http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/ http://www.eblah.com en http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216950677/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216950677/#num1
Matthew McBride began airing Spud Valley Radio early this June with the song "Bud the Spud" by Stompin' Tom Connors.
Published 2008-07-24


The man behind the airwaves
Matthew McBride building small radio empire with Pemberton roots

By Jesse Ferreras
Pique Newsmagazine
Whistler, British Columbia

He wanted to be a Navy diver, but fate has seen Matthew Gordon McBride swim through waves of a different kind.

McBride, 48, is the brains behind community radio stations that have begun popping up all across the province — and two of them have sprung up in the Sea to Sky corridor.

The most recent one, Spud Valley Radio, is Pemberton’s official community radio station, and has been on the air since early June, broadcasting all kinds of programming, from 1930s-era radio shows to good ol’ rock ’n’ roll.

The station hit the airwaves on June 6, 2008. Its first song? “Bud the Spud” by Stompin’ Tom Connors.


From Navy man to radio man

When asked why he loves the radio so much, McBride points to the intimacy that it has with a listener compared with other mediums.

“The problem with TV is the pictures aren’t very good in my mind, right, whereas radio’s a kind of whole fantasy world (where) you can be who you want to be, sound like you want to sound,” he says.

Comparing radio to print media, McBride says that newspapers are all about covering dead people, whereas radio is all about covering live people.

When reminded that radio also has to report on dead people, he responds, “Yeah, but we get to go dancing with the girls.”

Radio wasn’t always McBride’s main gig. Growing up in Stave Falls, British Columbia, he only ever had two dreams: work in radio or be a Navy diver. He pursued the latter dream first, leaving school early to join the Navy, doing rescue swimming and underwater hull maintenance. He served five years until he suffered a serious diving accident, effectively putting an end to his career in the armed forces.

His Navy dream dead, McBride’s comrades told him to follow his other path.

“If I was going to be a diver, I wanted to be the best diver I can be,” he says. “And in broadcasting, if I want to be a broadcaster, I want to be the best broadcaster I can be.

“That doesn’t mean I’m the best of the best, but it means this is what I can do.”

His desire to be the best took him to BCIT’s broadcast school in 1981, a program that has churned out such staples of the Vancouver broadcast scene as CBC anchor Gloria Macarenko and CTV weather anchor Tamara Taggart.

From there he got his first radio job at CKNW in Vancouver.

“You push buttons, and once an hour you got to go on the radio and do a time-check,” he says. “It was great to be on the radio, nothing like it.”

McBride’s career took him in a series of directions after his first job. He then went to an on-air job in Smithers in northern B.C., did a morning show in Prince Rupert, the afternoon drive in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and then finally back in Vancouver, where he worked at two prominent radio stations: Kiss FM and the now-defunct Z95.3.

Though Z95.3’s blend of pop, hip-hop and electronic dance music has been replaced by the softer sounds of Crave 95, McBride said he’s proud to have played a prominent role at the station famous as much for its bumper stickers as the pounding music you heard on the scariest rides at the PNE.

“At one time that was the biggest, most successful radio station in Western Canada,” he says. “I was their first music director, who built the music department for that radio station.”

Anyone who groaned at hearing Ace of Base three times a day in the mid-90s can thus direct their grievances to him.


Community radio

A lengthy career in a series of radio stations hasn’t dampened McBride’s passion for the medium. Today, he’s starting up stations of his own in smaller markets. He’s the owner of four radio stations, broadcasting in Pemberton, Tofino and Ucluelet and another that has yet to go on the air in Port Moody.

One of his earliest forays into radio entrepreneurship came in 2000, when he helped start a station in D’Arcy. Through contacts he had with First Nations broadcasters in northern B.C., he encountered the N’Quat’qua First Nation in D’Arcy and heard about their desire for their own radio station.

Today the small community at the northern end of the Sea to Sky corridor boasts its own 50-watt rock ’n’ roll station.

“There’s no content at all outside of the music and the DJ’s,” McBride says. “It’s too small to have a full operation.”

Though he had been to Pemberton before, it was during a pit stop on the way to D’Arcy that he discovered Spud Valley.

“The feel of the community is that it’s not a transient community,” he says. “It’s a community of people who really live and believe in where they live, and that’s good for the long term survivability of a small operation like a radio station.

“The problem with Whistler is there’s so many transients, people who sort of come and go through there, it’s hard to build loyalty.”

Starting a station is a long and expensive process, according to McBride, and not everyone can do it.

First you need to find a community that wants to do business with you — and not everyone does. He has a very simple way of doing market research.

“I actually go into the communities and I stand on street corners and I survey people,” he says. “I walked around and I talked to a couple hundred people in Pemberton and asked them, what radio station would you like?

“People will say, ‘I want a radio station that covers local news or carries local sports, talks about the local school board,’ things like that, and then they say, ‘can you play some Eagles?’”

From there, you need to do a technical brief, basically an engineering survey that determines what a signal would sound like if it was put over the air in a given community, and how it would affect other broadcasting operations.

That alone can cost up to $15,000, without any guarantee you’re going to get a station.

And that’s all without the license application you need to make to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. McBride says the application process for Spud Valley Radio began in 2005 and it took almost exactly three years before it went on the air. Once you get the license, you have two years to get the station on the air.

Spud Valley Radio has made it there, and is now broadcasting radio shows from the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s such as The Shadow and Call of the Yukon with Sgt. Preston.

Gord Rutherford, stage name “Gordo,” does the morning show, while Cara Jenner, stage name “Pebbles,” handles sales and marketing but also does the afternoon drive show.

Saturday nights will soon be reserved for “Matt’s Disco,” a weekly revue of ’70s hits hosted by McBride himself.

“We’ll be putting that on probably Saturday nights, and we’re looking at developing a jazz show as well, and Sunday evening for the jazz show,” he says.

As for the station’s future prospects, people in Pemberton have come forward with the idea to have a teen show during the noon hour on school days, when students have their lunch break. It’s an idea that McBride is certainly open to.

“Kids and radio have gone together since there was radio, and if we don’t open the door and welcome them into our station, we can’t expect them to support us when they’re young adults.

“Plus, if anybody knows music and what’s happening today, it’s kids.”

McBride sees a bright future for Spud Valley Radio, so much that he’s put his development of a station in Port Moody on hold, a project for which he just obtained a license.

He says Spud Valley Radio will be broadcasting 24 hours a day during the upcoming Pemberton Festival covering all the events, though not from the site.

According to McBride, community response to Spud Valley Radio has been very positive.

