Dave M. Checks In With More Names, Re: "Where Are They Now"?

"Here’s some more KAAY names from the 70’s I haven’t seen mentioned:

-Joe James on KAAY (most recently as Joe Bohannon on B97 Chicago).

-Jack Randall currently runs his own company in Phoenix.

-Dan Campbell went to KJJJ Phoenix and I lost track of him. Great production talent.

Dr Grady Brock came to Little Rock and was about the most high energy announcer I remember, although Marvelous Mark was way up there too. He (Grady) made so much noise in the studio that we had to install special “pads” in the microphone circuits to keep him from overloading the amplifiers! Mark might be able to fill in some of these blanks since they were roughly the same time period he was there –

Then there was the incredible Ray Lincoln. Ray worked several stations in Little Rock, including KAAY but he was probably the most unique and entertaining morning man we had come our way. Ray had many friends, and he attracted a large audience. Ray passed away a few short years ago, and he is still missed.

/DM/"

By the way, the special "pads" Dave mentions are a circuit to cut back on the tremendous amount of audio the microphones were subjected to....

Ray Lincoln had been mentioned numerous times in A. J.'s blog, but only briefly here.  Does anyone have an aircheck on him, please?

In the meantime, here's more info on Ray Lincoln, also passed on by Dave M (obit., edited).:

Raymond Charles Coday, Jr. "Ray Lincoln"

March 6, 1942 - September 18, 2006

Raymond Charles Coday, Jr. “Ray Lincoln”, age 64, of North Little Rock died at his home, Monday, September 18, 2006. Born on March 6, 1942 in Dallas, Texas, he was the son of the late Raymond Charles Coday, Sr. and Veronica Jones Coday. A well know radio personality, Ray began his radio career in Roswell, New Mexico and later worked for numerous stations including powerhouses such as WBAP in Fort Worth, WNOE in New Orleans, WOAI, San Antonio, KKYK-FM and KAAY in Little Rock. Lincoln with his guns-a-blazing, no nonsense personality dominated the Little Rock radio market in the 70’s with his Ray and Ram program on KKYK-FM. In addition to himself he also did the voice of mythical character, Ram Led, a crusty, West Texas cowboy who often exhibited outrageous speech and behavior.

On two separate occasions, Lincoln worked at KAAY in Little Rock as morning drive time DJ and Program Director. This was near the end of the AM station’s market dominance with its Top 40 format. Between stints at radio stations, Lincoln worked for companies doing record promotions.

In 1983 he returned to Little Rock as afternoon talk show host at KARN. With the exception of a six year hiatus to live in Dallas and one year at Talk 103.7 across town, Lincoln finished his on-air career at KARN in 2000.

In addition to creating Ram Led, Lincoln developed another imaginary character he named Sport Jackson, a black, horse race tout. He voiced this character in a dialect, which came naturally to him considering he grew up in predominately black East Dallas. Though the lovable character was a charade, his passion for horseracing and handicapping was legendary. Ray was one of the most knowledgeable handicappers in the nation.

Lincoln served two tours of duty in the United States Military, one as a Marine and one in the United States Army. His foreign stations included Germany and Vietnam.

Thanks again to Dave M.  Now, we need KAAY stories from these people!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

KAAY: Ray Lincoln And Mike McKenny

Some information about Ray Lincoln has been posted here on this blog, but I'll let A. J. Lindsey tell you about this audio clip in his own words:

"Return with us now...to Preident. Carter, snowstorm in LR and Pryor announces for Senator.

Perhaps the headline should be "Short clip of Ray Lincoln chatting with newsman Mike McKenny". For many reasons this is a great audio sample to save. In view of Ray Lincoln's recent passing it might be good to review an AP report:

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Ray Lincoln, a longtime central Arkansas radio personality who created colorful characters to entertain listeners on their morning and afternoon drives, died Monday. He was 64.  Lincoln had a heart transplant in 2003, but his cause of death is not yet known, said his wife, Maxine Coday.  Lincoln worked at several Little Rock radio stations starting in the mid-1970s. He retired in 2000, after anchoring the afternoon drive show on KARN-AM 920.

"Ray was an enormously talented person, and he had the tremendous good fortune to get started in radio when it was still an awful lot of fun and owned by very competitive smaller companies," said Pat Lynch, who worked with Lincoln at KARN in the 1980s and '90s.

