Claude’s Commentary.3
March 25, 2014
By Claude Hall
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.”
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!
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.”
