August 31, 2015
By Claude Hall
with Rollye James
Jimmy Rabbitt: “Hey, Brother Claude, congratulations on the return of VOX JOX, make sure
I'm on the list. BTW, I was wondering what were the dates of our interviews in Billboard?
Thanks for all you do.”
Claude Hall: “Hearing from you, Jimmy, is like a fresh breath of cactus! I will never forget
the day mid-70s I did that interview, both of us about half skunk drunk in that Mexican
restaurant on the Strip. But, no, I don’t think I have a copy. I understand you can Google it …
or, otherwise there’s a site on the Internet with all of Billboard on it and you can tap into the
interview that way. I don’t have the Internet site on hand, but someone out there does and will
let me know. [Here's the link. But there are many missing issues. I could search and find
numerous Jimmy Rabbitt mentions, but not the interviews to which Jimmy's referring. Rollye]
Just FYI, I have a list, true, but I no longer send out the column. All you have to do is
bookmark www.voxjox.org and look up the column each Monday. Work, work, work.”
Mel Phillips: “Hi, Claude, rushing on stage while a superstar is performing can be dangerous
-- very dangerous. On one of the Drake/RKO PD meetings, Bill took us backstage to meet
Elvis Presley who was performing in Las Vegas. Of course it didn't hurt to have a personal
friend of Elvis's -- George Klein who was our PD in Memphis (WHBQ) -- in our presence.
Elvis was on the comeback trail and in good health. He was fit and trim as he told us how he
almost killed someone rushing him on stage during his engagement. While doing one of his
songs he noticed someone running toward him out of the corner of his eye. Being a black belt,
Elvis put on his defensive moves and stopped just in time when he noticed that it was a girl
rushing him for a hug. Elvis insisted on demonstrating his actions for us. Calling on his
guitarist, he did a series of chopping moves with both hands and stopped about a quarter of an
inch away from the temple of a band member. ‘Ah could have killed him if ah went about a
quarter of an inch farther’, said Elvis. And they called Jerry Lee Lewis ‘The Killer’. Love
the Vox Jox website but not as much as the memories you dispense. Stay well. We need you.”
Shadoe Stevens: “I know I’m being shameless about this and I apologize ... but it’s been two
and a half years in the making … endlessly challenging … finally here and it’s not like
anything else on television. I would be deeply grateful if you could share this and watch. If
the network gets a strong response we’ll get picked up for a series and you will get a front row
seat in Heaven.” www.weeklyshow.tv
Claude Hall: “The Good Lord knows, Shadoe, that I’m rooting for you. Go get ‘em! Timmy
Manocheo may be your biggest fan. But I’m next!”
Burt Sherwood: “Claude … I think I am on the list, if not pass this along to Rollye. The
columns were long and illuminating today … I note that few of the people I jocked with are
still around … or otherwise, they’re silent. Marlin Taylor helped me make a ton of dough for
my owners in Indiana. Nice to see he is still around … and Rollye ‘ate my lunch’ a ton of
years ago when she wrote me I did not know music as I would have known about Beach Music
… Rollye, do I have to like it? To say I am pleased that all this continues is just plain
wonderful … stay well and in touch. Hugs to Barbara.”
Claude Hall: “I believe that both Rollye James and I feel the same way about this: We’ll run
just about everything we get. I had one note today that was so negative about some radio
people I know and I felt a bit sad for the person who wrote the note and trashed it. I wouldn’t
even let Ron Jacobs and Lee Baby Simms battle on these pages. But generally positive stuff
and cute stuff, I enjoy. And history stuff. And we’ll feature as much as we physically can.
And Rollye and I are proud to do so. In the old days with Billboard, we didn’t have the space.
With the Internet, we have space! Now it’s just a matter of time and energy!”
Ken Dowe, Dallas: “Howdy from Texas, Claude! Hope you’re feeling fine and dandy. You
new format is truly great. Don’t know the lady who created it, but she certainly has talent.
Please look at these exchanges from Tom Russell and me. (You did a good thing, connecting
us!) I thought of you when he was puzzling over some contacts for his Cowboy Cabaret. Do
you have any thoughts? Keep plugging along. Keeps you young!”