At KAAY-AM 1090 in Little Rock, Lincoln worked a morning drive show where he created alter egos like Ram Led, a west Texas cowboy, and Sport Jackson, a horse handicapper

To me, Ray was a DJ's DJ. He was one we always tried to listen to."

---A.J. Lindsey, Sept 29, 2006

(or download here)

This post originally appeared on A. J.'s blog on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006...Ray Lincoln must have passed away the previous Monday, Sept. 25:
http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2006/09/return-with-us-nowto-pres-carter.html


Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The Ray And Ram Show!

Ray Lincoln has been mentioned here on this blog and at A.J. Lindsey's blog numerous times.  Ray was an extremely talented radio personality who had worked at several stations in the Little Rock market.

Rather than re-invent the wheel, you can click this link to read much more about Ray Lincoln:

http://mighty1090kaay.blogspot.com/search?q=Ray+Lincoln

Recently, there was a posting on the Mighty 1090 KAAY Facebook page that there would be some audio posted on YouTube.  We've been able to bring it here to you, thanks to Greg Barman's efforts!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSty0EJ1gR8

Or, listen/download from here:

(or download here)

Please stay tuned for more Ray and Ram!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Ray Lincoln (Along With Mike McKinny, Or Vice-Versa!)

We've mentioned the great Ray Lincoln several times in this blog...at the end of this 'scoped audio clip of Mike McKinny, you'll hear Ray in one of his character modes.  I'll bet working with him was a hoot, with folks barely able to keep their composure while on the air...

Does anyone have any other Ray stories, about what it was like working with him?

Here's the audio:

 Ray Lincoln and Mike McKinny:  stream  |  download

Ray Lincoln

 

Sheilia Lovil posted this at the KAAY-AM The Mighty 1090 Facebook page.  Her comments:

"Ray Lincoln .. great Friend & DJ .. Met him when he came to work at KLAZ .. I was working at KAAY when Ray was there."

Some great stories about Ray and Ram, both here and at A.J. Lindsey's blog, as well.  Thanks, Sheilia!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

More Ray Lincoln

I'd been thinking about what else we could do to bring a little more to this blog about Ray Lincoln (among other folks).  I found a link on A.J.'s old blog that led me to the KTHV-TV website, when they did a tribute to him.  I couldn't pass up bringing a couple of pictures to you, one of Ray apparently having a great time at the console (unknown radio station, perhaps KAAY?) and one of a brochure showing off one of his characters:

To say the least, from what everyone tells us, he was a hilarious, wild bunch of characters rolled into one human body.  If anyone has any airchecks of him besides what we've posted here, please get them to me!  We'll get them posted here a.s.a.p.!

Here's the link where these pictures were found:

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=34185

Thank you,

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Another Keith Parish "Ray And Ram" Aircheck

Here is another, good un'scoped aircheck of the "Ray and Ram Show", dated 12/8/1980, with Ray Lincoln.  It aired on KAAY (AM) and KQ94 (FM)...the last one in the line-up.

Once again, Greg Barman cleaned things up very nicely!  This aircheck taped the segment of approximately 9:34 to 10AM and is a second over twenty-seven minutes long.  There are an interruption or two, no problem with tapes this old!

It sounds like maybe Wayne Moss on a Toyota/Volvo commercial about 5:30 in the recording, followed by a commercial for the new Bloom County comic and other comics in the Arkansas Gazette.

Fifteen more shopping days until Christmas, on this broadcast...Ray was trolling for gifts...!

Who was the announcer for the Bozo's Toy Shop and The Athletic Department?  Any idea on the Rice-A-riffic commercial?

Steve Cook read the news and weather at 15:31 in the recording, reporting on the Iranian hostage crisis, among other things.  I don't remember this newsman, does anyone have any info on him?


https://archive.org/details/KAAYKQ94RayAndRam12880

We are SO glad Keith Parish could share these with us!  Thank you, Keith!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Memories Of KAAY Radio

This is probably going to be a different perspective than most of the contributors to the Mighty 1090 blog. I've never worked in the broadcasting industry in any capacity nor in the music industry. I'm also not a baby boomer, since I was born in the mid 1960's.

