About 30-some years ago, I thought I heard the legendary
Jack Armstrong, or someone who was at a Cleveland DJ Reunion on WMJI back when
they played OLDIES, say the following:
"You are not successful in radio until you have been
fired three times."
Unfortunately, I never got 'fired' even once from any of my
prior announcing jobs in radio (yet I am in my 9th year doing my 'unpaid
volunteer' gig at my local non-profit community radio
station). Nor do I know how many times Dick Biondi has been officially
'fired' over his career.
That being said, I will proclaim a new saying that you are
a TRUE RADIO LEGEND if you have ever been "let go" (not
necessarily 'fired') without having a chance to say "Goodbye" on the
air, nor on your own terms.
Dick Biondi is the latest of a precious few who can now
wear this title like a Presidential Medal of Honor. The public has spoken
-- WLS is the bad guy in this event, and Dick Biondi won the battle, despite
not coming out on top in the eyes of evil Corporate Radio.
-- Uncle T. Jay
At various times over the years,
I’ve heard Dick Biondi say he’s been fired 23 … 25 … and 28 times … so I guess
you add “1” to whatever tally is the most accurate. He has been a mainstay on Chicago Radio for
at least the past 30 years tho … and although some of the radio stations
themselves haven’t made it thru the storm, Dick Biondi always seemed to land on
his feet.
I’m anxious to see this documentary
made just so his career can finally be put into perspective for all the world
to see. Donations to help make this
happen can be sent thru the options found via this link:
kk:
One of those Dick
Biondi signs mentions "The Pizza Song."
By the way, today is
"National Cheese Day.” - 6 / 4 /
18.
Frank B.
What a day!
- Surf City - Jan & Dean
- Shut Down - Beach Boys
- Wipe Out - Surfaris
- AND Dick Biondi
... on the charts!!
Phil Migilioratti
And Dick Dale a couple of weeks
before! (kk)
I got a kick out of
today's (6-4) post by the young man who waved the "Teenagers" LP in
front of Dick while he was on the air at WCFL.
That's the way Dick is - he appreciates his fans and shows his kindness in
every way possible.
Interesting fact about the cover of that LP is that the "weird"
multi-color sweater that Dick was wearing was given to Dick by Pam, the lovely
young lady who is producing the Dick Biondi Film, as great a friend to me as
anyone could have. ;-)
Mike Wolstein
Biondi fan and paisan since 1961
Speaking of well-known deejays, got
this from FH Regular Frank B regarding Norm N. Nite …
kk …
My music calendar says
6/5/1995: Norm N. Nite returns to
WCBS-FM for a third time.
On this clip you'll
hear that he was also on WNBC-AM.
One of my favorite
DJ's.
Norm N. Nite quote --
he always said this when he played a Beach Boys record: "From The Land Of The Sand And The Surf
… The Beach Boys."
Frank B.
I’ve had Norm’s books in my
collection for decades now … one of the first of its kind to spotlight the
artists … some of it is a bit out of date now (and, quite honestly, they’re
tough to use as a prime reference, because we’ve found so much updated
information since these were written) but the ultimate tribute to the artists
who filled the charts during the rock and roll era. (kk)
Freddy Cannon, as you know,
appeared at Hemsby in the UK a few weeks ago.
I thought you might like to hear this … from
my BBC DJ friend's Saturday night rock "n" roll show. Log into https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p064whgn#play and either
start at the beginning or else push the slider to the 07:40 point and listen
for the next ten minutes or so.
Rockin Lord Geoff
kk …
Seeing my pal Rich Koz reminded me of the early 70's when I was
a staff announcer at WFLD. My gig called for me to work on Fridays from 5 PM to
2 AM, so I was the so called staff announcer on Jerry G. Bishop's
"Screaming Yellow Theater."
Jeez, Jerry was a talent. I got such a kick out of the show that I used to
attend rehearsals and tapings on Friday morning - knowing full well I'd see the
whole machine 12 hours later. The vehicle oozed creativity. Rich has carried on
the tradition in grand fashion.
