February 20, 2017 [Monday] Issue #1592
ALL THE NEWS THAT IS NEWS
BOBBY FREEMAN STOPS DANCING While R&B singer-songwriter Bobby Freeman grows up in San Francisco, CA as a teenager he sings in doo-wop group The Romancers. Bobby forms his own group The Vocaleers. A local DJ asks Freeman if he has any songs. He writes Do You Want to Dance. Jubilee Records signs the 17-year-old singer. In 1958, it reaches #5 on the Pop charts. The Beach Boys, The Ramones, John Lennon and Bette Midler release cover versions of the tune. On January 23, 2017, Bobby Freeman passes away at 76.
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ZITO & GARRETT COME TO AN END For more than a decade, Zito & Garrett airs on Beasley Active Rock WJBX FM and WRXK FM Ft. Myers, FL. Garrett also is on WHPT FM, WYNF-1340 Tampa and WEBN FM Cincinnati. For most of his adult life, Bob battles serious respiratory issues. On Sunday, February 12, 2017 Bob Garrett passes away. A GoFundMe page to help Garrett’s wife, Lynne, deal with sudden unexpected expenses, plus to aid son Nathan’s college education. (https://www.gofundme.com/bob-garrett-memorial-fund)
THE DAY THAT THE MUSC DIES We can possibly call it another Valentines’ Day Massacre similar to the February 14, 1929 murder of seven men of the North Side Irish gang during the Prohibition Era. Sadly, it’s over. We remember Valentine’s Day 2017 as the day the music dies on WNKU FM. Northern Kentucky University President Geoffrey Mearns announces the sale of Adult Album Alternative WNKU FM (89.7) to Bible Broadcasting Corporation. No more music on WNKU FM. Only Christian teaching and devotional Talk shows.
KEITH MORRISON IS IN A MAZE We enjoy longtime correspondent Keith Morrison’s reports on NBC’s Dateline crime series. NBC’s Morrison is the new voice of Waze to give directions on Waze traffic app. According to USA Today, Waze gives Morrison a list of commands to record including red light camera ahead, you’ve reached your destination. Keith voices his voiceovers on a Beyer Dynamic microphone in his home bedroom closet plugged into an IK Multimedia iRig adapter to fit into his iPhone. Wonders never cease to amaze us.
TRIVIA QUESTION: What is the first Gold record? The answer appears below.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
•HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Jim McCurdy February 19th. Joanie Green February 21st, Georgia Strong February 22nd and Karen Johnston February 23, 2017. •JEFF ZITO who transfers from 96 K-Rock to PD spot on big sister Rock WBRN FM (98.7) Tampa, FL recaptures his former PD post on Beasley Active Rock WRXK FM (96 K-Rock) Cape Coral/Bonita Springs, FL. •ERIC ASHMONT (Shmonty in the Morning) on Arizona Lotus Alternative KFMA FM (Rock 102.1) Tucson, AZ exits at the end of March 2017 and scrams to the DC area.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NEWS MILESTONES
•1951 RANDY CALIFORNIA guitarist with Spirit (I Got a Line on You) born Randy Craig Wolfe on February 20th. •1967 BARBARA MANDRELL engages Navy pilot Ken Dudney on March 30th. •1972 ARD SCHENK is world champ skater on February 20th. •1981 CHRIS THILE Bluegrass trio Nickel Creek mandolin player born February 20th in Oceanside, CA. •1994 THREE AFGHANS take 70 Pakistani children hostage on February 20th. •2010 LADY ANTEBELLUM’s single Need You Now scores Double-Platinum on February 18th.
EMAILS YES WE HAVE EMAIL
JACK PARNELL [ex PD/DJ WHBQ-560] (Memphis, TN) Afternoon Jim: My first job in radio was of course part time…I was a high school senior; started 6 weeks into the fall term at high school. My pay for part time was $25/week…more than any other in our class. they worked at service stations, drug store “cowboys” part time clothing store employees, etc. Previously I had worked in a radio/TV shop…plan was to be a broadcast engineer….glad I didn’t…went into ham radio and was licensed as K4BSI at age 14….still have that same call. Also, was in the Distributive Education class, and in my sophomore and junior and senior classes got out of school at noon and went to work. After Shirley and I married, the station gave me a raise from $25/week to $45/week. Still not enough, but we lived on it, paying $45/month car note, and $25/month rent on a very small house. Next came WDXI in Jackson, TN @ $65/week..full time radio gig. Ahhh them golden days or radio! JP
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ALLAN PECK [ex KBOX-1480] (Dallas, TX) Subject: Chet Maxwell…signed off. Jim…just got word of Chet’s passing. Apparently, Monday he grew ill, went to hospital ICU, and then signed off some 6 hours later. The complete obit is posted by Josh at Texas Radio Hall of Fame. A true broadcasting great. Allan Peck [Peck & Penny, KBOX]
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LIZ PATRANELLA [Liz Houston – KTSA-550, KBAT-680] (Austin, TX) Subject: Chet Maxwell Passes Away. More sad news to share. Our dear friend, Chet Maxwell, passed away on Valentine’s Day at the age of 86. At his request, there will be no funeral services. Chet was a devoted member of the Society of San Antonio Radio Broadcasters and was always very supportive of all our events and activities. I will miss him, his generosity, his counsel, his smiling face, and the big hugs he gave me whenever I saw him. He was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2014 and into the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame in 2015. You can read his bio at www.sanantonioradiohalloffame.com under 2015 inductees. There is also bio information posted on Facebook. Liz
TRIVIA ANSWER: On February 11, 1941, the Glenn Miller Orchestra receives 1st Gold record for Chattanooga Choo Choo from the 20th Century Fox 1941 film Sun Valley Serenade. On December 7, 1941, it becomes the #1 song across the United States and remains #1 for nine weeks. In 1954, Bill Haley & His Comets release their 45 single cover of Chattanooga Choo Choo on Essex Records.
MARY STODDARD [Sam on KVIL FM 1964] (Dallas, TX) Hi, Jim. As for “groupies,” I’ve had my share of those, too. Mostly disturbing. That’s why the station arranged early on for me to be met in the parking lot when I arrived at night and left in the morning, by a squad car with two HPPD Officers inside to escort me into and out of the building. I ended up being good friends with many and joined a citizens organization in the mid-70s working closely in association with the DPD. In 1965, I was greeted shortly after I signed on at midnight, by a tearful caller who had recently lost her husband and wanted to hear “Dear Heart” by Henry Mancini every single night. She was a lonely Highland Park socialite who may have had a problem with alcohol, but she was nice and I was kind to her. Usually played her request sometime during the first or second hour. That’s a very funny story about “Downtown!” Lots of material for your book, sounds like. I have as well, but the task of gathering all the information and notes is very challenging to me at this time, after the recent loss of my daughter, following her 8 year battle with stage 4 cancer. Someday, if I live long enough, I’ll probably do it. <img src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/wpcom-smileys/twemoji/2/72x72/1f642.png" alt="