Monday, March 16, 2026

A Monday Morning Quickie

Congratulations again to Ted Smucker and Bill Shannon for the outstanding job they did bringing us the two-part DJ Hall Of Fame Rewound Radio salute to WCFL … kudos all around … and thanks again to Allan Sniffen for opening up the airwaves to beam this all over the world.  Good stuff!  (Man, I wish we could start an all-WCFL station playing back all these great shows.)  kk

Thanks for such an in-depth spread on the WCFL 50th Anniversary and our special on Rewound Radio.  Very Very Cool.

Ted

Hello Kent –

As you can see, I’m ready for tomorrow’s salute to Super ‘CFL.  So many good memories … and that’s what it’s all about!
Jay Grizzle

North Aurora, IL

Very cool!!!

I have a WCFL T-Shirt somewhere … guess I should try and dig it out …

Or not …

Probably wouldn’t fit me anymore anyway!!!  Lol (kk)

LOL … 50 years IS a long time!

Appreciate your site … it’s my morning ritual

Jay

By the way, last week we told you about the Dick Biondi documentary being available for streaming right now on Amazon Prime Video ...

Well, you can also pre-order a hard-copy dvd of this program with 30 minutes of additional footage right now thru Amazon.com.

Expected release date is March 24th.  (kk)

https://www.amazon.com/Voice-That-Rocked-America-Biondi/dp/B0GS73Y5ZM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1KEVYUAHWGEH0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jybIvEnoid1GsqV7Ix9cDL77noq2UMACWrQwJzXNvKCWbJJoFOTsB08-7XKGogCw3s99kkqoDg9Mz9KoHVGFUj_wY70M254yqlUcJRA3jFYBDuHA7CmQ5WgEwks1zvi7lapJ6l_MmXKR_f4g7htEQeS59yL8JH_4RmDCUULtl1Ll9moCplJMzH4l8W40lTpU.hUZBwrI3SEuVl2dCtZOpCBB2QNQZzjmw5MbjOZJqhkE&dib_tag=se&keywords=dick+biondi+documentary&qid=1773510976&s=movies-tv&sprefix=dick+biondi+documentary%2Cmovies-tv%2C115&sr=1-2 

Here’s a great background story on the #1 ‘70’s Classic Hit “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”  A new Roberta Flack documentary is airing on OWN, which brought this story to life again all these years later …

https://people.com/roberta-flack-clint-eastwood-the-first-time-ever-i-saw-your-face-documentary-11923740?hid=2ff1dd8b0719d8bf2a66a0c8968d46a9f4ddb5ba&did=22463703-20260312&utm_source=ppl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ppl-news_newsletter&utm_content=031226&utm_term=midday&lctg=2ff1dd8b0719d8bf2a66a0c8968d46a9f4ddb5ba&lr_input=fa7e92da6f6e66bffcf0bcbf863670c6eb37d7159eb4d0ea1e44fecd5ec87eeb&campaign=17254455

Tom Cuddy sent us this article about a new Dionne Warwick legal battle to try and reclaim millions of dollars in past royalties …

https://pitchfork.com/news/dionne-warwick-sues-her-own-royalty-collectors/

FROM Space weather today: 

TEN THOUSAND STARLINKS: SpaceX is on the verge of having 10,000 Starlinks in orbit around Earth. If today's scheduled launch of mission Starlink 10-48 happens as planned, it will add 29 Starlinks to the megaconstellation, pushing the total over 10k. Is this a good thing?  If nothing else, it certainly gives new meaning (x 10) to the Kathy Young super hit!

Clark Besch

Stephen Bishop, who’s been talking about touring again, has just announced his first two dates, both taking place at The Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado.

Joining him on stage will be legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb and former lead singer and songwriter for Ambrosia, David Pack.


Stephen says that this will feel less like a concert and more like an evening with all of us, songs, stories, and a lot of history shared on one beautiful stage. I’m also bringing along an all-star band that I couldn’t be more excited about:

Jake Reed (drums) — Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry
Kait Dunton (piano & keys) — Snarky Puppy
Sean Hurley (bass) — John Mayer, Ringo Starr
Marcus Eaton (guitar) — David Crosby, Derek Trucks
Melanie Taylor (background vocals) — Barry Manilow, Bette Midler
Liz Lieber (background vocals) — touring and studio vocalist

My pal of 50 years James Lee Stanley will be the opening act for the Aspen shows, September 12th and 13th.