Hop on youtube ... check out Jerry G. doing "Mad Man Sven's used car
Emporium."
You will die laughing. It’s comedy on a level with Jackie Gleason and Groucho
Marx.
Rock on,
Chet Coppock
From our FH
Buddy Chuck Buell:
Reading
the recent comments about Jerry G. Bishop in Forgotten Hits reminds me once
again how one of the most competitive, and fun, decades of Intense Radio
Competition the 1960s were. And it was in full battle mode in Chicago in the
latter half of the 1960s between Jerry’s “Big 10 WCFL” and my “Big 89 WLS!”
Jerry
G. had joined ’CFL in the late 60s, a short time before I was recruited by ‘LS,
and although we never met in those frantic and embattled Chicago Radio years,
we were certainly aware of one another. Our meeting wouldn’t happen until
decades later in a more subdued 2002 when we both were older, wiser and
definitively more laid back. It was during one of Chris Carmichael’s
SDRadio.com’s famed Radio Luncheons held at one of Jerry’s two great restaurants
in San Diego’s Seaport Village, his “Greek Islands Café” where Jerry introduced
me to my first Gyro, a great Greek sandwich that brought me back to his place
many times after! Great Hospitality from a Great Guy!
CB
( which stands for “Chicago Boy!” )
No great surprise here but David Cassidy comes clean
about his drinking problem in a documentary filmed shortly before his
death. (So basically he was aware of
what a train wreck he was … yet he still got behind the wheel of a car to drive
in this condition, endangering countless others who may have crossed his
path.) I’m sorry … but I just can’t feel
any sympathy for this man. Yes, he was a
pop icon … and yes, alcoholism is an illness that millions of people have to
deal with … but then DEAL with it … don’t endanger others in the process. (kk)
The documentary will air Monday Night on A&E.
Sad to report that Russ Regan passed away last week. To
anyone in the music industry, he was a great friend and a very successful
executive. He ran UNI records and also 20th Century Records in the 1970’s.
Clay Pasternack
Tom Cuddy sent us this insightful interview with Hall
and Oates …
Daryl and John are on tour right now with
Train … here’s an entertaining clip explaining why they’ve teamed up together …
Hey
Kent ...
You
sure live in a rockin’ place! All those great shows at the Arcada. Geez, I
need to move!
Congrats
on your new grandbaby! I am so happy for you.
Sandy
We hear from folks all over the
country who wish they had a place like The Arcada near them who put on these
types of shows … I’m telling you, there is ALWAYS something going on there in
virtually every genre of music imaginable.
(This week’s big announcement is that Ron Onesti has just booked Eric
Burdon and the Animals for a September gig!)
It has also become the go-to place
for visitors to Chicago … they have heard so much about this great theater that
they all want to check it out when they come to town! (kk)
Speaking of which …
We have got to go see The Vogues at Ron Onesti's place this
summer. I rate their song "Magic Town" at about 75 on my all time
list of rock faves.
Chet
That
one is DEFINITELY on my list! (kk)
I saw that you did indeed
put my email and that photo up for all to see. I hope your readership enjoys it.
It’s not often that you
see Cher without makeup and Sonny with zinc oxide speared across his face, even
into his mustache!
Those were some fun days.
I heard that we broke Elvis’s record for an afternoon performance there at the
Honolulu Convention Center.
All in a day’s work for me!
Michel Rubini
Kent,
In today's FH it was
mentioned about the singers of the past that were Elvis Presley soundalikes. I
agree with what you said about Crispian St. Peters. Singer Vince Everett (real
name Marvin Benefield I believe) never really had any charted records here in
the OKC area and I believe none of his records charted nationally though I
could be wrong about that. His early recordings, like the one you mentioned, were
on the ABC PARAMOUNT label. I have got most of his recordings and my favorite
is his rendition of Elvis' BABY LET'S PLAY HOUSE, out of 1963.
