On the Meeting of a Legend

[ColonelStJames]

Well, I can die and go to heaven a happy man. For tonight I met a Radio Legend. When you've been in radio as long as I have, 36 years now, you get to know a lot of famous people. Some are impressive, and some I could go the rest of my life never seeing again and be just as happy. But there are a very few that I consider to be lengendary. My friend Robert B. McIntire fits into that category. So, does Barry Kaye and C.C. McCartney. Bill Mack from WBAP in Dallas is a legend, and so is Crash. I've hung out with Wolfman Jack at Astroworld, and you certainly can't deny his legendary status. Some people even call me a legend. That's nice, and don't stop doing it (LOL!), but really, I don't feel that way. The person I met tonight, was as gracious as he has ever been on the air, and then some. He was glad to meet me. At least he said he was. Said he heard me, and he had grown to know me, or kinda feel like he knew me. WOW!! One of the guys who is a big reason I chose to get onto this crazy roller coaster, has listened to me so much that he feels like he knows me!! I was floored. We talked for a few minutes, then he had to leave. I thanked him, and he said for what? I said for helping to influence me on my life's path. I kinda think he was a little floored. We parted fiends, and promised we keep in touch. Now, that may or may not happen. You know how that goes. But he has my number, and anytime he wants to get together to share a lunch, or a coffee, or just some good stories. All he has to do is call. It was great meeting you, Mr. Paul Berlin.

 

[andreajesus]

VERY sweet... 8)

 

[edriskill]

Aw, come on, Colonel... you know you're a legend around these parts, especially to those of us who you tutored and befriended over the years in the radio biz. It's always nice to note when I'm trying to brag that I worked with you once, even if only for a few months. As a matter of fact, of all the people I've worked with since 1969, you're the one who I'd like to have speak at my funeral... (how much do you charge for funerals, Rev. Col. St. James?)

 

[AndyWaldrop]

(how much do you charge for funerals, Rev. Col. St. James?)

Watch it! There are several ways he can answer that!!!

 

[michaelshiloh]

So how'd you meet him, Colonel? At the supermarket, at the Rodeo or is there some secret society of legendary DJs? Details, my man, details!

 

[AndyWaldrop]

So how'd you meet him, Colonel? At the supermarket, at the Rodeo or is there some secret society of legendary DJs? Details, my man, details!

I got the impression, Mike, that Paul was up at CC.

 

[walter1]

You should try working with him for 22 or 23 years. All that the col. said and more. What's the chances of getting to work with two hall of famers in Berlin and CMA hall of famer Arch Yancey?

 

[AndyWaldrop]

You should try working with him for 22 or 23 years. All that the col. said and more. What's the chances of getting to work with two hall of famers in Berlin and CMA hall of famer Arch Yancey?

You're in a small, but exceptional, fraternity, Walt.

 

[ChuckTiller]

Count me in with that group with Walter. I was in awe of both of cats. There were a lot of great radio stories from both. They really worked with big artists of the time. Back in the 50s, it was nothing for Berlin to call Sinatra and get him on the phone and say, Hey, Frank whats the latest.....? It was like these guys knew everybody. We had some great times at 4701 Caroline @ Blodgett (Box 188, Houston, Texas).

 

[walter1]

You should try working with him for 22 or 23 years. All that the col. said and more. What's the chances of getting to work with two hall of famers in Berlin and CMA hall of famer Arch Yancey?

You're in a small, but exceptional, fraternity, Walt.

Fortunate would be the word I would use. Played golf with archmeister Sunday still just as cantakerous as ever. I have to share the first time I met Berlin with you. I was production director at KQ which was sorta of like being sent to prison for life, my what AWFUL equipment. So Berlin walks in one day and says "need to cut a spot", so I say "ok you want some headphones?" To which he replies "don't need em". I said "how about copy", he said, "don't need any". At that point I rolled tape and he did exactly sixty seconds of absolutely flawless copy off the top of his head, said "thanks" and that was it for the day.
My other favorite Berlin stories are when we would come in hungover like a big dog and proceed to do the most outstanding radio shows I ever heard. There will NEVER be another Paul Berlin, he was truly born to be a disk jockey.
We had some other very talented folks walk thru those doors, Mike Scott who passed away not long ago was another exceptional talent too. Honest the list is pretty darned long and a varied assortment of characters.
I know what you mean about them knowing everyone I remember one day Berlin having me go back and call Bob Hope for him so he could talk on the air. That was kinda neat.