Ken Dowe to Tom Russell: “Howdy from Texas, Tom. Don't know if you guys are in German,
French, or Italian-speaking Switzerland ... so I send greetings by yodel! I gave up Facebook
long ago, but I will see that my friends ‘like’ you. If they have ridden with me in my car they
already do like you ... or, I will drop them off in some gang-banger hood and see if they can
make it home. Just an opinion, but I can't stop singing ... ‘they're good boys, when they're
sober’. Awesome song, Tom. If we were back in the day, I would already have called my
stations and said, ‘Add it. Today’. And, I don't recall ever doing that and being wrong.
Probably selective memory! Steve Tyrell told this story one night while performing at the
Carlyle in NYC. Dottie and I were in the audience. Stevie was on mike:
"’I was a record promoter back then’, he said. ‘I had almost given up. I believed in a song
nobody would play. My company had a deal for it to be in a movie to be released soon. But, it
had to be a hit. I sent it to a friend. That man! Right there (pointing to me) ... put it on his
Dallas station and told me, 'That's a hit, Steve, my friend’.
"And, that is why when you see this movie you will hear Stevie sing: ‘Raindrops keep falling
on my head....’ Ken believed, too!
“Our grandson was there and his mouth fell open: ‘You did that, D?’ Me: ‘Hey! I used to be
famous!’
“Tom, ‘Sober’ is a hit. If not now, it'll be everybody's favorite after your show opens on
Broadway. We're returning to Santa Fe in a couple weeks. I like it best there when the snow
flies. Nothing like what you'll be getting, but a man has to be satisfied with his blessings,
whatever they be. Hope we see you soon. I believe! Woody Allen is crazy enough to want to
try something as boldly different as your creation. If only you could get to him, and convince
him to play it as is without getting too neurotic. Woody would probably play Johnny/Deuce as
a Hasidic Jew. Which would be funny … haha! I’m going to send a copy of this to Claude. A
lot of those guys tuned in to him each week are members of a pretty elite group who have been
in the music game around New York for decades, and they know all the players. Maybe
Claude has a thought. He has good ideas!”
From Tom and Nadine Russell in Switzerland: “BEEN POSTING GREAT cover SONGS …
so folks have been saying ‘do a radio show like Dylan’ … so we launched the ‘Nova Beat
Express’ on Facebook … the trick is to get two other new friends to ‘Like’ or ‘follow’ the page
… therefore promoting any of the Nova Beats and their art or writing … and we know who the
Nova Beats are. So please spread to your friends … the one's who are hiding … the link:
“Hello from the land of great wine and cheese. Actually Tom Jones put out a great folk
acoustic album a few years ago … ‘Spirit in the Room’ ... total left turn, great album and
singing. I was just wondering about somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody
connected to Broadway, like Marshal Brickman, Woody Allen's producer, and Woody has
said he wants to do a Western sometime … longshot … what the hell. Another lady fan (age
80) told me she was great friends with the father of Bartlett Sher, successful Broadway
director (‘The King and I Revisited’) … and I ‘should get him something’ … it's always easier
said then done … but onward we slog … someday it will hit the wall.”
Claude Hall: “What a great line: ‘You should get him something’ … and you soon find out
that 17,000 others heard the same advice. I’m most grateful for you guys letting me ‘listen’ in
to your private conversations. Congrats on the Facebook show, Tom, and, Ken, the Steve
Tyrell tale is really cute.”