As you know, when Elvis
died in August of 1977, within minutes almost, the tribute records started to
come out. Would you believe I have right at 150 - 45 rpm tribute records about
Elvis ranging from singers Paul Adkins and Arthur Alexander (THERE'S A BRAND
NEW STAR and HOUND DOG MAN'S GONE HOME respectively), to singer Bill Yates'
ELVIS WE MISS YOU. The #1 tribute record here in the OKC area was done by local
DJ Ronnie Kaye when he was working at WKY-AM 930. He wrote it and it was called
THE KING IS DEAD with the flip being the same song.
Larry
STYX ANNOUNCES TWO NEW
ALBUM RELEASES FOR JUNE AND JULY: ‘THE
MISSION’ - REISSUE IN 5.1 SURROUND SOUND AND
INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CONTENT DUE OUT JULY 27 ON ALPHA DOG 2T/Ume and TOMMY
SHAW AND THE CONTEMPORARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA ‘SING FOR THE DAY!’ DUE OUT JUNE 29 VIA EAGLE ROCK
ENTERTAINMENT ON
BLU-RAY, CD, AND DIGITAL FORMATS –
Also … AXS TV PRESENTS A SATURDAY STACK OF
STYX ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING JUNE 30; EIGHT HOUR MARATHON STARTS AT 1 P.M.
ET
STYX is giving their loyal fans a double whammy of new releases
in June and July.
First up is the highly anticipated reissue of their
critically acclaimed first new studio album in 14 years, THE MISSION, on July
27 via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. The two-disc package will include a CD of the original
album, as well as a Blu-ray of THE
MISSION mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound by singer/guitarist TOMMY SHAW and
producer Will Evankovich accompanied by stunning visualizations for each of the
album’s 14 songs based on the album artwork. Other extras on the Blu-ray
include: “The Making of The Mission Documentary” of exclusive interviews of SHAW and Evankovich,
four music videos—“Gone Gone Gone” (official video), “Gone Gone Gone” (video
created by NASA), “Radio Silence” (lyric video) and “Radio Silence” (live video
from Syracuse, NY)—and three hi-res audio playback modes. Pre-orders are
available now here.
"THE MISSION, a concept album of all new music, is a trip,” declares TOMMY SHAW. “Now
it’s coming to you in 5.1 Surround and you’re cordially invited to strap
yourselves in and take that trip with us, then take it again!”
THE MISSION was released June 16, 2017 and debuted on various
Billboard charts, including: #6 Top Rock Albums, #11 Physical Albums, #11 Vinyl
Albums, #13 Current Albums, #14 Top Albums, #16 Retail, #17 Mass
Merch/Non-Traditional, #29 Digital Albums, and #45 Top 200 Albums (includes
catalog and streaming).
“The planets truly aligned for THE MISSION, and I
couldn’t be prouder,” said vocalist/guitarist TOMMY SHAW upon its release, who
co-wrote the album’s storyline with longtime collaborator Will Evankovich
(Shaw/Blades, The Guess Who). “It’s our boldest, most emblematic album since
PIECES OF EIGHT.” As founding guitarist JAMES
“JY” YOUNG continued, “In the 40th anniversary year of our
release of our biggest selling album of all time, GRAND ILLUSION, it
just seemed truly appropriate to save our new studio album until this year.
Needless to say, I’m very excited.”
Next, SING
FOR THE DAY!, TOMMY
SHAW’s solo 2016 concert performance with the Contemporary
Youth Orchestra will be released on Blu-ray, CD, and Digital Audio / Video on
June 29 via Eagle Rock Entertainment. Pre-orders are now available on Eagle
Rock’s website.
