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Brother Bill Goodman: Happening!

H

Holland Cooke

I bring you greetings from The Brother, with whom I had lunch on Good Friday.
I had just missed Gary DeGraide, who stopped by the day before.

Bro' is MOST-appreciative of all the well-wishers who've phoned or Emailed since Bob Kerr's warm ProJo article (http://www.projo.com/news/bobkerr/kerr_column_16_03-16-08_TR9COKJ_v16.312be7e.html).

How's he look?
Like we ALL do now...older.
Older than that funky I-haven't-shaved-in-days look you'll see at http://users.aol.com/cookeh/blizzard.html

How's he sound?
Utterly in-character, relentlessly cheerful.
Our friendship spans 4 decades, and -- when-he-and-I-get-together -- we STILL spend most of the time laughing.

When we pulled into the parking lot at Panera in Smithfield, we couldn't get out of the car right away. The music mix on the True Oldies station is THAT good. These were all songs Bro' and I played on WPRO-AM, and it's great to hear this music again on AM radio, because, after all, it was mixed for AM radio to begin with. I suppose we'll never know, but if 99.7 was still simulcasting 790, the pair would probably beat WPRO now.

Our conversation sure wasn't just shop talk, but Brother Bill offered two thoughts on radio:

1. He observes that, as he put it, there are people on the radio now who "don't speak as clearly." I hadn't thought of it in those terms, but he's right. There's plenty of hollering and scolding and mumbling. But, as motley a crew as the Salty/Larry/Jimmy/Gary/HC/Cherub/Bro' line-up was, all the Pro Personalities shared a delivery style that meant to...convey...not just mouth-off, or muse.

2. Bro' enjoys radio-info.com, which -- between the inevitable anonymous snipes/zingers/etc. --can be an important conversation about our industry. "Who ARE all these people" who post here, he wonders? "We should try to get everyone [who posts here] TOGETHER!" he says. "A HAPPENING!" he-and-I said in unison, then laughed. A 1025 Club-type bash, he's thinkin.' I agreed that it'd be a LOT-O-fun, but figure that many-who-post-here-anonymously might be too shy. Hey there's always the Groucho glasses.

HC
www.HollandCooke.com

PS, RE lunch: Another adorably Rhode Island moment. It was Good Friday, and I came THIS close to blowing it. I'd already ordered what-I-always-order at Panera, that half-sandwich-and-soup deal, of-which the sandwich is roast beef on asiago. EVERY year on Good Friday, I realize only-AS-I'm-biting-into-it that I ordered meat. ALMOST blew it this year. But, after ordering, I changed to the veggie sandwich. Noting that they'd already made the roast beef on asiago, the incredibly cute girl behind the counter said "no pvoblem."
 
Quote: When we pulled into the parking lot at Panera in Smithfield, we couldn't get out of the car right away. The music mix on the True Oldies station is THAT good. These were all songs Bro' and I played on WPRO-AM, and it's great to hear this music again on AM radio, because, after all, it was mixed for AM radio to begin with. I suppose we'll never know, but if 99.7 was still simulcasting 790, the pair would probably beat WPRO now.

Too bad True Oldies is just there to fill the AM frequency. Imus' audience won't stick around for the music and the music audience won't listen to Imus. The music sounds like B101 did somewhere along the line when they started undergoing the format change from oldies to classic hits. Nothing terribly deep but a lot of the songs B101 abandoned are being played and they were legitimate recognizable hits. The 80s rock is missing too. Personally I think it's a format B101 should be doing. They need to backtrack a little musically to where they were 2-3 years ago.

Quote: 2. Bro' enjoys radio-info.com, which -- between the inevitable anonymous snipes/zingers/etc. --can be an important conversation about our industry. "Who ARE all these people" who post here, he wonders? "We should try to get everyone [who posts here] TOGETHER!" he says. "A HAPPENING!" he-and-I said in unison, then laughed. A 1025 Club-type bash, he's thinkin.' I agreed that it'd be a LOT-O-fun, but figure that many-who-post-here-anonymously might be too shy. Hey there's always the Groucho glasses.

I read some of the other major market boards and they managed a get together in Atlanta. Not only did non radio board people show but also radio people including a market manager and the AJC media columnist. That wouldn't happen here. Actually the music stations don't take that much of a bashing here. It's mainly the talk show hosts and it's always the same 2 or 3 posters. The few radio posters who use their own names don't get any anonymous grief. You might actually get some of the more sensible posters here to show and I know some have done radio in Providence. As far as insiders, take it for what it's worth but it's an insular bunch that in some cases in spite of supposed communication skills isn't that good at communicating with people not in the business. It's a sterile market where people don't see much of a future so the radio people huddle together. The two cluster scenario doesn't help either. Also, would you want to see Buddy in action at the 1025 Cub?
 
Holland:

If you do decide to go to the 1025 Club, you'll be walking into a Church Service. The 1025 Club was sold to a Church around Christmas
due to the Fire Code. (couldn't afford the renovations).

Just didn't want you coming from the BLOCK for nuttin!!!!!!!
 
RE "The 1025 Club was sold to a Church"

There's a punchline there somewhere, eh?

In Westerly, there's a retail space that USED to be a movie theater, and is NOW a video store.
"Evolution."
Wonder what it'll be next...
 
I remember Bill Goodman on WPRO and also on WHIM with his "Bill Goodman Thing". To me he is right up there in the ranks of favorite Rhode Island radio personalities. I wish him God's speed and I thank him for all the great memories.
 
RI Radio Nut said:
I remember Bill Goodman on WPRO and also on WHIM with his "Bill Goodman Thing". To me he is right up there in the ranks of favorite Rhode Island radio personalities. I wish him God's speed and I thank him for all the great memories.
Click to expand...
I used to call Brother Bill on WPRO with area "pro" wrestling results, when I was still in high school; but aspiring to be on the air, someday. He always took the time to chat with me. One of the good guys :). There were also a couple of others who always encouraged me, from that Wampanoag Trail group...Gary Berkowitz, and some guy named Holland Cooke 8)
 
The idea of a get-together has come up before, but I kinda like the anonymity even though I'm not one of the ones who does any zinging on the boards. I actually know a few of the other posters so a paper bag over my head won't do much good & I hate for others to get depressed when they see how I'm the only one who hasn't grown old. If you do get together, though, I'd suggest Old Country Buffet so when people start throwing food at each other no one will notice.
 
Hey Mark: Right back atcha, pal...

Mark had that twinkle-in-his-eye early on.

I DO remember the "Remember Mark Ambrose" stickers, every time I hear you.
 
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