 

[foursider]

Hey Col. He's the reason I wanted to get into radio, too. I listened to him when I was just a kid! My mom always had K-NUZ on in the house. Those memories also include hearing Ken Grant. And, I have a nice little story to tell about him, as well.

Later, I listened to Paul on K-QUE, along with those other guys I admired, like Walter, Mike Scott and Ronnie Renfro. In his later years on the FM, he could tell some of the funniest stories with the kind of endings that slap you on the back and double you over with laughter.

It was nice talking to a couple of other legends (Arch and Bill Bailey) at the reunion. But, I sincerely hope we can get Paul to the next one. There are so many of us that would like to thank him for being such an inspiration. Hope you hear from him again.

 

[Holstead]

Speaking of reunions, it is probably time to start knocking that around again. I am thinking a gathering in the fall. Thoughts?

Paul Berlin is a great man. Met him in the late 80's when I was dating the grand daughter of one of his best buds, Marshall Stewart. He was the guy that owned all of those Johnny B. Dalton night clubs. Spent a whole weekend watching him drink Chivas and tell radio war stories-it was epic!

Years later when I got my gig at KIKK, he was the seond person I called when I arrived in town. RB McEntire was the first.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Last I spoke with him in person, Howard Reynolds had been working on a documentary about KNUZ which included some amazing interviews with Berlin, Yancy, and many, many more. It was a labor of love, so there was no deadline for it. Howard, if you're lurking, have you finished it? When and where can we see it?

 

[FilioScotia]

Paul B. isn't the only living radio legend we have around this town. I'm first in line to give Paul all the props he deserves, but I also don't want to forget people like Arch Yancy and Bill Bailey.

I first became aware of Arch when I was a student at Pasadena HS in the late 50s, and he was another of the big-time jocks at KNUZ. He came out to MC a school talent show at PHS and he was a big hit. And boy-hidey we were WERE grateful for that, because the PHS talent level wasn't all that great. He made it a fun night for everybody. Nobody cared about how lousy our talent was.

As a member of the committee that invited him, I had the chance to meet him and talk with him before and after the show, and that's where I first started thinking about working in the radio business.

Years later, in the late 60s, after military service, college, and several years as a DJ, I got my first radio news gig at KIKK AM/FM when it was in Pasadena, and Arch was there doing afternoon drive. Arch, the old Buffalo, Bill Bailey, Joe Ladd, "Happy Harvey" Thompson, Gene "Tiger" Meyers, all the other KIKK jocks, newscaster Milton Allen Graves, and our madman news director Richard Dobbyn, made that place the most fun place to work I ever encountered. In terms of sheer enjoyment my time at KIKK ranks very high on my life's resume.

After not seeing Arch for far too many years, I had the huge pleasure of seeing him, Bill and Joe again at the re-union last year. I felt like my life had come full circle. Seriously.

So --- Paul, Arch, Bill, Joe, Harvey and others whose names I can't remember now, my hat is off to you. You are the guys who made Houston radio so great to listen to back in the day.

Oh yes. I'm up for another reunion Josh. So many people turned out for the first one I didn't have time to find and hug all the people I knew, so I'm one who would love to get another chance. Tin Hall was a great venue, so why don't we do it there again?

 

[walter1]

Speaking of reunions, it is probably time to start knocking that around again. I am thinking a gathering in the fall. Thoughts?

Paul Berlin is a great man. Met him in the late 80's when I was dating the grand daughter of one of his best buds, Marshall Stewart. He was the guy that owned all of those Johnny B. Dalton night clubs. Spent a whole weekend watching him drink Chivas and tell radio war stories-it was epic!

