Novelty Songs On KAAY

Dave M. has offered something we haven't thought of before: those wacky, hilarious novelty songs we all enjoyed!

"Here's something I've been tossing around - a list of some of the so-called "novelty songs" heard on KAAY. While this list is by no means complete, here's a list compiled by:

 http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Novelty.html

 that is a good start. Any others anyone else want to add to the list?




1970-1979:
1. King Tut - Steve Martin
2. Disco Duck - Rick Dees
3. Convoy - C.W. McCall
4. Junk Food Junkie - Larry Gross
5. The Streak - Ray Stevens
6. Dancin' Fool - Frank Zappa
7. Fish Heads - Barnes & Barnes
8. My Ding-A-Ling - Chuck Berry
9. Shaving Cream - Benny Bell
10. Mr. Jaws - Dickie Goodman

1960-1969:
1. They're Coming To take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! - Napoleon XIV
2. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland
3. On Top Of Spaghetti - Tom Glazer
4. Short Shorts - Royal Teens
5. Beep Beep - Playmates
6. Tip Toe Through The Tulips - Tiny Tim
7. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor - Lonnie Donegan
8. Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah - Allen Sherman
9. Leader Of The Laundromat - the Detergents
10. Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport - Rolf Harris

/D/"

A "New" Timeless Tracks Audio Version

Well, not really new...some of us have heard it, or some of it before, but I thought it would be nice to take the bits hanging around "out there" and have them strung together, as a real radio show should be.  Compliments of Greg Barman and his audio finesse, he strung it back together, did some audio magic to it with equalization, mono-to-stereo conversion and boosting and made it sound more like a radio show!  This was the 40th Anniversary Show commemorating KAAY's beginning on Tony Warner's "Timeless Tracks" show on "Cool 95", KOLL.  Later, Tony's show was cancelled, as mentioned in A.J.'s blog....there are several entries here:

http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/search?q=Timeless+Tracks

Featured guests were A.J. Lindsey ("Doc Holiday"), Matt White ("Sonny Martin III"), Charlie Scarborough, ("Charlie King") and Pat Walsh...also mentioned was "Clyde Clifford" (Dale Seidenschwarz), but I don't remember hearing him on this track.

You'll hear some audio tracks of KAAY's early days, some of which you may have heard before.  It sounds like they all had fun with this show!  Unfortunately, this is all the audio we have- 48 minutes and 13 seconds of it (a bunch of oldies music not related to the program was editied out)- and if anyone else has any more audio from this show NOT in this track, we would appreciate it being sent along...just see my e-mail addres below.

I have also tried contacting Tony Warner with no luck...I'd not called his business, only left an e-mail and was told that they'd forward the e-mail to him...no reply.  If anyone has any contact with Tony Warner, we'd like to hear from him and let him know the party continues!

Oh, and besides the audio (thanks to Greg's laborious contribution and Dave's posting help!), here is a picture of "Charlie (Scarborough) King", from KAAY, 1966- compliments of Charlie Okle:

Now, on with the audio!

Timeless Tracks --- 40th anniversary KAAY:   stream   |   download

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

THEM THERE BUSINESS CARDS !

Many thanks for my old friend, Dave M., for bringing his business card to the Site.  These are always uber'-cool for everyone to see...especially those who weren't there "at the time".

Now, here's a bit of info on my card that Bud posted awhile back:

My card wasn't printed on the usual card-stock that is normally used.  It was printed on a very thin, onionskin-style stock.  You could just about see-through it if you held it up to the light. Very classy indeed. These cards alone were a very classy introduction to whomever you gave them to.

(The girls loved 'em ! Thought if they weren't dealing with the "Kings of the Airwaves" or, "Radio Royalty" they were very, very close !   LOL !! )

My Dad, who many of you met when I was there, always carried one of mine around in his wallet to show people.  He was always my biggest fan, God bless him.  Always proud of what his son did.  He was also a Saint.  The kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being ever put on this Planet.  Thanks again, Dad.

Jonnie King

PS:  About those pix of Phil North/Eric Chase:  The reason Phil looks as he does in those pix is due to a secret formula of Swedish Youth Treatments, which I believe, were sold at one time at The Little Barn under the "You Can Look As Good As You Did In 1970 !" Label.  It was a combination Elixer, Mouth Wash, Hair Tonic, Body Rub, and, Lumbago Potion.  After fermenting, it could also be used as Car Polish & Grout Remover.

Many years ago, George & C.J. told me that Phil had pre-ordered a number of CASES of the stuff...which contained a gross of bottles to each case.

I hope this clairifies any confusion that may have arisen by your viewing of said photos.

Dave M.'s Biz Card!

Jonnie’s business card inspired me to go digging around – here’s one of my cards from the period not long after we moved to Cottondale Lane, and before the FM was changed to album rock format. Note the Multimedia logo near the bottom. Jonnie's card has the LIN logo on it.

/DM/

Eric Chase, Our Very Own "Phil North"!

I listened to Phil North on KAAY when I was younger...and that's all I'll say about that!  Some people age gracefully, as Phil/Eric has...in fact, he looks younger than many of us!  It must be all the fun he has doing audio and video for his clients...I've heard some of his work and it is GREAT!

I finagled a few photos of Eric at his business to share with you all here.  Yes, some of those deejays WERE actually handsome!

This is Eric with Steven Van Zandt of the Sopranos....and two more of him hard at work in the studio....

Visit Eric's website and see what he's up to these days...you'll be surprised as to where you'll hear his voice!

http://www.eccsvox.com/

Thanks, Phil!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Today, A Year Has Passed...

...since our friend A. J. Lindsey slipped quietly into eternity.  It was because of him, and our love for KAAY, that a core group started this blog, continuing in the tradition A.J. started.

"Emperor Holiday", we hope we're doin' it right!

A Couple More KAAY Jingles!