A limited number of more shows will follow, likely moving into 2027 and even 2028 … so stay tuned for updates.  (kk)

TICKETS:  https://aspenshowtix.com/choose-seats/?instance=94201ACKSQKLJRVNBCTGNDVTCJCHVPLBC

In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” Billy Joel’s daughter Alexa Ray says, “He’s doing physical therapy regularly and he’s doing great. He’s lost weight as he’s on his diet. I’m so proud of him. He’s such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He’s a fighter. He’s always been a fighter and talks in his documentary about how life’s like a fight.”

Three cheers for The Piano Man … may he win this battle and any others still to come.  (kk)

Shelley found this regarding Billy’s health update …

Billy Joel's Daughter Gives Health Update as Singer Battles Rare Brain Disorder

Billy Joel's daughter has provided an update on his health after he was forced to cancel all his concerts last year due to a brain illness

By Adam Taylor | March 13, 2026

In May, 2025, Billy Joel announced that he was cancelling all of his upcoming concerts. The legendary singer revealed that he'd been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which is a rare brain disorder.

Since then, there have been relatively few updates on Billy's health. That is, until now.

When speaking with the Hollywood Reporter in an interview on Thursday, March 12, Billy's daughter provided an update on his health.

'He's doing physical therapy regularly,' she said. "I'm so proud of him. He's such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He's a fighter. He's always been a fighter and talks in his documentary about how life's like a fight."

Billy's daughter also noted that he's been on a diet and lost weight throughout his process of getting his health back on track.

"I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I'm okay,' Billy Joel told People in July. "What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it."

Billy Joel's Daughter Honored Him at Carnegie Hall

Following her interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Billy Joel's daughter proceeded to honor her father with a performance at Carnegie Hall.

"He was so excited when he first played Carnegie Hall in the '70s, so it's exciting for him to come back decades later and see amazing artists and his daughter pay tribute to him,' his daughter said. 'It's a full-circle moment."

Interestingly, it was his daughter who convinced him to attend the event. Multiple musicians honored his work and musical output by playing tribute versions of his biggest hits.

"I said, "Dad, you better be there! This is Carnegie Hall. Everyone's paying tribute to you, and it's an amazing group of artists."

As you can imagine, the event drew a sizeable crowd, with fans and artists all in attendance. And, of course, Billy's fans will welcome the positive update regarding his health and battle with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

However, it's unlikely we see him back on stage any time soon, as his recovery continues.

Meanwhile, Dolly Parton addressed her recent health issues (and the cancellation of her residency in Las Vegas) to fans attending this year’s grand opening of Dollywood … sounds like part of her trouble can be attributed to grieving over the loss of her husband of the past 58 years, Carl Dean …

I’ve not been touring, as you know.  I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.  I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on.  I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.

We also saw a health update for Elton John this past weekend.

After losing his vision and suffering a fall a few months ago, Elton has this to say ...

I don't have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don't have a prostate. I don't have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip.  But I'm still here. And I can't thank you [enough] ... you're the people that made me.

>>>>You can add Love to the list of artists that many feel belong in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (Some feel they led the way for the West Coat Rock Sound of the mid-1960's - only to have their thunder stolen by groups like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane.)  kk

You can add me to that list.  LOVE is a very underrated group to my ears. 

Their album "Forever Changes" is one of my favorite albums of the 1960's ... right up there with the Moody Blues "Days Of Future Passed" and the Beau Brummels "Triangle" as LPs that were completely different from what I'd heard before.

Brad

Here’s an interesting interview with David Salidor, discussing the current state of public relations and promotion …

https://t2conline.com/pr-now-more-than-ever/

David has been supplying us with news updates for about twenty years now … so we certainly appreciate (and depend upon) his efforts!  (kk)