Larry Cohen: “Claude: In regards to Chuck Buell's comments relating to the Bedno/Wright
Promotion Co. in Chicago and Mr. Buell's position of I assume Music Director at WLS, I
believe I could have used better wording as Mr. Buell may have taken my poor wording out of
its honest intent. A short explanation. Howard Bedno was our promotion man at our distributor
in Chicago. And he was very well respected by radio. Pete Wright was Howard's closest
buddy & he was an independent promotional rep' working for himself. He was very effective
at his craft. Bedno & Wright were like Abbot & Costello; always together and at that time, the
Bedno/Wright Promotion Company had not yet been formed. What I meant was that having
Bedno (and many times with Pete Wright backing him) calling on WLS on a weekly basis, the
add to their playlist (although not immediate) was faster going thru Howard than if I would
have taken on the task by myself. When I wrote that ‘I will attest to that’, the ‘Love Can Make
You Happy’ record by Mercy was an example of ‘I will attest to that’. Our company,
Jamie/Guyden, had picked up the record for national distribution, and for whatever reason, the
late Art Roberts did not like the record. With the record starting to zoom up the charts & Bill
Gavin's accurate reporting of the record, the record was like pulling teeth & was finally added
to the WLS playlist by ‘going thru’ our promo man, Howard Bedno who busted his ass &
made Art Roberts a believer. We ended up selling over 70,000 records in the Chicago market.
I hope that this explanation will sooth any negativity I created by my poor choice of wording in
my initial email. I have always held myself to the highest standards & conducted my business
in a professional manner & earned the respect of programmers at both R&B, MOR & T40
stations throughout the industry. Perhaps, Chuck, if you were the MD at that time, the add to
the WLS playlist would have come a lot faster & would not have necessitated this explanation.
Again, my apologizes for my non-clarity.”
Claude Hall: “Thought the Morton Downey Jr. special was poor and not very entertaining, if
at all.”
Jay Walker, Dallas: “Your column was a must read during my 45+ year stint in broadcasting
and I was most pleased to find and subscribe to your newsletter. Thanks to Jim Rose of Jim
Rose Remembers Radio for kindly sharing your link with the readers of his news letter in this
weeks edition. I enjoyed reading your column in years past and hope to continue that
experience in the years to come.”
Art Wander: “Hi, Claude. To Mel Phillips -- he of Boston fame. I hope he became a big
Boston Red Sox fan. Why do I bring up baseball on this magnificent site? It's that many may
not know of the association of Boston Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo and one of the
fine television programs in the 70s, thanks to the radio exposure many of the artists received on
radio. I got to know Torey when he was the manager of the Buffalo Bisons in the International
League. In our many conversations, Torey surprised me with the information that his father
was the producer of the hit series – ‘Hee Haw’. We discussed the likes of Buck Owens, Roy
Clark and the many great country stars who appeared on this program. I especially told him
how I admired Charlie McCoy -- the great harmonica player in Nashville. In fact, Charlie was
a big hockey fan and on a few occasions we would meet in Atlanta to watch the Atlanta hockey
team in the early 70s at the then Omni. So, I hope that baseball fans can root for Torey
Lovullo to succeed as he holds down the fort until his fine manager, John Farrell wages a
health battle. Isn't it interesting that sports figures have a relationship with radio, TV and
records, like hockey player Mike Fisher being married to superstar Carrie Underwood. By the
way, Claude, great on you for having Rollye associate with all of us. I thank her for the
mention in the last Commentary. Stay well, my friend.”
Rollye: The mention of Hee Haw really made me smile. One of my close friends was Bud
Wingard. How he became head writer for Hee Haw is a story in itself. But to back up a few
years, a jock I knew when I was in Miami, Tom Adams, started a joke sheet, The Electric
Weenie. The joke at the station was that Tom invited me to his Key Biscayne apartment each
month so I’d lick his weenie. What I was doing was stuffing and sealing the envelopes.
Fortunately at first he had only seven subscribers (Gary Owens was one of ‘em.) but it grew
over time. In payment for my services, I usually got dinner and always got a copy of the latest
Weenie. I was also privy to how he compiled them. He would watch all the late night
television talk shows and rewrite (a nice way of saying "steal"). When Hee Haw came on, it
was a treasure trove of material, and he used it all. A couple years after that, when I moved to
Nashville, I still had all those Weenies (along with every copy of Ideas Ink, and proving I was
a pack rat, the early years of Herb Jepko’s The Wick, but I digress.) One evening Bud was at
my place and he noticed the pile of Weenies. Flipping through them, he marveled at the
material and asked to borrow them. Knowing precisely what he’d do, and what he probably
wouldn’t recall, I agreed. Next season, the jokes he originally wrote, that Adams rewrote, were
recycled on Hee Haw. When I finally confessed, he exclaimed that they sounded familiar.
