I graduated high school in 1964 and had no idea what to do with my life. I had been a singer all my life and felt some kind of entertainment would be the way to go. That depended on a person's drive and talent. It was a little more under my control. But what enterainment was right for me? Well. I packed my car, bought new tires, gassed up and prepared to head for Colorado Springs. There were teen nightclubs there where 3.2 beer was sold and they needed entertainers. At the last minute Mr. Blackmar called me, and mentioned a chance to earn a few more dollars for my trip. He managed the Dairy Queen and I'd worked there throughout high school. I could not turn down the bucks I had about $200 to travel on. While at the Dairy Queen, John Wolfe a co-worker suggested I try radio. I had loved radio since age 11 when I found Wolfman Jack on XERF in Del Rio, Texas but I told John I did not have the license, education or experience necessary. Mr. Blackmar advertised on the radio so I asked him to check the qualifications needed and sure enough, it was what I thought. But I decided to postpone my trip and see what another station would say. ... Well, after reading for 5 to 10 minutes off the AP wire, General Manager Fred Wilbanks told me they'd pay my way to Denver, get me a special appointment with the FCC for my license, and I was off and running. I started in country music and Hank Harral was my first P.D. "Ol Double H" had been a singing cowboy on the radio in Amarillo in 1929 when he was 14 years old. Hank kept a guitar next to him and he would pick and sing live on the radio so I was never far from my music roots. -John-
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My First Job In Radio
- Thread starter John Mack Flanagan
- Start date
Hey John,
Always good to hear from you and your thoughts of your experiences in radio. As the SF board has had not much of new stuff going on, it is nice to get a little infusion here once in a while. I am very happy that you still peek in on us here. I hope I speak for everyone else, when I say, your thoughs and views are welcomed and we wholeheartedly look forward to them!
Also thanks for the 'This date in music' on KFRC, nice to hear!
Always good to hear from you and your thoughts of your experiences in radio. As the SF board has had not much of new stuff going on, it is nice to get a little infusion here once in a while. I am very happy that you still peek in on us here. I hope I speak for everyone else, when I say, your thoughs and views are welcomed and we wholeheartedly look forward to them!
Also thanks for the 'This date in music' on KFRC, nice to hear!
X
XM RADIO
Guest
Hi John!! The show was great today as usual!!! Radio will never be the same as it was 30 years ago, But its still out there,,,My Sunday listening schedule consists of your show till 10am, thenover to Sirius 6 for Cousin Brucie till noon,,,great DJ,,then at noon its Sirius Gold and Norm N Nite from the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Hall of fame,,LIVE!!! These guys are like JMF, have connection to the listener!! They tell you history about the song,and Cousin Brucie is Mr Personality! They could use a DJ like JMF on Satellite XM or Sirius! I would pay extra to have a 4 hour show with JMF playing 60s or 70s!!!!!!!! I hope to hear something where there is increased hours on the air!!! Heres something i wonder how can someone as boring as Ron Parker have a place at WCBS?? They couldnt get Cousin Brucie back, could CBS have done the Cuz wrong? Radio is sure unpredictable Satellite or terrestrial!!!! Sirius has a guy Named JJ Walker,,,this guy on the 70s channel,,hes radio and good at it,,,funny how KFRC has jay Coffee on,,There were so many other choices,,,,,Steve Jordan for starters!! Or Mucho Morales!! Or Steve garland!! Im not all that immpressed,, with 106.9 ,,Im only immpressed Sundays 9 am til 10 am!! -Kenny-
R
rickradio
Guest
ty567 said:
Speaking of wow, do you have an axe to grind with John, Ty?
???
"Speaking of wow, do you have an axe to grind with John, Ty?"
I would assume that's the case. People here usually react positively when posts come in from talented veteran DJs they have years of fond memories of. John isn't the only one - you can include Carter B. Smith and Jack Friday in that group, too. And though I've never met JMF in person, he seems like a nice guy, too.
As far as I'm concerned, all of their contributions here are welcome - and if positive feedback amounts to "stroking their egos," I'll plead guilty
I would assume that's the case. People here usually react positively when posts come in from talented veteran DJs they have years of fond memories of. John isn't the only one - you can include Carter B. Smith and Jack Friday in that group, too. And though I've never met JMF in person, he seems like a nice guy, too.
As far as I'm concerned, all of their contributions here are welcome - and if positive feedback amounts to "stroking their egos," I'll plead guilty
ty567 said:
I think this is uncalled for. He said something interesting that was on-topic.
