Friday, August 26, 2016

Buffalo Bill Edwards on July 29, 1974

We're moving on to afternoon drive in our series of KAAY airchecks from July 29, 1974.  And, it's Buffalo Bill Edwards having a high-energy time, playing the rock'n'roll and relating a lot of severe weather warnings.  And, at one point he refers to WLS' John Records Landecker, just for the fun of it. The aircheck runs from 4:00-5:13pm.

Thanks to Joe Martin for this series of contributions.

(or download here)

Greg Barman

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Doug Virden and Phillip Jonsson

I had the honor and privilege to have a picture taken with Mr. Phillip Jonsson, owner of Signal Media radio stations. The stations consist of The Point 94.1,103.7 The Buzz, and 106.7 The Ride.  These radio stations are located at the former home of KAAY at 2400 Cottondale Lane.  He told me he wanted to buy KAAY but couldn't since he already owned AM 1010 KLRA at the time.  In those days an owner could only own one AM and FM.  And he was trying to sell KLRA before the sale officially went through.

I also remember reading on the blog that Larry Duke from Jonesboro wanted to buy KAAY when it went up for sale in the mid 80's.  Duke was under the impression he had the deal to buy KAAY from Multi Media from what I read.  If one of these guys could have bought KAAY, it more than likely would have stayed out of the hands of corporate radio.

Mr Jonsson also used to own KRLD AM 1080 in Dallas and his grandfather was the founder of Texas Instruments.  Phillip Jonsson is now in his early 90's and still comes to the stations about once or twice a week.  His son Steve is the GM of the stations and runs a lot of the day to day operations.  The Point 94.1 came in 2nd during the last ratings period.  These stations are among the last of the locally owned stations in Little Rock.

The picture of me and Phillip Jonsson was taken in the ballroom of the Arkansas Governors Mansion where 103 7 The Buzz was hosting the Pigskin Preview for the upcoming football season.

Ten years later Westinghouse which owns AM 1010 WINS in NY bought AM 1010 in Little Rock and took it off the air. If that offer were made 10 years earlier it would have left Phillip Jonsson to by KAAY.
 
Thank you, Doug, for your picture and information!  Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)
 
 
 

Friday, August 19, 2016

Bob Robbins on July 29, 1974

From contributor Joe Martin, here's another in the series of 7 airchecks he made of KAAY on Monday July 29, 1974.  This time, it's The Bob Robbins Program from 1:00-1:30pm.


(or download here)
Greg Barman

Friday, August 12, 2016

David Ray on July 29, 1974

Here's an aircheck of David Ray on Monday July 29, 1974, the 3rd in a batch of contributions from Joe Martin.  12:29-1:00pm.  Thank you Joe!

(or download here)
Greg Barman

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Jerry Sims, The 2nd "Sonny Martin"

It was a little over six years ago when Jerry Sims came through Mobile on his way back from Florida on the way home to Little Rock.  This was the first time we met, at The Original Oyster House on The Causeway.

It was five years and two days ago, August 7, 2011, that Jerry passed into Eternity, from heat stroke.  He told me the previous February or March that I needed to come to Little Rock, before something happened.  I believe now, as I did in August 2011, that he was prophetic in his statement.

By gosh, and what a trip that was back in April 2011!  Jerry, David B. Treadway, Charlie Scarbrough, Felix McDonald, Barry McCorkindale and Dale Seidenschwarz were there.  I'd met Barry a couple of times previous on some of his trips through Mobile, David B., Charlie, Dale and Felix I met there for the first time....

But back to Jerry; because of his insistence, I'd made "the pilgrimage" I'd wanted to do all my life.  Because of Jerry's insistence, I experienced things few fans of KAAY had ever lived.  Because of Jerry, I'd met people I'd only talked to via telephone or e-mailed.  I'd met some Gentle Giants of The Gentle Giant, KAAY.

A year later, almost to the day, I almost died from heat stroke myself.  I was in the attic, doing a "20 minute job" and had already been stressed from working in and out of the attic.  Instead of taking the flooring outside to the saw, I decided to whittle the little bit of wood I needed out of the way while up there.  It was almost a fatal mistake....

I'll spare you the details- I think I mentioned this before, but it bears remembering- but I finished the job over three hours later, after I'd somewhat recovered, with my wife tending to me and cooling me down.  That tunnel I was looking down almost closed and I nearly passed out.  I berated myself, after having been a Paramedic, I didn't notice the signs until it was almost too late!  I thought of my family and of Jerry; what would they do without me, and would I see Jerry in heaven?

My point to this post is: no matter where you are, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps are nothing to play with!  I have since tended to another man who we almost lost at work, a customer at that; I remembered Jerry and my own experience and we were able to help him get back before the Paramedics arrived (I am a First Responder at my main job).

We have been experiencing triple-digit temperatures and heat indices here in Mobile already, in the first week of August.  This is no laughing matter; please keep yourself hydrated and cooled off, keep a cold towel around your neck and wipe your face often with it (I put one in the freezer and one on my neck and swap them every ten minutes or so, when working outside).

But for Jerry's insistence, I would have never met one of the nicest guys in the world.  Thank you, Jerry, for kicking me in the keester until I came to Little Rock... I'll see you again one day....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Friday, August 5, 2016

Wayne Moss on July 29, 1974

Here is the 2nd aircheck we received from Joe Martin among those he recorded on Monday July 29, 1974.  It's Wayne Moss, from 10:00-11:15am.


(or download here)
Greg Barman