How many times did we hear those unmistakable KAAY identifiers, or "jingles"?  They were so alive, full of zing and fun to listen to!  One is a "K-Double A-Y", the other a "K-A-A-Y".  Here they are, compliments of Barry Mac:

"Lazy Weekend" Jingle:   stream   |   download
"Wow" Jingle:   stream   |   download

My Teenage Time Machine

Times were hard for my family in the summer of 1962, but somehow Mom found the ten dollars or so to get me a Channel Master transistor radio! I don’t know if it was the exact model in the picture, but it was close.

Ah, but that Channel Master was a sexy beast in its light brown leather carrying case! And the thing I liked immediately was the way it came on as soon as I clicked the thumbwheel switch. No waiting for tubes to warm up. It was THERE!

So I was off up and down the AM dial, searching for music that I wanted to hear—ANYTHING besides that whiny old Country stuff that seemed to be everywhere. (I’ve since learned that that music is a national treasure, but try telling that to an eleven-year old kid.)

Daytime listening was sort of interesting. I pulled in The Grandpa Show from KZNG in Hot Springs and was amused when the DJ spoke of getting his beard caught in the turntable. Trouble was, he was playing that whiny old Country stuff! I had no trouble getting the station my Grandmother listened to her “stories” on, KTHS at 1090 in Little Rock. But what music there was seemed utterly square to my restless ears.

At night, I picked up everything from the Mexican border blasters to KDKA in Pittsburgh. Every time I moved the dial even a millimeter, I got yet another station from an impossibly faraway place. I went through AA batteries like they were on sale!

Then came September and Grandma’s station changed COMPLETELY. KTHS became KAAY and started playing that Rock And Roll Music! I missed the changeover, didn’t hear the DJs reading names out of the phone book while they played “Baby Elephant Walk” over and over until it made the old people scream, but I was there by the second week of the new format for sure.

Now I had MY station and my Channel Master stayed locked in to The Mighty 1090, The Big K, The Friendly Giant. Doc Holiday and Mike McCormick and Buddy Karr and Rob Robbins and Ken Knight were talking to ME—playing what I wanted to hear! Didn’t take long until I knew every song on the Silver Dollar Survey. (I also knew that I was somehow, someday, going to be a DJ on that big station in Little Rock, but that’s another story for another time.)

Just when I was sure I was going to suffocate in the small town of Friendship, Arkansas, my Channel Master found KAAY and the music that beamed me into a marvelous new world. It was literally Solid State Salvation!

I found my Channel Master a couple of years back among some of the things Mom left behind. I opened the case only to find the ruin and corrosion caused when the last set of batteries spilled their acid into the chassis decades ago. I gave it a decent burial out under the pear tree and paused a moment to thank it for being my teenage time machine.

(Thanks to David B. Treadway for this great story!)

Dave M. Radios and Comments

Our very own Dave M.'s son restores classic radios...and he shared a couple of pictures with me to pass on to you:

"...my son just finished a Crosley AM/SW dual band restoration project that very well could have been used to listen to KTHS or KAAY back in the day. Here's a borrowed picture of the radio - a model 56-TN-L, which we think was manufactured about 1948 - 1952 or there-abouts. Ours is in as good shape as the one in the picture!!! We put it on an antique table in the front foyer of the house, and it looks/sounds great!"

Here's their Hallicrafters 38-B:
 
 

 
I like to listen around the AM dial with a Hammarlund HQ-100A, myself, when I'm in the Ham shack.
 
Thank you, Dave!
 
Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Sonny Martin Happy Alarm Clock Promo

Another fun ad from the "Sonny Martin Show", 6 to 10 AM...this "Sonny" is Matt White...another contribution from the Barry Mac Library!

Sonny Martin (Matt White) clock promo:   stream   |   download

What Did You Listen To KAAY With?

To my recollection, it being so many years ago that I listened to Jerry "Sonny Martin" Sims, Clyde Clifford and others, this is possibly the radio I listened to KAAY with.  Mine was more scratched and I think the carry strap on top and one knob was missing, but those tubes glowed in the dark, adding to the mystique of Beaker Theater by casting just a little bit of light into the room!

I found this radio here, as well as a couple of other places:

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/zenith_k725_ch7k01.html

Wonderful memories, those were!  Would you dear readers be kind enough to send in pictures of what YOU used to listen to KAAY with?  My e-mail address is below.  If you can't find a picture, but know the model of the radio, maybe I can find the picture and post it here for you!

I love old radios...later, maybe I'll take some pictures of what I have & post them here.

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

KAAY Business Card

With thanks and kudos to Jonnie King, here is his personal KAAY business card from 1969!

I don't think I've ever seen a KAAY business card, so I got permission from Jonnie to use this here...and for more neat stuff, please visit the official Jonnie King webste!

http://www.jonnieking.net/index.html

Jonnie has put forth great effort to put together a great, interesting website...please drop him a note when you visit!

Thanks to Jonnie King for sharing yet another great piece of history!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Lena Horne, R.I.P.

The beautiful and talented Lena Horne passed away on Mother's Day, May 9, 2010; she was 92.  I always loved her music and performances....

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gPNfIO_9nDQNiS__QwMLjFujjcUAD9FJVPSO0

I'll bet she's serenading the saints right now....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Those K-Tel Hits, 1972!

Oh, yes!  Hits by twenty-two artists, from 1972, only $3.99 and all on one stereo LP!  Sammy Davis Jr., Gallery, Derek & The Dominos, Lobo, Joe Simon and many more!

Some of the stores offering this record are no longer in existance...but this brings back great memories, nonetheless.  Thanks again to Barry Mac and his Wonderful Library of Sound!

K-Tel Hits '72:   stream   |   download

KXLR Survey- Who Is This Guy?

One more from Charlie Okle, from May 11, 1963...and it features a handsome young man by the air name of "Larry London", who has, I think, been mentioned here before.  QUICK!  Don't cheat and scroll down, but who was "Larry London"?  Yes, he came to KAAY later in this year.  Take a good look at the picture before you scroll down, then see if you are correct!

