think once it's in use and folks see it and interact with it, they'll be more likely to participate.  There's nothing we can't do with the site -- audio, video, graphics, pictures, text.  If it's not online but someone wants it to be (like pictures or videos or audio airchecks), I can put it there, if I have it, or if it's sent to me.  For now I'd like the site to revolve around you -- but I want to take the work out of what you're doing to distribute it.  (I haven't yet looked at the mailing lists you gave me, but when we're ready to go, I will.)  As time goes on, you can do as much, or as little as you like.  But honestly, it's really your community, and I'm sure everyone agrees with me that we'd like to keep it that way as long as possible.  Sorry this has taken so long.”

To My Friend:  “Forget me.  I want you to be the focus from day one.  Sure, I’ll continue with a weekly Commentary.  And thank you for suggesting that I do so.  When you get ready, I’ll send out a notice how everyone can find Commentary, i.e., your newsletter site.  And it’s nice that you’re going to have an archive.”

Get in line now, good people.  Send your email address and whatever you wish to link to:  info@voxjox.org.

By the way, I’ve seen an “advance” copy.  You guys are going to like this one!  And, yes, this person has the rights to Vox Jox.

Both Kevin Gershan and Rob Jacobs sent in this Robert W. Morgan link:
https://youtu.be/DIhTIyWSxwI?list=FLKRIe5JN6XcIm_9M2YPDIHQ

Kevin Gershan:  “Robert W. Morgan entertained the Los Angeles radio audience for over three decades. His unique sense of timing, wit and charm earned him a place of honor in the entertainment industry. He won almost every major award the industry has to offer including Charter membership in the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, along with Larry King, Ted Turner, Art Linkletter and Gary Owens. He received Billboard Magazine’s Air Personality of the Year Award, and a Star on the World Famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.  On Friday January 9, 1998, Robert W. Morgan was honored with a star-studded retirement tribute at the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills hosted by K-EARTH 101. They aired a three-hour broadcast live from the museum’s theatre, ending with a special retrospective narrated by another broadcasting legend and personal friend … Dick Clark.  On May 22, 1998, Robert W. Morgan lost his battle with lung cancer. The Boss-ography is the story of his life.”

And that’s a wrap for this week.  Love you guys!

Claude's Commentary No. 60r2

Today at 8:56 AM
April 20, 2015

Claude’s Commentary No. 60
By Claude Hall

I recommend without reservation the book “Psychedelic Bubble Gum” by Bobby Hart with Glenn Ballantyne.  A superb book about a generation that many of us experienced.  And some of us enjoyed.  Fascinating.  Revealing.  Power-packed with inside information about the music industry.  From WWW.SELECTBOOKS.COM

Last week, I hadn’t finished the book.  A few pages to go.  I read slow these days.  I wrote about it because I didn't want to wait.  I’ve subsequently written Bobby Hart via his friend Don Graham and apologized for short changing him in my review.  So, here we have a two-part book review.  Probably the first such.  Hart was kind enough to send me a thank you note for the first installment.

To be frank, I’m still reading the book.  I’m currently nearing the end.  And, frankly, the more I read this book, the more I’m impressed.  Bobby Hart, a phenomenal songwriter and performer, has written a magnificent book.  A book that you should read, a book that should grace your bookshelf in the living room.  A book that should be in every library – college and city.  A picture of Johnny Holliday is here, Don Graham permeates some of the book.  Wes Farrell (poor Wes; Hart mentions his marriage to Tina Sinatra but stops there).  Lester Sill.  George Goldner.  The tale behind the Monkees.  And the venture of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart on their own through their breakup.  As I said, I’ve always enjoyed their songs.  Now, I’ve been enjoying their life.  And it’s a damned good read!  Great on you, Bobby!

OTHER MATTERS
Regarding my “water” story in the previous Commentary, this from Joey Reynolds:  “There is was a sign in the men's room at KOA in Denver.  Please flush the toilet.  LA needs the water.  I know, cause I put it there!”

Frank Shively: “Hey, Claude, about the water redistribution. Might be cheaper for the coastal states to do some desalination and not mess with other folks.  Had they started desalination years ago, water would not be the problem it is today.  The newsletter is great.”

Catalina Island off the coast has a water desalination plant and so does/did the town of Santa Barbara north of Los Angeles.  Don’t know if the plant in Santa Barbara was ever used, but ….

Don Imus: “A wonderfully written essay on water and other matters.”

Whups!  You know how it was: people expected to laugh when Bob Hope said anything.  You say something, Don, and I shake my head and clean my ears.  One thing, though, I’m grateful to hear from you.  You are one of my barometers of reach.  When I hear from you and Don Whittemore, hey, I figure I’m doing pretty good.  Look!  Hey!  I have readers!

Bob Sherwood:  “Dear Kindly Ol’ Uncle Claudius, your essay about the America that you (and I) love is absolutely spot-on!  Instead of wringing your hands and saying ‘there is no Climate Change, we just need a little water’ -- Yeah! just like Custer needed a few less Indians.  The problem in this country -- with all due respect to our President -- is, there is NO Leadership!  You know who would’ve gathered the brightest minds and come up with a workable solution and implemented it in spite of a ‘do nothing’ Congress like we have today?  Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
And who else?  The man who become the most inspirational figure since FDR himself for several generations of American’s and peoples throughout the world … John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  And then the man who delivered on JFK’s vision, your fellow Texan Lyndon Baines Johnson.  While he didn’t exactly portray an acceptable Jeffersonian image and will sadly be remembered for his tragic handling of the Vietnam War, his legacy should be about his skill as the Master of the Senate.  His focus, drive and unmatched political maneuvering produced the greatest improvement in social conditions for the dis-advantaged in the nation’s history.
And then there’s the Civil Rights Bill and the absolutely unprecedented Voting Rights Bill.  We could spend a week discussing that puppy.  So listen … if you’re gonna’ run, please lemme know so I can change my support to you and contact everybody I know.  No, no.  Don’t thank me.
When you’re in just consider me for Head of the FCC.”

Larry Cohen:  “In response to Bob Sherwood's 'wish list' of personal political preferences addressed to ‘Dear Uncle Claudius, etc…’ I found his piece of journalistic excellence to be:  Observant.  Opinionated.  Open-minded.  And like Oscar Robertson, The ‘Big O’ of the old NBA Cincinnati Royals, OUTSTANDING!”

I, too, like the way Bob Sherwood writes … and thinks.  All of those guys who worked at KROY in Sacramento, CA, were pretty bright.  Musta been something in the water.  Maybe someone was spiking their Coors.

Robert E. Richer:  “A gentle reminder:  When you state that all of these developments should be funded ‘by the government’, please remember that you and I ARE the government.  The Government is not some big pot of money in DC.  The Government is supposed to spend only what it takes from you and me (and what it short-sightedly borrows from China, of course).  What really should happen in the water situation is that every user of water should pay for it … at market rates.  That would certainly raise the price of lettuce, almonds, cantaloupes, etc., but wasting water would become a thing of the past, and even with lower snowpack in the Sierras, we’d see those reservoirs start to refresh themselves in short order.  Las Vegas gets most of its water from the once-mighty Colorado River.  So does Los Angeles.  Even with the pending battle over water between LA and LV, hotels keep being built in LV as though water availability was not even a consideration.  Mr. Wynn, if you want to build another hotel in Las Vegas, be prepared to factor a considerable fee into the room rate for water.  And show it on the bill.  Maybe even meter each room’s use of this precious resource.  Installing a filter, such as a Brita for about $25 would remove all of the chlorine taste from your tap water.  It could save you a small fortune in the cost of bottled water, not to mention the environmental disaster created by all of those plastic bottles.  https://www.brita.com/why-brita/#water
Here in Connecticut, we’re lucky in that we have our own well, and goodness knows, we’ve had more than our share of snow and rain this year.  Rain forecast again tomorrow.”

Just noticed today  (4.17.15) in Yahoo that William Shattner wants to build a pipeline from Seattle to California and Lake Mead.  My idea is better, I think, because it handles eastern floods and mid-western drouths.  The government operates on taxes.  It has never spent exactly what it takes in.  More people at work equals more governmental income in taxes and, thus, the capability to fund national communication lines for travel, water transportation, electricity transportation, etc.  Just FYI, Robert, we have the PUR device at the Hall House … and still buy bottled water.  Doesn’t everyone?

Don Graham:  “Claude … we got word that Bud Dain was walking across the street and got hit by a car last Monday night 4/13 …taken to the hospital.   Sustained very severe injuries … in a coma and the hospital tells us they are not permitted to release any information regarding his status ... Ed Dejoy and Jerry Sharrell have been in to see him and tell us it’s extremely critical.  All good thoughts for Bud.  Be well.”

Please keep us posted.  Bud is a good man.

