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Radio Inspirations

E

Earle Augustus

Hello,

I'm a long time reader, first time poster. Remember the first time you heard "that voice" jumping out your radio? This person had some kind of special magic. They could make you laugh, think or forget about your troubles. They had "The Gift", they were your friend, and you wanted to grow up and be on the radio just like just them. For me it was Frankie Crocker, Program Director/pm driver on 107.5 WBLS FM New York. My question is, "Who was your radio inspiration?"

Earle
 
Hello Earl!
Are you still using everything "Maxie" taught you?

My radio guy was John "Records" Landecker (Yes, "Records" really was his middle name) from WLS in Chicago.
I was young in Ypsilanti, Mi., and listened to on the big transistor radio all the time.
"Boogie Check, Boogie Check, Oooh, Ahhh!"
Anyone else remember that?
 
No one around here will likely get this reference...

Duff Damos was the afternoon/night guy at WIFC in Wausau, WI as I was growing up. I won't say he jumped out of the speakers, but he's the only person I do remember on the air in Wausau. Especially when they had the Wisconsin Valley Fair in mid-August, when they broadcast live from the fair, I'd listen to him almost all day.
 
I have to say Landecker as well. WLS came booming down the river, especially in the winter.

Locally, it would be Dees, Dick Edwards at WHBQ, and a guy named Charlie O'Neil who did middays at WMPS for a while. CO had a great voice, plus the time I came to the studio looking for a job and quite wet behind the ears he talked to me like an equal, explaining format elements and such.

Bob Landree at Q also had a great talent for the funny stuff, and excellent comedic timing.

I ran into a lot of egos and back-stabbers in my 20 years, but there were also a lot of great people.
 
Mr. Dees, Ron (where are you, dude?), and Cousin Brucie. :eek:

--Mike
 
You know, the last I head, Ron Jordan was driving a Tunica shuttle bus. I'm not sure if that's a rumor or not...

Another great talent.
 
I almost listed Presto in my earlier post. To be at the same station for nearly 30 years (and a music station at that) is almost unheard of. Plus, he has the best attitude in the business.
 
I have to say Landecker also I remember WLS on the radio in my Dads truck at night always.
"oooh ahhhh boogie check"
I also loved listening to C J Morgan on 101 then later on 97 before he moved to Nola.
ironically I later worked with C J's dad at my first job in radio
 
I doubt that Maxey taught Earle anything Meepster. I listened to Earle's aircheck right out of broadcast school when he applied at WASL in Dyersburg I never thought that a fella from New York City would even move to Tennessee to be on the air....let alone stay here for over 20 years. Earle is one of the good guys in the business. Do you still watch the soap operas Earle?

John "Records" Landecker was one of my favorites too.....and then there was "The Spiderman" at WLAC in Nashville. I could pick up WLS and WLAC after dark when they went clear channel with their 50K watts. Locally, I would have to say Wink Martindale or George Klein make lasting impressions on me. Although, the guy who was most insturmental in gettng me into radio was Montelle Parsons. I know that none of you have ever heard of him, but he could have was a great talent and could have had a great career in radio if he had stayed in radio instead of taking over his Father's men's store.
 
Ummm. The Maxey teaching ANYBODY anything was a joke. If you know Maxey...or if you knew me, you'd have caught that right away. When I met Earle there, he was NO WHERE near the Earle he is now.
I also need to mention Rick Dees (during the 56 days when I listened-Dr. Billy Birmingham and all that)
And somebody else, too.
Carl P. Mayfield on KDF back when that was one Rockin' station.
 
Well, I grew up in Atlanta and didn't get to hear the Memphis greats mentioned above, but I'll throw in my two cents. For me, I was always a big fan of radio as a little kid, but the guy who reached out of the speakers and made me want to get in this business was Gary McKee of 94Q (WQXI-FM) in Atlanta. He did mornings there for years...I want to say from the early 70's until '89 or '90 when 94Q became Star 94. He was one of those guys who in his prime, was the total package in a one man morning show. Of course, he had his support cast (Yetta Levitt on news, Randall Hinton for sports, etc.), but he was the show. That whole staff of 94Q was talented...Gary, Jeff McCartney, Craig Ashwood, and every single one of those guys made me feel special when I was a young kid meeting them at appearances.

Of course, I can't fail to mention the late great Lynn Anthony at WPLO in Atlanta. He was probably the first guy I really started paying attention to...yep, on an AM country station. I'd say he was the first spark of interest in radio that I had.

