August 10, 2015
Claude’s Commentary No. 77
By Claude Hall
info@voxjox.org
A real rock ‘n’ roll mama. She was. She really was. But I never thought of her that way. To
me, she was Karen Velline, the wife of Bobby Vee and mother of his three boys and his
daughter. A damned good mother. A good friend. She passed away this past week of a lung
condition that her husband spent a fortune to cure. And couldn’t. God has His own reasons
why some of us go and others go later. And they are good reasons. I guess. My wife Barbara
will miss her like a close sister, which she was. This family will miss her. And mourn her
death as if she was a close aunt, though she was closer than that. The Vellines are family
friends. They lived up the street in Los Angeles for a few years and Barbara would usually
spend the day there and then come home and they would soon be on the phone. My kids –
John, Darryl, Andy -- grew up with her kids – Jeff, Tommy, Robby, Jenny. Our families
camped together on occasion. Once, in the Sequoias where Karen prepared S’mores. Another
time at 29 Palms where, suddenly, Jenny and Andy, babes, were missing and we discovered
them high on the edge of a cliff, sitting there, swinging their legs more than a hundred or so
feet in the sky. I was about to panic. Karen just said, “Come on down from there” and turned
away. I will always remember the evening Bob built a campfire. The kids sang Steve Miller
tunes around the fire long into the night.
After the Vellines – Bob’s real name – moved back to Minnesota, we visited them at the home
Bob’d built on the Mississippi and later at his cabin on a lake. When Bob moderated a panel
of superacts at an International Radio Programming Forum at the Plaza in New York City, she
came and the Halls and the Vellines sprawled on a suite floor, sipping wine, gossiping about
our kids, one entire evening.
She was a good wife to Bob and a great mother for their kids. Earlier in his career, she’d even
traveled with him on tours … probably those Dick Clark things which you can still witness
on various films around. She was that backstage person who helps out. Even washing the
underthings of Dusty Springfield. Silly, huh? But Karen was the perfect helpmate for a rock
star. And Bob was a superstar virtually around the world!
Robby Vee went out on his own and he and his rockabilly band perform throughout the
Midwest. He’s good. Packs them in! Bobby Vee has appeared as a guest from time to time.
Tommy and Jeff have a recording studio in St. Cloud, MN, and play backup – Tommy on bass,
Jeff on drums -- for various bands. They played in Bob’s band when he was performing.
Jenny has an art studio in Rochester, MN.
Later, on a musical cruise ship promoted by Paul Revere where Bob performed with two of
his sons, Tommy and Jeff, and two of Tommy’s kids, she was there. Bob carried her oxygen
generator. By now her lungs were in really poor shape. Bob had already tried highly
experimental treatments. I mentioned these in an earlier Commentary. She flew into the
Dominican Republic because those treatments were illegal in the states. She went through a
lung replacement at Duke. She made medical history in some medical magazine.
It’s sad that she’s gone. Bob has Alzheimer’s now. He needs her around. I believe the world
still needs her around. The Halls miss Karen Velline.
VOX JOX MATTERS
Next week, you’ll find your Commentary at info@voxjox.com. I love all of you, but the
mailing each week is sometimes messy and a very wonderful person has volunteered to
feature the column in a blog, thus saving me a bunch of work and worry. Too, if I punk out,
you’ll still have a “watering hole” and keep the world that we loved and enjoyed alive at least
in memory.
OTHER MATTERS
From the very first note, I loved this CD. Matt Forbes with “Coulda Woulda Shoulda” on
Old Bag Records. This guy is a giant superstar! Backed by a sensational band. And Forbes
not only has The Voice, but the phrasing that reminds you of every deep love you’ve had,
every dark night parked with your favorite love while listening to the radio. This guy has the
vocal power, the gift and the whim. It’s difficult to pick a “best” tune. Without question, he
gets into your heart with the familiar “Beyond the Sea,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and “Once
Upon a Time.” Guess I’d pick “Some of These Days.” This tune has that big band swing
touch going for it. But I’ve always loved the tune “Something Stupid” and I don’t think I’ve
ever heard it better than by Matt Forbes.” Ah, ah … just great, Mr. Forbes! I realize that
some radio stations are already playing this CD. My sincere compliments. Great on you! I’m
totally impressed.
