Paul "Moon" Mullins' passing

[nmoore6676]

Just learned of the passing of the legendary radio personality and blue grass musician. I recall pulling in WPFB from Middletown (from Springfield) to hear him. I didn't find out about the stream from WBZI in time to hear him before he retired in 2005, but I'll never forget his folksy style and great stories. Nobody can sell a product like Moon. God Bless him and his family, so sad!

 

[RATCISDJ94]

He was one of the most unfriendly people I’ve ever met.

His delivery was pure nasal and made me noxious. He certainly had his following though. He was successful (depending on how you define success) in spite of his less than winning social skills.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

Moon did, indeed, have a good following when he was on WPFB. His commercials were done using just a fact sheet as though he, himself, was talking about the business or product. He also performed country music. I remember him once getting on the telephone in the WPFB newsroom and making a person-to-person call to Bill Monroe.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I remember hearing him on WPFB in the mid 1960's...is this the same person? Hadn't thought of that name in decades, but it brought back a memory from my childhood.

 

[G Thompson]

Is this the same guy that spent some time with Journal in Wichita and Tulsa?

 

[RATCISDJ94]

Try this link for more info:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/sear...local/2008/08/04/ddn080408mullinsobitweb.html

 

[radiorob2.0]

Is this the same guy that spent some time with Journal in Wichita and Tulsa?

That's the other Moon Mullins, he's in Owensboro, KY these days.

 

[gabigley1]

Try this link for more info:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sear...local/2008/08/04/ddn080408mullinsobitweb.html

Listened to him here in Columbus, Ohio back in the early 2000s and was upset when he retired.
His son purchased that station back in 1995 when it was losing money as a Christian station.
The first thing his son did was to put his dad on WBZI-1500 AM. Later, he upgraded the equipment
at WBZI and turned the station around where it was making money.

Found this old article from 1995 on this topic. a small part of it is here:

MOON MULLINS RETURNS TO RADIO
Dayton Daily News (OH) - September 9, 1995
Author: Bob Batz Dayton Daily News
Moon is back.

(Quote)
Moon Mullins , a radio cult figure in the Miami Valley for 25 years, has returned to the airwaves at WBZI-AM (1500) in Xenia.

Mullins ' comeback after a six-year hiatus was made possible by his son, Joe, who recently purchased the 500-watt station and promptly changed the station's format from Christian music and talk to classic country music.

One of the first things Joe did after taking over the sunrise- to -sunset station was to hand his father the 2- to -5 p.m. weekday slot.

Listeners are cheering the decision, Joe Mullins says.
(Quote)

 

[kirkiefan]

What I like about Classic Country Radio is that it's not all redneck styled honky tink..it's also bluegrass,croutry crossovers into pop and some gospel thorwn in here and there....but especially for its bluegrass. Never met Moon or Joe but I do extend my sympathies to the Mullins family.

One question....how is Stanley Coning over in Eaton doing since he sold his Eaton station to Mullins? Is he still alive and kickin'? I presume he is now at a nursing facility somewhere in Preble County....but which one? Would like to visit him sometime soon before he leaves us for that radio ranch in the sky. My prayers are for him and with him.

 

[knowbetter]

He was one of the most unfriendly people I’ve ever met.

His delivery was pure nasal and made me noxious. He certainly had his following though. He was successful (depending on how you define success) in spite of his less than winning social skills.

I have to disagree with you..

Moon was one of the greatest people I ever met in radio....period...

I worked across the glass from him, and just thinking of him reminds me of that silly little grin he would flash..

Rest in Peace, Paul..

 

[RATCISDJ94]

You may have had a different experience "knowbetter" based on time and circumstance (I respect that) but my experience was less than pleasant. He'll go down as one of the more difficult personalities I ever worked with. I don't think he liked the fact that I was much younger than him but not afraid to stand up to him. I can only share with you my experience "knowbetter". Joe (his son) was very nice but his Daddy was a real pistol. Chubby Howard who often filled in for him was and is a much kinder soul.

That being said...he (Moon) had a healthy following of listeners. I'll never forget one of the engineers at WPFB (we play for briars, we're pretty f&*kin bad. we pay fewer bucks) named Sudden Sam Jones used to answer the phone "Hillbilly Hotline".
That never seemed to bother those calling in.

I believe Moon quit the station a number of times over financial squabbles with then GM Earl Francis or owner Paul Braden but he always came back. Moon sold some advertising at PFB like "J and J Tire in Middletown and he always wanted a bigger slice of the pie. I couldn't fault him for that.

 

[Limp73]

One question....how is Stanley Coning over in Eaton doing since he sold his Eaton station to Mullins? Is he still alive and kickin'? I presume he is now at a nursing facility somewhere in Preble County....but which one? Would like to visit him sometime soon before he leaves us for that radio ranch in the sky. My prayers are for him and with him.

Kirkiefan:

Stan The (radio ranch) Man is still alive and well...but is slowing down. He's now 85...just a few years behind my mother who just turned 90. Talked to him on the phone the other day and he's still living at home..a housekeeper/nurse cares for his medical needs. Said he has been in and out of the hospital for treatments but still loves to talk about his WCTM days...he's a radio nerd at heart like me...God love him!

 

[nmoore6676]

You may have had a different experience "knowbetter" based on time and circumstance (I respect that) but my experience was less than pleasant. He'll go down as one of the more difficult personalities I ever worked with. I don't think he liked the fact that I was much younger than him but not afraid to stand up to him. I can only share with you my experience "knowbetter". Joe (his son) was very nice but his Daddy was a real pistol. Chubby Howard who often filled in for him was and is a much kinder soul.

I think your comment about "not being afraid to stand up to him" may be the key to your attitude. I wasn't there and I don't know you but in my nearly 50 years of work experience I've discovered that what some people see as standing up to someone is often seen by that same someone as insubordination or disrespect.

In general the on air people at a radio station are called talent because they do something and project something through the microphone that attracts listeners. Considering the competition in the radio game loyal listeners means more to management than what any one of us peons see as "the right thing". The fact that Mullins had disputes with management shows that on that level he shared a view with you as to rights. The fact that management took him back shows that he did in fact have that "something" that attracted the listeners.

It has also been my experience that being on the air is an adrenaline charged experience and even the most mild mannered among us tend to be a bit testy in the studio. Here in Los Angeles where I now live a long time listener favorite was the late Robert W. Morgan. I've heard all kinds of stories about him being a holy terror and about as difficult to live with as anyone person could possibly be. On the other hands I've heard stories from engineers and board ops about how magical he was on the air. As a listener I'm firmly in the "magic" camp but in any event I respect him in death and I thought your initial post was a bit harsh in tone. By the way a lot of famous broadcasters are "nasal", think Howard Stern. Apparently there are no air checks of Mr. Mullins because he too didn't care for his own voice so much either.

 

[RATCISDJ94]

nmoore6676, I agree with most of what you have said however my comments about Moon were not a "bit" harsh. They were simply "harsh" yet true, according to my experience. That being said I appreciate your opinion on the matter.

 

[ray d oh]

As a fan, I got to know Moon a little in the last few years in his time over at WBZI, he seemed a little shy in that he didn't like to talk much, but I never took him to be a bad guy and I've heard the same from people who knew him and worked with him. Not to say the above poster is wrong, he knows obviously his own experience. I agree about Chubby being one of the nicest people ever, Moon's son Joe is too and the younger guy Greg that does the bluegrass show sometimes and the evening show is a pretty good guy too. The all spoke very highly of Moon but they were around him much more than most.