Saturday, July 28, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I Remember...
Mitchell's Barber Shop. Burnie would say, "Sit right there, young man, you're next." Mr Mitchell had tons of artifacts from the War Between the States. They gave us guys the "white walls" our parents insisted on. In sixth grade, I looked so forward to being a teenager, which for me, either a flat top with fenders, or if my parents would hang a DA, white dress shirt, black slacks, white sox and black penny loafers or pointed toe shoes with a "Cuban" heal. Somehow, during the summer between 6th grade and my first year at GM, which then, was a Junior-Senior High, everything changed. I showed up looking cool with my hair combed back, the sides grown out slightly. But these guys called the Beatles came over from England and supposedly had "long" hair. Huh! When I combed mine down, it was longer than John, Paul, George or Ringo. I show up for the first day of school and the guy across the aisle from me in English class is wearing his hair DOWN. Not exactly bangs. He was wearing colors like a yellow button-down collar shirt, burgundy pants, a weird looking belt, a wallet that protruded from his hip pocket and his penny loafers were cordovan (ox blood) not black. I said, "What are you, Man, trying to be some kind of Beatle?"
His reponse, "I'm a surfer." Good luck with THAT. How many miles is it from the Gulch to the nearest beach? Kept hearing about "OC." What the heck is OC? And what has happened to the world? All of a sudden my style wasn't supposed to be cool.
I was a wannabe "Fonz" in a world of Richie Cunninghams. By the way, "Nerd" was a term we used for a portion of male genitalia in code, so as not to get in trouble with the teachers/librarians.
So I proceed down the hall in all my coolness. I walk down this section of the hall and suddenly I'm being played catch by a bunch of guys with white button up sweaters with big "GM's" on them. "Hey, little Greaser, don't step on the mosaic!" What? I had violated some secret code. Gasp! I had stepped on the holy mosaic!
Suddenly I hear the clink clink clink of shoes with taps coming down the hall toward me. "Hey, leave him alone!"
"Sure thing, Jerry! We were just kidding!" The let me go, dizzy and disshoveled. My savior had arrived. Leather Jacket, taps on his shoes, and normal greased-back black hair. I would later learn his name was Jerry Allen. "Hey, kid, you gonna be a greaser?"
"A WHAT?"
"A GREASER, you know, dress cool. Not like those collegiates over there. Hey, they give you any more trouble, you just let me know. I'm Jerry."
So began 7th grade at George Mason Junior-Senior High School.
Later changes came, but I never went through the "collegiate" gotta wear name-brand clothes junk. I wen't straight from greaser to long hair. But that, Sherman, is another story for another trip on the Wayback Machine.
I was a wannabe "Fonz" in a world of Richie Cunninghams. By the way, "Nerd" was a term we used for a portion of male genitalia in code, so as not to get in trouble with the teachers/librarians.
So I proceed down the hall in all my coolness. I walk down this section of the hall and suddenly I'm being played catch by a bunch of guys with white button up sweaters with big "GM's" on them. "Hey, little Greaser, don't step on the mosaic!" What? I had violated some secret code. Gasp! I had stepped on the holy mosaic!
Suddenly I hear the clink clink clink of shoes with taps coming down the hall toward me. "Hey, leave him alone!"
"Sure thing, Jerry! We were just kidding!" The let me go, dizzy and disshoveled. My savior had arrived. Leather Jacket, taps on his shoes, and normal greased-back black hair. I would later learn his name was Jerry Allen. "Hey, kid, you gonna be a greaser?"
"A WHAT?"
So began 7th grade at George Mason Junior-Senior High School.
Later changes came, but I never went through the "collegiate" gotta wear name-brand clothes junk. I wen't straight from greaser to long hair. But that, Sherman, is another story for another trip on the Wayback Machine.
Friday, July 20, 2012
1974
Kris Kristofferson sang Larry Gatlin's song, "Help Me." I'd be
driving my truck and have to pull over because of the tears I shed.
"Lord help me, Jesus, I've wasted it so, help me, Jesus. I know what I
am. Now that I know that I've needed You so, help me, Jesus. My soul's
in Your hands."