Years later when I got my gig at KIKK, he was the seond person I called when I arrived in town. RB McEntire was the first.

Holy COW you were dating Marhsall Stewart's grand daughter? Should of married her..set for for life! ;D Let's do the reunion again and I will honestly help you any way I can. I know it was a tremendous undertaking but man did I appreciate it. I saw so many old farts I had not seen in years it was just such a delight, God willing we'll find a way to drag the old jock out.

 

[walter1]

Paul B. isn't the only living radio legend we have around this town. I'm first in line to give Paul all the props he deserves, but I also don't want to forget people like Arch Yancy and Bill Bailey.

I first became aware of Arch when I was a student at Pasadena HS in the late 50s, and he was another of the big-time jocks at KNUZ. He came out to MC a school talent show at PHS and he was a big hit. And boy-hidey we were WERE grateful for that, because the PHS talent level wasn't all that great. He made it a fun night for everybody. Nobody cared about how lousy our talent was.

As a member of the committee that invited him, I had the chance to meet him and talk with him before and after the show, and that's where I first started thinking about working in the radio business.

Years later, in the late 60s, after military service, college, and several years as a DJ, I got my first radio news gig at KIKK AM/FM when it was in Pasadena, and Arch was there doing afternoon drive. Arch, the old Buffalo, Bill Bailey, Joe Ladd, "Happy Harvey" Thompson, Gene "Tiger" Meyers, all the other KIKK jocks, newscaster Milton Allen Graves, and our madman news director Richard Dobbyn, made that place the most fun place to work I ever encountered. In terms of sheer enjoyment my time at KIKK ranks very high on my life's resume.

After not seeing Arch for far too many years, I had the huge pleasure of seeing him, Bill and Joe again at the re-union last year. I felt like my life had come full circle. Seriously.

So --- Paul, Arch, Bill, Joe, Harvey and others whose names I can't remember now, my hat is off to you. You are the guys who made Houston radio so great to listen to back in the day.

Oh yes. I'm up for another reunion Josh. So many people turned out for the first one I didn't have time to find and hug all the people I knew, so I'm one who would love to get another chance. Tin Hall was a great venue, so why don't we do it there again?

I worked with Milton Allen Graves at KNUZ, Dobbyn too. Milton would bring his lunch in a sack everyday, with everything wrapped individually, the tomato, the lettuce, pickles etc. Milton was such a hypochondriac that you could literally look at him and say "Milton you feeling all right? You don't look so good". An hour later he'd be leaving work ill. Dobbyn was a wild man, but man he had a way with a story, nobody quite like him. Somebody needs to write on book on the old guys of Houston radio and don't leave out the Wild Child Paul Williams or Capt'n Andy Buddy Covington.

 

[foursider]

I visited KIKK-AM when I was just getting into radio, at the tender age of 14. They were having an open house to celebrate their new digs on Southmore. They had been on LaPorte Rd. for many years prior. Milton was doing news. Arch was on the air; and Bill Bailey was hanging around. I guess the whole staff was there. I had my third-phoen and wanted so bad to work at a big time station like KIKK. Only problem is they were a daytimer; so there wasn't a chance in thunder that I would even be considered for a weekend gig. But Bailey gave me the best

 

[foursider]

advice. Go find a small market station, then hang around the place and wart the heck out of them, until they give me a job to shut me up. If I want to get back behind the mike; do you think that approach would still work today? LOL

 

[scottarthur]

After working with Berlin for 18 years .... I remember most, two priceless pieces of broadcast advice:

1. "Be informative, Be entertaining ...or Be quiet"

2. " There is no short cut to longevity"

He'll tell you that to this day. The man IS a proven iconic legend.

 

[walter1]

After working with Berlin for 18 years .... I remember most, two priceless pieces of broadcast advice:

1. "Be informative, Be entertaining ...or Be quiet"

2. " There is no short cut to longevity"

He'll tell you that to this day. The man IS a proven iconic legend.

2. " There is no short cut to longevity"

That's my personal fave but his "holding a grudge is like being stung to death by a single bee" was pretty outstanding as well.