As for my own entre into radio, it began at KVEZ (now KSAN 107.7) in San Mateo, at 600 South Bayshore (now Amphlett). The station was then running a contemporary music format in Spanish. I understood only enough Spanish to order food or get me arrested. Thankfully, Jim Lauder (aka Jaime Lauder on KVEZ) helped me through it and I came to like such groups as Los Johnny Jets, etc. It was a lot of fun board-opping for some of the DJs, who, it seemed, were often recruited off the street with no broadcasting skills at all. I remember one guy who spoke no English and I with my limited Spanish. We communicated in hand signals and whatnot to put the program on. He would get to talking and forget about stopsets, or sometimes run out of anything to say, which I guess was my cue to start the next record. Somehow we made it sound ok.
At that time I thik 107.7 was making more money selling the SCA background music service than selling main channel spots.
X
XM RADIO
Guest
Huh ,,Tye,, Theres no need to stroke John Mack Flanagans ego,,,Legends in Radio like John,, have plenty of noteriety,and have made a name for themselves! JMF needs nothing ,,,Hes made his name in Bay Area Radio,,His name is one that is very well known,,anywhere i go , you bring up KFRC, and the 70s Its a sure thing his name pops up! You dont have any bay Area DJs like JMF on any radio station around the Bay Area! In the 70s to cruise around Concord in the summer of 1974 , in my 1964 Chevy Impala SS ..between the sound of the dual exhaust and the burned out glasspacks, and John Mack Flanagan,, on the Big 610,,coming out of the factory AM radio w/two speakers the one in the back seat on those old Impalas and the one front speaker,,and the volume all the way up! listening to Blue Swede.. 'Hooked on a feeling: Ooga ooga shaka ooga,, The pre XM days were great! As i recollect it was may of 1974,,JMF 9 till noon, then Ameriacas favorite Disc jockey, "me Bobby ocean! or as John would say 10 mins before he got off it was "OCEAN @ NOON!! Those were some great radio days,,am i correct on this John? Kennyty567 said:
John-
I found this thread while searching the web for info on my late uncle Hank Harral. I met him once when I was about 5 years old-this would have been around 1959. My mom Corina was his sister. She left Texas back in the 30's and moved to California with her husband Joe, my dad. She did not have close ties with Hank and may have even lost contact with him at times. When I started my internet search, I was astonished to find he was quite well-known and even owned Caprock Records. Up until then I always thought the record he gave me - "There's a Picture in my Heart" - was nothing more than a vanity record he made! I still have a radio station promo postcard of him dressed in cowboy gear, with his guitar, and it just never clicked that he may have been famous. You mentioned in another post that he sounded like Jim Reeves. Gentleman Jim was Mama's favorite singer back in the day, and now I think I know why. Thanks for giving me a little glimpse into my family's past. If you have any more tidbits of info, I would love to know them.
I found this thread while searching the web for info on my late uncle Hank Harral. I met him once when I was about 5 years old-this would have been around 1959. My mom Corina was his sister. She left Texas back in the 30's and moved to California with her husband Joe, my dad. She did not have close ties with Hank and may have even lost contact with him at times. When I started my internet search, I was astonished to find he was quite well-known and even owned Caprock Records. Up until then I always thought the record he gave me - "There's a Picture in my Heart" - was nothing more than a vanity record he made! I still have a radio station promo postcard of him dressed in cowboy gear, with his guitar, and it just never clicked that he may have been famous. You mentioned in another post that he sounded like Jim Reeves. Gentleman Jim was Mama's favorite singer back in the day, and now I think I know why. Thanks for giving me a little glimpse into my family's past. If you have any more tidbits of info, I would love to know them.
Cynnamon said:
May have been famous? Hank Harral was a great talent in the era when Western swing morphed into boogie woogie and into rockabilly. It's my favorite musical era. I just pulled up a cut of his on the "Hillbilly Boogie" CD, one of my prized possessions. Here's a URL to the CD showing that he was in good company indeed:
http://bluestown.blogspot.com/2008/05/cd-3-boogie-man-boogie.html
John,
You helped secure me my first great paying long running moonlight VO work! Thanks!
I was a production engineer at KYA - loved your character on "WD Tires and Wheels" adds - use to imitate them to a "T".
Then... one day the WD competitor asked if I would do spots for him - in 'your' style! (The Rubber Tree Tires and Wheels)
Had fun on the side for 4 more years!
Thanks again - those were some nice house payments!
You helped secure me my first great paying long running moonlight VO work! Thanks!
I was a production engineer at KYA - loved your character on "WD Tires and Wheels" adds - use to imitate them to a "T".
Then... one day the WD competitor asked if I would do spots for him - in 'your' style! (The Rubber Tree Tires and Wheels)
Had fun on the side for 4 more years!
Thanks again - those were some nice house payments!