“They’re quite happy to have a local radio station,” he says. “We’ve had ongoing and very positive feedback on what we’re doing and what we should be doing, and our on-air personalities have been warmly received by the community.”

Now that he’s conquered the airwaves in two Sea to Sky communities, is there any chance he’ll start a radio station for Whistler?

“If an opportunity arises for me to provide new original service to Whistler, I would be pleased to be there,” he says.

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?cat=C_News&content=Spud+valley+radio+1530

.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:51:17 SAM http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216946724/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216946724/#num1
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC TO ANNOUNCE FUTURE PLANS
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be making a major announcement about the future of soccer in Vancouver and British Columbia.
What: Whitecaps announcement about the future of soccer in Vancouver and British Columbia.
When: Friday, July 25, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m.

And Steve Nash is part of the mix!

drum roll please...]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:45:24 clearskies http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216941573/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216941573/#num1 Satellite radio companies to pay US$19.7M

By JOHN DUNBAR
Associated Press    
July 24  

WASHINGTON (AP) — Approval of a merger of the nation’s only two satellite radio companies was imminent Thursday after the pair agreed to pay $19.7 million to settle charges they violated federal rules.
                                                                                                                    
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.’s proposed $3.9 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. has been before the Federal Communications Commission for 16 months.

The five-member commission is deadlocked at 2-2, but Republican Deborah Taylor Tate was expected to cast the deciding vote approving the deal once a consent decree outlining the enforcement action is circulated for a vote.

“This was an issue that Commissioner Tate thought was important for us to deal with prior to her supporting the merger,” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Thursday. “I think that this was a significant issue that we can take off the table that I think will allow us to move forward soon on finishing up the merger.”

Tate had apparently sought a fine of $8 million, according to FCC officials who asked not to be named because the deal was not yet final.

Martin said the agency reached an agreement late Wednesday night where XM will pay $17.5 million and Sirius will pay $2.2 million to resolve interference complaints and violations related to land-based signal repeaters operated by the companies.
                
Martin said XM’s penalty was greater because the company’s offense was more egregious. He said that XM had operated more than 300 repeaters that were in violation of FCC rules.

“And even more significantly,” Martin said, “XM had continued to operate their repeaters without authority when they were in violation.”

The agency was free to pursue the enforcement action against the companies outside of the merger process, but Tate apparently wanted the matter settled before approval. Tate has not responded to requests for comment.

The Justice Department approved the deal in March without conditions, saying the companies don’t really compete because customers must buy equipment that is exclusive to either XM or Sirius, and subscribers rarely switch providers.

DOJ also agreed with the companies’ argument that they compete with other forms of audio entertainment, including digital radio, Internet-based radio stations and even devices like Apple Inc.’s iPod.

FCC approval faced a steeper climb because the companies were prohibited from combining under terms of their licenses. The agency struggled to come up with a way to show that allowing a satellite radio monopoly was in the public interest.

The companies voluntarily agreed to a set of conditions, including a three-year price cap and an 8 percent set-aside of “full-time audio channels” for public interest and minority programming. They will also adopt an “open radio” standard that may lead to a greater variety of features in radios and greater competition among manufacturers.

Sirius and XM also have promised to include a limited “a la carte” offering that would be available within three months of the close of the deal and allow listeners to pay only for the channels they want to receive.

The vote on the buyout will apparently be split along party lines. Democratic commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein have both voted against the merger while Martin and fellow Republican commissioner Robert McDowell have voted in favor.

Adelstein had sought further concessions from the company but withdrew his offer on Wednesday after it failed to draw support.

The two companies have a combined subscriber base of more than 18 million, according to the most recent figures. XM is based in Washington DC while Sirius is in New York City.

Under the buyout, XM shareholders will receive 4.6 shares of Sirius stock for every share of XM stock. ]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:19:33 mikedup http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216928919/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216928919/#num1 I enjoy many women newsreaders, and Nikki Ewanyshyn of "The Fax" is a good one.  

But the same station that boasts Frank Stanford and Al Sebring (or Steve Duffy) in the newsroom in the morning, is inflicting upon us some woe-begone beginning broadcasters these days, interns or fresh-from-broadcasting-school females who don't yet have the on-air skills for a medium market like Victoria.

One afternoon recently, while Ryan Price presumably was on shift, he took a break & we were treated to a series of on-air auditions that were extremely painful to suffer through.  At least the woman who seems to have won out .. reads fairly well, but her small thin voice carries little authority .. for THE sole remaining radio news outlet in the Capital City.  (My apologies to 'The Q' .. yours is but a 'token' news service.)

First we lost C-FAX meteorologist Blaine Coulcher to budget cuts.  He's been replaced in large part by adenoidal operators who get to butcher the weather 5 or 6 times an hour, telling us who they are EVERY time, and sometimes twice in a single report.  Their names are mentioned more often than the talk-show hosts they're interrupting!   Yet their on-air work is of a standard that begs for anonymity.

I know there are Vancouverites who will try to point to CKNW as a similar case.  I would reject the comparison, every one of NW's news staff is a seasoned pro compared to the abysmally low standards C-FAX seems ready to tolerate.

Since there is no C-FAX News Director I would normalIy try protesting to the station's head honcho Terry Spence, but he doesn't seem to handle constructive criticism at all well. ]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:48:39 mikedup http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216922648/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216922648/#num1 Winnipeg's CJWV License REVOKED Today!

http://crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions/2008/db2008-146.htm

Harmony Broadcasting Corporation
Winnipeg, Manitoba ]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:04:08 SAM http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216911933/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216911933/#num1 Commercial Private Radio
Revenues on the Rise

July 24th, 2008

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, July 23 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission yesterday released statistical and financial summaries for 2007 that indicate continued economic growth for Canada's
commercial private radio stations.

Total revenues for Canada's AM and FM radio stations increased by 6.2% going from $1.4 billion in 2006 to $1.5 billion in 2007. When factoring in $1.159 billion in expenses, Canada's radio stations enjoyed profits of $300.2 million, an increase of 5.5% or $15.7 million before interest and taxes (PBIT). The profit margin of 19. 99% is slightly below last year's results of
20.11%, which was the third highest profit margin according to Statistics Canada in the last 40 years after the 21.14% and 20.5% margins posted in 2005 and 1971 respectively.

    These profits are directly linked to an increase in advertising revenue.
From 2006 to 2007, local advertising revenues grew by 4.8% from $1.037 billion to $1.087 billion. In turn, revenue from national time sales increased by 8.3% from $351.3 million in 2006 to $380.6 million in 2007.

