Claude's Commentary.4

Claude’s Commentary.4

March 31, 2014

By Claude Hall

 

Already added a few names to my Commentary mailing list.  Some people forwarded the column on to friends.  Good.  I can probably handle two or three dozen more on my personal list.  The copy to Hal Baby Moore bounced.  And I’ve lost the email addresses of Jay West in Austin, TX, and his brother who was living in Mexico.  Thus, I worry about them.  Especially the brother living in Mexico.  We’re also placing Commentary on Facebook and both Timmy Manocheo in California and George Pollard in Canada are placing each Commentary on their blogs.  Great.

 

And I have some great news!  I’ve asked a younger person who knows radio as well as I do – if not more so – and they have agreed to take over a radio blog.  Maybe not exactly the one Jack Roberts operated … everyone is entitled to change and/or improve the blog, which will be theirs, as they wish.  I’m excited about the project.  Very much so.  The only problem at the moment is that this person is up to their left toenails in work.  Thus, I’m going to hold onto this “list” for a while.  If and when they are prepared to take over the blog or start one or whatever, I will turn over my “list” to them as a place to start.  Maybe they will let me write a column or article now and then for their Internet publication.  That will be entirely up to them.  But I think radio/music – and not just us for old varmints like me and Danny Davis and Morris Diamond and Gary Owens and Chuck Blore – needs its own Internet publication.  A journal of what’s really going on.  For all the years and radio and music men and women to come.  And this person could do it.  Much better than I could, in fact.  So, if you people will put up with me and contribute emails when you have something to say, we’ll try to “make do” until the right time comes along.

 

I’d like to thank those who sent me a chain letter asking me to take over the Hollywood Hills … some of the greatest people in the music and radio businesses.  I’m deeply honored.  But I feel it would be inappropriate for me to tackle the blog just now as much as I like the idea.  I’m 81 and not growing any younger.

 

OTHER MATTERS

Rob Moorhead, Los Angeles:  “It's been nearly a year since George's (George Wilson) death.  I'm only now starting to recover.  Been hard.  It's difficult whenever a loved one dies, however, it's doubly traumatic when one is also their caregiver in the final months of decline.  I've been in that position a few times now, and while I can do whatever needs to be done at the time, I invariably crash and burn afterwards.  Huge depression results.  It's been a year now, and I'm still grieving, still missing the man every day.  Even Terry handles it better than I.  Go figure.  His ashes remain sitting in an honored place in our living room.  There's a handsome image, a tastefully black framed black-and-white photo, next a glazed ceramic urn.  It's a beautifully intricate piece of Native American pottery, one designed, thrown, and fired by the famous Mata Ortiz pottery collective in Mexico.    He would have liked that, something simple but elegant.  While almost ordinary at first glance, it is actually beguilingly sophisticated, something valuable and rare.  It seems so appropriate for the man.  We are still waiting for an opportunity when all the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids are able to travel here at the same time for a proper memorial and scattering of his ashes.  The logistics of coordinating a suitable date are daunting, as there are so many relatives to consider.  I am now hoping we can arrange it for a small window of time, right after school lets out this summer.   Hollywood Park recently closed so Santa Anita has extended their racing season later into the year.  I believe they will still be open this year when school lets out.  As you know, George wanted his ashes scattered onto the Santa Anita Racetrack, resting forever in the shadow of the towering San Gabriel Mountains, a place where he spent a great deal of his time and money.  Happy memories.  You also know that I always threatened to George that I would merely drop his ashes into the horses' feed bags, then let them do the scattering themselves, digestively speaking.  He never failed to get a kick out of that rejoinder, so I continued using it for thirty-odd years, whenever the subject arose, as a means of changing the maudlin subject.  Still, it was always clear to both me and Terry, that he was serious when entrusting us with this solemn last wish.  He knew it was something we would honor religiously ...  despite the minor illegalities involved.  Rules?  What rules?  That's George.  Much Love.”

 

Just had an email from Chuck Chellman in Nashville and he was planning to drop by Albuquerque on vacation to see George Wilson and I had to email him that George had changed addresses about a year ago.

 

Now listening to Bob Dylan with the Grateful Deal.  “Heart of Mine.”  On “The French Girl, No. 2” CD.  Timmy Manocheo will be proud of me.  He and my son John got me into the Grateful Dead.  But John likes all kinds of music.  Takes after his father.  Of course, I wasn’t aware that Ernest Tubb was country until I arrived in New York City, circa early 1959.  In my childhood days, there was only music and opera.  Wish I’d heard Lyn Stanley way back when.  Then I would have known the difference.  You listen to “Change Partners” and you’ll know what I mean.  More than a ton of years ago, I heard a unique trio perform during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  At one of the Krewe balls.  Only members invited.  Jane Russell and two other famous actresses performed.  One time only and never again.  Wouldn’t it be great for Steve Tyrell and Deana Martin and Lyn Stanley to do a CD together?  In effect, the Highwaymen or the Three Tenors.

 

Woody Roberts, in the bluebonnets outside of Austin, sent me a note about an exhibit at the South Texas Popular Culture Center on San Antonio Radio featuring Bruce Hathaway, billed as KTSA’s King of Rock.

“FYI -- Nobody in the biz is nicer than Bruce Hathaway, a gentleman.  I worked with Bruce during three different periods at KTSA.  First in 1961 when I was a fledgling DJ learning the McLendon format at KTSA, four years later when I was programming consultant to KTSA (when Lee Baby Simms and I were forced off the air), and two years later when I was GM at KTSA and putting 102.7 FM on the air.  A total of 5 1/2 years over 11 years under stressful conditions of combat, I never heard any negativism about the job or expression of ill will toward anyone coming from Bruce.  He worked at KTSA from late '50s until they went news-talk.” The exhibit features Bruce's long career beginning as a pioneering rock 'n’ roll DJ in the 50s, his many years at KTSA and continuing to the present day as a best-known name, face and voice to generations of South Texans.  The Tex Pop Center is at 1017 E. Mulberry, just off Broadway by Good Time Charlie's.