Later in life (high school and college years...the years before I started radio), I'd say Sean Demery at 99X in Atlanta was a big influence. So was Hurricane Shane at 107.7 The X in Birmingham. Those were the more modern guys who still "got it."

MC
 
Well, we know we have at least 3 WASL alums on this thread....Earle, Meepster, and myself....possibly four if I can find out about Danoinark. Any more out there? With all this talk about Maxey, let's not forget about "Mr. Party Line", Steve Guttery
 
My brother Walt got me hooked on radio when I was really young, though I am sure he encouraged me to get a real job instead.

Down in Greenville, the am top 40 daytimer was on 900, so at sign-off the flip to WLS was obvious. John Landecker made radio sound so FUN... from boogie check ("WLS Boogie Check.. Hey John, why do you always hang up on... CLICK WLS Boogie Check...) to Americana Panorama and beyond. Always clever, topical, and ALWAYS HITTING THE POST (dude had rhythm).

Some names which come to mind from Jackson, MS were Harry Nelson, Gary Phillips, and Ray Zoller.

Memphis-wise, when Crazy Bob left WMPS I wondered how they would ever get someone nearly as entertaining. They got Rick Dees. Earlier posts mentioned mentors who gave young radio aspirants hope. I got a great boost from the late Robert E. Knight. I came to town with an aircheck in hand, but only one copy, and he graciously made a dub and gave me encouragement. And when WMPS made a promotion out of Ron Jordan wrestling Jerry Lawler, we knew who the incredible R-ah Star-ah was, but who was this Jerry Lawler?

One of the earliest influences on my radio life was a handed down tape of an album called "Bootleg Top40". It was a collage of aircheck pieces, not only from major markets, but also from medium markets. It was followed up by volume 2, which led off with the WAPE cash call blooper. I still find myself saying things here in 2006 which are influenced by what I heard on those records. Whenever I've had the chance to meet someone who was on it, or worked with someone who was, it was like meeting "royalty".
RG
 
Rob, I will never forget being in the motel room at Lakeland with Jordan and Lawler right before that infamous wrestling match....Lawler came out of the shower with that crown on and said "if my fans could see me now they wouldn't call me the KING of Memphis". :eek:

Dan
 
Funniest Landecker "Boogie Check" I can remember happened on a winter's night in '75. John took a call and it went something like this: "WLS Boogie Check , who's on the phone? ' Hi, John, I'm calling from Greenville, MS'. -click- WLS Boogie Check" You have to understand that I was from that general area & thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. One of those "you had to be there" deals, I presume. Landecker was too funny & quick witted as hell.
But growing up in the north Delta, I was heavily influenced by those in the Memphis market. When I was a mere child I thought George Klein had to be the most famous Memphian besides Elvis and there was a time where I suppose he was. Klein was my first intense radio influence. Jack Parnell, too. Then came Ron Jordan, Bob McLain, Mason Dixon, Stu Robb & of course Mr. Dees. Rick sounded like he was having so much fun & he was making a killing in this market at the time. I just KNEW I could do the same. Well, I tried my damndest but his money never came my way. Still on the air "live & local" was the best gig I ever had & I wouldn't trade that for anything. But I refused to up & move my family at a whim & that's what it seemed to take to make it "big" so I got out in '88. Obvioulsy, I still miss it greatly.
 
The first DJ that I remember by name was Emperor Charlie B. Watson --- our school bus driver had the 'Q piped all the way to the back as he introduced us to "Help Me Rhonda" and "Eight Days A Week".... I've been a sucker for radio ever since.
 
I must say, it's a bit strange responding to a post that is almost 4yrs old. I, just for the curiosity, googled my name just to see how anonymous I was to the internet and came upon this site and the comment made from littlebigradio. A bit like the premise of the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" where we never realise what impact we have on people, I never dreamed I might influence someone toward particular career. Matter of fact, I can't recall to whom I may have been a mentor to. It's a good feeling especially when that person seems in favour of their choice. So, littlebigradio, if you still frequent this forum, I would like to know the person behind the mask.

Just for the record, I never thought of myself as talented in radio. It merely seemed to be a means of employment while I moved on toward other goals. I did have many good times, and more importantly developed many friendships. Albeit, there were the occasional personalities that devoted many endless hours developing their own introspection.

I did consider taking over my father's store, but it was at most a fleeting consideration. I eventually returned to school following a career in radiology.

Montelle Parsons

WTRB - WEZI - WTRO - WTGR - WJAK - WASL (Production work for WMPS - WHBQ)
 
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