Houston Radio Reunion - A LESSON....

[andreajesus]

For the last couple of weeks, I've been checking out all the posts about, leading up to, during, and now even AFTER the Houston Radio Reunion. Here are my thoughts....

In this current age, radio is usually considered a "business", a "competition", where MANY stations are too busy figuring out ways to knock each other down or out - happily, I did not notice that with the Houston Radio Reunion - you were ALL congratulating each other, looking forward to "breaking bread" (or chugging down some beers...), fellowshipping with each other, and catching up on old times (congratulations to Josh Holstead/Rowdy Yates on your upcoming honor - it's AWESOME!! ) I think a LOT of stations in a LOT of cities could take lessons from ALL of you -- you are ALL to be honored....I have been an aficionado of and a writer about BOTH music and radio for over 25 years, and I will tell you - just from what I've seen in the past four weeks, I have NEVER seen the amount of camaraderie and joy that I have seen here - BRAVO!! It is VERY contagious for those of us who are, in one way or another, part of this FABULOUS medium called radio - thank you...

AJ

 

[genehughes]

Obvisiously you are confusing radio people with politicians.

In radio your always nice to others in the business, because
if your ratings sucks you may end up working for the other guys.

 

[Kevinc]

Obvisiously you are confusing radio people with politicians.

In radio your always nice to others in the business, because
if your ratings sucks you may end up working for the other guys.

IMO - Its not only that... But many of us have already worked together at some point in time, either in a smaller market on our way to Houston or somewhere else along the way.

I know I listen to the other personalities in town to see what they're doing.. and how they do it... Sometimes we stea...er uh borrow a few things from them too... and we do get excited for those who achieve honors or land new gigs.

kevinc

 

[FilioScotia]

I've spent a lot of years in this market, and I must say it has the friendliest and most congenial competitive atmosphere I've ever seen. With the single exception of a former KTRH GM, the "go for the jugular vein" type of competition that's common in other large markets almost doesn't exist here.

Yes we compete for ratings and ad dollars, but we're not bloodthirsty about it. I think most of us have good friends at other stations around town. Friends we've worked with before and friends we've never worked with, but have gotten to know socially one way or another.

And it's that open and friendly acceptance and camaraderie among competitors that makes this market different. At the reunion, I found and hugged a lot of old former co-workers and competitors, and introduced myself to a bunch of longtime radio guys and gals I had never met in person till then.

I can't remember when I have had more fun. Rowdy we gotta do this again sometime.

 

[andreajesus]

PRECISELY my point, Filio - PRECISELY my point.... 8) 8)

AJ

 

[FilioScotia]

Some examples. When I broke in as an outside reporter for KIKK in 1968, the press rooms at the 61 Riesner St police station and at City Hall were the places reporters hung out while waiting for a story to break somewhere. At the copshop, Chron reporter Jack Weeks would cook up gumbo and other eats on a hot plate and serve it up for all the other reporters. That press room is where I got to know and love some of the finest people I've ever known.

When "news" happened, we would all go running out to the story, and I swear to you in those days, there were at least half a dozen and sometimes more radio stations represented. If somebody got there a little late, he knew he could count on another reporter sharing his tape and notes. We helped each other out of respect, and also because we all knew we would need help ourselves some day.

Jim Carola remembers those days. I got to know him at the press room and out chasing stories. He can back up my testimony that it was very common for reporters to help each other. (I also remember Carola always winning the big pots in the copshop's famous Friday poker games. )

In the famous Sugarland Express story, I remember riding a lot of those miles with Gary DeLaune of KNUZ, in that car with the lemon-drop looking microphone on the roof, and with Jack Cato of KPRC for awhile. My own car wasn't running good at that time, so those guys shared their ride with me. And we helped each other as the story unfolded and came to an end. I can't count the times I helped other radio reporters by sharing my tape, or letting them use my extra microphone because theirs was on the fritz. And helped TV reporters by holding their mikes, or even manning their camera while they did the interview while scribbling their notes.

The Houston market has always been known for that kind of friendly, congenial, helpful, and respectful competition. I remember any number of new guys coming in from other markets always being astonished and surprised by it. They all said they'd never seen anything like it, but they loved it.

 

[andreajesus]

The Houston market has always been known for that kind of friendly, congenial, helpful, and respectful competition. I remember any number of new guys coming in from other markets always being astonished and surprised by it. They all said they'd never seen anything like it, but they loved it.

I love it, too - other personalities, other stations, other markets - they could take a lesson from you guys in Houston.... 8) 8)

 

[ChuckTiller]

In the famous Sugarland Express story, I remember riding a lot of those miles with Gary DeLaune of KNUZ, in that car with the lemon-drop looking microphone on the roof, and with Jack Cato of KPRC for awhile. My own car wasn't running good at that time, so those guys shared their ride with me. And we helped each other as the story unfolded and came to an end. I can't count the times I helped other radio reporters by sharing my tape, or letting them use my extra microphone because theirs was on the fritz.

Jim, I've seen pictures of that KNUZ microphone. It had a black flag with the KNUZ call letters in raised yellow letters. In 1977, there was a fire in engineering. After it was extinguished, a lot of things were thrown out. I sifted through the mess and found that mic flag. I have it and I am putting in a picture frame so I can hang it on the wall with the rest of my radio stuff. It has to be a wide horizontal frame to accommodate the size. I have to keep KNUZ off my mind. One morning recently, I opened the mic and said, "Newstalk 1070 K-N-U-Z. Whoa! It's been a long time since I worked there....." KNUZ flows so much better than KNTH; however I'm stuck with 'em, so I make the best of it.

While at KNUZ, when Elvis passed away, I was going to play Elvis all night, which I did. However, KNUZ had NO turntables in the control room. There was only one Ampex reel to reel and four cart machines. I could find no tape in the station. Between KNUZ and KQUE, there were no large reels. Johnny Goyen came over and started carting a lot of Elvis for me around 9:30 that night. (I think he was at KRBE at the time, but I'm not sure.) I got in my car and went to KILT and met Sheila Mayhew and Beau Weaver who were standing the parking lot. I did not know them from Adam. I introduced myself to a couple of disbelieving people at 1st. They let me in to the tape room downstairs where I was able to get enough tape to get me through the night. Between the carts and the tape from KILT, I was able to successfully produce a 6 hour shift. They didn't have to help me. Johnny Goyen didn't have to help me, but they did. Houston radio folks were just that way, always willing to offer a hand. By the way, I did acknowledge those folks and their stations for helping me.