OK, give up?

"Larry London" is our very own Jerry Sims!  A short time later, when he came to KAAY, he became the second "Sonny Martin".  A word from Jerry himself:

"This was my first radio job and was very exciting for me. I grew up listening to the station, and knew that is what I was going to do. A.J. hired me there as well as later at KAAY. It has not been overly important to me to know the exact dates I was at either place, but now I may try to get it from some source.

Thanks for all you do for us,

Jerry/Larry/Tom/Jerry/Sonny.......(I was all these on the radio)"

And it is a pleasure that I, and we, do this for you and others to enjoy!

Jerry also sent along some more pictures of himself at KXLR and the control room, for your enjoyment:

This last image is that of KXLR's coverage within the state of Arkansas, from North Little Rock...quite a bit smaller than the coverage maps of KAAY, but just about the same as KAAY's primary area...here's a comparison:

Thanks to Charlie and Jerry for the images for the blog!  If there is any other material relating KXLR and KAAY employees, we'd be appreciative if anyone sent it along.

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

V.P. Agnew At The Republican Governor's Conference

V.P. Agnew is featured here in an edited version of an audio clip from an Arkansas Governor's Conference.  He mentions 1969, so I suppose he's looking back at some accomplishments...and he mentions Governors Rockefeller, Reagan and President Nixon.

Enjoy the audio, courtesy of Barry Mac:

Agnew at Republican Governors' Conference:   stream   |   download

Earlier KXLR Survey

Just for interest sake, here is another KXLR music survey sheet, from August 12, 1961, before KAAY came into being:

This survey, again sent in by Charlie Okle, mentions a contest for a safety slogan...and also offers three free albums of Frank Sinatra's, "Come Swing With Me", signed by "Stan Steele", The Stan Steele Show, 7 PM to 12 PM weekdays.

Again, thanks to Charlie Okle...and he sent one more in that will contain a surprise!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

What A Statement!

One night I was listening to A.J. on KAAY. He made this statement: "This is K-A-A-Y, the station which helped run Dick Biondi out of Chicago." Dick had been fired awhile before that, and I think he went to California. He came back to Chicago to work on WCFL around 1968. WLS celebrated their switch to rock and roll in 1960 on May 2, 2010 with a 50 year anniversary show on WLS-FM.

http://www.947trueoldies.com/Article.asp?id=1776254

Somehow I missed this show.

Ron H.

(In my opinion, competition between radio stations could be fierce...and even more so with the 50,000 watt giants of yesteryear, if I read my history correctly.  Over night time, I'll bet they were competing for nationwide audiences, as well!  Bud S.)

KXLR Survey

Charlie Okle, friend of Tommy Riggs, sent in some music surveys from when he (Charlie) was at KXLR, which has been mentioned several times on this blog.  Several KAAY employees came from KXLR, so it seems fitting that we give the latter some exposure here.

This particular survey is from May 25, 1963 and features Charlie as "Steve Scott"...here is his information on how that air name came about:

"I'm the Steve Scott on the May 25, 1963 sheet. The name was derived from nighttime John Scott (Gary Weir) who left for KATV channel 7, and Tommy Riggs' brother Steve. Hence "Steve Scott". I only worked there for about 2 months...."

Thanks to Charlie Okle...there's more to come later!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Radios, Errata

I am a sucker for interesting and old radios...one day, I'll do a post, possibly entitled, "What Did You Listen To KAAY With?" and show some old radios in my collection...boy, I wish I could find that old Zenith now!

Needless to say, my wife found an interesting AM/FM "microphone radio", given out by a financial institution as a gift...she bought it at a yard sale for a quarter- all that was wrong with it was the battery was dead!  The speaker is in the mic head and the controls on the side of the base...the wire is the FM antenna.  The "On The Air" lights up when the radio is turned on.  Pretty neat, pulls in the big stations at night with no problem!

Another was a deal I got this past weekend...fellow had it on a table at a gun show for $15 and it was brand new, in the box, never had batteries in it.  He'd bought it from Radio Shack for $60 and never used it!  It is a Grundig Mini-300 AM/FM/Shortwave pocket radio...and what a HOT receiver!  I listened all up and down the bands to shortwave stations- and the bands have NOT been very good lately- and the audio response, although through a small speaker, is great in a quiet environment.  Outside my office, by the Interstate, with noisy traffic, it is hard to hear and distorts when the volume it up high.  Nonetheless, on my desk (sans computer hash noise), it has a very pleasant tone and range to it.  The night I got it, I also listened to Johnny Rabbitt and "Route 66" on KMOX, with a great signal.  I tried KAAY on 1090 and could not get a signal...not surprising, these days....

For a shirtpocket radio, this thing is pushing the receiving performance of a tabletop radio.  It doesn't have the filtering of larger units, but for casual listening, it is a great little radio.  I also like the non-skid, soft coating all over the radio...lessens the "drop factor" and will not slide out of your pocket very easily.

And the "errata": just a funny radio joke I found in a June 1967 Reader's Digest, under the "Humor In Uniform" section...

"As station manager of the aircraft carrier Intrepid's radio and television station during the ship's deployment to Southeast Asia last year, I had no problem getting volunteer disc jockeys and news announcers.

One junior officer's tenure as news announcer, however, was short-lived, because he added a few words of his own to the standard closing of our newscasts: 'WINT is an Armed Forces Radio and Television Network affiliate and is owned and operated by the U. S. government- aren't we all?'"  submitted by JO2 Harry T. Wiley, FPO New York, N.Y.

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Interesting "TV DX" Picture

Since we listed a television station QSL recently, Ron Henselman sent along a picture of a TV show from KHTV, channel 11 in Little Rock, AR in 1969.  Over the years, I too have experienced watching television from great distances ("DX") and I have a VHS tape somewhere, if it hasn't been thrown away, of Mexican TV stations I saw from Alabama about 20 years ago.