As you may have surmised, the great promotional guru Don Graham is performing his magic
on the Matt Forbes CD. To wit, this note from Morris Diamond, a legendary music sage who
lives in the Palm Springs region, written to Don Graham.
Morris Diamond: “Hey, Donald … I was just preparing to leave the house at noon today to
attend the weekly Thursday Lunch Bunch with Charlie Barrett, Danny Davis, and 30 other
Palm Springs entertainment residents when the mail arrived with the Matt Forbes CD. I was
happy because it’s a 20-minute drive for me to the Villa Portofino Country Club where our
lunches are and a good time to ‘audition’ the CD while driving. It was very pleasant company
… his foto and stature is a big reminiscent of Sinatra … but that’s all. A few of the tunes were
Sinatra types, but what singer doesn’t do some songs that were at one time or another
associated with Frankie. What I loved about his performances, the charts were great and
original … not like Buble, whose repertoire is all Sinatra instrumentally, Matt has his own
original style and I loved it. He doesn’t try to sound like Frank, and that’s what’s going to
bring him home. He should be ready for vibrado, Catalina, and some of the casinos here in
Palm Springs. You’ve got yourself a winner. Mazeltov! Love you and Robin.”
Just FYI, Robin is the charming wife of Don Graham. I’ve never met her, but I understand
she’s a singer. And a good one. Worked with Don Ho.
Rollye James: “I was so sorry to hear about Karen Velline. Considering what Bobby's facing,
this is a horrible blow for him. I'm relieved his kids are close to him. You may have also
noticed the passing of Billy Sherrill. 78, throat cancer. I worked with a lot of people in
Nashville, but he probably had more impact on me than any of them. Apart from his skills in
the studio (and not only country -- he produced some really nice soul stuff on Okeh), was his
wonderfully dry sense of humor. Life intervenes. I haven't spoken to him in going on 40
years, but I'll miss him as if it was yesterday. It's been a sad week.”
Jim Gabbert: “Claude, very glad you came through your ordeal ... maybe the Hitler-designed
bed helped! This is a very interesting story: In 1975-76 K-101 FM and AM in SF was doing
nothing but minting money hand over fist and I was bored! Decided to buy KDWB as they
also were at 101 and negotiated the price, the down payment was to be $350,000 and the rest
of the money to follow. It was December and the coldest winter in Minneapolis and the
broker, Hugh Ben Larue, was sitting in my office and at the spur of the moment I asked: ‘It's
too cold in Minni, got any stations in a warm spot?’ His answer was, yes, ‘I have a
10,000-watt AM at 830 Khz and a construction permit for 100 KW FM at 93.9 Mhz in
Honolulu’. They were in chapter 7 bankruptcy and the total price was $350,000. Just then Pat
O'Day had bought KORL in the market and, of course, KKUA was top dog in Top 40, KGMB
with Aku dominated the adult market, Fred Constant had just bought KPOI so I did the deal
without even seeing the stations. Finally got over to Honolulu and took KIKI over and tried
going after KGMB. Not so good! Then we went Top forty and zoomed up very fast! The FM
was built and ready to go and we were going to program AOR. At the same time Woody
Sudbrink had bought ‘the Duke’ FM and was going AOR. In San Francisco Howard
Graffman owned ‘the Camel’ KMEL. I wanted an animal for Hawaii so I found the call
letters KPIG were available. At the last minute we decided to go disco (the night before) so
we were up all night carting disco music. At the same time for 36 hours we had a stereo
recording of pigs in a pig farm oinking with a very local accent: ‘The pig is coming man!’ The
Disco Pig was born! Within three months the AM, KIKI , had a 14 share and the FM came out
of the box with and 8 share which gave us a 22 share of a 30-plus station market. Now with
Hawaii conquered and San Francisco minting money it was time to sell and buy a bankrupt
UHF (Channel 20) in San Francisco! Ended up another home run! Recently I visited with Pat
O'Day who is a successful real estate broker in Friday Harbor, Washington. After a nice visit
and looking at the state of radio today we both reached the same conclusion: ‘we think radio
has a problem!’ Those were the days!!”