 

Don Sundeen:  “Well, Commentary #3 certainly confirms there’s a real need for some form of the Hollywood Hills to continue on, albeit without the beloved Jack Roberts who left way too soon.  Woody Robert’s message mentioning Dick Starr, another wonderful man who died too young, and Buzz Bennett brought back a lot of memories.  If Buzz is still out there and can understand, it would be wonderful if he came in out of the cold and told his incredible stories before it’s too late.  I think the last time I saw Buzz was in New Orleans when he did his return stint at WNOE, Kevin Metheney still a young man, was there also, with a great compliment of jocks.  My late friend and colleague Lee Arbuckle and I stopped by one day and invited Buzz to dinner, always a touchy situation, and he readily agreed.  That night he showed up at the La Richellieu, New Orleans' notorious Rock and Roll hotel, wearing a cowboy hat, fringed vest and chaps, with a toy six shooter in a holster on his waist.  The great thing about the Big Easy was that we could walk through the French Quarter with Buzzy in that outfit and few people even look twice.  Later in conversation he said to Lee and me,

‘You remember when I invented call-out research?’  We concurred giving him credit for the invention, ‘Well, I made it all up and watched it spread through the business’, he

replied, with that evil twinkle and smile he’d have when revealing his secret … there was never anyone else quite like him.”

 

Arnold J. Smith of New York has donated his collection of 10,000 jazz records to the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center on the campus of UNLV, Las Vegas, according to the View of the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper.  F. Andrew Taylor, Mar. 19, 2014, reported that Smith, a lecturer at the New School in NYC, has a collection going back to Benny Goodman’s LP “The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert” released in 1950.  For the full story, tap into viewnews.com.  Just FYI, many who read Commentary will remember Arnold Shaw, once a well-known NYC music publisher and author.  He moved to Las Vegas and taught at UNLV for a few years.  He has written many books dealing with music.  The Smith collection includes rare taped interviews, posters, books.  Director of the Shaw center is Ken Hanlon.

 

Ken Levine edits one of the best humor sites around.  He just wrote about a trip to Hawaii.  Great.  Tap into Ken at

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/

Chuck Dunaway after triple bypass is probably at home by the time you read this.  Word is he’s doing great for a guy with emphysema.

Jim Ramsburg:  “One of the directions of www.jimramsburg.com is finding little-known stories from Network Radio's Golden Age.  A prime example is the new text and audio post, ‘Fibber McGee Minus Molly’.  It deals with an 18-month period when Marian Jordan was hospitalized and Jim Jordan was forced to do the show without his wife  as ‘Fibber McGee & Company’ .  How he and his writer/partner Don Quinn managed to keep the program going and growing in popularity is a tribute to their comedic talents.   Audio posts of the show before, during and after Marian's absence prove it.”

I’m on a mailing list for Robby Vee, son of, and it’s great.  I’ve known Robby since he was a pumpkin kid and, would you believe, he now has his own band and is big in those mid-west casinos.  Just played a week in the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN.  Does rockabilly mostly and, yes, his dad has been known to sit-in on special occasions.  Robby’s two brothers – Tommy, bass, and Jeff, drums – not only perform backup nationwide to various major acts but operate a recording studio in St. Cloud, MN.

 

My especial appreciation to Don Sundeen and Rob Moorhead for the two tales this week.  I figured out one of the claims of Lee Abrams was a bit south.  Buzz?  Who knew other than Don Sundeen and Lee Arbuckle?  But that short story in the eBook “Radio Wars” makes more and more sense, now that I think about it.  Interested in the eBook?  It’s available via Amazon.com/Kindle Books.  Cheap.  I think the price is only $2.99

 

Other than “Radio Wars,” I have the eBook “I Love Radio” installed with Amazon.com/Kindle Books and it’s fairly cheap, too.  I soon hope to install the “Disc Jockey Cookbook” with Amazon.com/Kindle Books.  A must have.   And, yes, there’s a recipe by the late Jack Roberts in the book.  The recipe by Lee Baby Simms is great.  “Red Beans and Rice.”  I’m about due for another batch.  What I do is cook up a whole bunch and freeze some of it.  Now and then I prepare some rice and thaw some of the delightful mess that Lee Baby Simms invented (he actually spent a few days in New Orleans) and Barbara and I will have a feast!  This recipe – and the article by the phenomenal Rollye James – is worth the price of the book, whatever price I decide to put on it.  Just FYI, George Wienbarg just bought "I Love Radio" and says:  "What a charming and fun book, Claude!"

 

May the Good Lord bless and keep you.

Claude Hall's Commentary.3

Claude’s Commentary.3

March 25, 2014

By Claude Hall

claudehall@yahoo.com

 

This column is being emailed to 204 radio people and another 52 music executives and artists.  In addition, it is reprinted in a couple of blogs and I’m also placing it in Facebook.  It is sent out on a sporadic basis as material and inclination warrants.  Feel free to email it on to friends.  Feel free to comment.

 

Rob Moorhead, Los Angeles:  “I apologize for not keeping in touch.  Daily life so often overwhelms that I concentrate on family and such.  Where is that leisurely retirement existence I am supposed to be enjoying?  It's like I'm in my twenties again, taking care of a child (my grandson) and never enough hours to accomplish all that's on my plate.  I do hope you two are doing well, or as well as the infirmities of Father Time will allow.  They say the mind is the first thing to go; clearly that's fiction.  I stumbled upon news recently that Dick LaPalm died a few months ago.  That really hit me hard.  I had no idea he was ill.  I wish I had taken the opportunity to reconnect.  So sad.  I hadn't spoken with him in thirty years.  Back in the day when I was working in LA, he would occasionally call and pick my brain about some project, song or artist.  We had initially grown to know each other because I was good friends with his kids while in high school.  He was such a nice guy, a really cool cat and the salt-of-the-earth.  He was knowledgeable about the business, about life, I really admired the man.  I can remember him driving a gang of us, his kids and friends, to weekend events, like soccer games.  He had this monstrous Caddy his kids called the ‘Jew Canoe’ into which we would squeeze our whole crew, Mr. LaPalm behind the wheel being heckled by a gang of rowdy teenagers as he drove.  His kids would playfully hectle him at every opportunity, beginning with his name.  Dick.  When the kids wanted to get his goat it was never ‘dad’, it was always, ‘Hey, Dick!’, but with an intonation that was clearly pejorative.  He loved it, he shot back, it was a healthy give-and-take between a father and his boys.  I envied that.  Teenagers being teenagers, we were a wild bunch, Dick being in the music business meant he, too, retained his youthful sensibilities and could relate to us on our level.  He loved a good time, and we felt he wasn't much different than us, more of a friend.  Secretly, the boys would sometimes search through the pockets of his jackets and trousers in hopes of discovering a forgotten joint or baggie of weed.  On rare occasions, there might even be a tiny bit of blow.  Of course, it disappeared.  I don't believe he ever said anything about the thefts as it was always an inconsequential amount they pilfered, plus they were all wonderfully well-adjusted kids just looking for a little fun.  They were a wild and fun bunch, a very fun father with exceptional kids.  I'm sure he was very proud of them.  Anyone would be.  Even as kids, I recognized his influence shining through them, as each had acquired bits and pieces of his personality and were deeply imbued with his values and wisdom.  Last week I learned that the overnight jock from KIQQ, a guy George Wilson had pulled off the street and put behind the mike, Ernie Sanchez, died suddenly, leaving behind a wife and kids.  Again, so sad.  Young guy.”