One day, I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Someone Who Cares---WCTN Patomac-Cabin John" and the position on the dial. I tuned in to see who had all that compassion. A lad was interviewing two lads from Liverpool, England. Malcomb & Allwyn. The talked of sharing their love for Jesus of Nazareth and their belief that He is exactly Who He says He is and of sharing that conviction with their friend, George Harrison and how George had initially rejected their attempt at sharing the Light, but they were prayerful that the scales would be removed from his eyes.
Then, they played the title song of their album...a song called "Fool's Wisdom." The lyrics went, "Got my self some wisdom from the leather-back book. Got myself a Savior, when I took a second look." The song was powerful, and again, I was pulling off the road, tears in my eyes, knowing I had to change my life. It began to change in earnest that day.
I used to say I didn't like "organized religion." I don't know that DISorganized religion is any better or religion at ALL for that matter, but I've found that religion, by definition is mankind reaching for God.
Christianity, however, is just the opposite---it's God's way of reaching to mankind. I'm glad I learned the difference. If you haven't discovered this and you wish to know the Truth, regardless of how you've been brought up, or what your background and traditions are, I KNOW you will find it if you take this challenge:
Get a version of the Bible you are comfortable reading. That's easy, especially if you have an i-phone or some sort of smart phone. No excuses for not finding one.
Before you read it, say this to Jesus and MEAN it. "Jesus, I don't know if You're real or not, but if You are, reveal Yourself to me, as I read this book."
He will honor that prayer IF you are sincere. Begin with the Gospel of John and let me know how that turns out for you. Everyone who is sincere that I've issued that challenge to and have taken it have had their lives changed. There's one out there still making excuses.
Hey, look, I know I'm a weirdo, but that doesn't
mean God will make you like me...He will make you more like Jesus, and
that ain't bad!
Check this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WpFvsQc0qM
One day, I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Someone Who Cares---WCTN Patomac-Cabin John" and the position on the dial. I tuned in to see who had all that compassion. A lad was interviewing two lads from Liverpool, England. Malcomb & Allwyn. The talked of sharing their love for Jesus of Nazareth and their belief that He is exactly Who He says He is and of sharing that conviction with their friend, George Harrison and how George had initially rejected their attempt at sharing the Light, but they were prayerful that the scales would be removed from his eyes.
Then, they played the title song of their album...a song called "Fool's Wisdom." The lyrics went, "Got my self some wisdom from the leather-back book. Got myself a Savior, when I took a second look." The song was powerful, and again, I was pulling off the road, tears in my eyes, knowing I had to change my life. It began to change in earnest that day.
I used to say I didn't like "organized religion." I don't know that DISorganized religion is any better or religion at ALL for that matter, but I've found that religion, by definition is mankind reaching for God.
Christianity, however, is just the opposite---it's God's way of reaching to mankind. I'm glad I learned the difference. If you haven't discovered this and you wish to know the Truth, regardless of how you've been brought up, or what your background and traditions are, I KNOW you will find it if you take this challenge:
Get a version of the Bible you are comfortable reading. That's easy, especially if you have an i-phone or some sort of smart phone. No excuses for not finding one.
Before you read it, say this to Jesus and MEAN it. "Jesus, I don't know if You're real or not, but if You are, reveal Yourself to me, as I read this book."
He will honor that prayer IF you are sincere. Begin with the Gospel of John and let me know how that turns out for you. Everyone who is sincere that I've issued that challenge to and have taken it have had their lives changed. There's one out there still making excuses.
Check this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WpFvsQc0qM
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
1977...A Sad Year, Indeed
1977...A Sad Year, Indeed
James
Earl Clueless Carter was in the White House. Some junk called Disco
dominated the airwaves and it seemed that Rock'n'roll had been forgotten
forever and to top it off, Elvis died. Personally, I was fired from my
second job in radio--the one I truly wanted to be involved in--Christian
Radio at what was then WRNC. I got fired because I stank at reading
news and had five or six newscasts in my afternoon drive slot.