Lots of publicity zooming hither and yon about the success of Dave Sholin at a radio station
in Bend, OR. KSJJ-FM. Don Graham may have been the first to spread the news. Don’t
know. Les Garland was in there, too, spreading the good news. Not only does Dave Sholin
have a ton of friends in radio, but it’s sort of like many of us, including me, were right there in
the middle of everything and also reaping the glories of his ratings. Great on you, Dave! I
couldn’t be more pleased. Isn’t it nice to be a hero again?
Mike McVay, Cumulus Media and Westwood One: “Hi Claude ... Sadly Bill Bailey did pass
away a few years ago. He was a PD in Grand Rapids when he passed. This a blur now but I
am going to say 5-7 years ago.”
You know, there has to be two Bill Baileys around. Was this the country Bill Bailey I used to
know? Once a giant in Houston?
Dave Anthony: “Thanks to John Long for his note about bringing Domino Rippy to
Minneapolis. I never knew how he got there or when; he was just there when I was hired to
program KDWB in 1984. A quick Domino story that maybe someone could officially verify
or deny, as I heard it second-hand and always wondered whether it was true or not. As the
legend goes, one night while driving the KCBQ van around San Diego, Domino didn’t show
up wherever he was expected. It turns out that he was found by the authorities stopped in the
middle of a four-way intersection – in the KCBQ van – smoking some funny cigarettes.
Never found out if that tale was true or not but it sounded like him. Many days at KDWB I’d
look in the studio during a long song only to find the room vacant. Experience revealed that
he was out in his car in a cloud of that same funny smoke. I never bothered him about it
because I was most interested in how his show sounded, which was always on the money, and
not how he accomplished it. He was also the union’s shop steward.”
Eliot Field: “The future of radio? What's wrong with the past? Fibber McGee & Molly, Tina
& Tim, Ma Perkins, The Shadow, & lets not forget ‘Hibbity Gits Hot Saw Ring Bo Ree
Simonia Skibitty Hi Lo Dee, Honee Ko Dokes With An Allie Kazon, Sing This Song With Your
Uncle Don'. (Added HBO version) That otta hold the little bastards for another night.”
You were conferring with Domino Rippy … right?
Joey Reynolds: “I would be leaving this planet with no amends to a very talented man named
Roger Carroll. He took a chance and put me in syndication on GWB. Golden West
broadcasting stations owned by Gene Autry when no one was paying attention to my
foolishness I was introduced by Jim Davis who had me on KMPC when he shifted the station
from music to talk? Roger was a very good jock who also became a network TV announcer
with the Smothers Brothers on CBS. Roger signed me up and Tom Shovan produced and
edited this comedy hour that followed the Angels games, also owned by the cowboy. This was
the precursor for my mobility which put me in all kinds of locations in LA. I was given the
call to be the first satellite host on satellite live from Dick&Bert Studio. I am grateful for the
kick start in the comedy and talk direction to Roger Carroll and Jim Davis. My website is
filled with these experiences. Tell Roger I forgot about his help and was drinking milk of
amnesia. I admire Roger and was a bit of an A-hole in those days. Sorry about my bad be.”
Timmy Manocheo recommends this.