Woody Roberts:  “I don't know if during your 1950s UT days Kenneth Threadgill's gas station beer joint was one of your stops.  It was on the outskirts of town on North Lamar Boulevard on the way to the Skyline Club that hosted Hank Williams, Elvis, Johnny Horton and others.  Kenneth became a mentor and the encourager of Janis Joplin when she was at UT and part of the Waller Creek Boys, folk music regulars who played for fun and passed the hat at Threadgill's.  She had been voted Ugliest Man on Campus.  Pretty cruel.  Kenneth told her to let it go and belt it out.  Well, you can see Mr. Threadgill by queuing up to 3:05 on this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4MJLoIWDuA&index=5&list=PL_dyz1le-KGji2MfpNbZMZGPXYGd00r50
 
“Here is Janis with the Boys at Threadgill's in early 1963:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwkrqSVXulY

“PS, Guys, I know I'm overloading both y'all with email but be assured I am trying to break the habit that I built last three years with Lee Baby Simms, we sometimes emailing back and forth multiple times per day.

More Woody:  “Funky ABC video but good enough peak into the past --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL_dyz1le-KGji2MfpNbZMZGPXYGd00r50&v=KuijBpTVvD0#t=147

“One day the 'Dillo will be in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame.  I put three years of my life and money into its ten-year run, it was the era when we created the Lone Star Beer Longneck campaign that 25 years later added the word ‘longneck’ to Webster's Dictionary ... and we helped start ‘Austin City Limits’ TV show as a consultant on the two pilots, now the longest-running live performance show on television.  Even though the hall is today a legend I consider the venture a failure, I was shooting for national radio TV syndication and a record label.”
Janis singing at Threadgill's with Waller Creek Boys early 1963 (Powell ST, John on harp) --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwkrqSVXulY

Don Sundeen @TheDonRocks.com:  ”Bob Shannon asks 20 Questions of Ira ‘Eye’ Lipson, creator and programmer of the great Dallas, underground radio station KZEW, (The Zoo) that is currently celebrating its birth 50 years ago and fondly remembered by folks who loved it.  Lipson took advantage of the emerging FM band and the hip music available on long playing records to create something very different from other stations of the day.  The Zoo reflected the emerging youth culture with laid-back jocks playing a wide variety of artists and genre. The branding of the Zoo was brilliant, listeners were: ‘Zoo Freaks,’ proudly displaying the Elephant Radio logo on the cars and vans they drove to Zoo events: large gatherings for community charities, and Lipson’s greatest idea, ‘Zoo World:’ a weekend showcase of lifestyle choices and live music that drew huge crowds. In the TDR piece, Shannon asks Lipson thoughtful questions about creating The Zoo, his life, careers and memories.  The answers are interesting and sometimes surprising, as is Lipson himself.  If you're thinking of using the piece about the KZEW Reunion that I sent you yesterday, could you please correct an error? This is not a 50th anniversary, it would actually have gone on air in 1973 or 42 years ago. Apparently I misunderstood the information. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

My son John sent me one of the press tales of the Gary Owens memorial April 12.  Lots of people there, including Arleta, Gary’s widow, and Gary’s two sons, Scott and Chris.  Event was at the Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills.  Speakers:  Ben Fong Torres, George Schlatter, Fred Williard, Anne Worley, “Laugh-In” writers Chris Bearde and Allan Katz, former mayor Richard Riordan, Mad magazine cartoonist Sergio Aragones, writer Ken Levine (Cheers, The Simpsons), comedian-director Howard Storm, Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall, documentarian Donna Kanter, writer-singer Monty Aidem (The New Laugh-In), actress Jolene Brand Schlatter (The Ernie Kovacs Show), actress Jackie Joseph (Little Shop of Horrors) and actor Hank Garrett (Car 54, Where Are You?).

Don Eliot was by this past week.  Spent half an hour before he’d had enough of me and headed on down the road.  I really enjoyed his visit.  He’s supposed to be writing one or two of his tales up for Commentary.  It’s astonishing how, when you get two old radio or music guys in a room, the tall tales start to flow.  And they probably get taller with every telling.  And that’s how it should be.

Someone who refers to himself only as Bill:  “Love your weekly column. Keep it up, everybody I talk to from my radio days always mentions you. Enjoy not only the radio stuff, but the things that are on your mind are always interesting.”  Bill sent me a jingle about radio and I asked where, what?  Bill came back with the information that “It was part of the opening of ‘The Stan Freberg Radio Show’.  At the time it was too hip for the room.” And he sent me the whole thing.

Chuck Blore:  ““Where the heck did you get this thing (attached)?  That's almost fifty years old ... I don't even remember the stationary.  It's amazing how your fans like to hold on to things ... things they really care about and are emotionally connected to.  Of course you know that better than I do ... dont'cha?”

They’re not my fans, Chuck.  They’re yours!  Chuck refers to a statement I attached last week of a rather ancient invoice sent by his commercial production firm in Los Angeles.  It was sent to me by either Larry White or Bob Skurzewski.  I think.  I apologize for not knowing exactly who sent it.

Chuck Blore later:  “f you want to hear some radio jingles (I never called them jingles, to me they were songs) I have plenty...some even with big stars; Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, etc.  Lemme know, they are fun to listen to.  Bless you, my friend.  Make that my old friend.”

Roger Carroll:  “I know Bob Fead and Don Graham.  Who is this Morris Diamond?”

Woody Roberts:  “Since you assembled a famous cookbook....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/11529421/Mapped-The-worlds-immigration-landscape.html
Lee Baby Simms would have rebelled.  The strangest project in my 40-year career as a media consultant was to oversee creation of a cookbook.  Whew!  It was not a lot different than producing a chemistry book.  Every recipe had to be closely examined by a chef and tested, proofreading won't do it.  A simple typo can transform a teaspoon into a tablespoon or sugar into salt.  In fact, the first edition had too much salt in the cornbread.”

Hah!  Check a recipe?  Not on your cottonpickin’ toenails!  “The Disc Jockey Cookbook” assembled by me and Lee Baby Simms was a labor of love.  I still get a kick out of it.  And, furthermore, I cooked up a batch of Lazy Man’s Chowder just yesterday.  Gone in a flash!  I managed to get the last cup.  Only because I’m fast!

Clark Weber: “Bob Hope said the time to get off the stage was when you could still hear the applause from your dressing room.  At age 84 it’s time for me to step away from both the mike and the podium.  Know that your help in what was happening in the world of music helped immensely therefore you’re a part of this award.  Thanks.”

And Clark attached a note from Dennis Lyle, president of Illinois Broadcasters Association, to the effect that Clark Weber has been inducted as a member of the Hall of Fame for the organization.  Clark will be honored June 16 at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Normal.

Great on you, Clark!

Bob Sherwood:  “Claude, I send this FYI after hearing Scott Shannon’s quite righteous rant relating on Chicago not being in the R’n’R Hall of Fame on WCBS-FM on Friday morning.”

“Heard your comments about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame on Friday and you’re completely spot-on.  It started out fabulously but the last decade or so it’s been totally irrelevant.  The fact that Chicago isn’t in absolutely invalidates it.  If the late Terry Kath’s searing, crunching guitar isn’t rock and roll, I’m Little Peggy March.  And nobody is a more precise nor harder-driving percussionist than Danny Seraphine.  Apparently Chicago was too ‘jazzy’ with all those great horn players and such and they certainly can’t have that in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.  There’s not going to be any of that jazz stuff to water down our R‘n’R heritage.  Except maybe for Miles Davis, the purest jazz musician who ever lived.  He’s in. Chicago isn’t.  And the other outrageous example of the balderdash that controls the R‘n’R H of F is the fact that it took more than two decades after she was eligible for Linda Ronstadt to be ‘allowed’ into the Hall.  It’s clear that those gorgeous multi-zillion selling albums she recorded with Nelson Riddle, her album of her Mexican heritage and her starring in some live Gilbert & Sullivan plays in NYC invalidated her career as one of the biggest Rock and Roll artists of the ‘70s and early ‘80s.  Jann Wenner and the other esteemed Board members of the Hall must’ve been listening to news/talk radio during that time and didn’t hear that Linda and producer Peter Asher used what became the Eagles on those ‘70s recording sessions and they were her back-up band when she was playing in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans nightly.  But by golly the late Ahmet Ertugen was able to get Abba in the Hall years before Ronstadt or Neil Diamond!
Abba!  Abba got in early because they so represented the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, James Brown, Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones.  AAAaaarrrggghhh!”

Good on you, Bob!  Just FYI, my son Andy told me yesterday, Saturday, that KISS was in the Hall.  And Bobby Vee isn’t.  I think someone should be tarred and feathered.  But then, I remember when George Jones used to do “Long Tall Sally” on the “Louisiana Hayride” live Saturday nights out of KWKH, Shreveport, LA.

Good be upon thee!