 

Morris Diamond, Palm Desert:  “I don't know if Don mentioned to you or not, but I took a fall 2 weeks ago and ended up with a broken left wrist, elbow and shoulder … which has eliminated me from getting behind the wheel to get to Jack's memorial.  I tried in vain looking for someone from Palm Desert who might be driving to LA, where I knew I could get a ride to the memorial.  It saddened me that I couldn't be with my fellow contributors to Hollywood Hills who did attend.  Jack, from day one, kept asking me to submit stories and photos on a weekly basis.  That was encouraging for me … he knew I enjoyed writing, and I tried to keep my subjects related to as close to the replies of something I read the day before.  Claude, I've been a big fan of your writing since the Billboard days of yore, and still am.  I have fond memories of coming to your home in LA so you and Barbara can show my wife and I your new Sound-around system.  I sincerely hope that you – or some other qualified member of our vast Hills can preserve the memory of our beloved Jack Roberts by carrying on these blogs.  I know I will never forget him and his efforts to organize 10,000 readers.  Look forward to another lunch on an upcoming journey to Vegas.  Alice joins me in sending our love to and Barbara.”

 

Morris, your material is always welcome here.  Just FYI, all readers who have a blog or are broadcasting via the Internet can list details, such as does Ron Jacobs below somewhere.  Morris, we would love to see you and Alice again.  Get well!

 

Jonathan Little:  “Dave ‘Duke’ Sholin forwarded your March 20 Commentary.  So many nice tributes to Jack Roberts and I enjoy reading your diatribes. Thank you.

As a young jock in the 60s, I considered Vox Jox high priority reading.  I’m currently in the consumer opinion market research business.  Got pushed out of radio programming and management due to consolidation in April 1998.  A few months later Bill Troy and I started doing Internet-based research for the worlds of entertainment and media (CBS, Disney, Sony Motion Pictures, Green Bay Packers, 100s of radio stations).  Bobby Vee is a close friend and, as I recall Bobby saying once, you and he were neighbors in LA before Bob and Karen moved the family back to St. Cloud.  His new Americana album is exceptional.  Duke and I program two Americana streams for AccuRadio (www.americanaradio.us) and spin some of Bobby’s tunes that are a good fit.  If you appreciate Greg Brown, you’ll likely appreciate what we’re doing on The Train and The Fast Train.  Back in the late 60s while MD and PM Driver at WISM, Madison … I managed a garage band called Underground Sunshine, which was my sister and 3 guys she went to high school with.  Charlie Fach of Mercury-Smash-Intrepid bought the master and radio’s reaction to ‘Birthday’ was magical.  I often think of Charlie and wondered what happened to him.  We stayed in touch for a few years and then lost contact. Any memories of Charlie?  Is he still with us?  As I recall, after his success in Chicago with Mercury and Smash, he moved back to NYC to care for his aging-ailing father.  Irwin Steinberg encouraged Charlie to start a new label which he could manage from NYC.  Underground Sunshine and I were the beneficiaries of Charlie’s early work in buying up masters to launch Intrepid.  Great to know that you’re writing and bringing radio people together who remember live and local, the request line, and the pick hits of the week when terrestrial radio was about new music discovery!”

Jonathan Little
VP Sales -Troy Research & PR Brigade
Mobile:  608-219-1077
Phone:  740-549-9700, x61http://www.troyresearch.com
http://www.prbrigade.com

 

Jonathan, I would dearly love to hear about Charlie Fach if you find out anything.  Always liked the guy!  Maybe Chuck Chellman has some information.

 

Gary Allyn, San Diego:  “Claude (Hemingway) Hall, ahhh yes!  There is a Radio God! You are continuing to send out your Commentaries.  Thank you, Claude. Having contact with Radio past and present is a must for this aging Radio guy.  Doing without, well, It’s like having a record but no turntable.  Keep up your tireless love for our business.  I agree with those who have already said that YOU would be the logical one to perpetuate The Hills. I can’t tell you how much I miss Jack Roberts and his tireless dedication to keeping the Radio Connection going. SO, now, we’ll depend on E-pistles from you.  How about this? Vegas Vox Jox?  Rollye James ... whatta gal!  She deserves all she gets.  Big hello to Barbara, and all my best to you.  Danny D ... you’re such a mensch, and keep the ‘Spring’ in Palm Springs.”

 

I’m not the one to continue a radio blog.  But I know the person who is.  I will mention it to them in a personal email in a day or two.

 

Just FYI, I try to provide contact when possible and feasible, but I don’t do phone.  Just email.  I decided, however, a long time ago not to publish email addresses.  But if you’re searching for a friend, I’ll help when I can

 

Chuck Blore, Los Angeles:  “Hey, Claude, my dear and old friend, I am sitting here wondering, why you're sitting there wondering, about whether or not your column is jelling.   Now, this is coming from an old, old fan (quite possibly the oldest … or is it eldest, whichever).  I am one who jelled a long time ago, thus, I'm an expert in jelling.  Yes, your column is  informative, interesting, even fascinating and whatever else it takes to become so revered and respected.   Claude Hall is a name known and loved by every radio person who has a genuine interest in the now and then of radio.  I agree with those who say that you should take over and go forward with the Hollywood Hills and I, too, would be happy and eager to help with whatever contributions I could make.  I believe we met over 50 years ago and I  have enjoyed every meeting we have had since, including the one during which I made that drawing of you, which, of course, has become history.  Claude, I am and always have been happy to know you.  You, sir, are a part of radio history.  I love you, Claude, and look forward to your next commentary, or possibly, your version of the Hollywood Hills.”