Herb Oscar Anderson: “Think of all the great personalities that had their schooling in radio …
the WHOLE show business world was alive … they went into TV … stage … comedy …
singers … that made the Klieg lights blue … those many hours alone … with you and a mic
… forced the mind to develop so as not to bore and lose audience. Now every time we go to
entertainment news … headlines always read: Ratings at new low. Well … it takes talent to be
good … its takes guts to learn your craft. When I was released (fired) from ABC back in the
50s … I told a young Leonard Goldenson, ‘I’m coming back and don’t you forget it’. After
WMCA I got a call from him. ‘I would like to have you back and I haven’t forgotten’. The
rest is history. As the saying goes … ‘if you made it to the top you came through the back
door a couple of times’. But today is another story. We must put the ‘show’ back in
showbusiness … instead of the Rolodex mentality of the industry today. What do they teach
in radio school today? How to spin the wheel?”
Mel Phillips: “Our mid-summer heatwave is about to break. We'll hit 91 today but the rest of
the week will be in the delightful 80s. That's the end of my weather report. What I would like
to talk about is the misnomer called Personality Radio. To me, that was the title that would be
the forerunner of Talk Radio which evolved into a couple of different forms -- All
News/Talk/Information/Sports, etc. and Political Talk (Rush, Hannity, Michael Savage, etc.
etc.). I discount the cooking, fixit and car shows. These formats formed the subdivision of
Talk Radio. While I don't approach the knowledgeable Michael Harrison in describing Talk
Radio, in my view Joe Pyne was the first talk show radio host I ever heard. We carried his
syndicated show at WMID Atlantic City in 1963. All the successful talk radio hosts that
followed Pyne deserve all the credit (and ratings) they receive whether or not you or I like
listening to them. The true test of success is in numbers and longevity. I don't put anyone
down that achieves success over the years but to me the best true personalities I ever heard
were the Top 40 people of the 60s and 70s. If you go market-by-market you can name a
bunch of them. How about The Real Don Steele, Robert W. Morgan, Humble Harve?
Dan Ingram, Cousin Brucie (who started in the 50s), Walt ‘Baby’ Love, Dick Biondi,
Joey Reynolds, J.J. Jeffrey, Dale Dorman. That's 10 right there and I haven't even
scratched the surface. The people who could inject their personalities in 5 to 8 seconds before
the hits came on. Those were the real personalities.”
Ken Dowe: “Ouch, Claude! Sorry about the Heart Failure. I made my biennial visit to the
Oklahoma City Heart Clinic directly form Santa Fe on July 27. Dr. Craven gave me a good
report. Still not to lift any more than a few pounds, will never be able to go on a tennis or
racquet ball court again, and the usual stuff you’d know about. I woke up from an emergency
appendectomy about five years ago, went home, and ended up in an ambulance, on my way
straight back to the hospital ... in shock. All the anesthesia and medication pumped into me
during surgery had overloaded my heart, which could not pump out the fluids. Turns out it
was genetic. I got the same treatment. Mega doses of Lasix that kept me in the bathroom
every 15 minutes all day until all the fluids were in the sewer system. ‘Hypertrophic Cardio
Myopathy’. My right ventricle is that of a 40-year-old, but the left one works at only 50%.
Diagnosis: ‘I will live another 20 minutes. Or, 20 years’. They don’t know. Who does?
“Don’t we old people have great stories to tell? In the business of flying airplanes, we all tell
daunting tales (lies) of our courage. We call it hangar flying: ‘So … there I was … alone in
the dark … silenced engine … only the moon to light mountains that I could not see ... the
wind whistling a melancholy melody ... and, and, and …!’ Hahaha! Post Script: Rod Roddy
always told me Joey Reynolds was the King of Buffalo. Somebody has to be #1, so I reckon
it’s Joey. Sorry, Danny! Dottie and I cherish our memories of Art Wander and our Atlanta
good times. I remember when Art was the king of WMPH in Memphis, even though Jay
Cook and I loved to drive to the levee in his Chevy, there in our Delta town of Greenville,
MS, and sit up high so we could listen to Wink Martindale (‘Hey, Winkie!’) on WHBQ.