Claude's Commentary No. 52r2

Today at 7:33 AM
February 23, 2015

Claude’s Commentary No. 52
By Claude Hall

One of the greatest radio promotions of all time is the “Amoeba” promotion featured by KFWB, Los Angeles.  It was created by KFWB program director Chuck Blore.  And one of the funniest stories in radio is when George Wilson, who was unabashed at copying everything Chuck Blore did, featured the same promotion on a radio station in Denver and was thrown in jail.  The original promotion was tied into a public service venture – raising funds so that high school students could visit the lawmakers in Sacramento to tell them about the drug problem in Los Angeles schools.  Blore became a hero.  George wore mud on his face for a while.  I had the honor to interview Chuck a few times.  Those interviews are featured in “This Business of Radio Programming” which is available via Amazon.com.  He also honored me with an early copy of his book, which tells the story of his early career in radio and KFWB “Color Radio,” as well as his career in the advertising industry.  I will never forget one of his lines, heard live, about a car.  “Cheaper than feet.”

Chuck Blore is one of the most amazing geniuses of Top 40 radio.  Thus, I feel honored to feature the brief interview below that he did with George Wilson, a program director who rose to become head of Bartell.  If my memory is correct, George read the interview at some point before his death from cancer complications.

OTHER MATTERS
Dick Summer:  “Claude, your comment about helping your Lady Barbara out of the cab, ‘And her hand fit so nicely into mine’ is one of the most graceful uses of the language I've ever seen. The picture is of my Lady Barbara in studio 2B at WNBC.  I sometimes have trouble convincing other radio mis-fits that I was tugging the zipper UP, but I was.  Cuz Bruce took the picture (I followed him on the air at the time) and the Cuz was a gentleman ... but I never did learn to share anything personal when it comes to my Lady Barbara.  Congratulations for finding your Park Ave. lady.  I found mine at WBZ.  She was the ‘Continutity Girl’.  You and I are lucky guys for finding our Ladies Barbara, and even luckier that they have graced our lives for so long.”

I was just about to leave for Spain because I knew I was a better writer than Ernest and I figured I’d go over there a while, park under a cactus, google at a bullfight, then spend some time in Paris (sans pigeons) and wind up in Mexico.  Then I met Barbara.  After I left Cavalier magazine, I persuaded Mrs. Barbara to go with me to Mexico and we were en route until I decided we’d better not take baby John down there and we paused in Austin, TX.  When I realized I couldn’t make the grade on the Austin newspaper (a dull city editor, in my opinion), I was offered a job on the Abilene newspaper at much more money, but heard about a job on the New Orleans Times-Picayune and the three of us – me, Barbara, and baby John -- cranked up the VW and headed over to dine on po’boys and chicory coffee.  VoiIa!  I went from being a peon on the Austin paper to a respected reporter in New Orleans.  The Austin newspaper experience has always set badly in my gut.  Considering circumstances since, i.e., Billboard and SUNY/Brockport, I think I was lucky.  Just FYI, I wouldn’t have traded Barbara for Spain any day of the week.  Come Sept. 1, we will be married 55 years.

Jerry Sharell:  “Claude:  Just a bit of record biz history:  It was ’63 and I had been with Mercury Records for a few months (making $100 weekly) when my phone rang at Main Line Distributors in Cleveland.  It was Quincy Jones, A&R Head at Mercury, telling me he was sending me two test pressings of two new acts.  I was to listen to both and call him with my fav.  I called Q a few days later and told him I liked the girl singer, Lesley Gore and the killer big band arrangement that truly ‘made’ this a hit!  He told me that he wrote ‘the chart’ and offered me a nice bonus based on sales performance.  My boss at Main Line was Eddie Rosenblatt, a dynamo sales person with an appreciation of ‘promotion’.  To make this story shorter … we were Top 3 among all distributors in the U.S. and Quincy made good on his promise to me by sending a very generous bonus!  Morris Diamond was the promotion director at Mercury who helped me/us get that record played … everywhere!  I consider Morris one of the best promo-guys ever!  ("Sunday, Sinatra and Sharell, KJAZZ 88.1FM in LA, 10AM-Noon)”

Jerry, just hearing from you made my week!  Great on you!  And as for Morris Diamond, he has been a hero of mine since around 1964.  FYI, I wrote Jerry back and here’s his response:

Jerry Sharell:  “I am doing ‘well’ and thanks for your reply ‘cause you made-my-month!  I totally enjoy reading your Commentary and if I miss anything I’m sure Morris Diamond, my teacher/mentor/manager, will bring me up-to-date.  And I give my Sinatra Hat Tip to Don Graham, for keeping the word ‘promotion’ in the dictionary of broadcasting/records (remember those?)!   Be well and have a Ring-A-Ding-Ding day!

Jerry, I used to have everything Frank did at Capitol on a reel with the exception of “Where Do You Go,” which I had on an LP.  In all of the Hall moves, “Where…” got lost.  Can anyone out there email me a copy in stereo.  It was somewhat experimental … long before artists did that sort of thing.  I’ll trade a copy of “Touch of Evil” by Tom Russell.  A great song.

Bob Barry:  “Gary Owens could have cared less about a DJ from a smaller market ... but he did care.  From the two times he appeared on my show to the day he gave me a Billboard award in 1975, his personality came through like it did on radio and TV.  I'll miss his numerous talents.”

That’s one of the reasons I have always loved people such as Gary Owens, Chuck Blore, Jack G. Thayer and Harvey Glascock.  Burt Sherwood, too.  Jack Stapp.  Amazingly warm, wonderful people.  The story of Jack Stapp and Roger Miller could be a movie.  I’ve always had great respect for Roger since Jack told me the story.

Diane Kirkland:  “Was reading your commentary on Gary Owens and thought I’d send this photo along -- some party in the late 70s.  Left to right, Jeff Bates of Billboard, Gary, Pete Heine and me.   I still have a reel-to-reel tape of Gary from all the outtakes of trying to do some voiceovers.  Haven’t heard it for years because I don’t own a reel tape recorder, but I remember hearing many expletives all spliced together.  Always liked Gary very much.”

Wish I could print all of the pictures.  Sorry, Diane.  Great pix. Maybe I’ll bet to use it somewhen.  Don’t go anywhere.

Dave Anthony:  “1990 at KCBS-FM in LA.  Phone rings.  My assistant says it’s somebody named Gary Owens.  Hey, it’s Hollywood; just might be the guy.  Answered the phone.  Sure enough, it was him.  Wanted to meet.  Maybe he could be considered for an on-air position.  My staff included Don Steele, Charlie Tuna, and MG Kelly. Why not?  He invites me to his house to meet.  Cool!  I showed up and see a veritable ‘Laugh-In’ museum complete with the classic microphone, one of the window frames that were featured at the end of each show, and pictures everywhere.  We sat and talked.  No openings at the moment.  He and his wife convince me to stay for dinner.  Sure.  One of the biggest steaks I’ve ever seen lands on my plate.  Oops, I’m a vegetarian.  Somehow all that fit with his sense of humor.  A real gentleman.  Sorry to hear of his passing.  If you forward any of these sentiments along to his wife, please include mine.  She was an important part of my memories, too.”

Tom (T. Michael Jordan) Nefeldt to Mel Phillips:  “Why wouldn’t Shadoe want to work Chicago and leave Hollywood?  Sure, the Chicago Winters are cold, though in LA the weather is warm BUT the PEOPLE are cold and superficial, in Chi the weather may get cold but the PEOPLE are WARM and Down to Earth.  Plus radio here is MUCH better.”

Maybe we can persuade Joey Reynolds to sell tickets for this one.

Herb Oscar Anderson:  “Regards, Jim Slone ... you maybe interested to know that Jim Reeves still has two very active fan clubs in Holland.  We shared the live music shows on ABC with Jim Bachus ... Merv Griffen and, of course, the Breakfast Club ... because of this, the Reeves fan club found my podcast and are regular listeners ... asking me to comment on my appearance in Jim’s book, etc.  Ah, the internet ... have no idea how many listeners, but sure do hear from old listeners from all over the world ... Google ... WOSN FM.”

Dick Carr reports that “Big Bands Ballads and Blues” is streaming again on the Metromedia Radio Channel, Live 365.  Every day M-F 5-8 pm Eastern.  Here's the link.
live365.com/stations/wnewradio1130
The web site is active again at bigbandsballadsandblues.com.

Big Jay Sorensen sent Joey Reynolds who sent me a note about a coming
segment of “Modern Family” slated to be video’d almost entirely on iPhones.

Don Berns:  “Gary Owens was one of my radio heroes, even though I never had a chance to listen to him on a regular basis except for the short time I lived in LA.  But his influence was immeasurable on my style and my life.  His nonsensical town of Foonman, Ohio (location of the Foonman Home for the Terminally Perturbed on his brilliant album ‘Put Your Head On My Finger’) provided me and my roommates at the time with the name of our house in Williamsville, NY (see the attached photo with ‘Foonmate’ Rich Sargent and his infant son) and a name that has stayed with me for well over 40 years (my corporate entity is Foonman Home Productions).  Gary's work on that album, ‘Laugh In’, and The Superfun audio series (from which I stole liberally) was without a doubt the foundation upon which I built my Top 40 and AC career.  I had the opportunity to tell him at a radio convention in LA many years ago, and he seemed genuinely flattered.  A true talent and a gentleman.”