    FM radio

FM radio stations clearly dominate the Canadian marketplace with revenues totalling slightly over $1.1 billion as compared to $329.4 million for AM stations. Over the past five years, revenues have consistently risen for English FM stations. In 2003, their revenues stood at $701.5 million. By 2007, they had increased to $947.5 million. In comparison, French FM stations saw
their revenues increase from $172.9 to $209 million while ethnic stations almost doubled their revenues from $9.8 to $16.1 million over the same period.

    AM radio

Revenues for English AM stations have also experienced a steady increase going from $259.8 in 2003 to $291.7 million in 2007. Ethnic stations have enjoyed slight increases during this period with their revenues now standing
at $21.8 million. However, revenues for French AM stations were down by $2.3 million in 2007 going from $18.2 to $15.9 million. This reflects an ongoing pattern of declining revenues that has plagued the French radio market over the past five
years where in 2003 revenues were at $26.1 million.
Overall, radio broadcasting continues to be a major employer in Canada. With the opening of 23 new radio stations in 2007, Canada now has 619 stations located across the country. These radio stations employ over 10,000 employees and represent total salaries of $606,952,639.

    Background

The data contained in this report were drawn from the financial statements of private commercial radio stations. Each year, the Commission publishes the financial statements for radio, conventional television, specialty, pay, pay-per-view and video-on-demand services, as well as for broadcast distribution undertakings, in order to allow interested parties to stay informed about the financial situation of the Canadian broadcasting industry.

Commercial Private Radio Statistical and Financial Summaries 2003 - 2007 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/BrAnalysis/radio2007/Cover.htm

    The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent, public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

For further information: Media Relations: MediaRelations
(http://support.crtc.gc.ca/CRTCSubmissionMU/forms/Mediarelations.aspx?lang=e),
(819) 997-9403, Fax: (819) 997-4245; General Inquiries: (819) 997-0313, TDD:
(819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218, Toll-free No. 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), TDD
- Toll-free No. 1-877-909-CRTC (2782), On-line services
(http://support.crtc.gc.ca/crtcsubmissionmu/forms/main.aspx?lang=e); These
documents are available in alternative format upon request.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2008/23/c6864.html

.]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:05:33 SAM http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216910950/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216910950/#num1 Bachman on Late Show
  

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Randy Bachman will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman tomorrow.

Bachman, a native of Winnipeg who now lives on Saltspring Island, was asked to sit in with Letterman's house band, which is led by fellow Canadian Paul Schaffer. It is his first appearance on the program.

"Randy was invited by Paul, his longtime friend," said Bachman's tour manager, Kevin Duffy. "He was happy to accept the invitation."

Duffy was present at the taping on Monday (Friday editions of the show are pre-taped) and said the musicians had a ball jamming.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/etoday/story.html?id=6beb0739-b826-44f7-a256-c7d2efc367c9

.]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:49:10 Swamp Water http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216902117/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216902117/#num1 Thursday July the 24th

ON THIS DAY in 1899
the actor known as Chief Dan George was born in North Vancouver.  
              
He had no contact with show biz until, late in life, he was cast as Old Antoine on CBC-TV's drama series Cariboo Country (1961). He had big screen success in George Ryga's Ecstacy of Rita Joe (1967), in Arthur Penn's Little Big Man (1970) for which he won an Oscar, in Harry & Tonto (1974) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).  He also played Old Sioux in the TV miniseries Centennial (1978 ).  He died Sept. 23 1981, in Vancouver, at age 82.

In 1908, trumpeter Charles 'Cootie' Williams was born in Mobile Alabama.  He was a key member of the Duke Ellington Orch. (1929-40) then joined Benny Goodman, before forming his own band in 1942.  In 1948 he scaled down to a sextet & began to focus on rhythm & blues, then eventually returning to jazz.  He rejoined the Ellington band (1962-75) until his retirement due to health problems.  He died Sep 15, 1985 at age 77.  

In 1914, actor Frank Silvera was born in Kingston Jamaica.  He had a regular role on TV's The High Chapparal, and took on black guest parts on series like Gunsmoke, I Spy, Marcus Welby, Riverboat, The Untouchables & The Flying Nun. He died in an accidental electrocution June 11 1970, six weeks short of his 56th birthday.

                  
In 1916, big band singer Bob Eberly was born in Mechanicsville New York.  He first caught the public ear & eye by winning the "Allen Amateur Hour" on Fred Allen's radio show. He spent much of his career with Jimmy Dorsey"s Orchestra, while his brother Ray Eberle sang with Glenn Miller.  Bob's hits include Green Eyes, Tangerine & Amapola with Helen O'Connell, and The Breeze and I.  He recorded Besame Mucho with Kitty Kallen & was featured in the early 50's on TV's Top Tunes.  He died after a heart attack Nov 17, 1981 at age 65.

In 1917, composer-arranger-conductor Robert Farnon was born Robert Farnum in Toronto. He was a founding member of CBC Radio's Happy Gang, moved to England during WW II, and in the late 1940's began recording for British Decca. Farnon also became the arranger for Vera Lynn. He composed more than a dozen film scores, including the 1962 Bob Hope movie, "The Road to Hong Kong,'' and is generally acknowledged to have influenced many European and North American composers of film music. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1998

In 1933, the first broadcast of "The Romance of Helen Trent" was heard on midwest regional radio before becoming a CBS staple three months later. The show continued on the air for 7,222 episodes and 27 years. Amazingly, Helen stayed at 35 years of age throughout the entire series! The show used two Helen Trents over the years...Virginia Clark (for 11 years) and Julie Stevens (for 16 years).

                
Also in 1933, during his fourth Fireside Chat, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt showed why the homey, warm, comfortable discussion was, indeed, a fireside chat. The President stopped the discussion on the air (remember folks, this was radio) and asked for a glass of water, which he then sipped. Newsman Robert Trout is credited with coming up with the name, Fireside Chat, because of real moments like this.

In 1938, clarinet virtuoso and big band leader Artie Shaw recorded his now-classic, Begin the Beguine, for Bluebird Records in New York City.

In 1939, Canadian rock musician and record producer Claire Lawrence was born in Elk Point, Alberta. While attending the University of B-C in 1964, Lawrence co-founded the Classics, a rock band which became the Collectors in 1966 and after 1970, Chilliwack. Lawrence stayed with Chilliwack until 1972, then produced records by Valdy and Susan Jacks, among others. In 1976, Lawrence formed the Hometown Band to accompany Valdy on tours of the U-S and Canada. The Hometown Band, which won a Juno Award as best new group in 1977, continued to tour on its own until 1979.

