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Blessings and thanks for a great career

C

craig_ashwood

I realize the flamers will have fun with this one! :D

But, I wanted to put this out there, because I've been sentimental lately ('cause I'm getting older; arrived in Atlanta radio 30 years ago this year!), and I wanted to at least do some public "thank you" messages to those who've made ME thankful I chose this silly career (instead of, God forbid...law...which as Tom Hanks famously said, would be "like doing homework for a living", but my mum never let go of as an option for me.)

The point is, that the measure of a man (or woman) is often determined by the people surrounding them. And, in the cutthroat world of broadcasting, it's amazing when you're able to work with quality people who help you do better--encourage you--and who revel in your success.

No negativity. No politics. No B.S. Just good friends and colleagues, who were and still are there for me.

I've been fortunate to have 30+ years in all levels of radio and TV broadcasting, and the reason is the people I've been lucky enough to work with. You won't read the list; I wouldn't if I were you, it would mean nothing to you. But I want to thank them. And there are others I've left off inadvertently and I apologize to them, profusely...here goes, in no particular order, EXCEPT for the first one, who was the most important person in my professional life:

Jerry Blum. Jim Morrison. Gary McKee. Gary DeMaroney. Clarke Brown. Jeff McCartney. Russ Davis. Dennis Winslow. Harriet Coffee. Mike Ventura. Mark Kanov. Marv Nyren. Michael Douglass (anyone want to hire the best under-employed GM in the history of radio? Call me. Michael is the MAN). And..all the rest. Again, sorry if the name isn't here, specifically. But please, you know who you are.

Finally, my grandfather Ron Whelan. Look him up on IMDB.com. Radio, TV, movies. He sounded like Orson Welles but believe it or not, ballsier, and with an English/Australian accent, and made a living after moving here in 1962 in the US, in films/TV till his unexpected death in 1965. I only wish I could have talked to him once.
 
Nope, no job loss. Just thankful for the GOOD people I've known over the years. I realized TODAY that I moved to Atlanta 30 years ago--posted a photo on Facebook of me and JJ Jackson, from an old AJC article of June, 1980, and went: wow! 30 years!! And so many people helped me along the way...
 
Craig,

My name isn't important but I worked with you several years ago here in Atlanta. I can honestly say you're one of the classiest guys I've had the pleasure of working with...a rare gentleman in a business dominated by egomaniacs. Kudos to you on lasting 30+ years!
 
Clark2 said:
Craig,

My name isn't important but I worked with you several years ago here in Atlanta. I can honestly say you're one of the classiest guys I've had the pleasure of working with...a rare gentleman in a business dominated by egomaniacs. Kudos to you on lasting 30+ years!
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Clark2, thank you, and I'm humbled. I appreciate your nice words, and hope like hell you've been able to make something good of your career! What a nice thing to say.
 
It's so nice to hear from you, I "interviewed" JJ Jackson at WQXI Tower place in approx 1978 (8th grade), I wanted to be a dj and he was great! Big glasses, puffy hair and all. I was never a dj, so I dedicated myself to being a serial prize winner, hey, it's my destiny to be on the air haha. Anyway, glad to hear you're doing well and I enjoyed listening to you for many years, mmmm Outback, but seriously-thanks for all your years of great radio!
 
frkout said:
It's so nice to hear from you, I "interviewed" JJ Jackson at WQXI Tower place in approx 1978 (8th grade), I wanted to be a dj and he was great! Big glasses, puffy hair and all. I was never a dj, so I dedicated myself to being a serial prize winner, hey, it's my destiny to be on the air haha. Anyway, glad to hear you're doing well and I enjoyed listening to you for many years, mmmm Outback, but seriously-thanks for all your years of great radio!
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Appreciate so much your thoughts and remembrance. The thing about JJ is that he remains one of the most genuine, funny, thoughtful, friendly and nice human beings ever. He's so much fun, to this day--I fall out laughing as soon as he walks into the room. One of the singular greatest men I've ever known.

As far as Outback goes, I don't do that anymore, but they were good to me for 18 years. And I appreciate the opportunity to work with them to this day.
 
Hi Craig-went to High School back in the early-mid 80's and remember your show very well on the former 94Q.
You and Russ Davis (Sunday Jazz Flavours) were among my favorites on the radio back then. Also, enjoyed watching you and Christi Tanner doing the "Atlanta Rock Review" Video show on Friday nights. Glad to read your postings-in my humble opinion, you have been an asset to Atlanta FM Radio!
 
JR1967 said:
Hi Craig-went to High School back in the early-mid 80's and remember your show very well on the former 94Q.
You and Russ Davis (Sunday Jazz Flavours) were among my favorites on the radio back then. Also, enjoyed watching you and Christi Tanner doing the "Atlanta Rock Review" Video show on Friday nights. Glad to read your postings-in my humble opinion, you have been an asset to Atlanta FM Radio!
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Ah yes the good ole days! I was in high school too living in N. GA halfway between Chattanooga and Dalton but I always listened to the Atlanta stations including Craig on 94Q. That was right before stereo television and I always had the TV and FM antennas pointed towards Atlanta so I could watch the "Atlanta Rock Review" on WAGA and had to tune my stereo to 94.1 to hear it in stereo.

I've always enjoyed listening to Craig Ashwood and wish you the very best!
 