Here's Ron's explaination of the picture to follow:

"This is what KTHV looked like at Gary Wegener's house in Melrose Park, IL during 1969. It was a real trick to get this photograph because we had to wait for our local channel 11 to go off the air. Long distance TV reception is more likely on channels 2 through 6 due to their lower frequencies. Notice the interference in the photo caused by other stations operating on channel 11.

Since the digital transition last June, it is possible to receive Canadian and Mexican stations on channels 2 through 6 because they have not vacated those channels. One might also find some low power U.S. analog stations on those channels.

When our local Chicago stations made the transition to digital, I was tuning around channels 2 through 6 to see what I could view in the way of long distance reception. I received about five stations total from Florida, Louisiana and Texas. They were easily viewable because there weren't many other stations on the air causing interference. Some stations kept their analog transmitters on the air for a couple of days to guide viewers in the digital transition.

How many of our readers are happy with digital television? I, for one, am not."

Here is KTHV's current Internet address, for those who care:

http://www.todaysthv.com/

I am not happy with DTV at all, myself...it is very unreliable for us who live in "the sticks".  With ANY digital transmission, TV, cell phone or what-have-you, it is either "there", or it is "not".  Simple things like branches waving in the breeze can disrupt the incoming signal- and it doesn't have to be at your location, just somewhere along the way.

However bad it is, our government, in its "infinite wisdom" has stuck us with it, in the never-ending quest to get more money for the finite radio spectrum we do have.  Don't hold your breath, it won't get any better...and as systems start to age, as in anything, it'll get worse....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Goodwill PSA Featuring Marlo Thomas

Pete Hearn, with a "petite brunette and mighty talented"..."That Girl!", Marlo Thomas...in an ad supporting Goodwill Industries.  Man, I remember Marlo Thomas- and her dad, Danny Thomas, but I wasn't as enamoured with him as I was her!

Does anyone have any information on Pete Hearn?  Was he a spokesperson for Goodwill Industries?  Enjoy the public service announcement below, courtesy of Barry mac, the audio vault specialist of Mighty1090KAAY!

 Goodwill PSA Marlo Thomas:   stream   |   download

One More KAAY, And A KARK-TV QSL Card

Here is one more, from the  John in Montana QSL Collection...this one is like some of the earlier versions, but is much clearer and easier to read.  Obviously, this collector must have kept it in a binder or folder, where sunlight, etc. would not degrade it.

Also in his collection is this QSL card from KARK-TV, the second-oldest TV station in Little Rock- April 15, 1954- so, happy birthday to KARK!

What is so surprising is that he saw this station on his TV from Sheridan, Wyoming!

Many times, unusual contitions occur in the upper atmosphere that cause VHF and UHF signals to be seen (or heard) many, many miles from it's intended audience and coverage area.  I've personally enjoyed watching Mexican TV from here in lower Alabama a number of years ago.  Nowadays, with digital TV, this may not occur at all, any more; with DTV, you either have a signal, or you don't.  Even in the coverage area, many of us lose the signal, just by a breeze blowing trees and leaves around...sad state of affairs for television now....

You can see more of John's collection here: www.johninmontana.com/dx/qslcards.htm


Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Yet Another KAAY QSL Card!

This copy is nice and clear...and even though it was issued after the 1985 sale, Chief Engineer Felix McDonald was still The Man and his signature is nice, clear and legible!

This came from the collection of Barry Davies, found on the web.

By the way, did anyone notice that the frequency measurement is still "KC"?  This is the old abbreviation for "kilocycles", before it was changed to "kHz", or "kilohertz".  Many of us older radio folk (both broadcast and Ham) still say, "KC's" as a term of endearment.

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Bud & Crew,

RE: "Hippie Poster" from owner of the Little Barn...

The owners of the Little Barn when I was at KAAY were George & C.J. (a lady). Very nice people. I used to take some of my girlfriends there, and they would be blown away by the place.

In fact, as David B. would attest to, I used to buy all of my Incense, Peppermints, and, Tie-Dye Doo Rags there ! (lol)

The poster in question said it was being offered by "fishnuts" and fishnuts had an eBay account, and an Ark. address. SO, I went to eBay and messaged that party with my info and asked if he was in fact, George from the Little Barn, and this morning here was the answer that I got:

"Very close, bro.

I am his eldest son, Grant, aka. Goofy Grant...did ads with Heavy George quite often.
George passed almost four years ago, tho, last I knew CJ was still alive & kickin' in California.

Grant  "

BTW: Another great headshop at the time was "The Village Fox" run by two really cool ladies. It was in a strip mall on the same street as the L.B., but in the other direction. I spent some great times there too.

As I have said before: During the years I was there, L.R. was just a hotbed of fun, cute girls, good food, cute girls, great concerts,good friends, and, did I mention, CUTE GIRLS !

AGAIN: To be there at that time & place was one of the BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE !

Jonnie King

Garner Ted Armstrong/The World Tomorrow Ad

Thanks to Barry Mac, here is a quick commercial for Garner Ted Armstrong and The World Tomorrow, aired evenings on KAAY's religious block.  We've mentioned the program before on this blog, but this is the first time we've come upon any audio or advertisements about the program.

Garner Ted Ad:   stream   |   download

Head Album Sleeve

I love researching for this blog!  I find more neat stuff...and it's even better after a dry spell when something "new" turns up.

The latest is a picture of a 1970 Head album sleeve...Head was released on the Buddah label, but, reportedly, was dropped soon after because the content of the music was "too druggy".  Well, with titles such as "Cannabis Sativa", "Methadrine" and "Lysergic Acid Diethylemide", I suppose so!!!!

The original album also included a coloring book inside the sleeve...the person who wrote about this aquisition said that he'd paid $36.00 for a scratchy LP with no coloring book inside.

As many of us know (and for those who don't), the famous 17-plus minute cut "Cannabis Sativa" was utilized by Clyde Clifford to mask the transmitter noise when he opened the mike in between selections.  The audio has been posted here earlier...just put "Head" in the search box above and click to find it.