 

Ron Jacobs, Hawaii:  “Please pass along the above URL for RON JACOBS BLOG, BRAH.  Dodged another bullet, Praise The Lord.  ME KE ALOHA PUMEHANA.”

http://www.ronjacobshawaii.com/2014/03/new-tina-delgado-me.html

 

Jay Sorensen:  “Hiya hiya, Big Jay Sorensen here ... Joey Reynolds' sidekick on 66 WNNNNBC and on TV, too. I totally love your work … met you at a gathering in Rochester, NY, about a quarter century ago.  I'm on the air still at WCBS FM in NYC these days, still crankin' out the hits and soon to be with Joey again on TV and radio and Internet.”

 

George J. Wienbarg:  “It is so wonderful to be able to write you about this matter as I have been working to have this a preserved on Wikipedia for the past several years and now apparently the Wikipedia editors are trying to take it down-again.   Would it be possible got you to look at it and see what you might be able to do in order to preserve it?  J. Paul Emerson was important in radio because of his People News Format which he invented at KIMN and for which we won the NAB Station of the Year award in 1973, which techniques, later made use if in  general daily newspaper writing (that is replacing the traditional newspaper inverted pyramid with the short story hourglass format allowing one story's clincher like to lead into the next story's grabber line). Which I in turn employed at WLAC, WGCL, WPIX, WCBS, etc., and which he used during his tenure at Hot 97 (WHTZ) here in New York for those years he did mornings here.  The Wikipedia editors are trying to delete this article despite several bibliographical citations -- I believe -- because he was a conservative, they say because he wasn't notable.   Because you are a legitimate radio writer, perhaps you could lend the article some muscle by somehow adding to it and citing your addition, even if it's what I wrote above?  I had put the article up a couple years ago and the Wikipedia editors pulled it down again, but radio people -- especially those as important as Jimmy Coleman need to have their legacies preserved, don't you think?  Anyway. Here is the link. See if you might be able to help me save it. “https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Paul_Emerson

 

Heck, George, I couldn’t get myself in Wiki and gave up.  Tried to get George Wilson in, too, and failed.  Wish I could help you about Jim.  Knew him well.  Loved the man!  Deserves in without question!

www.georgejay.com

 

Bob Hamilton:  “Keep the commentary coming.  The list of people you send them to could fix our industry we still love. I visit stations as a consultant and the vibe of fun & winning in programming & sales is truly missing. Passion is still the answer. The first person who gets a chance to do it right, no matter the format will be a millionaire!  Best to you & Barbara!”

 

Don Whittemore:  “Claude, wonderful reading the notes and news of so many who I know only by their exploits.  So many unheard of anticipate your writings -- those of us that reply to you are merely a fraction of the whole family you've created and continue to sustain.  Please continue.”

 

Ron Fraiser:  “Anything from you is always welcome and a treat ... good to see Bob Paiva checking in ... my old WPOP in Hartford co-worker.”

 

Bill Hennes, Florida:  “Claude, with Jack's tragic passing at such a young stage in life, it seems to me that YOU are the person to carry on the Hollywood Hills.  I would love so see his vision and so many more of us, would love to see Hollywood Hills continue.  Claude, you are a great writer, have a great memory and have the history, and I know all the broadcasters will respect your input.  I know I would.  As always, the best to Barb!”

 

Jimmy Rabbitt:  “Thanks for the heads up about Jack, sorry to hear about it, he was really so young! Sorry I haven't gotten back about your blog, but I got the ‘Super’ flu after getting my shot, and it put me down for sure.  Thanks for what you do, Claude, and keep me on your list as long as there is one, and take care of yourself.”

 

I got a shingles shot a couple of years ago and it knocked me down for two or three days.  Lost a lot of weight.  But this shingles stuff ain’t for us old people! 

 

Clark Weber:  “While I had heard of Jack Roberts, I personally didn't know him.  I'm sorry to hear of his passing.  Many other names such as Danny Davis ring a lotta bells and bring back a mike fulla memories.  As the former morning man and PD at WLS in the 60s your comments about the slavish mentality of programmers who followed the Drake format was right on!  Great WLS programmers like Sam Holman and Gene Taylor recognized the importance of attracting 12-plus demo's but not to the detriment of ignoring 25/54.  Far too many programmers in those days played the top 20 in high rotation, blew out the 25/54 and allowed FM stations to win the war.  And they're doing the same damn dumb thing today. Henry Ford was once asked the secret to his success. He said that at the time the public wanted a faster horse, he gave them the Model T and turned the transpiration world upside down.  Radio, even today is still trying to give their listeners a faster horse.”

 

Sage comments, Clark.  My appreciation.

 

I’d sent out a news flash about Ron Jacobs being alive and well in Hawaii and that prompted this note from an old friend.  I hate to see his wife Peggy go.  She was charming and she was bright.

 

Gary Smithwick, Washington, DC:  “Ron may be alive and well, but my wife, Peggy, with whom you dined in Vegas, is not. Peggy passed away at 12:38 pm Tuesday with me holding her hand and kissing her cheek.  Her brother, Jim, was caressing her back.  She went very calmly and peacefully, just stopped breathing and she was gone forever.  Hospice was called in last Wednesday and they did a terrific job keeping her comfortable.  She only had a few episodes of serious pain and we were able to control that.  She died in our bed in our home without being hooked up to any machines or tubes.  Despite their urgings, she did not have to die in the Hospice house.  I count myself very privileged to have been with her all the way to the end after her 14-year war against breast cancer.  I asked her if she wanted me to hold a funeral and she said, ‘No way, have a cocktail party’.  So there will be a party in Washington in May at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown.  If you are going to be on the east coast on May 17, let me know, and I’ll send you an invitation.  I hope you are well and stay that way for a good long time to come.” 

 

Ed Salamon: “THANKS, Claude, for including me on your distribution for your column.  I look forward to reading it just as I did your Vox Jox columns. I appreciate you keeping a connection with so many folks that I have crossed paths with in radio.

