Radio Broadcasters History -- Forgotten?

Our early childhood, the teenage years, young adulthood, 30 somethings, middle age, and seniorhood are filled with exciting memories. People within these age groups surprisingly have many things in common. We all breathe, eat, drink, and relieve ourselves. You cannot get more basic than that. However, for those of you reading now, that have had the fortune of the sense of hearing, radio broadcasters have played a key role in our lives. Unfortunately, very few Radio Broadcaster's leave the masses with a legacy, compared to other media fields. Think about it. Popular TV and Film actors leave visual recordings of their works. Musicians leave albums and/or CD's. Authors and journalist leave their publications. What do radio broadcasters leave? Airchecks? Come on! The radio announcer's career disappears into thin air.

America's habitual standard of moving forward, without looking back more than ten years back, makes even the biggest media star, difficult to be remembered at all. Stars of today are drilled by their publicists to stay in front of their respective mediums consistently, before being replaced by the next star. Rarely do we go back and appreciated those that have paved the way. There is simply no time for that in these days of multi-tasking.
However, those former (or late) Radio broadcasters, with a lifetime of Broadcasting excellence may never see the light of day to a future audience. A Radio Broadcaster may be spinning there wheels, if they are in the twilight of their careers with intentions of leaving a legacy. A conversation amongst friends that grew up listening to their great radio star may be extent of their legacy.

Personally having been in radio for a few decades now -- and a fan of radio all my life, I do respect the legacy of Radio Broadcasters. DJ's are our most consistent entertainers. A two hour film you may see a time or two, and a past popular television show is usually a half hour or an hour per sitting. Daily Newscasts are a half hour, or an hour magazine program like 60 minutes. Respected columnist works may take fifteen minutes to read. An author may release a book once a year, which will take a few weeks to thumb through. But, the local (or syndicated) Disc Jockey is with you every day for four or five hours a day, six days a week. The Disc Jockey has the greatest impact on your daily conscious.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Wolfman Jack and Gary Owens comes to mind as the grandest of and most recognizable L.A. Disc Jockeys. Both managed to become visual icons as well, which added to their radio careers. Gary Owens became the comedic announcer with the hit television comedy show, 'Rowan and Martin's Laugh In!'. Wolfman Jack was a national TV Host of a live concert show called 'Midnight Special'.

Growing up, I listened to the local R/B stations. My earliest Broadcasting star was Larry McCormick on 1230am KGFJ, whom later became one of LA's familiar faces as a Television newscaster on KTLA Channel 5. When Larry McCormick died, Larry was remembered as that 'multi-decade' newscaster. I will always remember him as the guy that took me to school every morning on the only R/B station in the late sixties and early 70's -- KGFJ. If McCormick had not switched over to television, and remained in radio for decades, I am quite sure that he would have been forgotten totally. Larry was well respected by Los Angelinos as that long standing TV News anchorman, and will be etched into the TV News landscape for many decades to come.

I met Larry McCormick a few years before his death. I was awe-struck. It just so happened that I was a Disc Jockey on very same KGFJ where I grew up listening to Larry. Larry mentioned that he was familiar with my show and respected my presentation. I was floored with the compliment from my hero. Larry's compliment inspired me to continue in this often fragile radio business. One of the questions that I asked Larry McCormick druing our encounter was why he changed from radio to television? Larry's response was one of humor -- as most people in Broadcasting have a grand sense of humor. In fact, the entire conversation was hilarous. Larry answered by stating: "Well I was the morning man and Program Director for KGFJ for several years. Eventually, I was approached by KTLA to anchor the evening newscast, and 'I said, WHY NOT!'." The talented and articulate Larry McCormick went on to mention other impressive financial opportunities that came his way. To each opportunity, Larry humorously responded by saying, 'WHY NOT'!