B
Bowler Bob in Brisbane
Guest
Hey there John,
I found this thread on my first ever visit to Raido-Info, just a few hours ago.
I DJ under the name "Professor Phil Moore, Jr" once a month up in the Poster Room Lounge at the Fillmore in San Francisco.
You are one of my biggest inspirations in regards to the art of playing recorded music and talking to a listening audience on the radio.
Growing up as a teen in San Francisco from 1967-1973 I listened to AM radio constantly, in 1966 these were my favorite stations in this order KFRC, KYA, KDIA, KSOL.
The vinyl records I play upstairs in the Poster Room Lounge span the period from 1965-1968, the early years of the Fillmore, and are the same records I bought back then because of listening to AM Radio.
I broadcast a mythical radio program called "Just For The Record", on the imaginary radio station "Revvin' 98.7 FM, KBGP, San Francisco"
As most of us long time Bay Area radio listeners have come to find, 98.7 is one of those dead zone spots on the FM dial here in the Bay Area, so I figured, cool, perfect...mine.
I would love to actually broadcast the program on a real radio station that people can truly pick up, like KFRC.
You have been a big influence on me, as well as many of your other contemporaries over the years.
Waking up to the Magical Mystery Tour on Saturday mornings, and then Brunch With The Beatles on Sunday mornings is such a treat, thank you so much John!
I want to do what your doing, living the radio dream.
Cheers!
I found this thread on my first ever visit to Raido-Info, just a few hours ago.
I DJ under the name "Professor Phil Moore, Jr" once a month up in the Poster Room Lounge at the Fillmore in San Francisco.
You are one of my biggest inspirations in regards to the art of playing recorded music and talking to a listening audience on the radio.
Growing up as a teen in San Francisco from 1967-1973 I listened to AM radio constantly, in 1966 these were my favorite stations in this order KFRC, KYA, KDIA, KSOL.
The vinyl records I play upstairs in the Poster Room Lounge span the period from 1965-1968, the early years of the Fillmore, and are the same records I bought back then because of listening to AM Radio.
I broadcast a mythical radio program called "Just For The Record", on the imaginary radio station "Revvin' 98.7 FM, KBGP, San Francisco"
As most of us long time Bay Area radio listeners have come to find, 98.7 is one of those dead zone spots on the FM dial here in the Bay Area, so I figured, cool, perfect...mine.
I would love to actually broadcast the program on a real radio station that people can truly pick up, like KFRC.
You have been a big influence on me, as well as many of your other contemporaries over the years.
Waking up to the Magical Mystery Tour on Saturday mornings, and then Brunch With The Beatles on Sunday mornings is such a treat, thank you so much John!
I want to do what your doing, living the radio dream.
Cheers!
S
Stage5Clinger
Guest
Cool topic JMF! I started out as a groupie at the legendary KZAP in Sacramento. Went down to the station when I was 15 with a bottle of champagne I pimped at the local liquor store, and drank it on the air with Jon Russell on his last day before he left town to start up KRQR back in the early 80's. A couple of amateur hours and some voice work on ZAP got the bug into my blood, and I've been on the air here in Sacatomato ever since. Tried to get out a couple of times, but the biz just keeps dragging me back in.
B
Bowler Bob in Brisbane
Guest
quote author=DavidKaye link=topic=92321.msg818914#msg818914 date=1215942448]
Do you play music from typical Fillmore bills, such as seques with Janis Joplin, Big Mama Thornton, Ravi Shankar, and Gabor Szabo? You can't just play rock, since the Fillmore didn't book just rock.
[/quote]
Thanx for the response David.
You are so correct, the Fillmore did not book just rock.
Bill Graham had a keen vision, and was very perceptive about what he thought people would like, using his own tastes and esthetics as a starting point, and then mixing that with what he saw as the current popular trends in music.
The answer to your question is yes, I do re-create the eclectic billings that Bill Graham put together in regards to artists from different genres, with different musical backgrounds on the same show, performing with each other.
It's funny that you should mention Gabor Szabo.
One night while DJ'ing in the Poster Room Lounge last year, I paid a tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love with 3 song mini-set recreations of actual Fllmore bills from that summer.
My first set opened with "Hey Joe", which was followed by "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", and closed with "The Other Side of This Life".
The Leaves?
The Beatles?
Fred Neil?
No, although those artists were the first ones to originally release these songs, it was a new sound gracing the stage at the Fillmore, ushering in The Summer of Love.
The Summer Series of 1967 at the Fillmore kicked off for 6 nights in a row (June 20-25), with The Jimi Hendrix Experience opening the bill, Gabor Szabo in the middle slot, and the Jefferson Airplane closing the show.