 

Dick Summer:  “Hey, Claude, that will be the day ... when I don't want to hear from you.  I'm a pilot, and when we lose one of our own, we say he's ‘Going west’ ... as into the sunset. Looks like lots of folks we all know are doing just that.  Thought you might like some thoughts on that.  I’m back from vacation with a bit of a tan, a substantially thinner wallet, and a head full of vacation snapshots to run past you.  Here’s one: we were walking along the beach, and all of a sudden, a shadow rippled across the sand and then flew out into the bay.  It was a big pelican coming in for a water-ski landing, feet first. He settled into the water, looked around at the people on the beach, and tossed his head as if he expected at least a quick cheer for his performance. I gave him a short burst of applause.  Here’s another: An old-time Chevy station wagon pulled into that same beach’s parking lot, with a license plate that expresses a deeply felt urge for many a ‘Louie Louie’ Generation lad and lass. It said, ‘I-Gotta-P’.  And speaking of pee-ing, (there is a connection) the new Budweiser slogan is ‘Grab some buds’. That’s okay on their TV commercials. But they probably didn’t think about how that slogan would look when it is proudly displayed on the tight T-shirts of the young ladies selling their beer at the ballpark. ‘Grab some buds’.  I don’t know. It sure got my attention—which got a few slightly unladylike comments from my Lady Wonder Wench.  Then there’s a snapshot that I think I’ll frame and keep somewhere very close to where I live. We were taking a little walk in the park across the street from our hotel, and we saw an old guy sitting on a park bench, just sitting — not even reading — just sitting and watching the people walk by.  As we walked past, I noticed a

brass plaque on the bench. It said, ‘In memory of Amelia, my wife and my best friend. She’s saving me a seat now’.  I didn’t let go of my Lady’s hand for quite a while.  Everything looks different when you’re on vacation.  I’ve noticed that even the guy in my shaving mirror sometimes looks a little different when I’m on vacation. The first morning we were there, he was waiting for me — the guy in my mirror. He was happy to see me, because he had been up taking care of me all night while I was sleeping, and it was a long night.  I started thinking about him.  Was he on vacation, too?  Then I started thinking, I’m looking at retirement pretty soon. And he’s got to know that. And I started wondering if that guy in the mirror is as scared as I am that he may be suddenly finished with the daily life-long process of ‘getting ahead’ and trying to make a living.  And how about the other end of his life? The first times. What kind of secret celebration did he enjoy the first time his mom let him comb his own hair before he went to school? How big were the monsters that prowled around in the attic when he was home alone in an empty house for the first time? How did he learn to ride a two-wheel bike? Who taught him to swim? What did his first kiss taste like? Who was his first real date? How did he feel when he passed his  driver’s license test? How did he talk some girl into having sex with

him for the first time? What did his twenty-first birthday feel like?  What was it like for him, holding his firstborn child in his arms?  How did he take it, the first time he lost his job?  My Lady Wonder Wench has told me that her face in the mirror doesn’t look at all like the face I see when she’s lying on her pillow in the first light of dawn, slowly opening those soft blue eyes and turning the whole world the color of a Summer sky. That’s the face

I’ve seen for all these years, smiling and crying, and eating lobster on vacation, and cheering for the New York Mets. I know she has no idea how beautiful she is.  It’s fascinating, looking carefully at your face in the mirror.  It’s like meeting somebody who knows you, but you can’t quite remember him. I was thinking about that when we were walking in the park and we saw that old guy sitting on the bench just looking at the passing people. His eyes were wide open, but it was obvious that he was seeing a face the rest of us didn’t know about. A face he’d seen waking up on the pillow next to him in the morning for a lot of years: smiling and crying, cheering for some baseball team, and now saving him a seat next to her — just like he asked her to do.”

 

Scott St. James, Los Angeles:  “This ‘assortment of comments’ you refer to is a great read.   I tried reading what you sent during commercials on American Idol last night, but soon realized that what you sent was deserving of reading what you wrote non-stop which I did this morning.  As you would say to others, I will say to you;   ‘Good on you, Claude Hall!’  Dandy Don was indeed correct when he referred to speakers at Jack Roberts' tribute (including me) having passionate difficulty with their lines.  I'm very much looking forward to your next ‘diatribe’.”

 

Robert E. Richer:  “Just great, Claude!  So many names; so many memories.  If I had my way, I’d ignore Facebook.  Your blog seems to be reaching the absolute inner core of those in this business who still have a heart.  Who needs more.  Avanti!”

 

Jay Lawrence, Arizona:  “I thought I'd let everyone know and you are the best courier. I have had to leave the air because I've chosen to run for the Arizona House of Representatives. I'm running as a republican (what else) in legislative district 23, Scottsdale/Fountain Hills. It's a grind but I am having fun. Sheriff Joe Arpaio has endorsed me along with a man some of you might know (google him) Dr. C T Wright. One of the kindest, most gentle humans I have ever known. It's getting signatures on petitions, vetting the signatures, going door to door in my district, and raising money. I never realized how expensive a campaign can be. Fortunately I am well known and though not ‘flowing’ in we are doing all right. Anyway just thought I'd let you know because that's like letting the broadcast world know. I am attaching a palm card. I will keep you posted. Primary is August 26, vote by mail ballots go out around July 26th. 70% of my district votes by mail so there's work to be done.”

 

Don Sundeen;  “Ron Jacobs is one of the great, brilliant eccentrics of the radio business.  Never forget when I first met him at KGB, he swept into the office in board shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and sandals and said, ‘Hi, Ron Jacobs, come on in I want to show you something’.  So we go into his office and there was this long printout from an old-fashioned printer about a mile long.  Ron had hired some college kids to go out and ask people what their favorite song was, hundreds of them, and then compiled this list.   It was what we would one day call ‘record research’.   Ps, #1 that day was ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’,  I’ve never forgotten.”

 

Woody Roberts, Texas:  “Thank you for Commentary 2.   Hope you'll change your mind on having a web presence.  It requires no extra stamina to blog these days, once set up it is as simple as sending email.  You just post when you have something to say ... daily or weekly or monthly, whenever.  That way folks searching for Claude Hall or other old radio names will find it.  You don't need to have a fancy site like the Hills or Ron Jacobs or Jim Ramsburg, just do a one column ...  OK, 'nuff said.  Buzz Bennett and Dick Starr flashback -- Middle shelf of my bookcase is collapsing under the weight of double stacking hardbacks and loading up empty spots with a dozen stones, fossils and Indian artifacts.  So, I am filling a large box to leave at Half Price Books and come across ‘Johnathon Livingston Seagull’.  Why did I keep that?  Then I remember.  Buzzy gave it to me during a hotel room all nighter at 1971 programming conference.  I opened the slim volume to find the cryptic but inspiring card he put inside.  Next I came across my copy of ‘Man the Manipulator’ that was sent to me by Dick Starr as he was leaving WFUN Miami to PD for the colorful Howard Kester at KYA.  I returned both to my bookshelf.  Then I sat down and let myself drift back to radio times gone by and the friends I had....”

