This is an experiment.
Kidd Kraddick’s death affected so many of us in part because it was so unexpected.
Unfortunately, usually Life doesn’t give us enough, if any, warning. We don’t get a second chance to say goodbye.
Here’s the experiment.
On the 4th Friday of each month, I’ll devote this space to thanking someone who helped me professionally.
By “professionally,” I don’t necessarily mean “helped me get a job,” although that could qualify. I just mean…helped or inspired me personally.
I hope each installment will generate two reactions:
1. Anyone who also had positive encounters with the individual I’m writing about will relate them there.
2. You will post your own story here about one person who helped you professionally. More than one person has helped you? Great. Save all but one for next month.
Gary Owens
I was in my 2nd-to-3rd year in radio, working in the unrated, unheard-of market of Lake Wales, Florida.
Prior to moving across the country to start my radio career, I had lived in Los Angeles for a couple of years. That’s when and where I learned that Gary Owens wasn’t just the announcer on Laugh-In. He was an exceptionally funny disc jockey on KMPC.
KMPC was a “middle of the road” (MOR) station, playing music that a teenager raised on rock ’n’ roll had no desire to hear. But what Gary said between the records was so clever that I listened every afternoon.
I don’t recall if I had written to Gary (whom at the time I hadn’t met) in advance; I don’t recall how I arranged this. But when I returned to L.A. on vacation, I dropped off an aircheck at the KMPC studios in the hopes that Gary Owens would listen to it and give me some feedback.
Before I returned to Florida, I made another trip to KMPC to pick up a 2-page, handwritten letter from Gary…offering feedback on my radio show and career advice.
(One of the markets he suggested I try was Phoenix. I wish I’d saved the rejection letter from the program director of KRUX, telling me “I don’t think you’re KRUX material.”)
There’s a lot more I could say about Gary Owens — all of it with admiration and appreciation. I’ll save the other stories for future postings.
But for now I’ll just say: Thank you Gary Owens for helping that young kid you never heard of from that tiny market you never heard of.
That’s my Radio Kidd Friday memory. What’s yours?
Comments on this entry are closed.
Dan:
Great idea, great article.
I would have to say Larry Caringer was one of my heros. We met once when I was in 9th grade (that’s another embarrassing story), I emailed him a few years ago after stumbling across his website.
Larry makes radio visual. His forecasts alone had you picturing a huge map with all the weather symbols placed on it, he even taps the map as he’s pointing to things!
Making it visual is one of the most important things to me as a writer – if I can “see” what I’m talking about, we’re going to have a decent commercial. And for that I count Larry as a daily influence and inspiration.
Nic
btw, Dan…
What is that next to Gary’s signature? “1874”?
Daaaaang.
@ Nic: Larry was one of my O’LINERS subscribers and (after I’d long gone) was a jock in my hometown of Hartford.
Yep, Gary dated his signature “1874.” And I hope you noticed the unusual detail of his letterhead’s logo.
I have a few thank yous I could send out but this one will be to Rick Dees. (sorry if this is long)
When I started in Chico California at KLRS CHR as a board op for Mr. Dees it was about a year later that his syndication was cancelled. He was essentially fired and in lieu of bashing anyone, instead of reeling in disbelief and playing calls of listeners outraged about it… instead of all that he said thank you about 100 times that morning and then had one of the most prolific sign off speeches I have ever heard. In that moment I was literally in tears and was changed. I knew that I wanted to do business like that. Now I could stop there and it WOULD be enough to thank him for but the next day I was running an old Dees tape and around the end of the show, the phone rang.
“Power, good morning!” I said
“This is Rick Dees, is Eric Brown available, please”
I was in utter shock. It was him. He talked with us for about 20 minutes and told us that he was calling every single affiliate and apologizing. What a humble man. He asked me who I was and I said I was his board op. He said, and I will never ever forget this.
“Do your own show screw corporate radio. Its more real and organic doing it locally. Do your own show, trust me you can do it and you will love it!”
13 years later and I am still trying to live up to what he challenged me to do.
Thanks Rick. You really did more for me that day than you know.
-Tad Shackles
mornings KEWB (simulcast on KCEZ)
Dan that is great! Many years ago, I received an encouraging letter from Bro Jake when he was in Halifax..he is now in the process of changing stations in Vancouver… and nope, I never saved that letter (1982 or 83).
@Tad: Rick always has had a reputation for encouraging young jocks. Glad he had that impact on you.
@Donnny Lehn: Brother Jake has always been one of my favorites. A good guy and talented radio performer who can’t help but make his program director nervous.
Hey, Dan – I was inspired by a couple of guys when I was starting in radio in Winter Haven, FL in the early 70s. Their names were Lenny Bruce and Dan O’Day and they were on WIPC in Lake Wales, FL…I made radio a career anyway… Actually you were VERY inspiring to me and I am extremely grateful that you guys took time to talk with me and encourage me…
my mentor and very close friend was Ken Jones..whom I lost on Nov 14, 1970 in the Marshall University plane crash that took Ken and entire Marshall Football team..I owe him even today..his insights and teachings on broadcasting and Play by Play.. definitely resulted in my induction in the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2010…there is no doubt..
My mentor was J Paul Huddleston. He came into Syracuse at the invitation of my Program Director to give me some pointers on how to deliver the news. He gave me so many ideas to work from that it would take a lifetime to thank him. In any case, I fell in love with the business and eventually went on to win a CMA trophy in 2004 for the top Morning Show Host in a Medium Market. Thanks J Paul…where ever you are!
The funniest, most creative jock, I have ever worked with was Phlash Phelps. By far, the best at doing phones. He taught me so much about “personality radio.” Phlash was doing nights at Power 97,5 WKMZ in Martinsburg, West Virginia and I was doing the over nights. It makes me so proud knowing that he now doing the 60’s at 6 on XM Radio.
Way to make it to the big time Phlash.
One of the greatest moments of my career was recording a parody song called… P.A.R.T.Y.I.N.G. I recently was listening to old air checks and came across this parody song. Man did I have fun working with you Phlash. It was a sad day when you left for Fort Wayne to the Killer B.
Thank you Phlash, for all the wonderful memories.
The “Real” Johnny Stevens – AKA the bit burglar
In addition to the daily invocation of Dan O’Day thoughts and wisdom I impart on newbie AEs, I am particularly grateful to the now departed Dale Van Horn. Back in the mid ’80’s, Dale was a radio personality and Creative Director at 85 Kix Country in Raleigh, NC. I was Creative Director at the FM across the hall. Dale was legally blind, but still wrote and recorded great commercials. Dale loved creativity, but embedded into me that, “If it doesn’t move products or services, advertising is at most ‘artistic expression.” BTW: On every paycheck were these words: The power of radio to move goods and services made this check possible. Miss you Dale!
Learned about Radio From Dave Diamond the Boss Jock from KHJ..,KFRC & KFI ..he is Friend of the family (grew up with my Mom) knew i Wanted to do radio and so..I moved to Midwest to learn the ropes during College where he was teaching Broadcasting…Dave is still teaching parttime at Black Hills College in Rapid City SD ..Showed us all How the real world Worked..and really opened my eyes when i landed the first jobs..
another guy I leaned a lot from while hanging out at WSM upon Knob Hill….Ralph Emory….but then.. there was also lots of fun too..
While I have many to thank, my top three would be Steve Fox, John Richards and Linda Byrd for giving me my first full-time gig in Jacksonville, FL.
Don Steele inspired me as a child and later on literally told his soon-to-be-wife who was interim PD at the FM to “give that board op an airshift.”