Never, ever, fail to tell your heroes how much they mean to you.  I had opportunity to tell Eddie Hill, WSM, Nashville, that I used to listen to him out on the western plains of Texas and considered him one of the reasons I was radio-TV editor of Billboard.  He was in a wheel chair at the Opry at the time.  Stroke.  But the man pushing the wheel chair said he could hear me and understand me.  I can still remember some of his clichés.  Eddie Hill was something else!  Sam Hale, an oldie like me, heard him on the air, I think.

Paul Cassidy:  “Classic commentary today!  A real tribute.  Thanks.  I lived near Gary Owens on Rancho St. in Encino.  Saw him weekly at the news stand on Ventura Blv'd, always friendly.  Saw those basketball games as I drove by, should have stopped as I played 2nd string center for my HS team in upstate NY.  Best to you.”

You’d have been welcome, Paul.  We were all ragnots, including “Connie,” who played center for UCLA in, I think, the 50s and used to jog occasionally with Coach Wooten.  He revered John Wooten.

Chancey (Loretta) Blackburn:  “Thanks for bringing back the wonderful memory, Claude.  We did have fun!  I’m going to a KZEW reunion in Dallas in April so I’ve been pawing through stacks of memorabilia and pictures of you and Barbara in St. Croix were among them.  J and I lived in the Caribbean for 3 years; beach bums for the first one, then working with Bob Bennett who was running a station in San Juan for Mid Ocean Broadcasting. That was Bob Hope’s station, being run by his oldest boy, Tony Hope. Then on to St. Croix for the 3rd year, putting The Reef on the air – lots of reggae and Beach Boys – a true ‘island’ format.  My love to Barbara, please.  She and I were both from New York and both found the loves of our lives in you two Texans.”

Frank Boyle: “Hi, Claude -- love your commentaries. Think I met Gary Owens when he was at WIL, St Louis.  We, Eastman, repped WIl.  I was there on a station-Rep trip.  Got invited to a big boat ride for Advertisers --Gary Owens and Gary Stevens entertained the crowd with great stuff.  Both were young and full of piss and vinegar with superb creative ad lib content.  Met George Wilson when he was PD at another Eastman client, WTMA in Charleston, SC.  We became long time friends.  He used to break me up telling me his war stories of how he and a DJ pal would put their magic in the trunk of his old Dodge and do their Magic for a few months at a time.  Make a couple of Grand -- take his: ‘Zoo’ to another AM turkey that needed to go rock.  When George got Bartell, New York, he and wife would come to my Apt on 48th St.  George was a genuine Treasure.  Always kept it simple -- was a winner wherever he worked -- only flaw was George never learned to kiss his bosses' asses.  Told me it was his job to speak up when his boss came up with a stupid idea -- so there.  WIL was one of the 3 Balaban markets – KBOX, Dallas, and WRIT, Milwaukee.  Young Stan Kaplan was there making his bones as a National Sales Mgr.  In that my only station experience was 7 yrs in Sales and Sales Mgt at WJR, Detroit --prior to Eastman Natl Sales Reps -- I need the Top 40 and Rock pros like George, Art Carlson, Kent Burkhart, Steve Labunski, & Bill Drake to explain to me how those formats worked.  Claude, your terrific Billboard Conferences were marvelous in getting the biggest and best guys -- in all formats -- to outline why their concepts made winners.  I got a PhD in Top 40 by just attending and listening.  You'll recall I had to wear a suit of armor to speak at your '64 affair to brashly predict that AMs would get out of music.  That there would be 3 of each major format in the Top 100 markets. Wish you were still running those priceless conventions.  Stay well.”

Don Sundeen:  “First, Claude, I’d like to thank you for the kind words about my writing in Commentary #51, it really meant a lot coming from a writer of your stature.  But what I’d really like to comment on is the great Jay Blackburn and his contributions to radio, especially FM.  He was one of those surprising guys in radio who turned out to be exceptionally bright, in Jay’s case Mensa level.  Talking to him was an amazing experience that could swiftly curve from radio to his experiences in Vietnam or his plan to sell everything, buy a sailboat, and cruise the islands of the Caribbean for as long as he wished.  (I believe it was about a year before returning to radio.)  Like everything he did, his marriage to Chancey, a noted AOR disc Jockey herself (Loretta), was planned and executed with perfection and lasted for 31 years until his early death.  One of his most interesting traits was a talent for branding; The Loop (WLUP FM) could not have been a more perfect name for a hot Chicago radio station, and Jay made the AOR format more female friendly expanding the demos. The Loop was an instant iconic name in radio history and a hit out of the blocks.  Later in his life he wrote stories about he and his friend and partner, Bruce Miller Earle’s, radio adventures in a thinly disguised novel form.  Chancey was kind enough to send me a copy of his book, ‘The Radio Gypsies’, after he passed away, and his distinctive voice and sly wit still shine through his words.  Jay Blackburn is remembered fondly by all of those who were fortunate enough to be in his company.”

I’d mentioned in a note about the weather and Buzz Bennett to the Three Mesquiteers and this is a comment by Woody Roberts: “Claude is right about fear of ice storms, I'm all-electric and have a DSL phone line thus if ice takes down the lines I'm in Big trouble.  Fortunately, knock on wood, it has not happened since late 1980s.  But I recall the experience vividly.  Saw This: ‘Mount Washington Observatory staffers Monday recorded one of the world's coldest temperatures and the highest gusts since 2008: 141 mph, higher than the 140 recorded during Hurricane Sandy in 2008.  Early Monday, Mount Washington Observatory Summit observer Ryan Knapp received information from www.wx-now.com that, at -35 degrees F., the summit was the second-coldest reporting location on Earth, behind only the South Pole at -51 degrees’.  In 1972 when I hitched around the nation looking for America, and myself, it was early fall when I climbed Mt. Washington to the weather station.  Snow had not yet closed the small mountaintop lodge serving tourists.  Saw all kinds of warnings posted about dressing warmly and high winds.  The crazy story is I took a hit of pure LSD before starting the climb and I felt wonderfully solitary and away from civilization with all its trappings when a guy coming down the mountain shouted, ‘Woody!  Woody Roberts is that you!’  It was a reporter from the WPOP newsroom whom I hadn't seen in years -- Chuck Crouse or Randy Brock.  I was so taken aback and stunned that it all went by in a flash ... I never was sure who called out.  What a trip, literally.  Beautiful.

‘I, too, have my Buzzy theory.  Never knew about the fight between he and George.  When I hear about those old fights I consider myself fortunate to have gone through several radio station rating wars and only met one person who to this day I still intensely dislike, a jealous sales manager at KTSA (his unpleasantness was instrumental in my decision to leave radio).  On the other hand if I had to directly battle Buzz Bennett or Ron Jacobs perhaps I, too, would have ill will.  Luckily I came out of radio with just admiration for their programming instincts.  Lee Baby.  My dear friend is gone but The New Yorker continues to show up in my mailbox.   He'd sent me a gift subscription.  I have a few things I want to share with y'all about Lee and me with but not yet ready to write.  And I have a piece I wrote about Drake and Top-40 several months ago but never sent it because I knew the three of you, especially Lee, would rag me out.  It, too, will come your way in time.

“Texas weather.  It's been jumping around some, 37F yesterday and back to 70F by Friday.  Young elms are getting tiny leaves as wild plum blossoms release their delightful scent into the air.  Sunday, the hermit went into town to visit Eddie Wilson (my life is full of Wilsons, another story) and restock depleted groceries at H-E-B and Fiesta supermarkets. Near Threadgill's on North Lamar I saw the first little fig testing the weather.  Love fresh picked figs.  Always best and even more best to y'all forever.”

Scott St. James:  “Another fun to read Monday treat.  And I'm sure your wife enjoyed the wonderful things you wrote about her.  Ahhh, Gary Owens.  I arrived at KMPC the day after Thanksgiving in 1979.  Besides the radio executives (including Gene Autry) welcoming me, Gary Owens was the first non-executive who welcomed me.  And that was just the beginning.”

About the record sales info (other info, too) sent out by Barry O’Neil:  “Claude, I don’t charge anything.  I just send the info out.  You certainly take people back to good times.”  Barry’s email was in last week’s Commentary.  I recommend asking to be on his list.