IT_Guru said:
Ah yes the good ole days! I was in high school too living in N. GA halfway between Chattanooga and Dalton but I always listened to the Atlanta stations including Craig on 94Q. That was right before stereo television and I always had the TV and FM antennas pointed towards Atlanta so I could watch the "Atlanta Rock Review" on WAGA and had to tune my stereo to 94.1 to hear it in stereo.

I've always enjoyed listening to Craig Ashwood and wish you the very best!
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Wow--thanks for the remembrance...you and others who've commented. The bottom line is that, radio should be fun to do AND profitable for employees AND owners, and back in the day ("back in the day"-- how hip am I, aged 52 now?) we were able to make that happen. And the main thing for me was being surrounded by incredibly talented people, including management, who "got it" and encouraged us all. Those days at 94Q were amazing--I only wish I had understood at the time how unique and extraordinary they were.

What worries me now about this medium is that there's little attention paid where it should: personality development. When I was coming up, as they say, this was a talked about, regular concern, and we worried about how to develop talent. This was no easy task--we even thought about "adopting" a smaller market station which would be used to nurture talent. Point is, those days are OVER.

At the same time, the PPM world is delivering the message: shut up, play the hits. For me, that's a recipe for DISASTER in terms of radio that relates and matters. What we have to do as personalities is work hard to get plugged in. That means, no longer relying on the Internet for the latest entertainment news (that's being better covered by Et Online, TMZ, Perez Hilton etc) and instead get local and active. I used to use a little, localized "trick" that worked and would be happy to share that with those who'd be interested--just ask, but I'll charge ya!--that led to a whole "how did they know that?" reaction from other stations and local media.

Bottom line, we HAVE to get local, tightly entwined with what's happening, and plugged in, so that the "talk" we all do MATTERS. Then, PPM will give us results....

I love all you guys who love radio. I remain passionate about it and hope for more good stuff as the years roll on!
 
Craig. You are so right. When I was at Z-93 kicking off the Classic Rock format, we were so local. It's what the listeners AND we wanted. Also for the time I was at WPCH, talking about what was going on locally was what I strived for. Those days went away but with PPM, I too feel that what you say had better be important to the "listener" not the "suits".
 
Craig when Z93 was CHR it had huge numbers and huge talent and the numbers and staff at 94Q both had an image in the market of interest in the listeners and well treated staffs who respected and liked each other. You specific kindness to the CHR version of Z93 as well as a loyal and dedicated 94Q guy spoke volumes about you, and to us. Good things happen to good people because good people attract good things and I'm glad you had success but also happy that you have a memory about those along your path of success.
 
Craig, without getting too deep here, I admire your post. I've lost family members over the past few years to illnesses, but they fortunately discovered that being grateful is one of the keys to a happy life. I hope by expressing gratitude you encourage others to do so. We will all be healthier when we learn that loving, helping and appreciating each other is what we're here for. Those connections work over the airwaves too.
 
OgOgglby said:
Craig, without getting too deep here, I admire your post. I've lost family members over the past few years to illnesses, but they fortunately discovered that being grateful is one of the keys to a happy life. I hope by expressing gratitude you encourage others to do so. We will all be healthier when we learn that loving, helping and appreciating each other is what we're here for. Those connections work over the airwaves too.
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Well put Og......
Nice to have a big group hug here on Radio-Info for a change. Thanks for getting it started Craig-
 
Attention Campers: Please report to the fire ring at dark thirty for hot chocolate. Then we'll join hands and sing "Kum Ba Yah".
 
knozall said:
Attention Campers: Please report to the fire ring at dark thirty for hot chocolate. Then we'll join hands and sing "Kum Ba Yah".
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Knozall-good one! Yeah, I know, I didn't mean to imply by my post some kind of lovefesty thing, and if you knew me personally, you'd know I often bleed cynicism...but, at the same time, occasionally and with reflection I'll pony up a true emotional thought! HA!

That being said, all I wanted to do 30 years on was to acknowledge just some of the people who helped me make a life in an industry I love. I don't see that as a bad thing. No one "does it" on their own--there's always people behind the scenes, wittingly or unwittingly, who influence your life.

Quck story--years ago on 94Q, I took a late-night call on the request line from a guy who wanted to talk about his life. I spent a long time that night talking to him; he was overwrought and unsure and not feeling good about things--so we talked about what he wanted, how he could make a difference--and, 20 years later, I heard from that guy. He claimed (and I honestly was taken aback. There HAD to be other reasons...) that based on that one phone call, he'd become a teacher in the Walton County school system, and had himself made a difference in his students' lives. He remains there to this day. If I had just one teeny part in helping him make the career decision that in turn resulted in him helping lots of other young people in a positive way--wow!

The point is, you never know what YOU do that will in turn help others. And my point in calling out those who helped ME was to thank them, because without them, I'd be....whatever I'd be. But certainly not what I am now. I owe it all to those people.
 
Craig Ashwood....

I'd like to join the chorus of colleagues who have written many of the things all of us have known....That you, Sir are a genuine Broadcaster who has handled his career with brilliance.

We worked together for only a short time, but I learned so much from you. I've often thought of your wit, humor and committment to this craft, and Atlanta.

I can only hope for your continued success, prosperity, and joy through the next 30 years On the Air.

God Bless,

Jon-David Wells
The Wells Report
KLIF Dallas/Ft. Worth
 
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