I applied at every conceivable radio station in the Triangle with my little resume and aircheck (a tape of what I sounded like on air plus some of my production [commercials] ) There were not even nibbles. Then a miracle happened. I got a phone call out of the blue from Bill Kirby, General Manager of WETC smack dab between the little towns of Wendell and Zebulon, North Carolina.
The station was working in cooperation with Oral Roberts University and Professor, Dr Tom Durfey's Broadcasting students. They recommended me, somehow. I've yet to figure that one out. I got hired to do the morning show and was given an air name that was a corruption of my REAL name..."Johnny Buck."
The owner of the station, Lewis Parrish was trying to have a presence in the Triangle Area and my morning show became the very first Country station to show up on "the book" The ratings, even though we were on the very edge of Raleigh Durham and our signal was pointed east. There was one tower actually working against sending our signal toward Raleigh, to protect a Canadian station. We covered all of Eastern North Carolina, though and up until that time had been known as "Wetsy Radio" or "Big Country." The term used for what we were trying to do then was "country-politan" and we pioneered what came to be known as "Positive Country." We mixed the less offensive elements of country music (no cheating, beer guzzling, etc) with some contemporary Christian and gospel music. Cleaning up country ticked off a lot of the staff because of the songs we couldn't play.
After a while, I was made Program Director and a liaison between the staff and ownership. It was a difficult situation, because I did not answer to the General manager. Rather, I got my orders from the Owner, which is a strange, and potentially volitile combination.
It didn't take long for me to lose favor with the owner because in my view, the staff had legitimate concerns about the station. After all, these guys had been in broadcasting for years. That was a difficult time, but I learned respect for traditional Country Music and its artists. Bill Kirby loved Tom T Hall, who is quite a poet and has written some great songs. The late Aaron Pitt, our copywriter and news director, taught me a lot and there was Charlie Hocutt, sales genius, who told me stories of Loretta Lynn driving up with her husband, Moody, to promote her latest record. We had copies of one song with two titles: originallyh released as "Here, in Topeka" the song title was later changed to "One's on the Way." which was the "hook."
This week saw the passing of a country legend, Miss Kitty Wells who was, as I recall the first female Country artist to hit number one on the charts. The ladies didn't used to fare so well in the genre.
No, I'm not a country music fan, by any means, especially the junk their putting out today, but I HAVE to respect Lefty Frizzel, Hank Williams, Senior, Ernest Tubb and the likes of "Little" Jimmy Dickens.
Country is no different than Rock'n'roll in that it has been taken over like the patients taking over the asylum.
Note to the "hip hop" crown. Set down parameters and copyright your junk or twenty years from now, someone's going to put something out with an actual tune and some actual rhythm that's non-repedetive and call it hip hop and you're going to be snorked off! lol
I applied at every conceivable radio station in the Triangle with my little resume and aircheck (a tape of what I sounded like on air plus some of my production [commercials] ) There were not even nibbles. Then a miracle happened. I got a phone call out of the blue from Bill Kirby, General Manager of WETC smack dab between the little towns of Wendell and Zebulon, North Carolina.
The station was working in cooperation with Oral Roberts University and Professor, Dr Tom Durfey's Broadcasting students. They recommended me, somehow. I've yet to figure that one out. I got hired to do the morning show and was given an air name that was a corruption of my REAL name..."Johnny Buck."
The owner of the station, Lewis Parrish was trying to have a presence in the Triangle Area and my morning show became the very first Country station to show up on "the book" The ratings, even though we were on the very edge of Raleigh Durham and our signal was pointed east. There was one tower actually working against sending our signal toward Raleigh, to protect a Canadian station. We covered all of Eastern North Carolina, though and up until that time had been known as "Wetsy Radio" or "Big Country." The term used for what we were trying to do then was "country-politan" and we pioneered what came to be known as "Positive Country." We mixed the less offensive elements of country music (no cheating, beer guzzling, etc) with some contemporary Christian and gospel music. Cleaning up country ticked off a lot of the staff because of the songs we couldn't play.