Marie Davis received a link to a Phil Spector item from Chris Crist.  With photos:  “Danny, thought you might like to see Phil in his new surroundings, also Charles Manson is there also, along with Juan Corona who killed 25 Mexican laborers.  p/s:  for any reason that the link doesn’t open, just type in on Google  ‘Phil Spector-in-new-prison-photos’"
http://www.eonline.com/news/582221/phil-spector-appears-in-new-prison-photos-that-may-shock-you-see-them-and-past-pics

David Gleason:  “I’m David Gleason, who receives your wonderful weekly newsletters.  I was particularly engaged with the edition I got this morning because of the mentions of Jay and Chancy as well as Tom Rounds.  I have known Jay and Chancy back to when I was running WQII and WZNT in Puerto Rico and Jay was ‘across the street’ at WBMJ; Jay Blackburn sold me a bunch of equipment through his firm Hope-Bennett-Blackburn and we stayed in touch up to the time of his passing.  And I had worked for Tom Rounds for 20 years at his Radio Express venture up to the time of his passing, and thought of him as the mentor I never had.  I also have a website that attempts to preserve and make easily accessible the story of radio from its beginnings to the present.  Most of the material consists of magazines, newsletters and journals ranging from R&R and Broadcasting to the Gavin Report as well as technology related titles.  An important subset is a nearly complete collection of Jim Duncan’s American Radio ratings compilations and quite a few older ratings books.  In that context, I am trying to find early Arbitrons, Pulse and Hooper books and related material.  One of the site contributors thought that Mike Joseph could have things that should be preserved.  But I can’t find a mail or email address for Mike (with whom I competed for about 25 years in Puerto Rico).  Do you have a contact, and do you know how he is doing?  If you have a moment, please consider who else might have older ratings books that they would consider loaning me for scanning for the website.”
david@davidgleason.com
www.americanradiohistory.com
www.davidgleason.com

David, I don’t know how good your collection is, but keep it handy!  Someone is always asking for this kind of information.  That’s why I’m listing your addresses … so I won’t have to be the ‘middleman’.  As for Mike, a good man, he has gone on.

BLORE MATTERS
Chuck Blore:  “Claude, you ask me, ever now and then, to write you a little about radio today and/or yesteryear.  Here's something you might like, it's an interview I did with another oldtimer whom we both thought highly of.

Chuck: George Wilson is a programmer who believes that programming
should rule the radio station.  As that is a philosophy we both share, and
even though we both had great success with it, I wonder if maybe we're
living in the past.  So what do you think, George?

George: Without programming and the program director guiding the
direction of the station, you have nothing, no product, no advertisers.
Sales-oriented people for the most part, could sell refrigerators as well
as radio, so the programmer must be dominant.

Chuck:  You say, 'Strengths in your beliefs is the key to being a good
Programmer’.  What were some of your most heartfelt beliefs when you
were rocking and rolling?

George: I believe that the radio station should take on the personality of the
programmer.  If the PD has learned his or her craft, your station becomes
part of your family and you treat it as one of your kids, helping it when it is
sick, praising it when it does well and at all times keeping your eye on the
star that you are chasing.

Chuck: That's beautiful. As one of radio's outstanding programmers, what
do you think of radio that you hear today?

George: As an outsider travelling the country, listening to various signals, it
sounds like the programmers are robots. No one seems to care about day
parting, who is available to listen at a particular time of day. There is no local feel for the most part and God knows there is very little entertainment.

Chuck: Boy, you are singing my song.  I used to bark at DJs who prepared
their shows the same way for a Monday that they did for Friday.  Two different days two different audience attitudes.  You feel that kind of stuff is pretty much gone?

George: Right -- I always thought it took the good jocks as much preparation time as air time, there were some wingers that could handle it without too much preparation, but even the best guys had to prepare.  The best word picture painter was Lee Baby  Simms, he worked for me three places and was nutty as a fruit cake, but boy could he paint those pictures. The most prepared jocks I had were Bob Barry on WOKY, a legend in Milwaukee, and Bob Collins, who went on to be a giant on WGN in Chicago.
Preparation and inquisitive attitude certainly helped them.

Chuck: The only great "winger" I've ever known was Don McKinnon. He worked for me at KEWB and for a while at KF.  You ever hear him?

George: Yes, I did and he was great.

Chuck: McKinnon was the only guy who ever worked for me that was not required to spend an hour preparing for every hour on, his prepared stuff sounded out of place on his show, he was better than all of them just letting it happen.

George: You know, I used to fly to San Diego, rent a car and drive around, never tell anyone I was in town and listen to Lee Baby Simms followed by Jimmy Rabbitt -- whoa!

Chuck: That was when as you say, the programmer had control.  Who are the some the leaders you admire?

George: Bill Stewart really started it all when he combined Storz and McLendon.  I learned a lot from Bill Stewart and Don Burden. I thought Rick Sklar was good, although I didn't particularly care for his type of radio, but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  And, of course, I always paid close attention to you, you know that,

Chuck: I asked this before but we got off the subject ... you say we all wanted a 12+, not demographically, but meaning an audience share.  Of the stations you programmed, what was your best number?

George: I was in the 40s a few times, I had a day part on the Hooper once in the 50s.  How about you?

Chuck: When I was programming KFWB we floated along with a 42 average.  42!  Today, a 4.2 makes you a success.

George: Do you remember the swimming pool sound-effect gimmick?

Chuck: Yeah, Elliot Field used to do it every Summer.  Roy Orbison came in to visit the station once, wet from the knees down.  He said he had just been wading in Elliot’s pool.  So, despite our no interviews rule, Roy spent about an hour with Elliot, "poolside."

George: What a fabulous communicator that little sound effect was.  We had parents coming to the radio station dropping their kids off in their swim suits.

Chuck: Isn't it great how much people believed in what we did?  On the other hand ... I had a little promotion once where one of the jocks tried to give people on the street a twenty dollar bill, in exchange for two fives.  No takers at all.

George: That's what’s missing today.  None of that just for fun stuff.  And none of that wonderful rapport with audience -- they don't know what they are missing.

Chuck: Boy, is that ever true, neither the audience or the on the air people know what they're missing. What was your greatest promotion ... ratings wise and fun-wise?

George: WZOO, Spartanburg, we were on the banks of the mighty Chinkopin River, which was a dried-up creek, we broadcast from a sternwheeler.  All the jocks had a name, they were led by Capt. Shag Hellion.  On the 4th of July Capt Shag was going to dive off the top of the tower into the mighty Chinkopin.  Of course there was no river and it was a small town so everyone knew it, but on the 4th July at 1:00 when he was going to dive, they had the biggest traffic jam they'd ever
had in the city, trying to see him.

Chuck: Your "Believe In Yourself" philosophy in pretty much in conflict with what you call "The idiots in striped ties laying down broadcasting rules to a computer."  Any advice in that regard?

George: I believe the pendulum swings back and forth -- I don't know where the young programmers go to learn today, but when the pendulum swings back they'd better be prepared.

Chuck: One last question referring to your 'Radiopinion' you say ... "Everyone will get a chance in life."  Do you really believe that?

George: I certainly do and I feel very strongly everyone will get a chance. The people who are not smart enough to admit when they are wrong and learn from the experience will not get very far.  But when their opportunity comes to people that have the ability to store up real knowledge, not knowledge as they would like it to be but the real stuff, will be ready when
their chance comes.  The best thing I know, the thing that helped me more than anything else, is not being afraid to say you don't know something --help me ... ask questions.  Why do you do this or that?  And of course have enough self esteem, if that's the right word, to surround yourself with people who are better than you are and then ... ask questions.

Chuck: Amen.  And, thank you, George.  You're a damned fine human being, in spite of it all.

GORE MATTERS
Morris Diamond: “It's been over fifty years since my boss, Irving Green, president of Mercury Records, walked into my office with Leo Gore, Lesley's father.   Quincy Jones had just signed Lesley to the label.  I was National Promotion Director then and Mr. Green wanted Mr. Gore to meet the person that would be contacting him to get the Oks for traveling which would be essential to the promotion of her new recording.   That was the beginning of a huge love affair with Leo and Ronnie Gore, her parents, and with Lesley.  I recall that at one point, I had a request for Lesley to appear at a hop in Cleveland which was arranged by my Cleveland promotion man, Jerry Sharell.  I ordered flight tickets for me, Lesley and her Mother.  I got a call before the flight from Leo Gore to advise me that they haven't flown coach and he didn't think they should start now.  I quickly arranged for first class and it remained that way for the rest of our promotion trips.  I found no fault in his request.  Incidentally, Sharell led my promotion team of 31 distributor's promotion men around the country in bringing in the first indication that we had a potential hit with ‘It’s  My Party’.  I feel very humble and honored at the amount of calls and emails that I've received from friends and co-workers around the country.  Those that were aware of the close association I've had with Lesley through the years offering their sympathy to me.  I'm sure that Quincy Jones has rightfully been deluged from those who recognize the fact that Lesley was his discovery and production.   I've taken the liberty of attaching a photo taken in our early days of promoting at Palisades Park with DJ Hal Jackson interviewing Lesley, Quincy Jones, myself and a friend.”

