Late word that Larry Aiken has passed away today. He owned the WGBF AM / FM combo in Evansville/Henderson for several years, ending just after the 1996 Act.
No word on arrangements at this time.
No word on arrangements at this time.
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Obit: Larry Aiken, former owner of WGBF AM/FM
- Thread starter PTBoardOp94
- Start date
Maybe they'll bury him in a Yugo.
A disrespectful inappropriate comment that I would strongly prefer you retract and remove. Mr. Aiken was a respected member of the media and political community and his life should be celebrated not trashed with cheap shots.
A fascinating News4U interview from a few years back.
http://www.news4uonline.com/features/sitting-down-with-entertainment-guru-larry-aiken-1137.aspx
and the C/P obit
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/feb/14/former-political-entertainment-leader-larry-aiken-/
I wish I had met the man and shook his hand. Condolences to his friends and family.
http://www.news4uonline.com/features/sitting-down-with-entertainment-guru-larry-aiken-1137.aspx
and the C/P obit
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/feb/14/former-political-entertainment-leader-larry-aiken-/
I wish I had met the man and shook his hand. Condolences to his friends and family.
From Tom Taylor's Newletter:
radioboymark said:
I tried to give the post the most positive spin I could.
He had a trade on Yugos in the 1980's. "Sunny WGBF" which was an attempt to make the station something it would never be again.
I didn't know Larry but know the stories and legends. I'm sure he failed at more than "Sunny WGBF", we all have. That is still no excuse for taking a cheap shot online.
Mark:
In your own words, "I didn't know Larry". Some of us did (including the Chief) and he was a disc jockey and small town businessman who was very fortunate. He typified Evansville radio. As you do. And, just so you understand, that's not a compliment.
At the end of his run with WGBF, he was looking for an out just like Clear Channel did after they (regrettably) acquired the stations from Mr. Aiken. Consolidation destroyed towns like Evansville, which were well on they way to being just a stone's throw better than Terre Haute before the FCC gave carte blanche for a couple of companies to pay for voice tracking services to a few burned out medium market wannabes.
The Yugo comment was not as disrespectful as you seem to believe. The station gave away a Yugo. It's as simple as that.
Exit your high and might horse, fella. Larry had a great sense of humor and he would have appreciated the Yugo joke. You need not defend someone that you didn't know. And, apparently, you were too self-absorbed to even be bothered to go meet during your tenure in the River City.
In your own words, "I didn't know Larry". Some of us did (including the Chief) and he was a disc jockey and small town businessman who was very fortunate. He typified Evansville radio. As you do. And, just so you understand, that's not a compliment.
At the end of his run with WGBF, he was looking for an out just like Clear Channel did after they (regrettably) acquired the stations from Mr. Aiken. Consolidation destroyed towns like Evansville, which were well on they way to being just a stone's throw better than Terre Haute before the FCC gave carte blanche for a couple of companies to pay for voice tracking services to a few burned out medium market wannabes.
The Yugo comment was not as disrespectful as you seem to believe. The station gave away a Yugo. It's as simple as that.
Exit your high and might horse, fella. Larry had a great sense of humor and he would have appreciated the Yugo joke. You need not defend someone that you didn't know. And, apparently, you were too self-absorbed to even be bothered to go meet during your tenure in the River City.
Sorry, I don't take advice from people who hide behind fake names.
I'm probably a little too sensitive about comments made on Internet message boards about people who've passed because of a personal incident, and perhaps my initial comment was a little harsh. I'm not defending Mr. Aiken as much as regretting those who use pseudonyms to make ad hominem attacks.
I also regret not going to the Aiken tribute - that was a mistake on my part. I wish I had done more to meet Mr. Aiken, and maybe we all need to work on our own self absorption.
I'm probably a little too sensitive about comments made on Internet message boards about people who've passed because of a personal incident, and perhaps my initial comment was a little harsh. I'm not defending Mr. Aiken as much as regretting those who use pseudonyms to make ad hominem attacks.
I also regret not going to the Aiken tribute - that was a mistake on my part. I wish I had done more to meet Mr. Aiken, and maybe we all need to work on our own self absorption.
radioboymark said:
Is that not somewhat hypocritical coming from someone who uses a nom de plume in his everyday life and profession?
Now, back to the topic.
As of Tuesday morning, the arrangements for Larry's service are still pending at Boone Funeral Home in Evansville, Indiana.
Larry Aiken was buried yesterday in a private ceremony; his official obituary will be in the Evansville Courier tomorrow (Thursday). A Celebration of his life will be held Saturday in the Aiken Theatre at the Centre in Evansville. The event begins at 1:00, preceded by "family condolences" in the Theatre Lobby at 12:00 noon. If you missed his Roast last February, this will give you an opportunity to learn more about what a great man he was.
The dust has settled... I can speak in remembering a guy who STILL influences me.... Larry was a good radio personality (as I had to study his works in college).. But, the impressive part was the love for returning to his hometown to make a difference.... He bought the 'GBF's and I was out of town (at the time), thus I won't judge that era.. I hear he was a taskmaster.. Now, as a small station owner, I can relate (to a point, I hope).. But, as a concert and events guru.. Man, he was a GIANT.. I got paid some bucks to observe, load in, load out and LEARN..... With the location of Evansville and his office, he could set these mega-performer tours in all the major venue cities in a 250 miles radius of E'ville.. He'd see that some three day down times for these acts would offer our market, the chance to sell out Roberts Stadium, or get Mesker spiffed up for great gigs in the seats or in the grass.... We had acts that cities twice our market size could not get... He'd break even or make a little on the hometown gigs, but it put more money into the acts he booked... The Coliseum in Downtown was cheap and brought us some great up and coming acts.... $5.50 on new year's eve 1974-75? UFO, Rush, & KISS.... Wow! $4.50 in my soph. year of high school to see: Head East, REO, and The Doobies! Thanks Larry!
Stadium with Johnny Carson's road show (Carson only did 11 or 12 dates a year)..
Elvis at Roberts.
Allman Bros. at Bosse Field
Up and coming bands: Skynyrd, Eagles, Kiss, Yes, Aerosmith, Seger, Cooper's Nightmare dress rehearsal, etc.......
Though I am from just right of center, Larry was a good steward with his leadership in his political party... Never avoided dialogue with guys on the right of center and I leanred much....
The Pub won't be the same....."Theatre A", Upstage Dinner Theater, and on and on..
I will be a bit more 'Lonesome' without you, Aiken! RIP.... You helped to make my youth more fun, enjoyable and I hope someone can pick up the entertainment crown and put our hometown back on the map...
Another one traveling on and across the universe...........
Stadium with Johnny Carson's road show (Carson only did 11 or 12 dates a year)..
Elvis at Roberts.
Allman Bros. at Bosse Field
Up and coming bands: Skynyrd, Eagles, Kiss, Yes, Aerosmith, Seger, Cooper's Nightmare dress rehearsal, etc.......
Though I am from just right of center, Larry was a good steward with his leadership in his political party... Never avoided dialogue with guys on the right of center and I leanred much....
The Pub won't be the same....."Theatre A", Upstage Dinner Theater, and on and on..
I will be a bit more 'Lonesome' without you, Aiken! RIP.... You helped to make my youth more fun, enjoyable and I hope someone can pick up the entertainment crown and put our hometown back on the map...
Another one traveling on and across the universe...........
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