KAAY was for many years the station that my parents listened to. Both of my parents were Arkansas natives but had lived in Wichita Kansas and met each other there and married. A few months before I was born, my parents relocated back to Arkansas and moved eventually to McGehee. My first exposure to radio was KAAY which they received with tube-type clock radio in their kitchen and occasionally they would listen to the local station, KVSA in McGehee. In 1972, we relocated to Pine Bluff for a few years, North Little Rock and finally rural Lincoln County where I became a teenager.

In Pine Bluff I got my first radio, a transistor pocket radio that was AM only. I managed to find KAAY, and KOTN (Pine Bluff) the two dominant stations at the time (Pine Bluff had other stations such as KCLA and KCAT). I could hear KLRA but I didn't like the twangy country music as a child.

My father considered being prepared for severe weather, and for about two years we lived in a mobile home near Pine Bluff. When the weather got rough, he would load us up and drive into town, sometimes after midnight. These times (1974-1976) were my only exposure to the Beaker Street radio show, and my Dad would become frustrated of having to hear that "hippie music" just to hear the severe weather warnings, but those warnings were aired and professionally, through the static of thunderstorms.

An important year was 1976. First my parents purchased their first car with a factory FM radio. That was the beginning of the end of their KAAY listening in-car, and secondly I got a GE AM/FM portable for my birthday. By that time, I was living in North Little Rock This was no "DX" machine by any means, but I could tune a bit easier and also I had a personal FM radio for the first time. I discovered stations such as KKYK, KLAZ, and a few others. I still listened to KAAY some but those days were slowing.

The next important year was 1979, I was in middle school, living in Lincoln County and had a budding interest in AM DX. In November of that year, the American Embassy in Iran was raided by radical Islamic students supported by the Iranian government. It was at that time, that a talk show on weekday evenings premiered hosted by Dick Price. Price's talk show was my introduction to talk radio. While I listened to KAAY some, most of my listening was to the FM music stations that I could pull in from Little Rock.

By about 1980-81 I only occasionally listened to KAAY. My first car (old and used ) had an AM only radio and while I listened to AM music in the car, it was only until I had gotten an FM radio/cassette tape player for it. I did discover the show Blues Alley and occasionally ran across the 9pm-Midnight paid religion block that KAAY was doing in the final years. That reminded me of my early days of listening to KAAY when the music stopped between 6pm-8pm and the preachers took over when most people were at home watching local news and early evening TV.

In March of 1985, I had gotten word of KAAY's pending demise as a secular-formatted radio station I happened to be home of the last day and recorded some airchecks of that time. Sadly those had gotten lost (including a recording of the "final" Beaker Street). At midnight, the station signed off and there was silence then a instrumental version of the Sanford and Son theme came on for a few minutes. The next morning I heard the Southern Gospel music that would become a mainstay for the early months of the post-Rock KAAY.

1985 was like 1979, a watershed year. That year Eddie Sutton would resign as head basketball coach at the University of Arkansas (in my house growing up Hog basketball and football were on equal standing), and my high school had their last graduating class. I graduated the year prior but knew several students in that last class.

My generation was one that looked to MTV and Little Rock FM stations for the latest music. Our "Ipods" were Walkmen or clones, and while we still listened to vinyl, most of us played the store-bought cassettes in the car/boomboxes/walkmans until they were ate up in the tape players (at all the wrong times). Still KAAY had a huge early influence in my music tastes and was a positive ambassador of Arkansas and America. Had I been born a few years earlier, I could have had memories of listening to Beaker Street under my pillow--or returning home from a date. I am grateful to have had the privilege of hearing Sonny Martin, Ray Lincoln, Dick Price, Marvin Vines, and those Razorback football games that never faded out.

A Gen-X fan of the old KAAY,
Fritze
Star City AR

The Ray And Ram Show #6 - Back on the Radio 1983

Alas, the show must end- for now....

...until more is unearthed!  Maybe "Tony Marlar" will let us have more audio via YouTube!?!?  Thank you, "Tony"!

Hang on, here's more Ray Lincoln! 