In 1943, the program Foreign Assignment, was first heard on Mutual radio. The title role of Brian Berry was played by Jay Jostyn, who also headlined another popular radio drama, Mr. District Attorney.

              
In 1945, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe,'' by Johnny Mercer.

In 1954, "Three Coins in the Fountain" by the Four Aces topped the charts and stayed there for just the one week.

In 1956, after a decade together as North America's most popular comedy team, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis called it quits. They did their last show at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City. The duo ended their relationship exactly 10 years after they had started it.

Also in 1956, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You,'' by Elvis Presley.

In 1961, NBC correspondent Edwin Newman became news anchor of the Today Show.

              
In 1962, comedian Victor Moore, who got a lot of mileage on film & in radio as 'the Lothario of the lumbago set,' died of a heart attack at age 86.

In 1963, Roy Orbison performed "Falling" on "American Bandstand."

In 1964, the Rolling Stones had to run for safety after the audience at a concert in Blackpool, England mobbed the stage.

In 1965, the Beach Boys' "California Girls" was released.

In 1972, the sale of two BC radio station won CRTC approval, CJAT AM/FM Trail to CKEK Cranbrook, and Port Alberni's CJAV 1240 AM to Maurice Inwards and Bill Gibson.

In 1976, Elton John had his first hit in Britain, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee.

Also in 1976, "Kiss and Say Goodbye" by the Manhattans topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

                
Also in 1976, Hall & Oates' "She's Gone" was released.

In 1977, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "I Just Want to Be Your Everything,'' by Andy Gibb. The song was written by Andy's brother, Barry.

In 1978, western singer Foy Willing died at age 63. He had a popular band in the 1940s, The Riders of the Purple Sage. Willing scored three Top-10 country hits -- "Texas Blues" in 1944 and" Detour" and "Have I Told You Lately (That I Love You)," both from 1946.

In 1980, actor Peter Sellers, a founding member of BBC radio's Goon Show, died after a heart attack at age 54.

In 1982, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.
                

In 1984, Canadian federal party leaders Ed Broadbent, Brian Mulroney & John Turner met in the first-ever French-language television debate.

Also in 1984, scores of people among a crowd of 18-thousand collapsed from heat exhaustion during a concert by Huey Lewis and the News and Juice Newton at the North Dakota State Fair.

In 1988, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Roll with It,'' by Steve Winwood.

In 1990, a wrongful death trial involving Judas Priest opened in Reno. Parents had charged in a lawsuit that the band's "Stained Class" album contained subliminal messages that drove two teen-agers to attempt suicide. The judge cleared the group.

Also in 1990, Pantera released "Cowboys From Hell." It was their first major label release.

              
In 1993, reggae group UB40 scored its second No. 1 single, a cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love'' from the film "Sliver.'' It marked the first time that someone had covered one of Presley's top 10 hits and bettered the peak position of the original song. Presley took the song to No. 2, but couldn't get past Joey Dee & the Starliters' "Peppermint Twist - Part 1.''

In 1995, Public Enemy postponed its televised farewell concert in Great Britain after rap group member Flava Flav broke his arms in a scooter accident.

Also in 1995, a three-night celebration at Carnegie Hall saluting Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday kicked off. Linda Ronstadt, Michael Feinstein, Joe Williams and Margaret Whiting were among those to pay homage to Ol' Blue Eyes.

In 1998, country singer Tanya Tucker filed a $300,000 lawsuit against Capitol Records Nashville, contending that the label had willfully neglected her career.

Also in 1998, the "Gift To The Nation" concert, a combination of two separate events in Johannesburg, and Durban, South Africa, began. The concerts were to celebrate President Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday. Artists included Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J, Dru Hill, Skunk Anansie, Salif Keita, Ismael Lo, Najee, Chaka Khan, Kenny Lattimore, James Ingram, Shankar, Just Jinger, Springbok Nude Girls and Lucky Dube.

Still in 1998, Toad the Wet Sprocket broke up.

                
Again in 1998 it was announced that Aerosmith would postpone the first 13 dates of its 50-date U.S. tour following a freak gas station fire that left drummer Joey Krammer with second-degree burns. This was the second setback to the Aerosmith tour; 18 earlier dates had to be postponed following Steven Tyler's knee injury and surgery the preceding April.

In 1999, "Wild Wild West" by Will Smith topped the charts ..but just for the one week.

Also in 1999, Phil Collins married his former interpreter, Orianne Cevey, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Swiss-born bride is Collins' third wife.

In 2000, Motown legend Smokey Robinson joined the ranks of music stars-turned-radio stars when he donned his own on-air persona on Los Angeles station KCMG (Mega 92.3) with the show "Intimate With Smokey Robinson."

In 2001, Quebec singer-songwriter Georges Dor died of lung cancer at age 70. Dor fought to improve the quality of the French language used popularly in Quebec. His best known song was "La Manic.''

                                                                                                                
In 2003, we learned for the first time that after the current (& final) season of NBC's "Friends," Matt LeBlanc would star in a spinoff show entitled "Joey."


Today's Birthdays:
  
Actress Jacqueline Brookes (Another World, Secret Storm, As The World Turns) is 78.

Comedian Ruth Buzzi (Laugh In) is 72.

Actor Mark Goddard (Lost In Space) is 72.

Canadian musician/producer Claire Lawrence (Chilliwack/Hometown Band) is 69.

Actor Dan Hedaya (Cheers, The Tortellis) is 68.

Actor Chris Sarandon (Judging Amy, ER, Felicity) is 66

Comedian (Leo) Gallagher is 62

Actor Robert Hays (Starman, FM, Iron Man) is 61

Dawson Creek-born drummer Kim Berly of The Stampeders is 60.

Actor Michael Richards (Seinfeld) is 59

Actress Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman, Partners in Crime) is 57.

Country singer Pam Tillis is 51.

Actor Kadeem Hardison (A Different World, Livin' Large) is 43.

Actress Laura Leighton (Melrose Place) is 40.

Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez (In Living Color, Second Chances) is 40.

Actor John P. Navin Jr. (Jennifer Slept Here) is 40.

Toronto-born basketball player-turned-actor Rick Fox (Oz, Dirt) is 39.

Actress-singer Kristin Chenoweth (West Wing, Pushing Daisies) is 38.

Actor Eric Szmanda (CSI) is 33.

Actress Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, West Wing) is 26.

Winnipeg-born actress Anna Paquin is 26.

Actress Mara Wilson (Melrose Place) is 21.

TV personality Bindi Irwin (Bindi: The Jungle Girl, Crocodile Hunter) is 10.