Jack Gale:  “So sorry about losing Leslie Gore.  Thought you might enjoy the photo I just sent of her, Long John, and me at the Big Ways Birthday in 1966.  Leslie, Lee Baby Simms and Bill Taylor all in just a week or so.  Really gets us thinking about our mortality.  Just talked to Chuck Chellman, and he mentioned how much he enjoys your commentary.  I do hear from Bill Hennes quite often.  As a matter of fact, he introduced me to Claire Petrie, who is the finest singer I've heard in years.  I just recorded her album in Nashville and did a video which I'm sending you in a separate email.  Every once in a while, as you know, an indie breaks through.  I think this is one of those times.  We did the old Chuck Berry song from 1962, ‘C'est la Vie) You Never Can Tell)’, however I produced it Cajun-Country, with accordion and fiddle.  It's playing in England, France, and Spain, and TOP COUNTRY HITS, the Spanish network, is featuring it on all
their country outlets (Mexico, Uruguay, Peru, Brazil, etc.  It ships to U.S. radio Friday.  You should be getting a CD early next week.  Let me know what you think when you view the video.  Stay well and keep the columns coming.  We cherish them.  Best to Barbara.”

What better way to pay tribute to the late Lesley Gore than this photo of the lady with Jack Gale, program director of WAYS, Charlotte, and personality Long John Silver.  I understand that Long John was a heck of a radio disc jockey.  Left the business.  Owns a couple of steakhouses in the South.
    

May the Good Lord
Bless You!

   

   

   

                       

Claude's Commentary No. 51r2

Today at 8:08 AM
February 16, 2015
Claude’s Commentary No. 51
By Claude Hall

My desktop opened just now on a photo of a beautiful woman smiling at me.  Barbara.  Years ago.  We are on a sailboat.  I took the photo of a St. Croix sailor guiding the sailboat up and down towering swells en route to Buck Island.  Jay and Chancey Blackburn are in the photo.  They treated us to a week in the islands; courtesy of an island radio station construction deal for Blackburn and his buddies.  I am still astonished when I see a photo of Barbara from our younger days.  She was so pretty!  Lived on Park Avenue in Manhattan with her mother and brother before we were married.  And she married a redneck from Texas like me?  Improbable if not impossible.  Even though I fancied myself a somewhat liberated redneck.  And above the norm of the usual Texican.  Lie her mother told me:  “Barbara doesn’t eat much and has plenty of clothes.”  But that was not my reason to marry her.  When I opened the taxi door to help her out at our first date – a 1960 Kentucky Derby party in Manhattan – her hand fit comfortably in mine.  From that moment until this very second, I guess I’ve been in tow.  We were married by a JP the following Sept. 1, 1960.

I really enjoyed knowing Jay Blackburn and knowing Bruce Miller Earle.  I met them at an NAB convention in Washington in the 60s.  Would you believe that we flew in an ancient Gruman Goose from Puerto Rico to St. Croix; the airline was owned and operated by Maureen O’Hara and her husband.  The St. Croix trip from Jay for me and Barbara was just a way of Jay saying thank you.  We stayed in a hotel on St. Croix managed by the woman who had managed the group Brooklyn Bridge.  I think Jay traded or horsewrangled the hotel out.  And eggs benedict and champagne was reasonable in a nearby outdoor restaurant.  Barbara and I ate most of our meals in that restaurant just a short walk away.  I rented a car one day and we toured the island.   Great!  I was close to Jay, the creator of WLUP-FM in Chicago, until he died. And like to believe that Barbara and I are still friends with his widow Chauncey.  Still enjoy, too, the friendship of Bruce Miller Earle, a real and true cancer survivor.

Though I’d talked with L. David Moorhead on the phone, I never met him until he sat down on the barstool next to me in a basement bar at the Century-Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and offered to help me run the International Radio Programming Forum.  We were close until the day he died.  As for George Wilson, I’d met him in 1964 when he wanted me to write a story about him so he could win a Gavin award.  I wrote the story.  He didn’t win.  But we became friends anyway.  After the death of David Moorhead, George became my closest friend until he died.  Through George I got to know Lee Baby Simms.  You cannot imagine how close I became to Lee until the day he died.  We were brothers all.  I’ve had other brothers in radio and music … and still do.  Thank God!

OWENS MATTERS
Gary Owens (Altman) died Thursday in Los Angeles.  He suffered from diabetes since childhood; had to use insulin twice a day.  He was 80.  Constantly the voice for commercials and TV cartoon characters, he was a radio personality for years on KMPC, Los Angeles; he also worked at KOIL in Omaha.  He was the “announcer” who held his hand to his ear to tell the audience that the “Laugh In” television show was coming to you from “beautiful downtown Burbank.”  He is survived by wife Arletta and two sons.  He was a superb cartoonist as well as a writer (one of his books was on uses of the telephone).  He collected books about humor and once mentioned to me that he had more than 10,000 volumes.  For several years, we belonged to a basketball group (along with a TV producer, a lawyer, a hotdog manufacturer, a former UCLA star, a writer that later became well-known columnist on a Pennsylvania newspaper) that played once a week in the San Fernando Valley.  He would drop one-liners up and down the court.  When he made a ridiculous shot against the backboard from the corner of the court, typical, he would classically remark, “Oh, Gary.”  He was a good friend; I’m proud to say that and realize how lucky I was to be so.  Once, Barbara had a birthday party for me at 2800 Moraga and who showed up but Gary.  Seems that my son John, about 11, had invited him.  That was Gary.  He was always willing to “give back” to help radio.  Emcee work, etc.  Especially for charities.  Once, a policeman stopped him on the highway and asked for his driver’s license which had his real name, but he recognized Gary, who’d recently done a benefit for the police.  Waved him on down the road.  I’d like to write about the time Gary and I played one-on-one in his Encino backyard in the rain, but I just don’t feel in a humorous mood at the moment.  However, all of my memories of Gary are warm.  The tribute by Ken Levine is a beautiful piece of writing.  I wish I could write like that.  I hope you get to read it.  We come, we do, we go.

Morris Diamond:  “Just got word about the passing of Gary Owens.  He was 80 and he died peacefully in his home in Encino with his family present.  I started promoting records with Gary when he was on the air in St. Louis.  It was a joy for me personally when he moved to LA and KMPC – among a few other stations.  He always gave me a big smile when he'd finish playing jazz pianist George Shearing … and he would announce – ‘It's Shearing you’re hearing, by George’.  But he had hundreds of great lines on the air.  I'm so sorry to hear of his passing.  RIP, Gar.”

Ron Jacobs heard the news from Kevin Gershan of “Entertainment Tonight.”  John Hall, my son, sent me a link to a story about Gary.  Don Barrett sent me and the world a quick note.  Word was spreading fast on Friday.  Gary was very close to Joe Smith, but that’s Joe’s story to tell.

Don Sundeen:  “Gary Owens, was as nice a guy as anyone who ever came from Mitchell, SD, and became a star in the radio and TV worlds.  Many of the folks reading this worked with Gary or were his good friends, so I’d like to share one brief remembrance.  It was in the early 70s and I was sitting in the lobby of KMPC, a large room resembling an up-scale hotel lobby complete with nice furniture and potted plants, and waiting my turn to pitch my wares.  Suddenly Gary Owens exploded through the front door carrying some magazines, and plopped down beside me on the sofa.  He excitedly said, ‘Look at these’, showing me a number of copies of  Life magazine from the 40s and 50s that he’d just picked up at the newsstand up the street.  For 15 minutes or so we looked at the stories, laughed at the prices in the ads and generally yucked it up.  When the receptionist told me it was time to go on back, he stood up and said, ‘Don’t forget to put all your albums, no matter what format in my dropbox’. and he was gone.  Gary had incredibly eclectic and sophisticated taste and he wanted to know what was happening in all musical genres as well as the general zeitgeist.  I visualize him tonight cupping his right ear, and taking his place at the Table of Legends in the radio/TV section of Rock and Roll Heaven.  ‘Anyone seen Rowan and Martin?’

Woody Roberts to Don Sundeen: “Never met the man.  But when I first started being a Top 40 DJ it was Gary Owen's KFWB morning show that blew me away, all those voices, sound effects, planned out routines and his distinctive I-might-be-putting-you-on delivery had me scoring airchecks often as possible.  It was as Chuck Blore used to say ‘theater of the mind’ and had elements of Bob and Ray with Ernie Kovacs.  Early on I did a couple of all night shows and they gave me the opportunity to try and follow his lead, no commercials and management not listening.  Of course not being as talented as Gary, when I went into afternoon drive I dropped most of my pre-produced bits with voices and streamlined.  When I went on morning drive I stretched out more and was then glad I had that all night time to practice.  Talent like Gary Owens, The Real Don Steele and Lee Baby Simms demonstrate the wide diversity found within that category designated as one-of-a-kind DJ personalities.”