This is Ray's return to Little Rock radio on KLAZ(FM) in April 1983, after a two year hiatus from KAAY/KLPQ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kllv2lmaomE

Or, listen/download from here:

(or download here)

Once again, thanks to Greg Barman for his great help in archiving and linking to these audio gems!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

KAAY Personnel (2010 Update) (Part 1)

A.J., in his old blog in September 2006, listed numerous personnel as to their air-name, their real name and the approximate dates.  I always wondered about how many were missing from the list- there were so many great people there!  I don't know how long the old blog will stay up, since all the music links have broken already, so I'll list them here again (hopefully, with better dates as I can find in research):

Air Name- Real Name- Year


Doc Holiday- Dub Murray- 1962
Mike McCormick- Jim Hankins- 1962
Sonny Martin- Wayne Moss- 1962
Wayne Moss- Wayne Moss- 1970-1976
Buddy Karr- Tom Bigby- 1962
Rob Robbins- Tom Campbell- 1962
Ken Knight- Howard Watson- 1962
John K. Anderson- Jack Grady- 1962
George J. Jennings- George W. Jennings- 1962
Doc Holiday- A.J. Lindsey- 1963
Sonny Martin- Jerry Sims- 1962-1967
Rock Robbins- Tommy Riggs-
Buddy Karr- Richard Weithan- Aug 1967(killed in Nat.Guard summer camp jeep accident)
Ron Owens- Walt Sadler-
Mike McCormick- Barry Wood- 1965-1972
B. Bruce Jenkins- B. Bruce Jenkins-
Ron Owens- Jim Pitcock- 1963-1964
Doc Holiday- Ray Brown-
Sonny Martin- Matt White-
Rob Robbins- Bob Spears- 1972-1976
Mitch Michaels- Nick Markel- Summer 1968-July 1978
Jack Lee- Mike McKinny- 1976-1978
Jack Lee- Gary Souheaver- Early 70s
Jonnie King- Jim Edwards- April 1969- Sept. 1972
Phil North- Phillip David Rowe- 1969-1972
Buddy Karr- Bob Mullins-
Clyde Clifford- Dale Seidenschwarz- 1966-1972
Doc Holiday- David B. Treadway- 1971-1972 and 1976-1977
David B. Treadway- David B. Treadway- 1983-1985
Doc Holiday- Al Eisenman- 1969-1970
Michael O'Sullivan- Bob Steel- 1972-1973
Marvin Vines- Marvin Vines- 1962-1978
Linda Page- Linda Pasier- 1976-1978

And, through a trusted friend of the blog (One Who Was There), more names, some of whom have joined us after this blog started:

"Here’s a few that pop to mind –"

Ray Lincoln- Ray Coday (deceased)-
Jack Randall- John Godec-
Joe James- Joe Coburn-
Dan Campbell- Dan Campbell
Don Payne- Don Payne- late 1970's into early 1980's
Stuart McRae- Stuart (Beaker Street, after Clyde, before Don Payne)
Dave Hamilton- Carl David Hamilton-
Dick Downes- Dick Downes-
Marvelous Mark Larsen- Mark Larsen- 1977-1979
Doctor Grady Brock- Grady Brock (??)-
Bob Nelson- Bob Nelson- 1976-1978
Bill Rawson (news)- Bill Rawson-
Terry Caldwell (news)- Terry Caldwell (deceased)-
Craig Hunt- ??-
Susan Rist (news)- Susan Rist-
Lee Frank (news)- Lee Frank-
Reid "The Rookie"- Reid Reker-
Steve Gunn- Herb Gunn-
Linda Page (news)- Linda Pasier-
Mark Winston- ??-
Harriet- ??- Harriet Coffey, 1978-1980
Jim Loundsberry (sp?) news- ??
Frank Woods (news, deejay)- Gene Stewart- 1969-1970
Tom Gallagher- Dan Goode, 1977-1979 and 1981-1982

"Perhaps some of the others could add to the list, and offer corrections or updates as necessary. All these people worked at KAAY during the ‘70’s, and in various on-air capacities. Many have gone on to have great success and remarkable careers in major market radio and advertising."

Also, after Marvin Vines was killed in a farm accident, another Newsman took his place...in the words of Dave M.:

"John Philpott came to KAAY to fill the shoes of Marvin Vines, our Farm Service Director, who met his untimely end in a farm accident. Philpott stepped in and took over the job as though he’d been there for years. In actuality John Philpott was already well known in LR radio and TV as a story teller-par-excellance and just a wonderful, all around guy."