I will however always remember Larry McCormick as that Radio morning man with a tight top 40-style presentation, with a bright and friendly, yet commanding resonant voice on 1230am KGFJ. The man that kept our family entertained and informed riding on my way to grade school. Soul music from Motown, Stax, Atlantic, Chess, along with James Brown and Aretha Franklin were the choice of hits that Larry programmed. Larry was an even greater star considering that KGFJ was that one R/B station in town, combined with the fact that neither Top 40,Rock, nor AC radio stations play a lick of Soul when Motown and the like was new. That is probably the reason why those other formats today play so much Motown, as it is new to their listeners. Urban or UAC radio would not think of playing 60's and early 70's tunes today, as they have been burned out for years to its core audience. Larry's career was a success to say the least. LArry and I spoke of others things in our ten to fifteen minute conversation, and he then departed in his signature Rolls Royce. That encounter was the only time that I spent with the man whose legacy is firmly implanted on my conscious for life.

I was saddened for many days after hearing of his death. In fact, I called family and radio colleagues to deliver the bad news. I rarely do that. Those personal encounters with major celebrities, and later hearing of their deaths, hit me hard. Luther Vandross and Barry White were two celebrities that I met and interviewed, and their deaths weighed on me for a long time. I would like to meet Sidney Potier and Muhammed Ali, before they pass, as they were the positive image of Black Men that I looked up to, outside of my family.

Other radio DJ's that I will never forget in LA radio are Frankie Crocker, whose legacy will last a long time with his New York radio career and having the first network music video show, Friday Night Videos. I happen to be studying Radio Broadcasting in college, when Frankie Crocker came over to KUTE102 fm in LA, then owned by Inner City Broadcasting, which also owned WBLS in New York where Frankie Crocker was stationed in New York. For the short time that KUTE102 programmied disco, Frankie Crocker was the afternoon DJ. Crocker brought excitement, unlike the well articulate, careful, and laid back styled DJ's LA radio managers normally employed -- before the days of hip hop DJ's. All my music loving friends -- with our fancy car sound systems -- were hooked on Frankie in the afternoon, and would bump his show down the street loudly and proudly. Frankie had the best mixers, and Frankie's cool professionalism would seamlessly own the entire presentation, including those Mix segments. Those famous Donna Summer mixes still ring in my head. Frankie had a great impact in that short period of time on KUTE 102. I am sure though, that New Yorkers reading this blog where Frankie spent 90 percent of his career, would have greater memories than I. But Frankie's impact was nonetheless powerful. Frankie Crocker...Rest In Peace.

The many DJ's in LA implanted in my conscious: Alvin John Waples, Levi Booker, Holmes in your Home, Marsha Robinson, Doug Banks, LT, JJ Johnson, Russ Parr, Greg Mack with the Mack Attack (best Hip Hop show in LA Radio history), Lee Bailey, Steve Patterson, Steve and Sam, Cliff Winston, Pam Robinson, The Mixmasters featuring Tony Joseph, Big Boy, Louise Foster, Kirk Tanter, Kevin Fleming, Tony Hart, Jammin Johnny Morris. In the Bay Area,where I went to college in the early to mid-80's, I recall Marvin Robinson, Talayla, Barry Pope, Isaw (Reggae jock), and Clifford Brown Jr. Other jocks with national acclaim include: The Mad Hatter, Cathy Hughes, Herb Kent, Eddie O'Jay, Sonny Taylor, Doug Gilmore, Jack the Rapper, and many many many more Radio Broadcasters, whom have had great impact on your conscience grewing up with. An interview with pioneering R/B DJ's is archived in the Smithsonian Institute, interviewed by PBS Host Bobby Bennett.

Unfortunately those meaningful "friends" that you grew up will be quickly forgotten, and not given there proper due. It is not common to see nor hear a recording of your favorite radio personality, as is the case with Television and Film stars. However within your memory are those local Radio Broadcasters, that were more than stars, but they served as your friends. They told you the local happenings around town, and were often at that event to shake hands and hang out. These Radio Broadcasters show's were entertaining, informative, and they played the jams. They were also a big part of your family and friends get-togethers. The DJ was there while you cleaned your house late Saturday mornings.

In closing, even those film and television stars, columnist, successful entrepreneurs, and authors reading this blog, are now thinking back to those radio DJ's that had an impact on their consciousness. You see, they too were affected by their Radio friend.