Here is a copy of that album sleeve:

Found here: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:LQWK7e2Em7kJ:www.turnmeondeadman.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_myblog%26task%3Dtag%26category%3DBeaker%2BStreet%26Itemid%3D5+KAAY+poster&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Comex Apollo 12 Promo, April 1969

We are back to posting from the Barry Mac archives!

Here is a KAAY Comex News blurb for coverage of the Apollo 12 mission, prompting listeners to tune in for complete mission coverage. (Thanks again to Barry for the audio!)

(Here's a link to some background about Apollo 12.)

 Apollo 12 promo:   stream   |   download

"Hippy Listeners of KAAY", Vintage Poster

This was a poster, titled, "Space Rider", sold on E-Bay by someone who claims to have been the owner of The Little Barn...this is the link:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/hippy-blacklight-poster-space-rider

It would be interesting to know what else this fellow would have for sale, since he admits to having much more to offer.  There is no contact information on the link above.

There are several other posters of interest there on the link.  It would be interesting to find this fellow!  Does anyone have any contact information as to the whereabouts of the former Little Barn owner?

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The Last Day: During The Day, Part 8

Barry Mac had mentioned the legendary Brother Hal doing spots on KAAY during The Last Day...it is fitting that he be included here, as well:

Last Day: Brother Hal's Ad:   stream  |  download


So goes it, every bit of audio we had of The Last Day!  If ANYONE has any more, we would greatly appreciate the additions here!  Just send the file to my e-mail address below....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Moses Records 45 RPM Record Bag!

Just found this recently, again on the aforementioned Psychofthesouth website!  An interesting bit of trivia to enjoy.

Moses Record Shop was an influential music store in Little Rock and a launching pad for many promotions of local bands in the '60s.

Bud S.

Black Oak Arkansas' "Jim Dandy" on "Dazed & Confused"

I'm not much of one to just sit & watch a movie, especially one that depicts a lot of "loose" behavior, but I'd seen this flick on Dish Network over & over & thought, "what the heck?", since it was cast in a time near when I graduated from high school.  So, I went ahead & flicked it on and immediately viewed a scene with "Jim Dandy" being played in the background!  I thought, "Well, a movie that played some Black Oak Arkansas music can't be all bad!"  In fact, there was some pretty good music from the period, by Nazareth, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and others.

After looking on the web, this movie actually achieved a cult status, with favorable reviews...guess I'll have to watch the entire thing next time it comes around- or, at least, the part I missed.  Can't waste TOO much time, what with so much to do on the ponderosa....

The connection?  "Jim Dandy"!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazed_and_Confused

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

The Last Day: During The Day Part 7

This is the last segment that I know of, of the Last Day audio we've gleaned from A.J.'s blog.  It is of Sonny (Matt White) Martin and Mike (Barry Woods) McCormick talking about various promotions.  Near the end of the segment, they talk of greeting a visitor at the station, who turned out to be an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Inspector, who promptly handed Sonny/Matt a citation!  The violation wasn't mentioned, but it must have been run-of-the-mill...no mention of getting fired is on the clip....

If ANYONE has any more audio of The Last Day at KAAY, PLEASE forward it on to me!  This is history we want to share with everyone- we don't want any of it to fade away!  My e-mail is staceys4@hotmail.com and I'll be eagerly awaiting any and all donations!  Bud S.

 The Last Day: Promotions:   stream  |  download

Beaker Street Poster

I've hung onto this, for whatever reason, and forgotten to post it numerous times until now.  I got it from the Psychofthesouth.com website, where we've referenced before:

http://www.psychofthesouth.com/photos_body.htm

This is referenced to year 1971 as an "early promotional poster".

We're still searching for more previously-uncovered KAAY audio, including that of Beaker Street.  We had a great find awhile back of a New Year's Eve broadcast that generated lots of "hits" and, I'm sure, more than a few downloads.

And now...as we've heard before...imagine with me, if you will, that deep, deep Tom Perryman voice, announcing, "Beaker Street...K-A-A-Y, Little Rock....", with reverb and depth that shook our bones and made us tingle with anticipation for the show!

If anyone has any audio stuck back in the closet, tape box or what-have-you that we haven't posted here yet, PLEASE get in touch with me- we'd love to share it here for all to enjoy!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

THE FIRST DAY: APRIL 21, 1969 !

A Special "Hello" to ALL who've taken the time to not only put this blog together, keep it running, add stories to it, but also to share their thoughts & memories of "The KAAY Experience" !

If you've had the time to check-out my Personal Website (http://www.jonnieking.net/) you've probably seen some early pix & read a lot of info on my years at "The Mighty 1090".  It was truly one of the happiest, best times of my career...and, if I could get in that (as of now unfinished) Time Machine I've been building, I would set the dial for "April 21, 1969/Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A./KAAY Radio Studios, 1425 W.7th St." I would then go back, start it all over again, do it all BETTER than the first time, and, repeat the time period from 4-21-1969 to 9-15-1972 in a continuous loop.

Granted, I've had much success since I left KAAY, met many fantastic people, re-invented my career many times, still work at it everyday of my life, and currently have one of the hottest, most respected, individually produced, automotive sites in the R&C Industry (http://www.legends.thewwbc.net/), BUT the time I spent at KAAY remains deep in my heart, and my memory banks.

Ever see "Citizen Kane" ?   One of my all-time favorites & Welles one of the absolute best actor's ever.  But the mystery of "Kane" was based on his dying word: "Rosebud".

With all of his power, fame, money, property...Kane's dying word was linked back over 70 years earlier.  Linked back to his childhood, and to the beloved sled that he possessed on the day his young life was changed.

If any of the above resonates within your "mind's eye", you will then understand my wanting to relive those days of fun, friends, music, excitement, adventure, learning, and working at my craft in "The Art Of Communication" at our beloved KAAY.  AND, to go back to that first day there that began a change in MY life.

