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Super CFL's Big Ron O'Brien has died
- Thread starter Ultimajock
- Start date
Big Ron was, and is, one of my all-time radio heroes.
Remembering Biggie O'Brien
I can remember standing in Big Ron's studio when he was on the air in Detroit at WCAR. I don't know how long Ron was there but man he could flip, flop and fly. He and my Uncle Dan O'Shea were good friends during their time together there. Later on, as a young and aspiring jock, I listened to Big Ron on Super CFL. I'll never forget his show opener....'It's 7 O'Clock and officially nighttime America. You're kickin' ass with Big Ron O'Brien on Super CFL'. Oh how I loved hearing that man work the airwaves. He was brilliant. Another industry giant gone. I am just thunderstruck. What's even more frightening is we were the same age. I've had pneumonia more times than I can count so I know how dangerous that stuff can be. Disc Jockeys everywhere, get your pneumonia vaccine. I did and I guarantee you it has saved my life.
God Bless Ron, his family and loved ones.
Just another old jock,
Bob O'Shea
I can remember standing in Big Ron's studio when he was on the air in Detroit at WCAR. I don't know how long Ron was there but man he could flip, flop and fly. He and my Uncle Dan O'Shea were good friends during their time together there. Later on, as a young and aspiring jock, I listened to Big Ron on Super CFL. I'll never forget his show opener....'It's 7 O'Clock and officially nighttime America. You're kickin' ass with Big Ron O'Brien on Super CFL'. Oh how I loved hearing that man work the airwaves. He was brilliant. Another industry giant gone. I am just thunderstruck. What's even more frightening is we were the same age. I've had pneumonia more times than I can count so I know how dangerous that stuff can be. Disc Jockeys everywhere, get your pneumonia vaccine. I did and I guarantee you it has saved my life.
God Bless Ron, his family and loved ones.
Just another old jock,
Bob O'Shea
Bob Oshea said:
...I suspect you HAVE forgotten Ron's SuperCFL open -- it would never have ended with anything but "at the Voice of Labor" and the legal ID jingle. Anything else and Ron would have been shown the door by Bill Lee of the Chicago Federation of Labor personally...
Ultimajock said:
No King....I have a memory like an elephant. Back in '73 that line was his show opener. Perhaps a jingle followed with your verbage. As far as Mr. Lee is concerned, if memory serves, he wasn't the pd during that very short top 40 period.
In any event I have an aircheck somewhere of that giant of a guy from the CFL days. If I find it, I'll mail you a copy.
Bob Oshea said:
...no, Bill Lee was not program director of WCFL, he was Chairman of the Chicago Federation of Labor (and a close friend of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley). He was the guy to whom WCFL General Manager Lew Witz had to answer. And there is NO WAY Bill Lee would have allowed ANYONE to state the phrase "kickin' ass" over WCFL in the 1960s and 1970s within ANY context...
Ultimajock said:
Well, we do disagree.....however I believe you will agree with me when I say Big Ron made it "magic". He truly was wonderful to listen to. One of those rare cats who made you want to listen even if the song sucked. Super CFL was a great Top 40 station. I'm glad I got to listen to both 'LS and CFL back in the glory years.
Whoever you are, I wish you the very best. The days can drag but the years fly by.
Your Broadcast Bro,
Bob O'Shea
I could swear I heard Big Ron use the phrase "kick ass" in the summer/fall of '75. Oh well...
Was Bill Lee the guy who pulled the plug on CFL's Top-40 format?
Was Bill Lee the guy who pulled the plug on CFL's Top-40 format?
K
kba
Guest
jimwalsh2001 said:
Yes, but it was pretty complicated and very political. There were several members of the Federation's board who never understood why a labor organization was running a rock-and-roll radio station. They either felt that 'CFL should be programming pro-union talk shows or that the Federation shouldn't be in the radio business at all.
As long as WCFL was making gobs of money, Lee could justify its existence. But by the mid-70's, as WLS became stronger and new competitors emerged on FM, it was costing a lot more to keep 'CFL competitive - more promotions, bigger contests, higher jock salaries, etc. (Lujack was the highest-paid DJ in Chicago at the time.) The station began losing money, and Lee (who was then in his '80's) was under pressure from the board. He decided to change formats and do something cheaper (elevator music) ... with an eye toward selling the station after a couple years of bigger profits.
With Mayor Daley's help, he managed to sell 'CFL to Mutual in 1978. Ironically, Mutual tried to re-establish the old 'CFL music format, with the 60's era jingles and some big name jocks like Fred Winston. But that ship had already sailed.
When WCFL stood for, "We Can't Fire Lujack"...
I always thought the story of how Lujack "stayed on" was an interesting one that should be taught in a course on contract law...
I always thought the story of how Lujack "stayed on" was an interesting one that should be taught in a course on contract law...
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