Chart Toppers - July 24th

1950
Bewitched - The Bill Snyder Orchestra
Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole
I Wanna Be Loved - The Andrews Sisters
I’m Movin’ On - Hank Snow

1959
Lonely Boy - Paul Anka
Tiger - Fabian
A Big Hunk o’ Love - Elvis Presley
The Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton

1968
Grazing in the Grass - Hugh Masekela
Lady Willpower - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Stoned Soul Picnic - The 5th Dimension
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

1977
Looks like We Made It - Barry Manilow
I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
I’m in You - Peter Frampton
It Was Almost like a Song - Ronnie Milsap

1986
Invisible Touch - Genesis
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
Nasty - Janet Jackson
Until I Met You - Judy Rodman

1995
Waterfalls - TLC
One More Chance/Stay with Me/The What - The Notorious B.I.G. and Method Man
Don’t Take It Personal (just one of dem days) - Monica
Any Man of Mine - Shania Twain

2004
Leave (Get Out) - JoJo
Dip It Low - Christina Milian
Everytime - Britney Spears
Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:21:57 boredop http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216869917/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216869917/#num1 PROGRAMMING

LOCAL – THE DEATH OF RADIO?



July 2008 Edition

I read a shocking comment on one of those radio forums the other day, that being “local” is the death of commercial radio as we know it. That in order to compete with satellite radio, iPods, etc., radio should simply focus on the music and forget about the community.

Needless to say, I was speechless. Could this be true? Have we been doing it all wrong?

Local radio was created to entertain and inform. But according to this forum, the only thing that interests the public these days is music. Therefore, we should all just forget about the upcoming Relay For Life and spin a little more Nickelback. That should help boost the ratings, huh?

Let’s be real here. Stations that choose to move away from localization will lose out in the end. Radio is, and always will be, about the local community. People want to know what’s happening in their town. Why do you think that in most major markets the local news/talk stations are holding down the #1 spot? News/talk stations specialize in giving their listeners information about their hometown. It serves as a platform for them to interact and discuss the issues they face on a day-to-day basis. It talks about the things that they care about. It’s local.

There are a lot of elements that contribute to the success of a radio station. Does music play a large role in this? You bet it does. But people can now get their music anywhere, so we need to look at the real reasons people tend to choose to listen to radio in the first place. When a crisis occurs, where do people go? If the road is closed due to an accident, who has that information? When the local food bank is in dire straits or gas prices are on the rise, who do we turn to? It certainly isn’t an iPod.

So how do we win? We win by doing what radio does best, establishing a lasting and emotional connection with our listener. By being local. Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking: “The last thing I want to hear about is some jock blabbing on and on about the community bake sale”. Local does not necessarily mean talking about bake sales and charity car washes. Local means relating to the person that lives in your community. Finding creative ways to talk about the things that your demo cares about.

Think about what it’s like when you attend a party at a friend’s place. Do you just sit there and listen to music? Nope. You talk about the things that are happening in your community, at your work, with your family, and so on. You talk about the things that the other people at the party can relate to. You create an emotional connection.

When I travel to other cities and listen to their local radio stations, it is amazing how many make no effort to localize anything. So why would anyone that lives in this community care to listen? Stations like this force people to listen to satellite radio.

It is my belief that every radio station should reflect the community it serves. This could be done with station imaging, jock talk, news coverage, even the music you choose to play. Perhaps the best thing to do is to think of radio as a person rather than, well, radio. Be the person that people turn to in time of need, the person that always knows what’s going on and the cool places to hang out. Be the person that shares in a listener’s frustrations or celebrations, the person that we can rely on to put a smile on our face. Be real. Be plugged in. Be local.

Creating a local product takes effort. It is a never-ending job that needs to be reviewed each and every day. It takes creativity, dedication and a real passion for your community and your listener. At times, it will be exhausting and frustrating but in the end the rewards will outweigh any potential negatives.

The state of radio is not near as bleak as some people make it out to be. However, if there continues to be a group of broadcasters that push the belief that “local radio” is the end of us… then God help us all.


Rudy Parachoniak is Morning Show Host/PD/Operations Supervisor at CKQR-FM Castlegar, B.C. He may be contacted by e-mail at rudy@mountainfm.net

http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/magazine.asp

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]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:25:17 SAM http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216859103/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216859103/#num1 Newcap and Rogers Broadcasting to swap
radio stations in Nova Scotia and Ontario


July 23rd, 2008

DARTMOUTH, N.S. — Newfoundland Capital Corp. (TSX:NCC.A) is trading a radio station in Halifax to Rogers Broadcasting (TSX:RCI.B) in exchange for a station in Sudbury, Ont., and $5 million.

Newcap said Wednesday it will exchange CFDR AM for Rogers' CIGM AM, and both have applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to have the stations converted to FM signals.

While Rogers was "disappointed" to be selling the Sudbury station, "this is a wonderful opportunity for Rogers to expand our presence in the Halifax market," radio chief executive Paul Ski said in a statement.

"We already operate News 95.7 and this new licence will complement this holding and will allow us to better serve our listeners in the market."

Newcap CEO Rob Steele also expressed his company's regret at the sale of CFDR.

"If approved by the CRTC, this transaction will improve service to the public with superior FM quality signals in both Halifax and Sudbury," Steele said.

"We have owned CFDR for over 20 years, and while we are reluctant to divest of this station, we are pleased to expand our portfolio with a second station in Sudbury, Ont."

Newcap holds 76 radio licences across Canada, while Rogers has 52 AM and FM stations, as well as television properties including Citytv and Omni stations, Rogers Sportsnet and The Shopping Channel.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gLiTv2nOonKKG-JxhXjrZ0HO2v6g

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]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:25:03 SAM http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216848647/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216848647/#num1 Roots of Radio
Jepko’s Was a Gentle Voice in the Night  
With KSL as a Platform, Network Talk Show Innovator Established Nitecap Radio Network  

by Donna L. Halper
RadioWorld.com
posted 7.16.2008  

            
  Herb Jepko at KSL, probably in the mid-1960s.
       Photo courtesy Dr. Joseph Buchman  

Herb Jepko was different. He was cordial to his guests, friendly to his callers; he never raised his voice. His “Nitecaps” show had two rules: no politics and no religion were to be discussed.

His show started during the mid-1960s, when one of the most popular talkers was Joe Pyne, known for shouting at guests and insulting anyone whose opinion he disliked.

But even on shows where the host wasn’t rude, contentious issues like civil rights, feminism and the Vietnam war dominated the times. There was none of that on the Jepko show.