The aforementioned selections were songs featured in each of those artist’s sets that week.
This was just one of many examples of the kind of bookings that Bill Graham put together in order to embrace diversity and showcase music of different types on the same show, and it is with that spirit that I attempt re-create those eclectic billings in a live radio-style presentation.
Do you play music from typical Fillmore bills, such as seques with Janis Joplin, Big Mama Thornton, Ravi Shankar, and Gabor Szabo? You can't just play rock, since the Fillmore didn't book just rock.
[/quote]
Thanx for the response David.
You are so correct, the Fillmore did not book just rock.
Bill Graham had a keen vision, and was very perceptive about what he thought people would like, using his own tastes and esthetics as a starting point, and then mixing that with what he saw as the current popular trends in music.
The answer to your question is yes, I do re-create the eclectic billings that Bill Graham put together in regards to artists from different genres, with different musical backgrounds on the same show, performing with each other.
It's funny that you should mention Gabor Szabo.
One night while DJ'ing in the Poster Room Lounge last year, I paid a tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love with 3 song mini-set recreations of actual Fllmore bills from that summer.
My first set opened with "Hey Joe", which was followed by "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", and closed with "The Other Side of This Life".
The Leaves?
The Beatles?
Fred Neil?
No, although those artists were the first ones to originally release these songs, it was a new sound gracing the stage at the Fillmore, ushering in The Summer of Love.
The Summer Series of 1967 at the Fillmore kicked off for 6 nights in a row (June 20-25), with The Jimi Hendrix Experience opening the bill, Gabor Szabo in the middle slot, and the Jefferson Airplane closing the show.
The aforementioned selections were songs featured in each of those artist’s sets that week.
This was just one of many examples of the kind of bookings that Bill Graham put together in order to embrace diversity and showcase music of different types on the same show, and it is with that spirit that I attempt re-create those eclectic billings in a live radio-style presentation.
Bowler Bob in Brisbane said:
From your desctiptions, I suspect your presentations are probably very much worth listening to - for my tastes at least. Have you considered turning them into podcasts? This sounds like something that would go very well on 1550 AM - or even as downloads over the Internet. Or as part of the "sounds of san francisco" thing that KTRB runs on weekends. That's getting very repetitive and boring, but it's still arguably the best thing airing on AM 860 right now.
Dave B.
B
Bowler Bob in Brisbane
Guest
[/quote]
From your desctiptions, I suspect your presentations are probably very much worth listening to - for my tastes at least. Have you considered turning them into podcasts? This sounds like something that would go very well on 1550 AM - or even as downloads over the Internet. Or as part of the "sounds of san francisco" thing that KTRB runs on weekends. That's getting very repetitive and boring, but it's still arguably the best thing airing on AM 860 right now.
Dave B.
[/quote]
Thank you Dave for the encouraging response.
I would love to do a podcast of my "faux radio show", or even to do just a 2 hour weekly broadcast on any of the aforementioned AM stations.
My next program from the Poster Room Lounge will be on Sunday, July 27th at the Fillmore, for the Pat Benatar show.
It will feature songs from 1983, a prime period in Pat's career, as well as an opportunity to capitalize on many of her fans celebrating their 25 year class reunions and other anniversaries.
It should be a blast going down that musical memory lane.
One of my long time radio heroes Ben-Fong Torres happened to catch one of my shows at the Fillmore, and asked if I had ever done radio before.
And when I said that I hadn't , he said that I should, and ever since then I've been seriously considering doing just that.
I believe I am ready.
Cheers!
BB in B
From your desctiptions, I suspect your presentations are probably very much worth listening to - for my tastes at least. Have you considered turning them into podcasts? This sounds like something that would go very well on 1550 AM - or even as downloads over the Internet. Or as part of the "sounds of san francisco" thing that KTRB runs on weekends. That's getting very repetitive and boring, but it's still arguably the best thing airing on AM 860 right now.
Dave B.
[/quote]
Thank you Dave for the encouraging response.
I would love to do a podcast of my "faux radio show", or even to do just a 2 hour weekly broadcast on any of the aforementioned AM stations.
My next program from the Poster Room Lounge will be on Sunday, July 27th at the Fillmore, for the Pat Benatar show.
It will feature songs from 1983, a prime period in Pat's career, as well as an opportunity to capitalize on many of her fans celebrating their 25 year class reunions and other anniversaries.
It should be a blast going down that musical memory lane.
One of my long time radio heroes Ben-Fong Torres happened to catch one of my shows at the Fillmore, and asked if I had ever done radio before.
And when I said that I hadn't , he said that I should, and ever since then I've been seriously considering doing just that.
I believe I am ready.
Cheers!
BB in B
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