Walt Pinto:  “Just saw an All Access bulletin that Gary died yesterday.  A very sad moment.  Although I had only met him twice, I had the highest respect for what he achieved and admired him greatly.  I'm glad you both got to listen to the audio of him with Dick Robinson.”

Don Graham had received a CD from Walt Pinto of an NAB interview with Gary Owens by Dick Robinson.  “Hi, Walt.  Yes, I did get the Dick Robinson/Gary Owens San Diego/NAB interview CD and thank you!  Listened to it and sent it on to Claude Hall for his enjoyment.”

‪Just FYI, I haven’t received the CD yet, so far as I know.  But I’m hoping it will show up.

OTHER MATTERS
Scott Paton:  “Attached is the story of Tom Rounds' sleepless marathon at KPOI in 1959 as referenced by Ron Jacobs in your newsletter two weeks ago.  The link he provided to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser requires a subscription to the newspaper to read the article, so I signed up and copied and reformatted the piece here so others could read it.  As discussed in an exchange we had in your Hollywood Hills days, TR was my boss and first professional mentor when I was a writer/researcher on ‘American Top 40’ in the mid-'70s, and he became a dearer friend over the ensuing four decades.  His passing last spring was an enormous loss for me and countless others.  But whether one knew TR or not, I'm certain that most of your followers will get a huge kick out of this Jacobs-Rounds promotional stunt as it reminds us of just how much radio, at its best, could be.  Thanks, Claude, and please let me add my voice to chorus of all those begging you not to hang up this newsletter.  Even if your appointed successor is indeed brilliant, at least chime in every week, or do a split shift.  They've proven time and time again that retirement -- if not rife with activity -- typically hastens one's decline.  So please at least remain an active Dean Emeritus.  This is one opinion with which I suspect your total readership would concur.”

From Claude:  It isn’t me who makes this newsletter, Scott … it’s you.  It was never me.  That’s one reason I’ve always considered myself very lucky.  I’ve had the great luck to have known and know some of the greatest and brightest people in the world.  Thus, I appreciate hearing from you – all of you -- on occasion.  We are radio.

The 1959 Star-Advertiser story by Bob Sigall featured KPOI disc jockey Tom Rounds doing a Wake-a-Thon.  Part of the Sigall story from Scott Paton:  “How do you welcome a new radio personality who's moved from New York to Hawaii? Today it might be an ad campaign on radio and TV. But in 1959 the United States' youngest program director had a different idea: Keep him awake for eight days in a department store window.  The new radio personality was 23-year-old Tom Rounds. The program director was Ron Jacobs. And the station was KPOI.  KPOI (AM 1380) was Hawaii's first all-rock 'n' roll radio station when it switched to that format in May 1959, a few months before statehood.  Jacobs was a prankster.  I wrote (on May 30, 2014) about two of his and Tom Moffatt's stunts with roller derby at the Civic Auditorium and Elvis Pres­ley.  Rounds had been a newsman at radio station WINS in New York. He was hired to do the same at KPOI, but Jacobs thought he should be one of the Poi Boys — the zany disc jockeys who played Top 40 around the clock. ‘I'll come up with a promotion to introduce you’, Jacobs promised him.  Jacobs' idea was to try to set a world record for staying awake for a little over eight days. The previous record was 201 hours, 10 minutes.  ‘No one had heard of the Guinness Book of World Records back then’, Jacobs said. ‘My idea was to put Tom Rounds in a department store window for eight days. We called it a ‘Wake-a-thon.'  The store he chose was Wigwam on Dillingham Boulevard across from the Oahu Community Correctional Center.  I'm sure many of my readers remember Wigwam, which had eight stores in the islands at one time and 35 in Washington, Cali­for­nia and Arizona.”  Later:  “When the eighth day came -- Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1959 -- a crowd of 200 greeted Rounds and cheered as he left the store after 203 hours, 44 minutes and 40 seconds.”

Ah, those great days of Top 40 promotions.  Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs, I salute you!  And thanks, Scott.  Great story.  Wish I could print it all.  If only….

Ron Jacobs: Answering an earlier question about KPOI call letter origins:  “In 1959, the new owner of KHON-Honolulu was H. G. ‘Jock’ Fearnhead.  In 1958 he was ensconced as GM of WINS-New York, a pre-rock ratings monster.  The program director was Mel Leeds.  Jock, a Brit and a world traveller, loved Hawaii.  And sailing.  By late '58, Jock —never an on-air jock — was stressed out by the radio wars in the #1 US market.  Doctor advised him to get out of town ASAP.  KHON, Honolulu’s third oldest station (1946), was bankrupt and up for sale cheap.  Young Tom Rounds had managed the Amherst campus radio station.  His father knew Jock.  TR was hired as a WINS temp staff announcer for the duration of the big AFTRA strike.  Of course, he was gone the moment the Big Guys came back. They were not thrilled by their replacements.  I’ve heard they have a name for strike busters.  So Jock invited TR and his wife Rusty to come to Honolulu to work as PD on his about-to-be-licensed station in Paradise.  By 1958, I was the 18-year-old PD at KPOA-Honolulu.  The station was managed by Canadian Finlay T. ‘Fin’ Hollinger.  He bought 50% of the KHON/KPOI stock and moved into 1701 Ala Wai Boulevard as GM.  But ... ‘Fin’ had promised to name me as PD at the new place.  Fin was unaware of Jock's commitment to TR.  The day TR and I met he and I knew that he knew major market news operations and I knew the territory . (We were a Territory before the newly created Poi Boys signed-on in early 1959.)  TR and I quickly agreed that he would be News Director and I would be PD and morning drive jock.  I knew of WINS 1010 NY. Jock asked his PD Leeds to consult with me for the KPOI launch.  He was the one who used ‘wins’ as a word, not a station ID.  Aha!  Our new place was legally KPOI. Knowing four words in Hawaiian, Mel christened the station K-poi.  During the WINS-KPOI conferences, Stan Z. Burns and I met on the Trans-Pacific phone lines.  I invited him to visit K-poi’s office/studios, (conveniently two miles from the Waikiki Yacht Club!).  Stan and I were bachelors. Those days were both cool, simple and romantic, compared to today’s Oahu, with its traffic, crime, homeless, drugs, University of Hawaii a mess, and so on.  Stan arrived and we partied 50s style.  Oh, the sunsets, surf, skies of blue and lovely hula hands, plus our sweet, sweet local wahine. But now we are the cliché, ‘Paradise Lost’.”

I’ve finished the rewrite of “La Tigre” and hope to publish it as an eBook with Amazon.com/Kindle Books in the next week or so.  Probably at $2.49.  I have appreciated the help of Bill Pearson, cover, and advice from Bruce Miller Earle and Woody Roberts.

Ed Lee:  “Ron Jacobs gave me your email address so I could ask to be put on your Commentary list.  I've followed Ron's career since 1977.  About the same time I started reading you column in Billboard.  We've been in contact by email and phone since 2007.  Finally meet in person, last year, when I had to be in Hawaii for one day.  That's my story with Ron.”

Mel Phillips:  “One of my former WRKO air personalities, Shadoe Stevens, has had an on-air tryout at classic Chicago rocker WLUP.  Why Shadoe would give up life in Hollywood is a mystery to me but I wish him all the luck he deserves, if he really wants to work and live in Chicago.  I mean it's of course a top 5 market but winters in Chicago can't be fun.  When Shadoe was at WRKO he was great on the air but I only had him for a couple of years before KHJ called.  For over 40 years, Shadoe has made Hollywood his home.  He went from KHJ to replacing Casey Kasem as host of ‘American Top 40’ and had a brief encounter with a TV sitcom, among his many show business ventures.  I doubt that anyone else trying out for WLUP has better credentials.  I wish Shadoe nothing but the best if this is really what he wants.”

Woody Roberts, Austin, TX, to the Three Mesquiteers: “This is a powerful ‘thank you’ speech packed with nostalgic memories.  I only wish Lee Baby Simms could be here to read it, he'd much appreciate Bob Dylan's comments.”  http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/read-bob-dylans-complete-riveting-musicares-speech-20150209                                                                             
Bob Sherwood:  “Dear Kindly Ol’ Uncle Claude:  I just finished your latest missive and if any of your readers didn’t have a lump in their throat or a tear in the eye after finishing Rob Moorhead’s wonderfully personal piece on George Wilson’s passing and Lee Baby’s tribute, they clearly never knew George, never heard Lee and must’ve been on the Planet Zoran w/o radios during the 1960s & 70s.  And they needn’t bother to check for a pulse. There is none.  Kudos to Gary Allyn for his wonderful and typically brilliant description and distillation of ‘Lee the talent’ and ‘Lee the man’.  In conclusion, if you ever attempt to follow-thru on your threat to discontinue your treasured weekly observations I’ll be in the forefront of those with pitchforks and torches descending on your manse to assure that you continue to deliver the information that you’re Constitutionally required to provide to your constituents.”