Some critics called the program dull. Faithful listeners disagreed and appreciated him for providing comfort and companionship.

L.A. influence

Herb Jepko didn’t expect to become a talk show host. In fact, at one point, he thought of becoming a doctor. His childhood was difficult; he was adopted as an infant by Metro and Nellie Jepko of Prescott, Ariz., but that marriage broke up and his adoptive mother left.

His father, a wounded veteran of the First World War, took ill and couldn’t take care of him, so the young Jepko ended up in a number of foster homes. In the late ’40s, his father was able to resume his care and they moved to Phoenix, where Herb graduated from high school in 1949.

Though he wanted to be a doctor, there was no money for college. The Korean War was going on, and the young man was drafted into the army.

There Jepko discovered broadcasting, becoming chief of radio-television operations for his division. He produced 18 weekly radio shows plus military training films, and was based in California.

When his service ended in 1954, he remained on the West Coast, working as assistant station manager at KVNA in Flagstaff and then as promotion director of KFI in Los Angeles.

There, Jepko was impressed with the station’s late-night announcer, Ben Hunter, who did a call-in program called the “Night Owl” show. Overnight shows were still fairly new in the 1950s, and Hunter’s style would influence some of what Herb Jepko later did on the air.

While working in L.A., he met Patsy Little Brown, the woman who became the love of his life. They married, and Patsy soon became an integral part of Herb’s radio success.

By 1961, the couple had moved to Salt Lake City, where her family lived. Jepko found on-air work at several small stations; two of the earliest were KCPX in Salt Lake City and KANN in nearby Ogden. His big break came in 1962, when 50,000 watt powerhouse KSL hired him, first for mid-days and later morning drive.

But despite holding a visible time slot on the number one station, Herb wondered about overnights.

At the time, KSL went off the air at midnight, which seemed like a waste of the station’s powerful signal. Jepko had seen how successful Hunter’s overnight show was, so he suggested an all-night show to KSL management. They were skeptical and told him to take a pay cut if he wanted to do that shift.

He was given a six-week period to prove there was an audience. He took the challenge and on Feb. 11, 1964, his show debuted overnights, as he wanted. At the time it was referred to in radio listings as “The Other Side of the Day” but within a few months, the Jepko program became “Nitecaps.” Fans began to call themselves Nitecaps.

Sincere

From the outset, it reflected Jepko’s philosophy.

Listeners could call and talk about anything, as long as it wasn’t a controversial subject. As he would often tell interviewers, he took pride in the fact that he never embarrassed or insulted a listener, nor did he give anyone an ulcer.

He cared about his listeners; even if they hadn’t called for a while he remembered their names, and he seemed genuinely interested in how they were doing. Perhaps his audience, many of whom were elderly, became for him the family he rarely had as a child.

Thanks to KSL’s strong signal, Jepko’s overnight show was heard in distant cities. Though it had no toll-free number and took no collect calls — this at a time when long-distance calls were expensive — people waited patiently to get through.

It wasn’t long before Jepko had proven his point: There really were people out there listening late at night: shut-ins, truckers, shift-workers and lots of insomniacs, all eager to talk to Jepko and other Nitecaps.

Some had a poem they wanted to read. Some tried to sing. Some shared a recipe, or talked about their grandchildren.

Perhaps that is why critics found the show frustrating. Like TV’s Seinfeld, it was “a show about nothing” — it had no central theme, no excitement, no feuding guests. Yet listening became like a religion for Nitecaps fans.

Jepko sounded like everyone’s best pal, but he also understood good radio. To make sure the conversation didn’t drag, he had a device known as “Tinkerbell,” a music box that played the theme from the movie “Never on Sunday.”

A caller got five minutes maximum; then the sound of Tinkerbell would remind the caller time was up. There were other rules too, such as being allowed to call only once every two weeks.

His vision for the show involved more than just chatting. He wanted to use it to do good for others and helping those less fortunate.

Since his listeners regarded the show as a community, he created a club for them in mid-1964. A year after the Nitecaps International Association was born, there were more than 25,000 active members.

Nitecaps also organized into local groups, or Nitestands; in addition to monthly meetings, each devoted itself to a particular charitable endeavor, like visiting the sick or reading to the blind. A 1967 article noted the existence of more than 100 Nitestands, with 27,000 members in Southern California alone.

The show had its own theme song, “We’re the Nitecaps,” a cheerful piece written by devoted fan Della Dame Edmunds.

The Nitecaps had an official magazine, “The Wick.” Its pages contained some of the same features as the show, like recipes and what various Nightstands were doing. The publication included inspirational messages from Jepko as well as photographs. In the pre-Internet era, readers anticipated pictures eagerly; members in each city wanted to see what others looked like.

Show-related merchandise was advertised in The Wick; at first, Jepko and his wife filled the orders themselves, as listeners purchased Nitecap stationery, Nitecap pins, copies of the Nitecap theme song and more. Once a year, they could attend the Nitecaps convention, part of Jepko’s mission to encourage Nitecaps to meet and become friends.

Expanding

In 1968, Jepko began syndicating the program, putting it on several radio stations in addition to KSL. The couple managed the syndication themselves, and the first affiliate was KXIV in Phoenix.

In 1966, he’d had only four phone lines, but within five years an Associated Press article was estimating that Jepko had more than 2 million listeners and needed 11 lines to handle calls from all over the country. AP reported that among his fans were such celebrities as Ronald Reagan, governor of California, and singer Pat Boone.

While critics didn’t understand the show’s appeal, Herb Jepko certainly had his finger on the pulse of Main Street.

Chuck Graham, entertainment writer for the Tucson Daily Citizen in Arizona, admitted to being fascinated by the show and its devoted fans but wondered how people could get so excited about listening to “three hours of happy conversations from wholesome people.”

Yet that seems to have been the show’s charm; it made people feel good.

In 1975, Jepko had more than 20 phone lines in the studio. He’d been picking up more stations, including big signals like WHAS in Louisville, Ky., and WBAL in Baltimore. Where the staff had once been his wife and himself, he now had 25 people working for him.

Given that profile, it was not surprising that Mutual Broadcasting System, a national radio network, became interested in putting his show on its affiliates.

Where today there are many syndicated late-night shows, in 1975 there would be one: Herb Jepko’s. “Nitecaps” went on the network on Nov. 4, 1975, and would be heard coast to coast on several hundred stations. As a result, Jepko is considered a pioneer in overnight syndicated radio talk.

19-month run

This should have been the start of something big for Jepko; unfortunately, it turned out to be a disaster.