After a while, I was made Program Director and a liaison between the staff and ownership. It was a difficult situation, because I did not answer to the General manager. Rather, I got my orders from the Owner, which is a strange, and potentially volitile combination.
It didn't take long for me to lose favor with the owner because in my view, the staff had legitimate concerns about the station. After all, these guys had been in broadcasting for years. That was a difficult time, but I learned respect for traditional Country Music and its artists. Bill Kirby loved Tom T Hall, who is quite a poet and has written some great songs. The late Aaron Pitt, our copywriter and news director, taught me a lot and there was Charlie Hocutt, sales genius, who told me stories of Loretta Lynn driving up with her husband, Moody, to promote her latest record. We had copies of one song with two titles: originallyh released as "Here, in Topeka" the song title was later changed to "One's on the Way." which was the "hook."
This week saw the passing of a country legend, Miss Kitty Wells who was, as I recall the first female Country artist to hit number one on the charts. The ladies didn't used to fare so well in the genre.
No, I'm not a country music fan, by any means, especially the junk their putting out today, but I HAVE to respect Lefty Frizzel, Hank Williams, Senior, Ernest Tubb and the likes of "Little" Jimmy Dickens.
Country is no different than Rock'n'roll in that it has been taken over like the patients taking over the asylum.
Note to the "hip hop" crown. Set down parameters and copyright your junk or twenty years from now, someone's going to put something out with an actual tune and some actual rhythm that's non-repedetive and call it hip hop and you're going to be snorked off! lol
Monday, July 16, 2012
On the Air
Don't know how old I was. Had to eleven or older, I suppose. One
Saturday, I got in the car with the Geeze (my dad) and we headed down
Route 7 from Falls Church to the town of my birth, Alexandria.
Virginia. Not unusual to ride with pop somewhere not knowing the
destination. The Geeze was mysterious like that. Many times, we'd head
out on a Saturday morning because dad knew that Ronald MacDonald, alias
Willard Scott was making an appearance at a new opening hamburger place.
He did that so many times, because I was disappointed that I got to be
on the "Cousin Cupcake Show" rather than its weekday version, the "Bozo
Circus" on WRC-TV Channel 4 (4001 Nebraska Av, NW Washington, DC)
See, Willard was our Bozo and the only one I knew of. I picked up on the fact that the Bozo in the flesh and the Bozo in the cartoon's voices didn't match. In fact I could, and still can, duplicate Bozo's voice as well has his pal, Butchy Boy's.
But this particular Saturday morning found us at the studios of WPIK Radio (The PICK of Country) where we met a dude named Marshall Pack. Mr Pack treated us like celebrities, I guess since dad had once been a copywriter/wannabe announcer for WRRF in ORIGINAL (Little) Washington, NC. Mr Pack interviewed us just as though we were famous. I didn't have then all the amazing fame I now possess (cough)
Dad made sure my young life was anything but boring and I will always love him for it. One day, I may attempt to write a book of HIS life, because he knew some amazing people, had some amazing things happen in his life, but then again, while he always thought Elvis was my hero, that wasn't and isn't true. The GEEZE will always be, because he was the most amazing human being I ever knew.
See, Willard was our Bozo and the only one I knew of. I picked up on the fact that the Bozo in the flesh and the Bozo in the cartoon's voices didn't match. In fact I could, and still can, duplicate Bozo's voice as well has his pal, Butchy Boy's.
But this particular Saturday morning found us at the studios of WPIK Radio (The PICK of Country) where we met a dude named Marshall Pack. Mr Pack treated us like celebrities, I guess since dad had once been a copywriter/wannabe announcer for WRRF in ORIGINAL (Little) Washington, NC. Mr Pack interviewed us just as though we were famous. I didn't have then all the amazing fame I now possess (cough)
Dad made sure my young life was anything but boring and I will always love him for it. One day, I may attempt to write a book of HIS life, because he knew some amazing people, had some amazing things happen in his life, but then again, while he always thought Elvis was my hero, that wasn't and isn't true. The GEEZE will always be, because he was the most amazing human being I ever knew.
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