The Archive of American Television has a terrific interview with Sam Lovullo. Five hours
worth of audio and video. Plenty about Hee Haw, Jonathan Winters and CBS. Worth seeing.
Claude Hall: “Hockey, I don’t know. The puck is too fast for me. Basketball? Now that’s a
different tale. Me and Gary Owens and Johnny Holliday. Johnny used to have Rick Barry
as a ringer on his KYA team that played in the Bay area. Barbara and I follow Duke and the
Clippers, come basketball season. We’re long-time J.J. Redick buffs.”
Don Graham: “It’s fabulous news! Our friend Don Whittemore and his sensational
world-class Dandy Don’s Homemade ice cream will be featured at the LA Times special The
Taste Sept 4-6 at the Paramount Pictures Studio. This is some well-deserved major
recognition for Don and we’re proud to share it with you.” And then Don writes that “for the
second year in a radio, ‘The David Allan Show’ each afternoon in Albany, Troy, and
Schenectady has been voted one of the best in Metroland Magazine. The show feature artist
interviews, CD contests, listener requests and pop standards.
Claude Hall: “Our best, David. Barbara and I lived in Troy several months while I did PR for
Rennsalaer Polytechnic Institute. This is just before I joined Billboard. And I’m especially
pleased for Don Whittemore. One of the world’s best people.”
Don Sundeen: Hail, hail, Dandy Don's ice cream, closest to heaven your taste buds will ever
come.
Rob Hegel: Proudly served by the pint to our guests here at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal
City. Way to go Dandy Don! You certainly Make It Magical!
Bob Sherwood: Any chance one of our ‘well-healed’ associates can bankroll Dandy Don’s
expansion to the East…. Make it quick as I lost 3 or 4 pounds last week and I’m becoming
dangerously low on fat.
Ray Glasser: “Claude, you and I met in January when Joey Reynolds, Art Vuolo, and I
visited you during CES week. I see you're still active with Vox Jox and I'm glad ... I always
read that column! Also see that you spotlight some DJs and radio stations on the side of the
Vox Jox page. I was wondering if you could put a link to my online radio station,
WIXY1260Online, it is an Internet radio station that is a re-creation of the 1960s/70s
Cleveland powerhouse WIXY1260. We broadcast 24/7, play the music of the WIXY era
(1960s and 70s), and even do remotes around town! After four years, we are finally starting to
get some notoriety and want to increase that! If you give this a go-ahead, I can send you a
WIXY logo that you can put on the page. Please let me know what you think! I am retired and
on-line almost all day, so I usually respond fairly quickly to emails! By the way, if you want to
check out for yourself what we are all about, just visit our website. Thanks! Hope to hear
from you soon! I'm attaching a picture I took of you, your wife, and Joey!”
Claude Hall: “Mucho gracias for the picture, Ray. I’m sure that Rollye will be more than
pleased to feature your link. Write: info@voxjox.org. There was a day when Chuck
Dunaway programmed WIXY and Norman Wain was one of the owners. One of the program
directors before that … Shepard or something … got fired for playing a Jose Cuba record
called “Bang Bang.” He was in New York and dropped by the office and the record was going
crazy at the time in the Big Apple. I talked him into playing the record. I loved it. Guess
Norman Wain didn’t or thought that Morris Levy of Roulette Records had paid Shepard.
Man, I liked that record so much I went out to a local club just north of the island to hear Cuba
live! Wain was wrong. That record deserved to be a millionseller. It ended up selling a
hundred thousand in the city. I later had reason to not appreciate Norman Wain very much.
Not then. But later. Had nothing to do with Jose Cuba.”
Chuck Dunaway: “Seems like old times ... please keep it up.”
Kris Erik Stevens: “Hi, Rollye … spoke with John (Rook) today ... he says you’re now a
station owner in Arizona … wonderful! I trust life is treating you well and nice to see you’re
involved with Claude and the new Vox Jox weekly. Congratulations and as always I’m looking
forward to catching his weekly presentations. Like so many of us, I grew up on Vox Jox and
when I moved to LA, one of my first stops was to crash the confines of Billboard Magazine to
introduce myself to Claude Hall. The guy is a legend for most of us ... and it’s great sharing
the past ... when radio was ‘really’ fun! I’d love it if you guys would be kind enough to add
my website to the Vox Jox cast of radio/records characters.”