Timmy sent us this short clipping regarding the passing of Augie Meyers …

Augie Meyers (far right) with The Texas Tornados

Beloved country and rock musician dead at 85: ‘A true Texas legend’
Augie Meyers, an iconic musician known for his days as a founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornadoes, has died.  He was 85.
Augie Meyers, a true Texas legend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, March 7th at 85 with his wife Sara at his side. A Memorial Service for the public will be announced soon. The family thanks all of Augie’s friends and fans for their prayers during this time.
Meyers, a native of San Antonio, Texas, released a whopping 23 solo albums across his career. The first of those came in 1971 with “The Western Head Music Co.” and the last came in 2013 with “Loves Lost and Found (El Sendero).”
He founded the Sir Douglas Quintet along with Doug Sahm. Taste of Country noted that while Meyers played multiple instruments, he was best known for playing his Vox Continental organ and that sound became a signature of songs such as “She’s About A Mover” and “Nuevo Laredo.” Per Taste of Country, the Sir Douglas Quintet was known for helping to pioneer “a style that bridged country, rock and Tejano/Tex-Mex” sound.
Meyers was also credited for an outstanding career as a session musician that saw him play with the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Jones, Tom Waits, Raul Malo and John P. Hammond.
Meyers and Sahm teamed up once again in the 1990s to help form The Texas Tornadoes along with Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez. That supergroup released eight albums, the last of which, “Esta Bueno!” came in 2010.

kk …

I've Been Meaning To Tell You About This Oldies Show & Keep Forgetting.

It’s Called "ISLAND HOP" -- HOSTED BY ED SELEK.

It Was On For Over 20 Years. Lots Of Local Groups That Your Readers Aren't Familiar With.

I Like The Format. Featured Group Starts Singing -- Right Away.

Half-Way Through, Ed Introduces Them & Talks To Them. Followed By More Music.

Lots Of Clips On You Tube. Try It -- You'll Like It .

FB

And here are some "random notes" from FB as well ...

(hey, HE called them that, not me!!!) 

kk ...

PINK FLOYD = David Gilmour's Guitar Used On "DARK SIDE OF THE MOON" & "THE WALL" Fetched $14.5 Million At Christies Auction.

Dean Torrence Told Cousin Brucie That Jan & Dean Used Two Drummers On Their Recordings = Earl Palmer & Hal Blane.

"SURF CITY" = Huntington Beach

ODD FACT = Dean Was Nominated For Two Grammys -- Neither One For Music. Both For Graphic Design.

Lately Dean Has Been Appearing On "MALT SHOP CRUISES"

Kenny Vance Told Tony Orlando His First Group Was The Harbor Lights. Next Jay & Americans And Now Kenny Vance & Planotones.

Currently His Film "HEART & SOUL" Is Number ONE On The Documentary List. He Worked On It For The Last 10 Years.

He Told Us That Paul Simon Was Nice Enough To Give Him Permission To Use "LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK" Without Charge.

Tony Orlando Has Recently Retired.  His Latest Project Is Storytelling Shows, About Two A Month. First One = April 4 At Bellmore Theatre In Bellmore , New York .

FB

From Timmy …

I think many people would agree that they received less threatening letters about paying off their college loans than they did about cancelling their Record Club accounts (!) … but who among us (those a certain age) didn’t belong to at least a couple of these over the years as we looked to quickly build our album libraries.  Interesting that THIS club is just for 8-tracks and cassettes … so much more modern than the ones that I belonged to.  (lol)  kk

Sunday, March 15, 2026

March 15th, 1966

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

3/15/66 – Sandy Posey records “Born A Woman”


Also 3/15, big winners at this years Grammy Awards include “A Taste Of Honey” (Record of the Year ... believe it or not, it beat "Yesterday"), Tom Jones (Best New Artist), Barbra Streisand (Best Vocal Performance, Female) and Frank Sinatra (Best Vocal Performance, Male)  Sinatra also won the Album Of The Year honors for his "September Of My Years" LP, which beat "The Sound Of Music" Soundtrack, "Whipped Cream And Other Delights"and "My Name Is Barbra."  In addition to losing the Record Of The Year award, "Yesterday," the most recorded song in history, also lost the Song of the Year Award to "The Shadow Of Your Smile."

Saturday, March 14, 2026

The Saturday Survey

OK, I didn't see that coming ...

"The Ballad Of The Green Beret" holds down the #1 spot for the third straight week, holding off both The Beatles (#3) and The Rolling Stones (#2), both of whom have songs still on the rise.  "Homeward Bound" and "Daydream" continue to climb The Top Ten as well, both with bullets.

"(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" by The Righteous Brothers makes a VERY noticeable move from #59 to #18 in its second week on the chart.   Gary Lewis and the Playboys' latest, "Sure Gonna Miss Her" is up 21 spots while the novelty hit, "Walking My Cat Named Dog" by Norma Tanega jumps 20 notches from #60 to crack this week's Top 40.

Cher's latest, "Bang Bang" moves up THIRTY places (from #74 to #44)

Two of Chicago's local heroes have a couple of "stacked" hits near the bottom of the countdown ...