 

Bob Barry:  “Thanks for the commentaries, Claude.  The older you get, the more great friends and broadcast folks we lose.  I miss many of the great ones I worked for and with:  George Wilson, Jim Brown, Bob Collins, Gordon Hinkley, Paul Gallis, and recently Tom Shanahan, who had worked at WEMP in Milwaukee for many years.  He was in Wisconsin broadcasting for over 50 years.  It’s important not to forget those who gave some great years to our industry … and thanks to you, we won’t.”

Claude Hall's Commentary.2

Claude’s Commentary.2

March 20, 2014

By Claude Hall

Is this column jelling, or not?  Sitting here, just wondering … as Scott St. James might say.  I’m listening to Greg Brown at the moment.  He grows on you.  Some of his music is nice even if his lyrics don’t always pass muster.  But this laptop is set on random.  I started with a tune by the Three Tenors.  Now, Los Lobos.

Heard from Danny Davis a couple of times.  We were lamenting the passing of Jack Roberts, who was sort of a crutch for us.  And Don Graham sent me a copy of the program for the memorial services.  Difficult to believe Jack was only 62.

John Hall:  “The memorial services for Jack were pretty nice, well attended.  It was organized by Mike Horn and the CRN family.  There were a lot offamiliar names there.  I sat with Timmy and his wife, talked to Don Graham, Dandy Don, Scott St. James and so on.  I met up with Tom and Barbara Rounds who wanted me to specifically say hello to the both of you.  There were stories told about Jack, a short video and Italian food.  Dandy Don brought Jack's favorite ice cream, Peppermint brownie

ice cream, as a special treat.”

Don Graham had notified quite a few people about Jack’s passing.  I sent an email to several others, including a Top 40 legend named Bill Taylor who owns a couple of radio stations.

Bill Taylor:  “Died of Liver Cancer.  That's not good news as that's what I'm dealing with.  I've had it for several years. Mayo was great but now I'm at Ironwood in Mesa. It's possible I might not make it.  So I've made arrangements on the stations.  I don't want to try and sell them as I'd have to finance the buyer and then there's lawyers and brokers.  They're debt free so I'm just going to give them away.  Jon and Rollye James Cornell have moved here and they are will eventually gain control.   Chemo is no joy, but it's the price I pay to keep doing my airshift every morning.  I'm in good spirits.  it's attitude and of course prayer that has much do to with survival.  I miss George Wilson.  Albuquerque is not that far from here and I tried to get up there to see him.  You most likely not remember it, but it was at a conference, can't remember which one, in Miami in 71 or 72 that I introduced you to Rollye.  Rollye and Jon will inherit the stations as it is part of my will.  They agree with the stations’ junkyard dog news as we tackle county, local governments, police problems and local courts where friends get off easy.  We've managed to bounce a J.P. Judge and the county attorney.  Our next goal is a superior court judge.  Our web page is considered the local paper as the weekly does NO investigation that could lose a client.  We lose some but move on.  I'm very proud of our influence on the community.”

I wrote Bill that I thought it was simply sensational … the idea of giving his station to Rollye and her husband.  Rollye is now and always has been one of the greatest people in radio.

Bob Paiva:  “Thanks for including me in your latest mailing.   Was especially interested to find Woody Roberts’ email address.  I will be writing him.   I owe him a lot.  When he was leaving WPOP and I was to become Program Director, Woody spent two weeks with me discussing the philosophy behind radio and programming.  That provided the basis for most of the work I did for the next 15 years.  While most people were copying whatever Bill Drake cranked out Woody was looking into how and why people reacted to what was happening on air.  Had a couple of those negative political experiences.  Used to be on Facebook and ‘unfriended’ a major PD who wrote Republican rants.  Broke off communications with an old friend and former employer who I felt forgot what it was like not to have money once he'd gotten his stash.  He took real exception to my pointing out that I vote in Connecticut and my vote would count because Obama would win Connecticut while he voted in California and his vote would be wasted because Obama would win California.  In any case, I spend my time reading (mostly mysteries) watching films (catching up on the classics) and listening to Jazz. (have a rare, recently released Duke Ellington CD from 1960 on now) Haven't really listened to radio in a long time and current music seems a bit ‘foreign’ ... except for a couple of young performers.  Such is retirement.”

Kris Erik Stevens:  “Hey, Claude ... always love catching up with the world of radio and records (the way we knew it then) through you!  Stay well my friend ... and keep the updates and diatribes comin’.”

Richbro Robbin:  “Hey FxxK the missing caps!  It was great just to READ you again, ol' Claude ... all the very best!  Just turned 70, but still goin' a million miles an hour w/my hair on fire!  Back on the air: 

www.walrusfm.com 2-7p Mon-Fri.”

Ian & Dianne Wrigh, South Australia: “From the womb to the tomb – very sad to get the news on Jack Roberts’ passing. He was obviously a good man!  So, too, Claude & Barbara Hall are good people and I wish you both all the very best for the year ahead. I’m still in the wacky wireless business and turned 60 in January. Keep up the writing Claude, it suits you to a tee and obviously keeps you young!

www.voiceovertheworld.com.au

Burt Sherwood: “Claude: The reason I am so tardy in telling you my sorrow about Jack is simply this ... over the weekend I was in DC to bury our son-in-law in Arlington, and was on jets until last night ... and finally home ... I smashed up my bad leg in a fall ... so I am not in really happy shape ... son in law buried and Jack dying ... there is a lot going on in our lives at the moment ... Jason is in Miami and his wife is pregnant ... and that is for starters.  I am glad son John will go for the memorial service.  I was a little taken aback by your writing that Jack had a former wife and two or three daughters ... and no one knew where they were.  I will not even try to address the In The Hollywood Hills problem...I was hoping someone would take it over.  All else is normal ... for me that is ... hope you and Barbara are OK.  Much love from the West Coast of Florida.”