Robert E. Richer: “Wow, what a column. And from what I can see, you and Rollye make a
heck of a team. Keep doing great things, and reminding us of those halcyon days when radio
really was king!”
Jim Rose, Houston: “So nice to see Vox Jox again! Vox Jox is a must read!”
Claude Hall: “Old Lee Zhito, a real varmint if there ever was one, never knew what he had
when he had it, i.e. Ms. Rollye James as radio-TV editor. Rollye and I swapped notes over our
Billboard ventures a few years ago. Her notes are on this laptop, but I couldn’t track them
down now if I had a crowbar. And those notes were ‘fun, fun, fun’! Basically, she had the
same woes that I did my last couple of years on the once-great publication. Something had
happened to Zhito and these weren’t pleasant. I’d like to point out something: I was told when
I was there that some firm had offered $70 million for the magazine alone. Also, radio
circulation alone paid for all expenses; advertising, books, conferences were strictly cream. A
few years later after Rollye was there, the entire corporation went for $41 million, according to
my sources.”
Claude Hall: “Woody Roberts, subject along with Joey Reynolds and Lee Baby Simms of a
yet-to-be-published book by Dr. Robert Weisbuch currently under the title ‘Hitbound’, sent
me an article (condensed here) by Ana Campoy that evidently was in the Wall Street Journal,
Aug. 25, 2015, regarding that Austin’s live-music scene is suffering a dab. City growth.
Basically because of higher living costs. Median home is $272,250. The Austin region, one of
the fastest-growing metro areas in the country with a population of 1.9 million, has added more
than 165,000 jobs over the past five years and boasted the lowest unemployment rate, 3.3%,
among big U.S. metro areas in June. But with prosperity has come what Ryan Robinson, the
city’s demographer, refers to as “collapsing affordability.” Median home prices in June reached
$272,250, up more than 30% from 2010, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. Rents
jumped by 23% since the end of 2009, real-estate data firm Reis says. Black Fret, a nonprofit
started by tech executives, is raising money to provide grants to musicians so they can further
their careers. So far it has handed out $130,000 in living stipends for artists to create and
perform new music. The music division of Austin’s economic development department is
offering professional seminars to help musicians find new ways to make money, and helping
the nonprofit and private sectors on projects such as Mosaic Sound Collective, a one-stop shop
for musicians that will have a music venue, recording studios, video production facilities, and
eventually affordable housing for artists. It is also studying longer-term policies to boost the
local music industry, including hooking up sound artists with more profitable areas of the
business, such as film and videogame production. Dan Redman, the developer of Mosaic
Sound Collective, expects the campus, which will include vinyl manufacturing and screen
printing facilities, to generate 100 steady jobs for musicians. Mr. Redman, the father of two
teenage boys in a band, said he and other collaborators are “passionate” about helping Austin
live up to its motto of being the live music capitol. Eddie Wilson, owner of Threadgill’s
restaurants in Austin, said rising property taxes may force him to find a new location in the
city. Musicians say something has to change for many of them to stay in Austin. A recent city
survey of some 1,900 musicians found that more than 20% live below the poverty line and
about half are eligible for publicly subsidized housing. “You can’t pay your bills with cool,”
said Josh Logan, 32, frontman for local rock band the Blind Pets. He has decided to tour all of
next year and live in his van after rent for his duplex jumped to $2,000 from $1,050. Eddie
Wilson, a fixture on the Austin music scene since he started the now-defunct venue Armadillo
World Headquarters in 1970, said rising property taxes are forcing him to find a new Austin
location for one of his Threadgill’s music-themed restaurants, whose history dates back to the
1930s. But he is confident that for the city, the show will always go on.”