And, to the talented Bob Sherwood: Bob, the Cumulo Nimbus, and the Heart Crowd at Clear
Channel, don’t want folk like me around. I walk inside with a handful of dynamite. Most of
them know my mantra: ‘You can fire me, but you can’t tell me what to do’. Alas, Bob ... I’m
a loner … and a loner’s gotta be alone! :)”
Ken, I know the Lasix tale all too well. And a nurse kept coming to the bathroom door,
knocking and asking if I was okay. Hell, no, I wasn’t okay!
More Ken Dowe: “Jim Rose in Houston received an inquiry from Jack Parnell, formerly a
great jock on WHBQ, Memphis. He was looking for John Cook, son of the late Jay Cook.
Here's my response which you may find of interest. I always forget now this stuff comes
together!”
Ken Dowe to Jim Rose: “Jay Cook was my friend and mentor from the time I was 16 years old
and Jay was a fresh graduate of Keegan's radio school in Memphis, working at WDDT in my
home town of Greenville, MS. He has his wife Carolyn were uncommonly kind to a kid in the
Deep Delta, who was totally fascinated by the magic of radio. Jay and I would drive a few
blocks downtown in his ‘Chevy, to the levee’, so that the car antenna could reach into the sky
and pull in Wink Martindale and Jack Parnell, my two favorites on WHBQ. Ironically, Jay's
son John and I connected many years later when he was my most worthy competitor in Dallas
as PD of KISS. I tried to hire him and he said no, then later ‘yes’. I have an almost
unbelievable story about that! His dad Jay remained one of my closest friends his entire life.
There was never a nicer fellow, and he was the smoothest, warmest, radio personality I ever
heard. Incredible on-air performer. I tried to convince him to give up his WFIL PD position
and take my place as Executive VP/GM at KTSA/KTFM in San Antonio when I bought my
first station. He came down, but ultimately decided to stay in Philly where he and Carolyn
were happy. That worked out well. Jay became President of Gannett, and I hired a young PD
from DC to take my place in San Antonio. Really talented young man named ... Dan Mason.
I'm actually a ‘talent scout?’ Please give Jack my email address and I will provide him with
the last addresses and phone numbers of my friend John Cook. Funny how all of us in this
wireless business remain wired together ... for lifetimes.”
Rich Richbro Robbin: “Thanks again, old comrade, for the GREAT work week after week
after week!” <gggg>
Richbro, I would love to hear/see your views of radio when you first ventured into it. Matter
of fact, I would just love to hear from you, period. You’ve always been a star with me.
Big Jay Sorensen, WCBS-FM, New York: “Joey Reynolds is
Mr.Hartford-Philadelphia-Buffalo-Cleveland-Detroit-Syracuse-Pittsburgh-NYC-LA-Miami,
and at least 20 others. TV and Radio. And now he owns YouTube. And he ain't done
conquering the airwaves either. Hope you're recovering well, Mr. Hall. All the best. BE
BIG!”
Isn’t it funny how once a Joey Reynolds fan, forever and always a Joey Reynolds fan? Me,
too. But don’t ever let him drive. Some day I’ll tell the story of a ride to the Century-Plaza in
Los Angeles to breakfast with Dwight Case. And, then, again, maybe I won’t.
Just remembered! I was the one who drove that morning. Poor Joey. The good news is that
he survived. But I seem to recall him yelling once or twice a block.
John Long: “Sam Hale, co-founder of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, is in hospice. Do you
have Ken Dowe's email address by any chance? The one I have is no longer valid. Ken
worked with Sam at WQXI in Atlanta in the 60s. I want to let him know about Sam. Please
remember Carolyn and his family in your prayers. No information about which hospice.”
I forwarded John’s note, of course. Sam is a good man. Once worked in the Nashville area.