I understand that John Philpott is also one of the players on KUAR's "Arkansas Flyer" program:

http://www.kuar.org/arkansasflyer_bios.html

This, in a never-ending quest to close the "historical holes" of KAAY's legacy!  I get more fascinated the more history that is uncovered.  As is the old philosophy, "Many hands make the work light" and thanks to those who can add to this list and dates!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The 30th Anniversary Reunion, Part 2

As promised, we're continuing on with other pictures from the KAAY 30th reunion, compliments of Doug Virden.  All of these are of pictures from a board outside the room of various other pictures plastered on a display board.  You'll see Sonny Martin accepting an award, an earlier picture of himself in the studio, a collage of photos, the blue Funmobile in one picture, Ray & Ram billboard from later FM days and a couple others...By the way, who are they guys in the bathtub?

Remember when we posted a couple of these awhile back of Sonny (Matt White)?

Love those old radios!  You know, REAL radios glow in the dark!

R.I.P. Ray Lincoln....

Can anyone name these KAAY KQ94 personalities, please?

And WHO are these guys in the collage above, hmmm?  Maybe Sonny & Bob???

OK, one last installment to go!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Comments & Recordings

Folks, we are ALWAYS looking for comments and e-mails in support of this blog!  Here's one that I found lately in my e-mail:

"Hello

I grew up in a small town Louisiana MO. I use to listen to Baker St. on your station (1974/75) ever night when I could get the skip. I'm glad to see you are still around. Your station was better than any thing coming out of St. Louis.

Respectfully yours,

Gerald "Jerry" Floyd
541-xxx-xxxx"

Another recent comment was 'way back on a post we made about Ray Lincoln...the anonymous commenter said he has reel-to-reel recordings of Ray and some of his characters.  Please, to the anonymous commenter, YES, we would like digital copies of those recordings so we can post them here for you!  If you cannot transfer those reel-to-reel tapes, we have a man who can do it: Greg Barman.  I'll even pay for the postage to and from (if it is REASONABLE, that is).

Please contact me @ staceys4@hotmail.com regarding recordings and audio!

Bud S.

The Ray And Ram Show #5 - Lester for President

OK, folks, wrap those ribs tight, here comes more comedy by Ray Lincoln!  I'll bet he had great fun- and either had the blessing of his Program Directors, or caused them a lot of stomach acid!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=talQQjZ75yo


Or, listen/download from here:

(or download here)

Thanks to Mr. Greg Barman again for his audio wizardry!  By the way, Greg has been indispensable, coming to the team when he was needed the most.  Greg, would you do us the pleasure of introducing yourself sometime?

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The Ray And Ram Show #3 - Ducknapped! Part 1

Feeling better now?  Good!  How about some more hilarity?

Here comes Ray Lincoln again with another show!  I must give credit to "Tony Marlar" who originally posted these shows on YouTube; unfortunately, he has not replied to my questions on the Mighty 1090 Facebook page, so I can't tell you any more....

As they say, "on with the show"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOP3EIfaajU

Or, listen/download from here:





Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

A Listener's Memories & Arkansas Ham Nets

I'd been invited by a fellow Ham radio operator, who's visited the blogs in the past, to participate in the Good Ol' Arkansas Phone Net.  For those uninitiated, "phone" means voice, not Morse Code and "net" means some sort of communication network.  Many Hams all over the country (and the world, as well) have practice nets to test their readiness in times of trouble...and, oftentimes, for fellowship, as well.  They encourage both Hams and shortwave listeners to tune in.

To make a long story short, I checked in on the frequency of 3987.5 kHz (or 3.987.5 MHz) lower sideband and participated in the net.  In the informal session, the Question of The Day was, "What prompted you to get into Ham radio?"  When it came my turn, I mentioned that, as a kid, I listened to a lot of AM radio stations, that KAAY was a big part of my listening pleasure, and that my radio hobby eventually led me to get my Ham ticket.  I met Tom, K5WTH, who provided the information below:

"Hi Bud, I really do not remember too much about the station. What I do remember is that my car radio and the one in my bedroom always had KAAY going day and night. On the weekends a bunch of us crazy teens would go down on the river and dance to the music of KAAY and at night we would also go to Shakeys or the Band Box, both are covered drive ins, and eat hamburgers and dance out in the open air; every car there would have their car radio turned up and tuned in to KAAY. The personalities that I do recall is Sonny Martin and Ray Lincoln and his alter ego which I always found amusing."