The New Colony Six's first hit, "I Confess," falls to #79 in its sixth week on the chart while The Shadows Of Knight premier right above it at #78 with their version of the Van Morrision / Them tune "Gloria."  Here in Chicago, "I Confess" will peak at #2 ... and "Gloria" will go all the way to #1.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

rewoundradio.com/instantonicecast.html 

Friday, March 13, 2026

A Friday The 13th Reminder

I hope you had a chance to listen to last weekend’s salute to WCFL on Rewound Radio.  They did an EXCELLENT job of putting this together … and I was absolutely blown away by the sound quality of these vintage programs, recorded right off the radio at the time.  Heavy on the ‘60’s, it showed again just how adventurous WCFL was when it came to programming ideas … not only featuring mini-spins, twin-spins, oldies (I sure don’t remember them playing THIS many oldies during a program, but obviously they did … and some pretty obscure stuff that certainly didn’t fit the “groovy” sounds of 1966, 1967 and 1968) as well as taking a chance on so many unproven hits, giving them at least a spin or two to see if any of them caught on with their listeners.  (WCLF really took listener opinion to heart – every night they would play back the most requested songs of the day … and often would pit songs against each other, battle of the bands style, to see which tracks the listeners really liked.

This Saturday they’ll do it again, focusing on the end of the era as WCFL signed off as a Top 40 rock station on March 15, 1976 … exactly fifty years ago.  You’ll get to hear Larry Lujack’s final broadcast as a “rock jock” … and even a snippet of him playing “The World’s Most Beautiful Music” after the format change went through.  You’ll also get Bob Dearborn as well as a WCFL DJ Montage, featuring nearly ever jock who ever graced their airwaves.

Be sure to be listening to Rewound Radio this Saturday, March 14th, as they salute the great Chicago Radio Station, WCFL.

This is Part Two of their two week salute and falls just one day shy of the 50th anniversary of the day the great Top 40 rocker switched over to an all Beautiful Music format and will air from Noon – 3 pm (Eastern) / 11 am – 2 pm (Central)

WCFL (supported by the Chicago Federation of Labor, hence their call letters) switched over to a Top 40 rock station in 1965 and almost immediately began to give WLS a run for their money.  It was an exciting time for Chicago radio as these two huge 50,000 watt powerhouse radio stations battled it out for listeners and radio exclusives.  Every one of us living here at the time would spend most of their days and nights flipping the dial back and forth from 890 to AM 1000 to see and hear what the other would be playing next.  Both stations (in addition to the latest Beatles and Monkees “exclusives,” also broke the ice for many of Chicagoland’s hottest new rock band like The Buckinghams, The Cryan’ Shames, The New Colony Six, The Ides of March, Chicago and Styx.  (Just this past year, the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 inducted WCFL into their Radio Station Hall of Fame, a recognition that is well deserved and long overdue.  WLS was honored with this award the week before.)

By 1976, however, WCFL decided to throw in the towel … and switched over to an all Beautiful Music format.  Larry Lujack, previously the city’s hottest jock, was contractually obligated to stay with the station … and did so until terms could be worked out to break him free to move back to WLS again.  Lujack’s was the last voice you heard playing rock and roll music on the station … and that broadcast will be part of this weekend’s salute. 

You’ll also hear a program produced in 2009 by Jim Hampton from the USA Radio Museum.  ‘Radio Recall’ will dig deep into the behind the scenes events of building WCFL, as Jim interviews legendary program director Ken Draper on how he put this innovative station on the air in the mid-60s.  After that, Rewound Radio will feature Bob Dearborn’s final words and Larry Lujack’s last DJ show for the station. 

And then, this special two-part salute will wrap up with a DJ montage of virtually all the air personalities who left their mark on WCFL from the mid-60s to the mid-70s. (You’ll need to be listening with both ears as it goes fast!)

Here’s how you can listen.

1.    Go to www.rewoundradio.com and click on the Cell Phone Icon

2.    Go to I-Heart Radio and search ‘Rewound Radio’

3.    Go to Tune-In and search ‘Rewound Radio’

4.    Ask your Alexa device to play ‘Rewound Radio’

Remember, it all takes place this Saturday, March 14th from Noon – 3 pm (Eastern) / 11 am – 2 pm (Central) on Rewound Radio (rewoundradio.com)

VERY SPECIAL THANKS to Ted Gorden Smucker, Executive Producer, and Bill Shannon, Technical Producer, for putting together this very special tribute to Super ‘CFL!  (kk)

More from Ted …

Hi Kent, 

With WCFL being recognized this month on the Rewound Radio DJ Hall of Fame, I thought it might be fitting to acknowledge another HOF presentation from September 14, 2025.