Knew all of the biggies like Jack Stapp and Buddy Killen. I consider Sam a great radio man
and, although we never met, a good friend of mine. He was very helpful to the late Paul
Drew and his widow. You’re in my prayers, Sam.
Ken Dowe to John Long: “Thanks for letting me know about Sam. Is it still his heart? He's
certainly fought a long and courageous battle. Sam is one fine man. A real gentleman, during
a time when too few remain.”
Bill Hatch: “Just a note to say I was sorry to read of your recent health issues and to wish you
a speedy and complete recovery. Be well my Vox Jox friend.”
Burt Sherwood sent me – and others – a tribute to Bob Hope. Hope is one of those guys who
should never be forgotten. Burt Sherwood: “This is the story of Bob Hope … for those of us
who are older we remember him going to every part of the world to entertain the troops … he
was a great nice man … I met him here in Sarasota one night before he was doing a concert.
When Bob passed away my programming partner (Bill Hennes) and I had the luck to be called
to consult his radio station in LA, KRLA (Pasadena, CA) … his daughter Linda ran it for the
estate at that time. Enjoy.”
Doc Wendell: “Here's my piece on a rare Paul Chambers record. Chambers' was young,
arrogant, and exactly what the world needed at the time.”
“Could you believe I wanted to play the trumpet? I couldn't get one blasted note so I stuck to
the guitar which is easy. Here's a piece on the artist that made me want to play trumpet.”
“I continue to find sanctuary in my vast record collection. Everyday I find a gem to write
about. My fan base is growing and life is good. Hope all is swingin' with you and my fellow
bloggers.”
Ah, Doc … be difficult to do Commentary without you. The late Jack Roberts loved your
stuff and so do I! My sincere appreciation. I’ve always had a fondness for the trumpet …
especially when played by a Mexican.
Larry Cohen: “Here's wishful thinking. In response to Bob Sherwood's last weeks ‘WHAT
IF’, wouldn't it be great if a Ken Dowe (a no B/S great guy) was brought in to take over
CUMULUS MEDIA & their hundreds of radio stations & turn them around. On the NASDQ
they are at an all-time low at $1.65 a share. I can't think of anyone more qualified currently in
management who could meet this challenge. (Maybe a Paul Drew or Bill Drake could have
pulled CUMULUS together but they are both ‘upstairs looking down’.) And I think the
experienced & brilliant Bob Sherwood would make a great assistant & trouble shooter to Mr.
Dowe in any possible takeover. Any takers? Sometimes wishful thinking becomes a reality.
And yes, Ken, I love you also & have never forgotten your Dallas Cowboy stories, the bitter
rivalry between my Philly Eagles & your Cowboys, but most of all the friendship you
extended to me of which I have to this day never forgotten. P.S. And by the way, I'm sitting
here on my ass holding 8,000 shares of CUMULUS & praying that someone in Atlanta reads
this & contacts you.”
More Joey Reynolds: “Mercedes is ready for an OA meeting. I must have missed something,
did you have a heart attack? I am so sorry to not pay attention in the blog; it was pointed out
to me by Bill Hennes, he thinks the world of what you are doing, and I pray that you do not
leave the world, we are not through with beating you up with our insanity. The sportsman
Claude Hall … basketball’s best friend and radio’s great scorekeeper.”
Mercedes, just FYI, is another lady who, as a child, camped with the Halls at 29 Palms. Her
and her sister … father and mother.
Enjoyed the Republican debate. Barbara and I and our son Andy watched it. But, quite
frankly, the Jon Stewart finale? Ah, history! College humor! I’ve never understood
Stewart. But that’s okay. I’ve never understood Donald Trump either. Maybe Ron Jacobs
will explain him to me.
Remember: info@voxjox.com.
From Chuck Dunaway, courtesy of Don Whittemore, July 9 Radio History - In 1960…77
WABC-AM, New York introduced the WABC MusicChart:
