December 8, 1980

[robgrayson]

I sincerely came to the boards today to ask Rob Grayson if he remembered what he was doing 28 years ago today only to hap upon this...


cbj

I wanted to answer your question, but not take away from Fred's topic.

First of all, I had to get a calculator and subtract 28 from 2008. Then I realized that I do remember!

We were at a Rock103 jock meeting at Bob Brames' house on Lee Place, just north of Overton Square. Monday Night Football was on in the background. Howard Cosell made the announcement of John Lennon's death, and we headed for the station.

At that time I had been, just for fun, coming in before my airshift and editing a montage of the Beatles songs A to Z, on 2-track reel-to-reel tape (with splicing tape and razor blade, uphill both ways in the snow, kids). I was already at the end of the G's, ironically close to "Happiness Is A Warm Gun". I finished the montage, capped it off with "I don't believe in Beatles... I just believe in me" through "The dream is over". That weekend, we had a memorial get-together at Halle Stadium, Larry Raspberry spoke, and told a great story about seeing John in a store in New York one day, but respecting John by not bugging him. Following Larry's comments, we observed 10 minutes of silence, then played the montage. Dude.

 

[TheBigDaddy]

Rob,

I vividly remember hearing your A-Z as it aired 1st time. It was (and still is) an absolutely stunning work. I still occasionaly click on it & listen again over at Uncle Ricky's place. I was at first simply amazed by the music...and then I thought about how much time & prep work had to have gone into that (yes, razor's & tape at my place, too) and I felt so eternally grateful to you.
The next day I remember stopping by the local record shop & re-buying Rock & Roll Music, Bealtes Red, Beatles Blue, Help! & Beatles '65.I'm certain I'm not alone in saying "thank you from all of us". We ALL hurt in those days. And YOU made it a little better.
Remember that.

Thanks again.

 

[AlbumOldies]

No disrespect to Don McLean, but for a lot of us Dec 8, 1980 was the day the music died.

 

[CFKane]

I cannot believe it's really been 28 years! I found this on Julian's blog, and thought I would share...

"Folks, thank you for all your kind words & support regarding today's date, but My heart does not ache today, nor will it break today. Today is just another day, just as any other. In fact, the Sun is shining & it's a Beautiful fresh Winter's day & a Beautiful day to be alive!

Something very sad happened many years ago on this date, but I don't Live & Breathe this date the same way many of you do. I appreciate your intentions & your prayers, but I refuse to be saddened this day, or by any other memorial day. I glimpse back over my shoulder on days like these, only to thank those that have gone before, with a wink & a smile & appreciate what went before & what I have learned from everyone & everything that has influenced My Life in positive ways.
So, I wish each & every one of you a warm embrace of positivity for the future & a wink & a smile to the good times & good people that have past. It's a Beautiful day to be alive.
I wish you all well...."

CFKane

 

[Wanted]

I DOUBT I would have the editing skills I have if we were still using tape... That's why I love the story; ALLLL those songs SPLICED into about 6 inches a piece! No... Thank you!

I wasn't a big fan of John nor the Beatles but that radio feat you acheived deserves recognition! Thank you sir...

 

[robgrayson]

In the interest of being forthright... should you venture to listen to the one posted at reelradio.com, realize that it is a "remix", redone in the CD and computer era. I would dare say to try and play the original would require replacing each piece of splicing tape, and the only other copy I had was on cassette, so over the course of time, phase issues crept in. So I gave it another go, and that is what you hear posted there today.