So it was, on this night of the aforementioned date, that I began my days at KAAY: The Mighty 1090.   And, I've been proud to be a part of  this Legendary station ever since.

Again, I salute all of those who were with me sharing that experience.  Each has their own individual version of their involvement, but I'd like to remember and thank, those who were there at that time, and those who have passed away:  Barry Wood, Pat Walsh, David B., George Jennings, Dave Montgomery, Matt White, Phil North, Nick Markel, Walt Sadler, Richard Enderwood, Joe Dickey, Celeste Dozier, Eddie Graham, Carolyn Metheny, Eula Mae, Felix McDonald, Marvin Vines, Tom Rusk, Delores Handy, Wayne Moss, Larry Montgomery, "Little Mary"...and if I missed you're name, sorry and thanks to you too !

My time at "The Mighty 1090: KAAY" ?   It all began 41 years ago today.

God bless you all, and please keep in touch.

Your friend,

Jonnie King

A.J. Lindsey Remembered

(This post was left in draft form on the blog several weeks ago.  Rather than let it languish, I decided to go ahead and post it, in hopes that the originator could come forward and finish the great memories he/she started here.  If not, this is still a wonderful memory of A.J. for all to enjoy...Bud S.)

I had the good fortune to meet with A.J. Lindsey, and even to work with him...but not in radio, unfortunately.  Of course, I grew up with KAAY and "Doc Holiday," including the stint by A.J. in that on-air role.  The first time I met him was when I lived in Pine Bluff, from 1978 until 1980.  I was managing a movie theatre there (Flick Twin Cinema), and worked with KCLA, "Razorback Country," as it was known at the time.  The general manager of the station was Ralph Taylor.  A.J. was running a waterbed store near the theatre.  The company I was working for, Commonwealth Theatres, had a contest between the theatre managers for the upcoming Academy Awards ceremonies.  Being somewhat competitive, I enlisted the aid of several merchants, including A.J.'s Waterbeds.  A.J., being a promotion minded individual, donated the grand prize, a complete waterbed outfit.  He came and set it up in the lobby of the movie theatre, where customers could look at it.  The contest involved the person filling out a ballot of the major Academy Awards.  We got some promotional air time on the radio station.  

FROM THE LAST DAY TO THE FIRST !

A special "Hi" to all !

I've been reading and listening to all of the great stories about "KAAY: The Last Day".

Ironically, today - April 20, 2010 - is the day I moved to Little Rock to start my job at KAAY.

It was that fateful day of April 20, 1969, that I left KLID in Poplar Bluff, MO. to drive on into L.R.  I remember it almost as if it were yesterday:  the excitment, the anticipation, the nervousness (yes, that was always a factor in leaving "established roots" no matter where you were headed), and the feeling that I'd try to capture "lightning in a bottle" and contribute all of my time, talent, and energy to this WorldWide appreciated 50,000 Watt Giant: KAAY.

I was driving my nearly-new, custom-ordered '68 Cougar XR-7 and stopped for gas about 30 miles out of L.R.   In those days an actual "attendant" filled-up your car, and while he was doing that I went inside to get something to drink.  They had a radio on and I was sure it was KAAY because I had been listening on the way down, they even had a "last year's" KAAY Razorback Schedule still hanging on the wall.

When I got my drink and was paying for the gas, I asked the clerk - as I always used to like doing - what station they were listening to.  "That's KAAY", she said.  "Is that a good station ?", I asked. "Oh, they're the only one I listen to !  They have really good songs all the time..." she replied.  'Nuff said. I had to contain myself, trying to keep from telling her that "...tomorrow night, you can hear me on that station !"

As it went, I got to L.R. okay, Barry Wood, who was the PD then, was waiting for me at the station.  We went over the "basics of the board", and by that time a Sunday Night religious block was on.   My friend, Richard Enderwood (read more about him on my Personal Site) and his wife, had said that I could stay in the spare room of their Mobile Home til I found a place, so we had some dinner, and I hit the sheets...trying very hard to get some sleep before the Big Day.

I'll try to fill you in on that tomorrow.

All the best to you all,

Jonnie King

Back When We Pushed Buttons

For some years now, I’ve been wondering what was so different about those “good old days” of radio back in the 60s and 70s. (Yeah, I realize I’ve just come out as a Geezer, but there are some things a man simply must do.)

A large part of the difference between Then and Now would be the use of the controlled playlist: here’s today’s song sequence from which you shall not deviate. You will play this one followed by that one followed by the other one—and so on until the next person (if any) comes on duty.

At least that’s the way it was until computerization rendered humans quaintly superfluous. Until sometime in the middle 1980s, DJs actually handled discs—compact discs in this case. We’d pick ‘em from the wall rack according to the playlist, cue ‘em up (meaning we’d insert one into the playback machine and set it to the proper track) and fire ‘em off at the exact moment so as to never let that VU meter drop (aka Dead Air). The process worked the same with vinyl records and turntables, though one had to learn to “lead” the turntable so it wouldn’t “wow up.” (Didn’t we have some lovely terms Back When?)

It was in the early 90s when some nameless Spawn Of Satan figured out that all the music a station played could be recorded into a computer hard drive and played back complete with jingles, promos and commercials without the need for human intervention. Go back and read that part another time or two, for it summarizes the entire decline and fall of Radio. I’ll wait.

“Without the need for human intervention” is what scooped out the soul of Radio and dashed its brains against the bottom line. It’s what enabled Clear Channel (known within the industry as the Evil Empire for several good reasons) to use voice tracking: a practice whereby a DJ in Memphis can also appear on-air in Seattle, Denver, and/or Milwaukee. Instead of hiring three actual humans, Clear Channel just throws a few extra bucks at the guy in Memphis. All glories to the profit margin. Et cetera, ad nauseum, world without end, amen.