This last fall WCFL received a special award from The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66. They were inducted into their Radio Station Hall of Fame in Joliet, IL. 

I introduced the DJ team members who were excited to be representing WCFL to the audience at the Rialto Square Theatre. They included (L-R) DJs Steve York, Chuck Knapp and Bill Taylor, who are all pictured with me (second from left) holding the Trophy.  

This was a rewarding experience for all of us, and we accepted this award in honor of all of those people who built this legendary station in 1965 and continued to make it a part of the Chicago culture for over a decade.

Catch Part Two of our WCFL salute this Saturday from 11 am – 2 pm Central Time on RewoundRadio.com

Ted Gorden Smucker

Producer of WCFL Rewound, a 50 Year Anniversary Salute

Hello -
I know that there are many Chicago radio fans that read this site, and I hope you are excited about the upcoming Part Two of the WCFL Rewound Radio special produced by Ted Smucker and friends.  It can be heard this Saturday on Rewound Radio beginning at Noon Eastern.

In addition to that, if you'd like even more Chicago radio memories, I just wanted to remind you that in May, 2021, I devoted my live show on Rewound to the rich jingle history of WLS.  It also included some station history, as well as an interview with our special guest, John Gehron.  An aircheck of that show can be found on the JAM website here: 
http://www.jingles.com/jam/fans/wlshistory.php

And for additional jingle fun, I also did a history for WABC New York, which you can listen to here:  http://www.jingles.com/jam/fans/wabchistory.html

I hope you'll join us for more live radio fun every weekend on Rewound Radio!

Best,
Jon
Jonathan Wolfert
President
JAM Creative Productions, Inc.  (
www.jingles.com)
PAMS Productions, Inc.  (
www.pams.com)

And then this ... 

Part 1 of our WCFL Salute aired last Saturday on Rewound Radio, and it was very well received.  Since we have announced our two-part special, we have heard from fans all over North America, many of them well known to us all.  Here is what a number of them have had to say.

VERY COOL!  Is it just me, or does that 'CFL team seem to have had a tougher paper route than the WLS crew? Cannot wait for more!!! – Kipper McGee, former WLS PD and Digital Content Consultant

 

I’m glad to know the station's format change anniversary is not being overlooked. I was fortunate to enjoy WCFL during its heyday as a Top 40 outlet beginning in 1970. It really was the best station. Jocks were great, including Casey Kasem and AT40. - Pete Battistini, Author of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem (The 1970s and 1980s)

Ted, the strangest part about that transition was Lujack sat there for awhile and played beautiful music. Very weird. Never understood how his contract wouldn't have had language to avoid that fugazi.- Garry Meier, Chicago Radio Personality

 

One day, a UPS guy comes to the WLS door on a Saturday. He hands me a box. It was addressed to WCFL, Marina Towers.  The UPS guy not only had delivered it to the wrong address, but the wrong station. In the box were 50 Carpenters albums. John Landecker said, “What do you want to do?” I said, to tell your listeners Gil Gross is at the corner of Wacker and Michigan handing out 50 Carpenters albums. It took maybe three minutes for me to shove them through 50 open car windows. - Gil Gross, retired WLS News

 

WOW!. This is absolutely incredible sound quality, so crisp…and the DJs are fantastic. What a treat and labor of love. Many thanks to your team. – Bob Herring

 

Thanks for reminding me of how old I am. – Brent Bahler

 

Join us this Saturday, March 14th, for Part 2 of our WCFL Salute from 12 noon - 3 pm Eastern / 11 am - 2 pm Central. This week we will feature an in-depth interview from Jim Hampton from the USA Radio Museum as he talks with Ken Draper, legendary WCFL Programmer.  You’ll also hear a bit of Bob Dearborn and a whole lot of Larry Lujack on the last day of Rock Music, 50 years ago this weekend.  We will cap it off with an 18 minute montage of the jocks that graced the airwaves of “The Voice of Labor”.  This Saturday on the DJ Hall of Fame, heard exclusively on RewoundRadio.com.



60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

3/13/66 – Pink Floyd perform in concert for the very first time.  The venue is The Marquee Club in London