There was tension from the beginning, with Mutual executives increasingly uncomfortable about the show’s folksy and non-confrontational style.

According to Jepko, he was told to make the show more controversial and was asked to move closer to the corporate headquarters in Arlington, Va. He said no to both.

But the real problem was sales. Mutual had never broadcast an overnight show, and its sales force had no idea how to sell all-night radio, especially radio aimed at an older audience. This, at least, is how Jepko related the problem to a New York Times reporter in 1977.

In the end, there were not enough commercials to generate sufficient revenue. Mutual cancelled the show in May of that year.

It was a disappointment for Jepko and for his audience. He continued to work at KSL until August of 1979, but then his home station too cancelled the show.

Jepko tried to get back into radio but was never able to recapture his success. A group of fans in San Diego helped him get back on the air in June of 1981, broadcasting from KMJC in El Cajon, Calif., and on a few small stations. But that experiment did not last, nor did a subsequent effort in October 1982. The era of the Nitecaps was over.

As the industry changed around him, he grew increasingly more depressed, according to a 1995 account in the Salt Lake City Tribune, exacerbated by the death of his son Herb Jr. from AIDS and his own declining health (he suffered from severe arthritis).

In late March 1995, Herb Jepko died at the age of 64.

Long lonely nights

To this day, there are former Nitecaps who recall being on his show. A Web site has been put up in his memory by a friend of the Jepko family, Prof. Joseph Buchman, at http://www.nitecaps.net.

“My first job in radio was running the board for The Nitecap Radio Network from midnight to 6 a.m. on 250-watt WXVW(AM) 1450 in Jeffersonville, Ind.,” Buchman wrote on the Web site.

“I remember those long, lonely nights well; listening to Nitecaps from around the country interact with Herb, discuss the activities of their Nitestands, the latest article in The Wick, their grandchildren, recipes (often with Herb’s pal ‘The Crusher’), and opening a window to what was, truly, a radio family.”

Buchman credits Jepko for showing a path that allowed talent like Larry King, Art Bell, Phil Donahue and Ellen DeGeneres to flourish.

In June 2003, the Utah Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame gave Jepko a posthumous award, establishing a scholarship in his memory.

There may be no place on today’s radio for a kinder, gentler show like Herb Jepko’s. Based on the comments left by fans on Buchman’s Web site, plenty of folks think that’s a shame.  

]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:30:47 mikedup http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216827470/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216827470/#num1 Donald Courtnay
voice of many Seattle-area radio, TV commercials

By Arla Shephard

July 23, 2008


Donald Courtnay had a "big,
warm and booming" voice,
says colleague Dean Smith

To many, Donald Courtnay was the classic voice of Seattle in the 1950s. To his family and friends, he was a classic gentleman.

"What can I say, except that he was a wonderful man?" said his wife of 34 years, Gay Courtnay.

Mr. Courtnay, best known for his voice-over work in local commercials, died of natural causes July 14 in his Sammamish home. He was 84.

His family and friends remember him as a loving father and husband who took care of everyone around him. He was a "perfect gentleman," his wife said.

"If there was a lady in the room, he was always opening the door, graciously greeting everyone," she said. "It came to the point where when people would light a cigarette, they would just sort of stand there and wait for him to light it because he was always Johnny-on-the-spot with that."

Mr. Courtnay was born in Chicago on Feb. 22, 1924, and served in the Navy during World War II. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a major in the Washington State National Guard and a 32nd-degree member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

With his booming and inviting voice, he began a radio career in Salt Lake City in the 1940s. During the 1950s he moved to Seattle, where he became a widely recognized voice-over artist through his work with KING and KIRO television and KJR radio station. He later became general manager of KCPQ television in Seattle.

"He was, of course, the freelance voice in town," said colleague Dean Smith, who met him in 1962 and worked with him at KJR. "If there were 10 voice-overs to do in town, he would probably do nine of them. He had a wonderful voice and was the type of guy you could just respect."

Among his accomplishments, Mr. Courtnay is best recognized as the voice of Safeway for 19 years, with his signature line in commercials: "Shop Safeway — you'll see!"

"Everyone of course envied Don. He had that quintessential announcer-man voice: big, warm and booming," Smith said. "About every other commercial you'd hear Don's voice."

Mr. Courtnay first met his future wife in the early 1950s when they worked together in Seattle. She later moved to California, and it wasn't until 1973 when he came to Los Angeles on a business trip that they reunited, she said. They were married a year later.

"He loved my mom so much and he was so good," said his stepdaughter, Randi White, of Los Angeles. She wrote in his online guest book: "From the moment Don began his courtship of our mother, (in the true old-fashioned manner) one could sense that this love would grow into one that might move mountains."

Later in life, Mr. Courtnay went into the heating business and continued to do freelance work for heating companies after his retirement, designing boiler installations in Alaska.

White remembers her stepfather as protective and attentive to everyone in the family. When her grandmother could no longer walk, she said, Mr. Courtnay was "the one who was carrying her."

"When it came time to speak at a memorial or funeral, with his beautiful voice he would say exactly what was in our hearts," she said.

He is survived by his wife, Gay Courtnay, of Sammamish; his sons James and Jason Grimmer from a previous marriage, both of the Puget Sound area; and stepchildren Randi White of Los Angeles and Evan White of Pleasanton, Calif.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Friends are invited to share memories at http://www.flintofts.com.

Arla Shephard: 206-515-5632 or ashephard@seattletimes.com

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008067321_courtnayobit23m.html

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]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:37:50 voice over http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216825140/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216825140/#num1 KING-5 to pull the plug -- sort of


KING-5 has sent out a breathless e-mail announcing a test it's doing during it's Thursday telecast.

For five minutes at 5 p.m., the station is temporarily turning off its analog signal so viewers can see whether they get a digital signal. Next February, you'll need a digital-ready TV (or a special converter box) to view over the air signals.

If your TV doesn't work during the five-minute test, "consumer advocate" Jesse Jones will tell you what you need to do.

There's also going to be a special phone line for concerned viewers to call into if they have any questions.

Overkill? Perhaps.

Skip the fuss, avoid calling KING-5's "experts" and just go to the store and get a converter box or buy a new TV. It'll take you five minutes.

In the United States, you can even get a government coupon to make your converter box purchase a little lighter on the wallet.

Posted by Moises Mendoza at July 22, 2008 6:17 p.m.

The Big Blog
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/144117.asp

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]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:59:00 AirWaves http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216822942/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216822942/#num1 Wednesday July the 23rd

ON THIS DAY in 1894,
Arthur Treacher was born in Brighton England.  
              