Things were radically different in the control room of KAAY—and of a thousand other stations across the country Back When. At the end of a record, we WERE ready with the next one. At the end of a commercial, we WERE ready with the next one. We NEVER let the needle on that VU meter drop. EVER. A human being pushed every button, flipped every switch. There was no such thing as walkaway time. We started and stopped and monitored every blessed thing that went out on the air. We were as important as the electricity that fed the transmitter. When we were on the air, we WERE the station and our listeners knew it. There was a human being talking right to them through that speaker. There was a friend in that little old box. Somebody was alive in there and having a big time!

Fast forward to 2010—O Brave New World where the Radio landscape looks like a Salvador Dali painting full of limp pocket watches draped over the branches of dead trees in the desert. I take some evil consolation in the thought that Spawn Of Satan probably got a thousand-dollar bonus for his computerization idea and ultimately lost his gig to his own brainchild.

Cynically Yours,
David B. Treadway
Doc Holiday VII
Genuine Relic Of A Bygone Age

The Last Day: During The Day Part 6

According to what I read, Barry Wood, a.k.a. Mike McCormick, worked part-time at KAAY, since he was in the Air Force at the Little Rock Air Force base (by the way, this is one of my customers! bs).  This is a very short audio clip and I thought his selection of Kansas' "Dust In The Wind" was appropriate:

(insert KAAY Last day Woody audio here and delete this line)

 The Last Day: Barry Wood:   stream   |   download

Jerry Sims/Sonny Martin Audio!

(Jerry Sims recently found a tape in his collection of himself...and a very important and valuable tape, indeed!  Read on and enjoy the audio...many thanks to Jerry! bs)

Back in 1966 we were having some fun on KAAY. I believe the listeners were, and I can assure you we were. Here is an air-check from my Sonny Martin Program on August 30, 1966. We would always cut out the music when we recorded these. DJ's and Program Directors knew what the music sounded like. I did not think at the time that this would be listened to by others, 40+ years later, that would want "the whole experience." Sorry.

There were some special things I remember about this particular program. First of all, my good friend Richard Wiethan was about to take over the Buddy Karr name and shift. He walked into the control room to say hello, with his shades on. That is who I was talking to when I said "Hello Hollywood". Then he was acting silly and almost fell over a chair. Also his voice is on the tape (my only recording of this good friend) promoting the new season of the Buddy Karr Program starting September 12th, with a special preview on September 5th. I then said he would be on later today. This was all just promotional babble, because he was coming in as the new Buddy Karr. The one before him, Bob Mullins (Buddy Karr #2), had recently left. Listeners, many times, would call about the "new voice-same name" thing that we did regularly. They seemed to adjust to it quickly enough though. I have said before, I left KAAY as Sonny Martin on a Friday, and a different sounding Sonny was on the air on Monday. Not too long to make that adjustment, huh?

Also in the tape you will hear Walt Sadler (Ron Owens) on several promos, and George J. Jennings. And, my favorite voice of all time, Tom Perryman with his BIG K- A- A- Y. I really wish I had left the tape rolling on some of the news, etc. The voice on the Follow-A-Car promotion, I believe, is Ray Brown (the Doc Holiday who took A.J. Lindseys place).

While it is fun for me to listen again, there is a sad part of it: Richard Wiethan, A.J Lindsey, Ray Brown, Walt Sadler, and George Jennings are no longer with us.

"Return with us now to those thrilling days of yester-year"......

Jerry Sims......Sonny Martin KAAY.....the middle one

Jerry Sims/Sonny Martin 1966:   stream   |   download

Arkansas Ham Radio Special Event Station

For those of you who enjoy the "different" and "interesting": I was just informed by Bill, WA9AQQ this morning of a special event Ham radio station that will take place from April 17 through the 25th, from 1400 to 2300Z (9 AM until 6 PM Central Time) from the club station W5HSV, located at Hot Springs Village Arkansas (note the last three letters of the callsign).  For those who are Ham radio operators, or if you have shortwave listening capabilities, tune in to 21.240 MHz, 14.240 MHz (both in upper sideband mode), 7.240 and 3.940 Mhz (both in lower sideband) at different times of the day.  There will be only one station operating, so any of the frequencies will be used one at a time during different parts of the day.

The special even station is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Hot Springs Village, AR.

Ham radio operators will recieve a beautiful certificate for their QSL sent to the station.  I suppose, in the case of a shortwave listener sending in a short report, a certificate would also be received...these guys from Arkansas are top-notch operators and welcome shortwave listeners, as well, so ask!

Reports and QSLs go to: Ken Graham, W5HSV, 71 Mandarina Dr., Hot Springs Village, AR 71909.

(Reason being, we've mentioned the Good Ol' Arkansas Phone Net here before and several of the operators there were KAAY listeners in the "glory days"; they visit our blog from time to time and I, as a Ham myself, enjoy operating with them and support them...might as well say, "everything Arkansas" for the blog!  Bud S.)

The Last Day: During The Day Part 5

This is a longer audio clip- the longest we have (almost ten minutes)- of The Last Day.  This clip includes an Ear On Arkansas comedy segment...rather racy for the day!  Also, Sonny (Matt White) Martin mentions how he came to KAAY- Tommy Riggs was the responsible party!

Sonny also mentions Toy Hill and marathon deejay sessions...I'd listened to these guys do their stints at the mic and wished I'd been able to travel up there on a Christmas vacation to participate helping with the toys, but I was never able to go.

 Last Day: More Sonny Martin:  stream  |  download

Dennis Harrington audio

We received this from Fritze Prentice:

Attached is a KAAY aircheck from January (unknown year) featuring Dennis Harrington --- mostly oldies music, a couple of promos, some ads (one local, two national).
 
Fritze H Prentice Jr
KC5KBV
Star City, AR

Thanks, Fritz!

Dennis Harrington KAAY:   stream   |   download

The Last Day: During The Day Part 4

This is a humorous little excerpt from the Last Day, where Mike McCormick (Barry Woods) mentions Mary Smart in the character of "Magnolia". Mary/Magnolia played a part in the KAAY Ear on Arkansas comedies. According to A.J.'s memories of Mary, she was a copy writer at KAAY. By the way, there's a jingle at the end of the clip by Tommy Riggs...enjoy!