Jim Ramsburg:  “We may not agree politically, but I enjoy reading about other old radio dogs.  By all means, keep me on your list -- and thanks.  I'm currently involved in a study of the transcription library business that grew like topsy back in the days of ASCAP and AFM wars with broadcasters but went virtually unreported in the trade press.  If you or any of your contacts have any facts or figures about the Associated, Capitol, Lang Worth, Standard, Thesaurus or World transcription services, I'd appreciate receiving them.  Here's a chuckle:  Bandleaders often used assumed names for transcription work as not to diminish the value of their names for their consumer record labels or network radio work.  Benny Goodman was Bill Dodge, Duke Ellington was Joe Turner, Artie Shaw was John Carleton, etc.  Strange world.”

Joey Reynolds:  “I hate to be the first to break the news to you but I think Jack and those on the hill expects you to continue on with the work of keeping the personality flame lit.  In your morning prayers ask GOD if he has this in mind?  Jack will still be connected spiritually.  My thoughts about jack are the opposite of the TV show breaking bad.  This journey has been about Breaking Good, I never knew jack til’ these last couple of years, but boy did he embrace me and I was shy about getting too close, I wanted him to continue to like me, I confess to having enjoyed his approval, for years I sought that recognition from Chuck Blore, Don Graham, and Erica Farber, the real anchors in the creative community who made my heart sing.  A final note about Jack:  He carried himself with such grace, even in the end, it is impressive.”

I spoke of Jack Roberts being a crutch for me and Danny Davis and others.  His crutch was Don Graham.  But, no, I do not have the stamina to do a blog.

John Barger:  “Did I just run into J. Frank Wilson of the Cavaliers at a Dominion Country Club Chili Taste-Off (of whatever) a few weeks back in San Antonio?  Is he a returned real estate salesman?  This one 70-plus year old kept showing a video similiar to this on an I-Fone, and then did a couple of tunes with a two-man mickey band that was providing music for the gig.  Why don't you come down to San Antonio and edit Maxim Magazine?  This local one-man venture capital machine bought it last week for something like $7.5 million.”

Scott St. James: “Please DO continue to send your diatribes this way.  I'm sure you've heard about the tribute for Jack that will take place this coming Saturday from 11AM to 1PM.  I've been asked to speak at this event and I hope I'm able to be there.  There is the possibility of me being required to be on a sound stage this coming Saturday.  If that happens, I will ask the director if I could/can show up on at 3PM or later because of the Jack Tribute.  If the director would say no, welllll ... that's showbiz.   The perfect thing for me would be to be needed by the director, but not needing me to work until Monday or so.  Again ... keep those diatribes a-comin'.”

George Pollard, associate professor at Carleton University in Canada, published some of my comments about Jack Roberts last week on GrubStreet.ca.  “I’m saddened to learn Jack Roberts passed.  I would be willing to append, to your comments, any substantive comments, about Jack, that anyone cares to send me. The e-mail is drgeorgep@grubstreet.ca.”

Chuck Southcott:  “Thank you Claude for keeping me in the Vox Jox contemporary loop.  I fondly recall an evening sipping wine around your pool here in town. I recall enjoying your company and the company of two fellow KGILites -- Stan Brown and Jim Martin, both of whom were great friends until they were no longer above the sod.  I look forward to more of your diatribes, but please forgive this baseball and football fan for skipping through the basketball stuff.”

Bob Todd:  “Crap.  Damn it.  I hate this.  62?  Oh no.  I thought he was going to get past it.  So sorry to hear this news.  Oh my what a legacy he left us. Now what do we do?  God bless him.  Please offer my deepest sympathies to his entire family.  I am saddened beyond words.  Claude ... who is next?  Damn.  Every week it seems it is another giant that leaves us.  I'm literally in tears over this news.  He sure made an impact on us.  Sad beyond words.”

Alvin Herskovitz:  “Always glad to hear from you.  You know that Eileen and I were very fond of you, Barbara and the boys in our Hollywood days together. Just keep those commentaries coming even though we may be on opposite sides of the political fence.  Hey, I don't know if I ever told you, but I was media consultant to the Steve Forbes presidential run in 2000.  So you know my leanings.  And I have several close friends with whom I politically disagree but it doesn't affect our friendship ... you might even know them -- Alan Colmes, Ellen Ratner -- to name a couple.  There are loads of media folks in this part of Florida that I see regularly -- Perry Ury, who used to run WRKO and Chase Radio; Burt Sherwood of course; Jim Duffy, former Pres. of ABC TV.  Sportscaster Dick Vitale lives down the road and Dickie Smothers attended one of our broadcasters luncheons a couple of weeks ago.”

Tell you something funny, Al:  I wrote some of those Forbes shows you put on radio nationwide.  I think I kept one on my old PowerMac.  Not exactly historic writing.

Ernie Hopseker: “Sad to hear of Jack's passing.  Please keep the rants and diatribes coming.  Hope to get by to see you during NAB if I make it.”

Ernie:  Mi casa es su casa.  You, too, Bruce Miller Earle if you get up here for the NAB.

Dick Rakovan: “I think it was Joey Reynolds who sent me a copy of Hollywood Hills about a month ago ! Joey and I are fifty year friends having worked together at WKBW, Buffalo.  I was delighted to read so many bio’s of old radio friends that I sent Jack Roberts a note. He then asked me whether I was the same guy who managed the ‘PRO stations in the mid seventies! Turns out he worked at WPRO AM, on weekends after I left to manage the Outlet Company radio division where I hired George Wilson.  Next thing I know, Jack picked my bio off of our RAB website and it appeared on Hollywood Hills!  I then received a bunch of email notes from friends.  Amazing how viral the blog became!  RIP, Jack!”

Woody Roberts:  “I know your heart is heavy over this loss.   I "met" Jack through you, had never heard of him before your commentaries and came to feel a good vibe about the man.  Perhaps someone will maintain the Hills, or consider having your own blog on WordPress or Blogger.  Very easy to do these days.  I am sure one of your reader friends -- like Jim Ramsburg? --will be able to help; if not, I, who know nothing, will be glad to help set it up.  Just need a masthead and pick a layout you like.  Best wishes from my life to yours.”

No blog.