These are the types of memories we like to hear about, what fun KAAY invoked in all the listenership!  I'd also mentioned that I'd like to get to Little Rock one day and visit some of the attractions there that A. J. mentioned to me, before passing away...and WW5AA, "Lindy", said that he'd give me a personal tour of all the museums there.

Ham radio operators are a great bunch, in a wonderful hobby; I have never regretted getting my license...every where I go, or anyone I visit with, either on the air or in person, the door is always wide open.  It is a plus to find someone else (and there are many out there!) who have similar experiences, listening to KAAY (and other stations, as well as working at them).

The Good Ol' Arkansas Phone Net is called at 6AM Monday-Saturday and was founded more than fifty years ago, promoting family-oriented fellowship and clean operating; the Razorback Net is called, I believe, at 6:30PM Monday-Saturday (and maybe Sunday, as well), and, I'm sure, promoting the same friendly atmosphere- at least that's what I've experienced!

For more information, point your browser at: . http://arkansasairwaves.net/, then click on Arkansas Phone Net.

Bud S., callsign KC4HGH (staceys4@hotmail.com)

KAAY Ratings, From Mark Larsen

 

More ratings per Mark Larsen, posted at Facebook, May 27, 2021:

"More Little Rock radio ratings: Here's a GREAT snapshot of the Little Rock radio scene from April/May '75 thru April/May '78. It's from Radio & Records, which published special ratings tabloids every year. While KAAY was already in an upward trend, Spring '78 was a major pop. In radio, we used to say, "the morning show drives the station." When you look at the chunk we bit out of Z98 in the April/May '78 sweeps, it's clear Stinkin' Ray Lincoln was driving the bus! There were more people tuning in KAAY every week (#1 cume) than any other station in Arkansas."

 

Thanks, Mark!

 

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

"Marvelous" Mark Larsen - where is he now...

HOLY SMOKES, y'all! This has made my day! "Marvelous" Mark Larsen just dropped in!

"Bud-

I usually don't post on the blogs and boards, but a former co-worker and fellow Razorback (I attended U of A 77,78,79) said he saw an inquiry on the Arkansas board about me.

I'm alive and well and doing mornings in Tampa Bay. I (regretfully) left Little Rock in late 79 for a quick, errant stop at WFMF Baton Rouge, on my way to B97 in New Orleans. I was only in BR for 6 weeks when a call came in from PD Dan Vallie in New Orleans about a new FM CHR he was going to fire up. He asked me to come down and I left a 60 mile long trail of rubber burning my way to B97's inaugural PM drive slot. I also did mornings and middays over the course of the next year. From there, off to Tampa Bay, where I have been for 29 years. I retired from 970WFLA after a long midday talk stint, due to a full real estate portfolio and my recording studio business. But I always said I'd come back for a morning gig, which better fit my schedule. Now at independently owned 820WWBA in Tampa Bay for the past 7 years.

I have always told folks that my fondest radio memories were at 1090KAAY. Our 1977-78 overhaul was an absolute blast -- especially 1977-78, when we didn't use any "record research" and just danced & rocked our 50kw asses off. Unfortunately, we found ourselves playing Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Diamond records by '79 (because the computer said so) and the fun was mostly over.

It was a rare occasion to take a bombed out 50kw battleship to a 13.6 in one book against Z98. Of course, we had stolen the late Ray Lincoln from KLAZ, too. But the rest of our lineup came mostly from WROK in Rockford, led by Carl Hamilton. (WROK had just been named Billboard Magazine's Grand International Radio Station of the Year, 1977 -- beating literally EVERY other radio station in America.)

Sadly, I haven't been back to L.R. since I moved. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to relive those amazing days on KAAY. I'll never forget that first night, rockin' 28 states. It was the first time I ever had to use an area code with the request line number. My first song was Fleetwood Mac's, "You Make Lovin' Fun." To this day, every time I hear that track, I can see that RCA board, 6 ITC auto fire carts, an RE20 in front of me and the Arkansas River out the window. Donna Summer, Boston, LTD, Brothers Johnson, Saturday Night Fever... holy crap! If I could have everything I have now in Tampa Bay, I'd rather have it in Little Rock.