Roger Lifeset:  “Call it what you will it’s still The Evil Empire to me. Talk about iconic ... imagine if Murray the K was still with us. That’s how deep his legacy goes. You got to have Art’s ‘Old But Goodies’ volumes in your library or your R&R history is incomplete.  Art loved dedications from jail and East LA. He will return to the airwaves ... bet on it.”
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-art-laboe-20150211-story.html

Carl B. Peeples sent me a note that ‘Carl's Country Classics Radio’ is now on the air! And since Red Jones is the host, I’ve got to plug it.  Probably a great, great show.  Red and I go back a long ways … all of the way to KVET’s “Country Cavalcade,” Austin, TX, although we different a little on when.
www.carlscountryclassicsradio.com

Doc Wendell is a jazz/blues guitarist that Jack Roberts tipped me on.  “Check out my critique of Bob Dylan's new album which features nothing but Frank Sinatra covers.  You can't make this stuff up.”  Doc is a fine writer.  I’m pleased to have him around.
https://irom.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/cd-review-bob-dylan-shadows-in-the-night/

Barry O’Neil has recent sent me some lists.  Singles and albums.  Plus other written features.  I don’t know the deal on what he does, but if you’re interested, I’ll be more than willing to send you his email address.  His material seems interesting.  He may charge.  But we may have a budding treasure here.  Thank you, Barry.  You want me to describe more, send me an email.

Johnny Holliday:  “Claude. I will send you another update on Sal LiCata shortly… no improvement at all.  Can you forward me Larry Cohen's contact info … email or phone?”

The Hartford radio meeting has been called off, according to Hal Whitney.

Don Graham, later:  “Hi, Claude … we hope this note finds you well … I fully agree with Roger Lifeset … currently, more than 8,000 have signed an on-line petition to return Art Laboe to LA radio! … we can remember that 40 years ago we went to Art’s shows and dances at El Monte Legion Stadium here in LA … he will be back on the l air s-o-o-n!”

Jim Slone, once Mr. Country of Tucson:  “One of my favorite memories is the time I spent (two weeks) in Elko, NV, with The Shy Guys playing nightly at the Redwood Room of the Stockmen's Motor Inn … Jim Reeves and his band The Blue Boys were playing across the street at the Commercial Hotel.  I got to know Jim and he asked me occasionally at the end of the evening to sing a tune with his band.  I specifically remember singing ‘Send Me the Pillow You Dream on’, ‘Have I Told You Lately (That I Love You)’ and ‘Blue Blue Day’ (a hit at the time by Don Gibson).  After his show was over Jim and I would go into the coffee shop (for cherry pie alamode).  It was so much fun being with Jim and hearing some of his stories.  He has always been my favorite country singer.  He died in a private plane crash on July 31, 1964.  I was on the air at K-HOS Radio that Saturday morning when his plane went down.  I saw the news on the Associated Press news ticker at the radio station.  For years thereafter, I always played several of his songs on July 31 in his memory.  PS: one of the memorable things about Elko was eating the Basque food buffet style ... so delicious.”
http://youtu.be/PdHl3yVYyUE

I really like the stuff that Don Sundeen is turning out.  If I had a regular magazine/blog, I’d try to persuade him to be a regular contributor.  This is a piece he sent out in regards to an article by Neil McCormick about Gary Glitter, who, according to McCormick, “was a novelty pop star who was able to carry out his abuse amongst a Seventies rock culture of hedonism and groupies that no band rose above.”  Well, I know nothing about Gary Glitter.  I was more into the major rock and country acts, who often had their own hangups and woes.  I point out Roger Scutt, whose body was found in a trash dumpster in a Nashville alleyway (I have an album with him on the cover; he was known as Captain Midnight on the air).  But read what Don has to say.  Good stuff, Don!

Don Sundeen:  “One of the reasons that drugs, sex and rock and roll flourished was because of the invisible curtain of silence, you kept your mouth shut if you wanted to stay.  Backstage at a major rock concert was a rare privilege, something we could do that even those with a lot of money or power seldom got to experience.  The full-access backstage pass was the magic ticket to the Circus; groupies were of indeterminate ages, many had distinctive costumes, usually featuring corsets and stockings and stiletto heels, and would turn up at the Stage Door wearing a raincoat over their outfit until inside.  My favorite groupie story took place at a Jethro Tull concert: three chicks came in, looked around, and one of them said, “OK, which one’s Jethro?’  Just because you were cute and promiscuous didn’t mean you were a rocket scientist. Drugs of one kind or another were everywhere, some people indulged and some didn’t, but behind the barrier anything would go and the hired officers spent their time keeping the civilians out.  I used to return to the dressing room after escorting the band to the stage entrance, and while they were performing go back to the dressing room and enjoy their buffet and selection of beers, wine and liquor while listening to the music.  The bigger the artists name, the better the feast, and there was total security to keep the riffraff out.  But the real party would take place later at the hotel; sometimes we were invited and sometimes we weren’t, it depended on the band and whether they thought you were cool.  Yes, sometimes televisions were thrown out of upper story windows, most but not all into the pool, and rooms were definitely trashed. On one occasion a very famous drummer/singer dipped his shoes into paint and made a path up the wall and across the ceiling of a Holiday Inn; it cost quite a few dollars to fix that little prank, and was the cause of a big brouhaha between the artist’s management and the record company as to who would pay the substantial bill.  As father of a daughter I was sometimes bothered to see the young girls passed around like naked frisbees.  But not all parents were disapproving. One night the father of a very famous groupie (she was mentioned by name in a hit song), came backstage looking for his daughter and the doorman referred him to me, because she was ‘busy’ servicing my act at the moment.  I was very nervous that there was about to be an incident that could somehow come back to bite me in the butt, so I made some excuse and he said that he knew exactly what she was doing. Shocked I asked if he wasn’t really upset by her behavior and he said not really, ‘Her mother and I figure she’d never get to meet all these famous people, ride in limousines and travel around on jets otherwise’. I couldn’t argue with that logic. The fellow who sent me this piece and provides a lot of my content commented:
(Who among us, if shielded from the consequences of outrageous {or should I say outrageously amusing} behavior, can honestly say he would not indulge?)  If given the opportunity, would you have indulged?  We gave Seventies rock stars a license to behave badly.”

Never indulged.  My excuse was that I was a beer drinker.  Great item, Don.  But I remember walking into one hotel room in New York City (and quickly walking out) where there was a punchbowl full of cocaine).  The suite was being operated by, as I recall, Gary Davis, head of promotion for ABC Records.  The label didn’t last long.  Davis didn’t even last that long.

Bob Skurzewski, Elma, NY:  “Sometime back I sent Jack Roberts two copies of this CD by Tom Clay.  Because of his passing, it was never confirmed that he sent one copy on to you.  Don’t know if you care for Tom or not, but I found this to be an interesting piece of audio that was called a self bio.  Tom put together a series of airchecks together to make this CD.  In it he explains about his time in Buffalo and how he discovered Buddy Holly.  Gary Busse (sp) starred as Buddy in the movie.  There was a scene in which a Buffalo DJ locked himself in a studio, police banging on the door while the DJ, acting crazy, plays a song over and over again and calls Holly on the phone to tell him he’s a star.  While they used some fake name for the DJ in the movie, that was Tom Clay.  When some young person asks me about a career in radio, I first give them a funny look and ask why they would want to go in radio today.  If they seem sincere, I give them a copy of this self-bio and tell them to listen to it and try to accomplish some of the on-air things that Tom did.  Tom also mentions in the self-bio that he wishes he had an aircheck of some of the things in did on the air in Buffalo.  Through a friend, I sent him an aircheck of the on-air stunt he did as described in our book ‘No Stopping This Boppin’.  Tom passed away not long after he got the aircheck.”

Thank you for the Tom Clay CD.  I heard him on WCBS-FM and considered him something special.  When he came to Los Angeles, he brought me a copy of his book in mss. form.  Later, he rewrote it as fiction while earning a living tending bar at Martoni’s.  Never was able to get it published.  But somewhere in this house is the copy he gave me and I’m proud of it.  I liked Tom Clay.  Great radio personality.

Rick Frio:  “By now you must have heard the sad news of the passing of Sharon Nelson, a truly lovely person.  You probably have dozens of pictures of her, but I think this is one of the sweetest of her and captures her best.  This was taken around 1969 at the UNI Records office awarding Neil Diamond a gold record.  The young lady next to Neil is Jan Walner, who also worked for Bill Drake at KHJ.  We are losing too many of our old friends.”  From left in photo:  Rick Frio, MCA Records; Sharon Nelson of KHJ, Neil Diamond, Jan Wainer of KHJ, Los Angeles.

A note from Ron Jacobs pointed out that Sharon was assistant music director to the legendary Betty Brenneman.