Last Day, Mary Smart and "Magnolia":   stream   |   download

The Last Day: During The Day Part 3

I’m not sure how the following segments follow one another, so I’ll post them, according to times mentioned, as best I can find. This is a short segment of how “Harper Valley PTA” was the first country music selection played on KAAY; it is ‘scoped, so the whole song is not played. A news segment follows the song, done by Don Griffin at 1:00 PM...does anyone know if this is his real name or just an air name?

Last Day, Harper Valley PTA:   stream   |   download

Jim's Memories Of A.J.

A.J. owned (at one point or another) 3 Water Bed stores in Pine Bluff, Stuttgart, and Little Rock. I actually worked for him as a store manager for all 3 at one time or another before my return to radio.

A.J. also owned and ran a skating rink just outside Pine Bluff for a while as well. Somewhere I have a photo of my, now, 30-year old daughter at around age 2 in a pair of skates in the skating rink.

When A.J. and I worked at KCLA in Pine Bluff, he and our sales manager, Roger Breedlove, made a trip to Monticello, AR and managed to find the owner/founder of Monark boats. They worked out a deal with him give away a 14' flat-bottom fishing boat a day for 2 weeks (if memory serves). We got busy working on Promos and the mechanics of the contest and then Roger got a call from the C.O.O. of Monark Boats trying to get 'up-to-speed' on what had happened when he turned his back. Apparently, while the gentleman they had talked to was, in fact the Owner/Founder, he was somewhat inactive in running the business--unless, of course he decided to. The promotion went off without a hitch--as far as what listeners heard, but we definitely weren't sure for a while there.

Jim

Bruce M. Speaks Out On Beaker Street Memories!

Bruce M - Houston, TX said...


Fritze, thanks for sharing your KAAY memories as a Gen-Xer. I’m on the tail-end of the Boomers (born 1961) and want to share my memories of KAAY, all Beaker Street. It was around 1973 and I was 12, living in mid-Missouri. I had 4 huge teeth pulled one day to get ready for braces, and I was up late at night with severe pain. I had an AM radio; while turning the dial amongst all the late night noise, I came across KAAY…I think there was a cool song playing, then I heard the background track. WOW! This was COOL! I would thereafter go to sleep with the radio on (if I was still awake at 11!) and listen to the show. Sometimes I’d wake up for Beaker Theatre. After I got my driver’s license and became busier, I listened to Beaker Street less often. I recall only a few times picking it up in the car, as the show discontinued sometime around 1977. You may have heard the brief clips posted on the web….one of Stuart advertising the “new” Rush Farewell to Kings album I had on a tape. I later followed FM stations, often driving several miles in the country to barely pickup KSHE 95 from St. Louis, a VERY COOL station! Anyway, I wanted to share a list of songs that I remember from Beaker Street. BTW, I never paid attention to the DJ’s back then, please accept my apologies!

A few Beaker Street Classics that I recall in the mid 70’s era…

Blind Faith – Had to Cry Today

King Crimson – Court of the Crimson King

Steve Miller- Fly Like an Eagle

Led Zeppelin – In my Time of Dying, Stairway…, Kashmir, Nobody’s Fault but Mine

Peter Frampton Live – Do You Feel Like we Do

Ted Nugent – Together, Writing on the Wall, Stranglehold

Rush – 2112, Necromancer, Lakeside Park

Black Sabbath – Wheels of Confusion, War Pigs, Paranoid, others

Jaime Brockett – Legend of USS Titanic

Frank Zappa – Montana

Leon Russell – Jumping Jack Flash

Also, lot of Yes, Little Feat, Allman Bros. I could add a few more with time, but these may stir up a memory or two!

The Last Day: During The Day Part 2

In this segment, Sonny (Matt White) Martin mentions his restaurant, Lindsey’s Rainbow Resort, and turning into a cook and that he’s still “spinning the platters” after stealing some of the music! Also mentioned was his version of how Beaker Street got its name....

The Last Day:   stream   |   download

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

Dave M. Comments on "The Last Day"....

Barry’s and David-B’s “last hours” essays are pure treasure.

You hear it often as a joke – “last one out, turn off the lights”. Well, this was the real deal, and it was in the guts. It was truly the day the music died, the last great breath of a gentle giant. I wish I could have heard the old RCA 50kW sing her last song, but . . . . (Wasn’t it poetic that she didn’t want to give up the microphone?) I’m glad I was 600 miles away and didn’t hear any of it.

Thank you Dave B and Barry for the bitter-sweet memories. We owe ya big-time!

/”Leeroy”/

(No where else and from no one else could we get heart-wrenching stories but from Those Who Were There...and, if anyone else can add to this important, but sad anniversary, please let us know!  bs)

The Last Day: During The Day Part 1

How can one follow the gut-wrenching stories of Barry Mac or David B. Treadway regarding that Last Day, the Day The Music Died on KAAY? I don’t think that if I wrote for a hundred years, I could even begin to convey the hurt, anger, anguish, confusion or the betrayal felt by Those Who Were There, whose beloved Friendly Giant was being sold out from under them.

Nonetheless, there ARE audio bits saved from that day; we gleaned all we could find from A.J.’s blog (by the way, as of middle March, the audio is back on there, thanks to an unknown benefactor! bs). We will be presenting those audio bits here for your enjoyment. The “Sonny Martin” you’ll hear is Matt White; the “Mike McCormick” is Barry “Woody” Wood. The different bits you’ll hear will be recollections of days past, re, the KAAY Komandos, different promotions, programming, antics and other things they got into.

I wish we had more audio; it must be “out there” somewhere. Wherever A.J. got it, it must be in existence, but we know not where; maybe someone out there rolled more tape and will be willing to share with us...

 Sonny Martin on the Last Day:  stream  |  download