Feel free to copy/paste this on the radio board or your blog. By the way, Stuart McRae, with whom I share the same birthday, is still a very good friend of mine. I saw that there was an inquiry for him as well on the radio-info Arkansas board. We usually see each other every winter in Colorado on the slopes. I'll make sure he sees the board and gets your email. While NewsTalk 820 is 50kw during the day, unfortunately you can't hear it up there, as we're a very directional 1000w before sunrise. I do have my old KAAY demo and some jingles. If the tape isn't too brittle, I'll see if I can burn you an mp3 for your tribute site. Hopefully, you can get some Beaker stuff from Stuart.

All the best,
Mark Larsen

--
Mark Larsen's Morning Magazine(R)
Weekday Early Mornings, 6-9AM
NewsTalk 820 WWBA, Tampa Bay


Mark, thank you SO much for letting us know what's up! We hope and pray that the tapes hold up and we can get some audio from you, soon.

This is amazing...the Internet has proven to be a great tool for this reunion, of sorts- what else could we call it, but a reunion? From a now-deceased collector's entry on a now-closed website, to a query on Radio-Info Boards, to Mighty1090KAAY...prayers ARE answered, y'all!

Once again, one of the greats has emerged....come visit often, Mark!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

KAAY Ratings Article

 

Former KAAY DJ Mark Larson posted this article at Facebook:

"I'm in the process of digitizing boxes of career clippings, air checks, etc. Just found this article on the 1977-79 resurrection of 1090KAAY. It's hard to believe that a market the size of L.R. only had 1 ARB ratings sweep per year (spring) back then. This is on the spring '78 ARB.

In the fall of '77, PD Carl Hamilton came down from WROK Rockford, which was just named Billboard Magazine's Grand International Station of The Year -- we beat everyone. He brought most of the staff (including yours, truly for 6-10PM) and stole Ray Lincoln from Z98 for mornings. The result was the hottest, personality-oriented, full-service CHR I have ever been, AM or FM (including B97 New Orleans), and a massive leap for KAAY. A lot of credit also goes to Gary Fries, our GM. He could be tough, but he was willing to spend the $$ it took to re-float the old battleship.

 

Even though my most successful years were the last 40 here in Tampa Bay, I've never had more radio fun and excitement than the 2 years I spent at KAAY, living in Little Rock, and attending UALR."

 

Thank you, Mark!  And thanks to Doug Virden who alerted me to Mark's post! 

BUd S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Eric Thomas and Beau Ryder

This is Eric Thomas' account of working with one of the "Ryders":

"I secured my first paying job at KKYK in the spring of 1980. At that time, Mike Lewis, was working 7-midnight and he basically trained me at KKYK. He was - and I’m sure still is - a great guy. So upbeat and positive. He was very helpful to me.  Anyway, it was during the summer of 1980 when Mike moved over to the Mighty 1090. He began doing 7-midnight on the AM dial. It was at this point in time he created Beau Ryder (later becoming “The Original Beau Ryder.”) Ray Lincoln was KAAY Program Director then.

As I said, Mike/Beau was very kind to me, and he was the one who opened the door for me to get on-the-air at KAAY. Steve Kelly had come on board as Program Director in the first half of 1981 and Beau had asked me if I would be interested in coming over as a weekend and fill-in guy with the possibility of more. He put in a good word for me with Steve Kelly, and after my meeting with Steve I was hired away from KKYK. I was thrilled to be working at my dream station! Amazing days!

Beau worked at KAAY doing 7-midnight while I was there and once again showed me the do’s and don’ts of the station. It wasn’t much longer – maybe several months – when Beau left. I’m not familiar with the details of why he left KAAY but PD Steve Kelly saw fit to immediately plug in part-timer, Mike Young, as (the new) Beau Ryder. Yep, it sounds crazy! So Mike Young (a friendly, always smiling guy who LOVED radio and sadly passed away much too early) became Beau Ryder. Mike Lewis/Beau Ryder had moved on and thus became known as “The Original Beau Ryder.” KAAY still had their own Beau Ryder though it was obviously not the same guy. I don’t recall how this was resolved. Eventually Mike Young/Beau Ryder was moved back to part-time and Billy Dee came on as the 7-midnight guy at KAAY. And for the remainder of my time at Multimedia, Mike Young simply just used his real name “Mike Young” while on-the-air.