Doc Wendell: “Hi Claude, as you can see, I've been keeping extremely busy and staying out of
trouble … for now anyway. Here are two of my latest classic record picks. One is on the great
Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley and the other is on the father of American modern music,
Thelonious Monk. I hope you dig what I'm laying down and hope all is swingin'! And here's
the link to the terrific Diana Krall show at The Bowl on Friday.”
Claude Hall: Doc Wendell would eventually like to publish his articles about jazz as a book.
Joey Reynolds: “I have been the guest of a former jock from smaller markets, Jim
Boldebook. He is a giant in the car industry with his agency for promotion and marketing of
dealerships. Jim also opened the first real casino, (non-Indian) in $Maine. I have been invited
to lobster lunch with Carly Fiorina at Linda (LL) Bean's private island home. And spent
some quality time in a quality place, Jim has a home on his property which looks like a
National Park, with guest house, recreation hall, a smaller 5,000-square-foot house, he lives
like a jock from the 80s. Smokey the Bear is retired here. I suggested to Jim to convert a few
of his structures into a bed and breakfast for CBS former employees. Tonight we saw the
Broadway production of ‘Million Dollar Baby’, all about Sam Philips, Elvis, Johnny Cash,
Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Reminded me of record hops and hickeys if you got
lucky. I visited Dan Crewe who is preparing the memorial salute to Bob, his brother, in
October with a dedication of the center housing all of their art, sculptures, and music stuff.
The Crewes have a non-profit which distributes money for art and music enrichment. When I
die there will be a drawer at my sister’s house in Buffalo with all of my accomplishments and
probably some room for my socks and underwear. Here is the video of my visit. PS -- Love to
the unemployed is GOD's way of saying the check is in the mail.”
Tom Campbell: “Thank you for the reply. Soooo good to hear from you and about you. I am
hoping Barbara will call me back. If you have a speaker phone you can at least listen to me as
I have much to share. I did not receive your previous emails replying to me for some reason.
Glad this one came through. I left you a voice mail. I am still very active on TV and radio
and am being inducted into the Consumer Electronics Association Hall of Fame in November.
Previous inductees are Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs to name a few.
This year it is me for product introductions over the years and my contribution to the growth
of our industry. I can send you details if you wish. Anyway, it is making me feel ancient! All
is well here. Have lots to share re Chris Edwards and others.”
Claude Hall: “Tom called several times. I apologize to all of you about the phone, but I just
don’t do phone anymore. Barbara is going to call him back, but she has been bedridden for at
least two days. She has only talked of late with a couple of her church ladies … she is big with
the Methodist church by the UNLV campus. Once, they were going to move the church to the
west side of town. She organized a protest. The church remains by the university. We go
pretty far back with Tom. Don Graham, Erica Farber, and Chuck Blore were telling stories
about me … hey, I can tell Tom Campbell stories! All of them cute. Once, in the 60s, we were
having coffee at an NAB in Washington and Tom insisted on milk. Gave the waitress a bit of
kind and gentle hassle … then left a $20 bill under his plate as a tip. And there was the time
when he was doing all of those radio spots for hi-fi gear … a barrage of commercials up and
down the west coast (fastest tongue this side of the Rio Grande). Some radio station in Los
Angeles mentioned the possibility of hiring him as a disc jockey (he’d once jocked at KYA
when Howard Kester – anyone remember Howard? – was general manager) and Bruce
Johnson, then head of RKO Radio immediately spread the news that he’d file a lawsuit against
any radio station that tried to hire Tom Campbell because everyone knew Tom would become
No. 1 in any market just because of the name recognition. Just FYI, I still have a small oil
painting of a character on a case of beer painted by Bonnie Campbell, Tom’s first wife who
once worked at a radio station owned by Todd Storz, Miami, where Tom also jocked.”
Don Graham: “Hi ya, Claude … hope this note finds you well … had a terrific lunch this past
Thurday, 8/7, with Erica Farber and Chuck Blore at Jerry’s Deli in Encino. Such a real
pleasure to eat and talk with these two fascinating, accomplished friends. We enjoyed some
special Claude Hall stories. Sending along our love and respect to you.”
L-R: Don Graham, Erica Farber, Chuck Blore.