Jim Clemens:  “Thanks for including me in your commentary.  I have enjoyed reading your writings for some time.  Fact is, way back when I was OM of WPLO in Atlanta the weekly comments were a must read.  You mentioned basketball.  I first started listening to BB when the Lakers were in Mpls.  Born and raised in southern Minnesota.  Delivered the Mpls paper and won a trip to see the Lakers play and made the locker room scene also.  George Mikan looked like a tall skyscraper as did all the Lakers.  Listened to them on the radio nitely.  As we get older, good friends and great memories are something that no one can take away.”

George was the first to shoot with either hand.  The hook.

Joey Reynolds:  “Why is the man who brought the Beatles to the US never mentioned?  Sid Bernstein had the vision, took the risk, filled Shea Stadium, warmed up the room for Ed Sullivan, and the man who brought Tony Bennett  to  Carnegie Hall, Judy Garland to the Palace, Diana Ross to Central Park, the 2nd Woodstock and Newport Jazz Festival.

Sid managed the Rascals and the only man in History to know all 3 legends -- the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis.  Sid is not in the rock‘n’roll Hall of Fame, but his death was mentioned on the Grammies. Ironically Tony bennett sings in I left my heart in San Francisco, I don’t want to be terribly forgotten in Manhattan.  I am on Facebook/Joey Reynolds now with Frankie Valli admitting that he promised to put me in the film but Clint Eastwood kept the script close to the Broadway hit and did not include me.  It was a great show and Frankie had a gathering in the green room of Jerry Blavitt, Charlie Calello, Tad Dowd (Scotti brothers).  It was like the record suites at the Billboard conventions.”

Bill Hennes:  “Legendary and long time Record man Steve Myers writes about how mp3 files lose a lot of the studio ambiance of vinyl records?  Well rocker Neil Young has come up with a super system to change the music industry (and it will sell a ton of oldie albums all over again) plus it will make the music sound like it just came out of the studio. At least that's what the press is saying about it.  Warner Bros. has already re-recorded a ton of their older albums into this system ... I have no idea about this except it sounds very cool to me.”

SKYPE: bill.hennes

Chuck Renwick:  “Hey, Claude -- By all means, please keep me on your mailing lists ... any and all of them.  I may or may not have ever told you -- but you were my radio bible during all those years with Storer in Cleveland (WJW) and New York (WHN) -- and it's still a blast to read whatever you have to share -- publicly or privately.  I'm now in Davidson, NC, currently bemoaning the Wildcats loss the Southern Conference Tourney to Western Carolina in a barn-burner of an OT that finished 103-102, keeping them from a fourth straight appearance in The Dance.  Next season they step up to the Atlantic Ten ... quite an adjustment from perennial ‘team to beat’ in the SoCon to ‘new kid on a bigger block’.  Getting bored with retirement after 20 years with RadioINK magazine - and exploring some other form of media mischief to get into.  Hope all is well with you, and please outlive me - but only if it suits you to do so.”

Don Whittemore: “Claudius, John Alexander Hall was early for the celebration service.  He's a happy guy.  Got a smile that lights up his face.  No whining from that lawyer.  You know it was a big fancy event as John wore his orange and white striped tie.  I do tell people that you don't like talking on the phone so if they really want to say hello this is the best method of conversation and Danny did just that.  His knees and legs are not A-1 anymore and his heart pressure is also sub par, which is good as he lives on a golf course.  At yesterday's celebration a number of eulogizers couldn't say their lines w/o breaking up.  Don Graham, Roger Carroll, Scott St. James, Mike Horn and Jerry Sharrel, who sang his tribute song acapello.  Very melancholy for him as that was the song he sang at his wife JoAnne's funeral.  John and I shared a few ice cream memories, pink peppermint brownie, also talking about you.  Tom Rounds and wife were there even tho he'd never met Jack.  Vince Brunetti, flew in from Waikiki, telling us about some wild, wild tales Jack only hinted at when I'd get him to go back into the sordid career episodes.  As I remember ... those were some highlights.  Enjoy the good times and laugh at the more miserable moments.”

Danny Davis:  “Unfortunately, I can't get to ease the pain of not paying tribute to a man who eased immeasurably my own travails!  I can't offer tribute to a gentle fella', a kindly source of 'alls that's right', as sought by The Robertsman, in the amount of time The Big Guy was gonna' allow!  If you agree that life really is short, know Jack Roberts had no trouble willing to prove the lament was somewhat in error! And The Big Guy seemed to be going Jack's way, until HE stumbled!  A tragedy that'll pursue my memories for as long as The Big Guy gives this griever.  Jack, you were/are a treasure to remember! As I said, to you, many times, You were my horse, even if you never win a race!  But I sure had fun travelin' with ya'!  Rest In Peace, Jack, and Thank You!”

Burt Sherwood:  “Claude:  I lost a new friend.  We shared stories, and a time for us both in the Northeast.  I wish I had the chance to meet him ... he was a broadcaster, and a more importantly a good person ... I will miss him ... God Bless Jack Roberts and thank you for letting me know.  I will always remember him and miss him.”

Larry Shannon always wanted to have a meeting somewhere and invite George Wilson and Chuck Blore and Sam Hale and Burt Sherwood to be on a panel.  I think I passed along that idea to Jack Roberts.  Don’t know.  It’s suddenly too late anyway, in my opinion, for something like that.  One of the greatest events I ever organized personally was a small radio conference with the help of Dr. Tom Durfey (known by many such as Joey Reynolds as Tommy Karl; he was a huge Joey Reynolds fan) on the campus of Oral Roberts University and Bill Randle and Bill Stewart were on a panel with another person or two.  All I can say about that event now is “WOW!”  Can you imagine the history?  God has, indeed, been good to me.  I have stood leeward of some of the greatest men in the world.

I hope you enjoy reading this assortment of comments.  Some very good people here.  I had a couple of other emails.  Lyn Stanley, for example, couldn’t attend Jack’s memorial service as she is working on another CD.  Great on you, Lyn!  Jack will be rooting for you.  Me, too!

Just FYI, each Claude’s Commentary will be numbered and also dated.  I started sending out diatribes early in 2001, I think.  Then Larry Shannon offered me a home for weekly commentaries in January 2004.  And later, Jack Roberts offered me a home.  My sons John, the attorney, and Andy, the professor/poet, have encouraged me to put these commentaries in Facebook and I suppose that will be so, as, if, and when.  This is Claude’s Commentary.2.

Love you all!