And that is the story as I witnessed it all those years ago. And the link to the aircheck you have on your site from March 13, 1981 is the voice of “The Original Beau Ryder” – Mike Lewis. I am 100% sure of that. That is the voice of the guy I worked with at KKYK and KAAY.

Oh yea, and “The Original Beau Ryder” is still working today. For years he has been working afternoon drive at a station up in the Midwest. Quite successful. And Mike Lewis isn’t even his real name.

So that is what I know. Maybe this info fills a few holes in the storyline of KAAY – and Beau Ryder.

Like the old 1974 song by Reunion states, “Life is a rock (but the radio rolled me).”

My condolences to the family and friends of Bo Ryder. I know how it feels to lose a parent and my thoughts go out to his children and friends."

Thank you Eric, for helping fill in some "historical holes" for us and identifying the "Ryder" of our aircheck.

If ANYONE has any information an\bout Andrew "Bo Ryder" Williams, PLEASE forward it to my e-mail address below- thank you!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Memories From Barry McCorkindale

Folks, here is another memory from our very own Barry Mac!  As you recall, (and even if you don't), Barry was the man on the board for Clyde Clifford on the last hour of The Last Day; Barry also stayed on for another few years...there is a wealth of info on Barry, just search him in the upper left-hand corner!

Here's his take on "The Singing Pig" (and I've never heard this before, thanks, Barry!):

"Bud, I saw your correspondence, imploring old KAAY listeners to pass along any stories (my plea was on the KAAY Facebook page bs).  Well, even though this is a "latter day" story, and not really much of a story, as much as it is a historical perspective, I think it's significant, because it really did mark the beginning of the end of the old KAAY days, and AM music radio in general.  It seemingly came out of nowhere, as I don't recall KAAY promoting it beforehand.  But on one night, in September of 1979, while driving the last of my Don's Drug Store delivery route, I was listening to KAAY, in good part because my company car was equipped with only an AM radio.  It hit 7:00, with the obligatory legal ID, and instead of more music, I heard a voice I'd never heard before, introducing himself, and talking about how they were going to start doing something different weeknights at 7:00.  This was the introduction of talk radio into the KAAY format, and the host was a guy named Dick Price.  Even though I was more interested in music, out of curiosity, I listened for awhile.  I think after I finished my route, probably half an hour later, I took the company car in and got into my vehicle, and in all likelihood listened to an FM music station on the way home.  Either that, or I pushed play on whatever was in my 8-track (!) player.  But I listened more and more to this experiment on KAAY, and came to like it more and more, not minding in the least that they went from music with Joe James, their then-afternoon drive time jock, into talk radio with Dick Price at 7:00.  I'm not sure if it was 7:00 to 10:00, or if it was 7:00 to midnight, but it got to where I'd listen to Dick's show in my vehicle, and occasionally from the home radio.  And even though this did kind of mark "the beginning of the end," from my understanding at the time and since, the ratings at night went up.  Dick eventually named the show "The Singing Pig," in dedication to one of his callers who just wasn't getting his point (as Dick said, "You just can't teach a pig to sing - it wastes your time and annoys the pig"), and he stayed on for several months, possibly a year, before moving on to cross town AM rival KARN, which had a full news/talk format in operation.  And not long after that, late in 1981 I believe, Ray Lincoln also departed.  With their exits, as well as the aforementioned Joe James, and the changing face of AM radio, this marked the end of the station's glory days, even though there was a brief resurgence in its last year, mid-1984 until April of 1985, with the implementation of the oldies format.  Alas, that was short-lived, as owners Multimedia sold the station to religious broadcasting Sudbrink Media, and the station overhauled the format to Christian programming, as well as relocating the offices and broadcasting facilities to a completely different part of town.  But all that change, in my estimation, began late in 1979, with Dick Price and "The Singing Pig!" "

Thanks, Barry!  Please send your memories of KAAY/Beaker Street/Beaker Theater to me, I'll get them posted here!

Bud S (staceys4@hotmail.com)