Filmed before an enthusiastic audience at the intimate
Waetjen Auditorium in Cleveland, SING
FOR THE DAY! presented unique versions of such classics as
“Blue Collar Man,” “Girls With Guns,” and “Too Much Time On My Hands.” Under
the direction of principal conductor / founder Liza Grossman, with
accompaniment by guitarist/musical director Will Evankovich, the
Cleveland-based Contemporary Youth Orchestra blended seamlessly with Shaw to
create a one-of-a-kind experience. The songs of STYX / TOMMY SHAW / Damn Yankees are
infused with the energy of the finest high-school-aged musicians in Ohio, as
evidenced by such performances as the epic duel between SHAW’s guitar licks
and a prodigious young violinist / CYO alum Lavinia Pavlish on “Renegade.”
Additionally, the set includes a special version of the STYX classic
“Crystal Ball” featuring the debut of a lost verse that was never recorded.
As TOMMY
SHAW says, “SING
FOR THE DAY!, a retrospective look at some of my favorite songs
I’ve written and co-written, performed with Contemporary Youth Orchestra, now
remixed in glorious 5.1, takes them all to a higher place I’d never
imagined."
This show also marked the 10-year anniversary of STYX’s original 2006
performance with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra -- One With Everything
(previously released via Eagle Rock Entertainment on multiple formats).
It was truly a night to remember, as SHAW notes: "It
was so much bigger and more everlasting than any of us imagined it would
be."
In addition to the full 13-song set, the SING FOR THE DAY!
Blu-ray includes 96K stereo audio of four songs with TOMMY SHAW and the
Contemporary Youth Orchestra not included in the program -- “Down That
Highway,” “The Great Divide,” “I’ll Be Coming Home,” and “The Night Goes On” --
soundtracking a slideshow of photos from the show, rehearsals, and
behind-the-scenes.
SING FOR THE DAY! Track Listing:
1. Overture
2. Girls With Guns
3. Too Much Time On My Hands
4. Fooling Yourself
5. Diamond
6. Crystal Ball
7. Boat On The River
8. Sing For The Day
9. Renegade
10.
Man In The Wilderness
11.
Come Again
12.
High Enough
13.
Blue Collar Man
Blu-ray Bonus songs:
Down That Highway
The Great Divide
I’ll Be Coming Home
The Night Goes On
And, on June 30, AXS TV presents a “Saturday STYX” lineup
headlined by insightful conversations and classic performances. The day begins
at 1 pm E, as TOMMY
SHAW, JAMES
“JY” YOUNG, and LAWRENCE
GOWAN sit down with Dan Rather to discuss their legendary
career, the creative process behind some of their most enduring songs, and what
drives them to keep performing in “The Big Interview.” Next, STYX joins The Red
Rocker for an epic hangout session backstage at The Venetian in Las Vegas in
“Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar” at 2 pm E. Then, the band sails
into Sin City for an unforgettable career-spanning set in “STYX: Live At The
Orleans Arena Las Vegas” at 2:30 pm E; followed by TOMMY SHAW’s
incredible performance with Cleveland’s renowned Contemporary Youth Orchestra
in Sing For The Day! at 3:30 pm E. The block will re-air in its entirety
immediately following at 5 pm E.
We finally got a chance to spend some
time with the finished DVD package for BANG! The Bert Berns
Story and thought to share our excitement.
Of course, the original 95 minute
documentary feature that has been screened at film festivals and shown
theatrically throughout the world is at the core of it but there’s much, much
more.
The disc includes 64 minutes of extra
interview footage from, among others, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Ronald
Isley, Cissy Houston, Andrew Loog Oldham, Solomon Burke, Betty Harris, Mike Stoller,
Ben E. King, Doug Morris, Joel Dorn and Goodfellas archetype
Carmine “Wassel” DeNoia. There’s also a four panel booklet with color photos
and author (Here Comes The Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty
Business of Rhythm & Blues) Joel Selvin’s notes. He writes,
“BANG! The Bert Berns Story is more than another rockumentary. This film
heralds a renaissance for Berns and recognition of his work long overdue. His
story is told in vivid, candid, painstaking detail, laid bare without judgement,
while his music is presented in all its grand glory.”
Bob Merlis
This is a great documentary and one our readers are
sure to enjoy. Highly recommended. (kk)