Rollye: From the AFRTS blog, Charlie Tuna is the latest casualty at K-Earth (KRTH Los
Angeles). Thanks to Timmy Manocheo for the link. We’ve added Charlie’s syndication
website to the left side menu bar and wish him the best. Just days earlier, long time fans were
blindsided at the news that Shotgun Tom Kelly is no longer on the air.
Shotgun's been shifted to an off-air “ambassador” post— fitting in that Tom is a wonderful
person and one of the warmest, friendliest guys you’ll ever meet, but behind the mic is where
he belongs, and I think it’s an easy bet that he’ll be back there somewhere before too long—
maybe something online we can all enjoy. For many listeners, replacing Tom signaled the end
of an era, but few expected that Tuna would be off the air simultaneously.
Chuck Buell: “G’Morning, Rollye! If, like me, when you were a kid and you ever bought a
Record from a Towers Record Store to be sure of getting a copy of the latest Hit Song you
heard on the Radio, or joined a Record Club in hopes of having the greatest and latest personal
record album collection, or later on amassed a large library of high-tech musical beverage
coasters, here're a few things that may be of possible interest to you too!”
Rollye: Chuck passed along info on three goodies: “All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of
Tower Records”, which, after making the documentary rounds to rave reviews, opens in
theatres October 16th; Annie Zaleski’s compelling article, “Four Columbia House Insiders
Explain the Shady Math behind ‘8 CDs for a Penny’”, including some spot on comments about
the farce of the digital format; and a website for The Eight-Track Museum, now with two
locations to delight (Dallas and Roxbury, NY).
Cary Pall: “Just bought your book, looking forward to it. Hope you are well. If you know
anyone that has a extra kidney lying around, have ‘em pack it in dry ice and send it over. Still
have your KFMB baseball card.”
Rollye: That got my attention. Cary is one of the nicest guys in radio and for many years
added greatly to the fun of attending various conventions. So I had to ask.
Cary Pall: “Yes, on dialysis since April 2012. I doubt any donors will appear but if you want
to pass along info on the transplant situation, I'm ok with that. It is what it is. I do have a great
nephrologist here, and the Ohio State team is really good, too. I guess the issue is my blood
type, it's not the easiest to match (A+). I married a nice girl from Cincinnati in 2005 who has
managed to keep me pretty level headed since. I left my last real radio job that year (PD of
oldies WODB Columbus). All consulting work since then. My son is in Myrtle Beach, now
34 and a poker wizard. Has a BFA in film from Savannah College of Art & Design that he's
never used. His birthday, June 6, is same as Kevin Metheny's. Was tough to hear of Kevin's
passing for many reasons, not the least of which was that he and my son had bonded over that
back when we worked together in Greenville.”
Rollye: Great to reconnect with Jim LaBarbara (a link to his book is to your right) and to
hear from Big Jay Sorensen (a link for Jay’s site to your left). Thanks also to Anita Garner
for suggesting adding links for Elliot Fields’ books.
Kevin McKeown, Mayor of Santa Monica: “From the time I started in college radio, through
boss jock days, and on
to FM laid-backness (WPLR, KGB, KROQ), Vox Jox was weekly reading. All these years
later, I¹ve managed to finagle hosting a twice a month Tuesday night talk show on NPR¹s L.A.
flagship KCRW the hard way, by becoming Mayor of Santa Monica, and chairing our
regionally broadcast City Council
meetings. There is no end to what one of us will do to stay on the air.”
Rollye: This is easy, Kevin. All you have to do is send an email (from the address at which you
want to receive notices) to: voxjox-subscribe@voxjox.org (clicking on it will work, but again
make sure you're sending from the address that is the one you'll want receiving our mail). You
don't have to write anything in the subject or body. Just click, verify that yours is the address
you want to use, and hit send. That's it.
Unsubscribing is just as easy. Click here: voxjox-unsubscribe@voxjox.org. Again, just make
sure you're sending from that address that is getting our mail.
Speaking of mail, I believe the mailing list is unblocked. You'll know for sure if you get an
email from me that the column is up. Otherwise, as Claude told you, just remember to check
VoxJox.org on Monday morning and you'll see the latest.
