where does the radio encyclopedia of rob 
grayson fit in
grayson fit in
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I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy!
I have been the Forrest Gump of Memphis radio; I have been in the right place at the right time to be a witness to great happenings, but I didn't have much to do with actually making them happen.
In reference to cooperative (or non-cooperative) engineers, I have had the chance to work with a number of guys who were responsive and took care of bizness... perhaps the chief of these was Gary Condrey at 103.
I have been the Forrest Gump of Memphis radio; I have been in the right place at the right time to be a witness to great happenings, but I didn't have much to do with actually making them happen.
In reference to cooperative (or non-cooperative) engineers, I have had the chance to work with a number of guys who were responsive and took care of bizness... perhaps the chief of these was Gary Condrey at 103.
L
littlebigradio
Guest
Rob is among probably a dozen or so "honorable mentions"
Don't remember who posted it, but the comments about why Dees was fired were
unfounded. First of all, he was without a doubt the BEST jock to ever hit Memphis.
BUT, WMPS (and all of Plough Broadcasting) had within their licensing proposal to
the FCC a clause that basically said NONE of their on air staff could play their own
recordings that were released to the public, UNTIL it became a top 10 seller in
Memphis. If one did, then he was to be fired, period. There was no room for any deviation from that rule. Rick was informed of that, and even told far in advance,
and reminded again after the record was released. Now, the others on the station
could play it, but he couldn't. Also, some of those facts may NOT indeed be the exact way it went down, but that's what was told to me at the time.
Back about 1962, I was offered a record deal myself and was told by WHBQ that I would NEVER be able to play it, so I turned down the offer...or maybe they turned down ME! Anyway, rules are rules, contrary to much of today's thinking...or non-thinking, as the case may be. (Remind me sometime and I'll tell you about the time
Elvis gave George Klein a new El Dorado convertible...I was pd at the time it was
tough to get the NY office to believe the real truth!)
unfounded. First of all, he was without a doubt the BEST jock to ever hit Memphis.
BUT, WMPS (and all of Plough Broadcasting) had within their licensing proposal to
the FCC a clause that basically said NONE of their on air staff could play their own
recordings that were released to the public, UNTIL it became a top 10 seller in
Memphis. If one did, then he was to be fired, period. There was no room for any deviation from that rule. Rick was informed of that, and even told far in advance,
and reminded again after the record was released. Now, the others on the station
could play it, but he couldn't. Also, some of those facts may NOT indeed be the exact way it went down, but that's what was told to me at the time.
Back about 1962, I was offered a record deal myself and was told by WHBQ that I would NEVER be able to play it, so I turned down the offer...or maybe they turned down ME! Anyway, rules are rules, contrary to much of today's thinking...or non-thinking, as the case may be. (Remind me sometime and I'll tell you about the time
Elvis gave George Klein a new El Dorado convertible...I was pd at the time it was
tough to get the NY office to believe the real truth!)
Thanks, Meepster. I'll pass it along to Chris. He's home (here!) for a few days now.
> Anyway, rules are rules...
You know, it's funny. I have heard the same story about Dees told from the other side of the table. Craig Scott related to me the corporate machinations that went on. Yes, they knew how powerful Dees was, and what would happen if Dees sat out his non-compete, and went across town. But, they opined, some issues simply cannot be compromised, so they pulled the trigger, and knowingly shot themselves in the foot.
It was fun chatting with Craig, once he had tossed back a few.
And, as an aside, Jack, K4BSI, gets an honorable mention for longevity, if for nothing else.
DE
You know, it's funny. I have heard the same story about Dees told from the other side of the table. Craig Scott related to me the corporate machinations that went on. Yes, they knew how powerful Dees was, and what would happen if Dees sat out his non-compete, and went across town. But, they opined, some issues simply cannot be compromised, so they pulled the trigger, and knowingly shot themselves in the foot.
It was fun chatting with Craig, once he had tossed back a few.
And, as an aside, Jack, K4BSI, gets an honorable mention for longevity, if for nothing else.
DE
DeadElvis said:
And that is something I can confirm. While being at WMPS at the time, the Plough Corp spent more time on preparing to lose than they did in trying to win.
Jack, I never knew that corporate had that clause in the contract.
We were always told it was John Rhea's fault. I suspect the upstairs folks had to blame someone.
Dan S.
Dan/Dead Elvis:
You guys may be right; I don't remember from whom I heard about the contract,
but I do know that the FCC required lots and lots of proof in a station's application
that none of their people had not, were not, and would not even SEEM like they
were in any way taking payola in any way shape or form. I do know for a fact that
we at WHBQ (RKO General's smallest station) had to sign affadavits to that affect.
I kinda thought that it happened with Rick just "moments" before he could've legally played it anyway! I think it went top 10 in Memphis the week he started at
WHBQ. I guess Rick is probably the only one that really knows for sure right now,
because the real bigwigs at Plough Broadcasting at the time, are dead now.
Dead Elvis: are you a ham too? I noticed you used my call letters!
You guys may be right; I don't remember from whom I heard about the contract,
but I do know that the FCC required lots and lots of proof in a station's application
that none of their people had not, were not, and would not even SEEM like they
were in any way taking payola in any way shape or form. I do know for a fact that
we at WHBQ (RKO General's smallest station) had to sign affadavits to that affect.
I kinda thought that it happened with Rick just "moments" before he could've legally played it anyway! I think it went top 10 in Memphis the week he started at
WHBQ. I guess Rick is probably the only one that really knows for sure right now,
because the real bigwigs at Plough Broadcasting at the time, are dead now.
Dead Elvis: are you a ham too? I noticed you used my call letters!
Jack
I think Wayne Hudson was CEO at the time upstairs, but there was another 2nd in command that the name escapes me. He was the one that was responsible for WMPS and a portion of Plough Broadcasting to keep EEOC, FCC compliance and all the other muckity muck in line. I wish I would remember his name....
Dan
I think Wayne Hudson was CEO at the time upstairs, but there was another 2nd in command that the name escapes me. He was the one that was responsible for WMPS and a portion of Plough Broadcasting to keep EEOC, FCC compliance and all the other muckity muck in line. I wish I would remember his name....
Dan
E
eden
Guest
Ed Crump?
L
littlebigradio
Guest
One thing for sure....if there were a Mt Rushmore for voices....Jack Parnell's would be up there. Been to Barnhill's Buffett lately Jack?
Was Ed Crump still living at the time?
Thanks for the kind words, but I certainly don't belong there. However, I did notice someone "nominated"
Wink; he certainly does belong there. He taught me more about radio than everybody else combined. I was
19 when I started back in 58, and he took me under his wing and laid it all out for me. He may have taught me all I know about it, but he certainly didn't teach me all HE knows!
Wink; he certainly does belong there. He taught me more about radio than everybody else combined. I was
19 when I started back in 58, and he took me under his wing and laid it all out for me. He may have taught me all I know about it, but he certainly didn't teach me all HE knows!
M
MikeBratton
Guest
Jack, even if you decline inclusion, we will use the power of your mellifluous voice to carve the faces out of the rock.
And say hello to Chris--"Lazy Sunday" is one of the funniest things in the history of comedy. "Cowbell" is arguably the
funniest, but wouldn't have been had Chris not gotten his part pitch-perfect.
And say hello to Chris--"Lazy Sunday" is one of the funniest things in the history of comedy. "Cowbell" is arguably the
funniest, but wouldn't have been had Chris not gotten his part pitch-perfect.
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