After a film career playing butlers & various supporting English-accented characters, he found a high-profile role on TV as announcer/sidekick on the Merv Griffin syndicated talk show.  That led to establishment of a fast food chain, Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, which at one point had 500 outlets.  He died of a heart ailment Dec 14, 1975 at age 81.  

In 1908, actor Karl Swenson was born in Brooklyn. Throughout the late 30s and 40s, his voice could be heard all over the radio dial, appearing in scores of daytime serials, such as "Lorenzo Jones," and mystery dramas such as "Inner Sanctum Mysteries". Later he would guest on TV's "Dr. Kildare", "Gunsmoke", "Maverick", "Mission: Impossible" and "Hawaii Five-O." He had a continuing role as the lumber mill owner on "Little House on the Prairie." He died Oct 8, 1978 at age 70.

In 1921, actor Calvert DeForest was born in Brooklyn.  He played bumbling sidekick Larry 'Bud' Melman on the David Letterman late night show on NBC, but when Dave moved to CBS had to appear under his own name, since 'Melman' was claimed as intellectual property by NBC.  His appearances ended with his 81st birthday in 2002.  He died Mar 19, 2007 at age 85.

              
In 1933, actor/game show host Bert Convy was born in St. Louis.  He is best remembered as the host of CBS TV's Tattletales, Win Lose or Draw, and later Super Password.  He acted in a number of TV projects, including Love of Life & The Snoop Sisters.  He succumbed to a brain tumour July 15, 1991 just days short of his 58th birthday.

In 1934, the program "Home Sweet Home" debuted on the NBC Red radio network. The principal characters were Fred, Lucy, Di ck Kent and Uncle Will.

In 1937, legendary Top 40 Disc Jockey Robert W. Morgan (below) was born. He did most of his work in Los Angeles at stations such as KHJ, where he was known as one of the "boss jocks" that dominated the Top 40 market during the late 1960s. His trademark greeting during his morning drive shift was "Good Morgan!!"  He died from cancer May 22, 1998 at age 60. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame the following year.
              

In 1941, Sonny Dunham and his orchestra recorded the tune that was to become Mr. Dunham’s theme song. Memories of You was Bluebird record #11289.

In 1950, to the strains of Back in the Saddle Again, TV viewers were treated to the first performance of The Gene Autry Show. The singing cowboy made the move from Hollywood films to the tube on this night 57 years ago.

In 1951, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Come on-a My House,'' by Rosemary Clooney.

In 1962, the Telstar communications satellite sent the first live TV broadcast to Europe. The bird was used to send TV programs between North America and Europe.

In 1963, Toronto rocker Neil Young held his first recording session in Winnipeg.

              
In 1966, Frank Sinatra hit the top of the pop album chart with his Strangers in the Night. It was the first #1 Sinatra LP since 1960. The album’s title song had made it to number one on the pop singles chart on July 2nd.  

Also in 1966, singer Donald Novis, who was the vocalist on NBC Radio's "Fibber McGee & Molly" show during its early Chicago days, died at age 60.  

In 1966, the one-hit-wonder Napoleon XIV released the soon-to-be-novelty-smash "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha! Ha!"

In 1969, Three Dog Night received a gold record for the single, One. It was the first of seven million-sellers for the pop-rock group.

In 1969, James Brown walked out of the Los Angeles mayor's office when Sam Yorty failed to show up on time to present him with a proclamation for James Brown Day.

              
In 1971, actor Van Heflin, who guest starred 3 times on TV's Playhouse 90, and was narrator of the series The Great Adventure, died after a heart attack at age 60.

In 1971, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian),'' by The Raiders (formerly Paul Revere and the Raiders). It was the group's biggest hit and last to hit the top 20.

In 1977, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Zeppelin manager Peter Grant and two bodyguards were arrested for beating up three employees of promoter Bill Graham following a show in Oakland, California. The four pleaded guilty to misdemeanours and settled out of court for about two-million dollars in damages.  Judas Priest began its first U.S. tour as opening act for the Zeppelin.

              
Also in 1977, "Looks Like We Made It" by Barry Manilow topped the charts..but just for the one week.

Still in 1977, Foreigner's "Cold As Ice" was released.

In 1980, Keith Godchaux, former keyboards player with the Grateful Dead, was killed in a car accident in Marin County, California. Godchaux and his wife, Donna, a background vocalist, joined the Dead in 1971 and were asked to leave in '79.

In 1981, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "The One That You Love,'' by Air Supply. The group was the first from Australia to hit Billboard's Hot 100.

In 1982, US broadcast regulator the FCC approved AM stereo radio; station KTSA San Antonio was the first to go stereo.

              
Also in 1982, actor Vic Morrow, the star of TV's Combat, and two child actors were killed during the filming of "Twilight Zone:The Movie."  A helicopter crashed on top of them during a Vietnam War scene. (Director John Landis and four associates were later acquitted of manslaughter charges.) Morrow was aged 53.

In 1984, Vanessa Williams (who now plays a key role on TV's Ugly Betty) became the first Miss America to resign her title, after nude photographs of her were published in Penthouse magazine.

In 1985, bandleader Kay Kyser, host of radio's longrunning Kollege of Musical Knowledge, died at age 79.

In 1987, longtime St. Louis Cardinal broadcaster Jack Buck, who won a national audience with his work on radio & TV Games of the Week (& World Series), was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, as 11th winner of the Ford Frick Award.

              
In 1988, No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 was Richard Marx's "Hold on to the Nights." It was the fourth single from his debut album.

In 1989, FOX-TV topped ABC, NBC and CBS for the 1st time, thanks to "America's Most Wanted."

Also in 1989, Ringo Starr kicked off his first tour since the breakup of the Beatles with a show in Dallas. Starr began the concert with his 1971 hit ``It Don't Come Easy.'' His backup band included guitarist Joe Walsh, organist Billy Preston and saxman Clarence Clemons.

In 1990, jazz pianist Joe Turner, who played with such greats as Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter, died of cardiac arrest at age 82, in Paris, where he had lived for 30 years.

              
In 1991, actor James Farentino of Dynasty was arrested in Vancouver, after RCMP intercepted a package containing 3.2 grams of cocaine being sent to his hotel room. Farentino was in town filming the TV movie Miles From Nowhere.  He was charged with cocaine possession and released on bail.

In 1992, Bruce Springsteen opened his first US tour since 1988. The show was in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Also in 1992, Chicago got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1993, a gunman firesd into New York night club Danceteria, injuring Eric Tallman, the lead singer of the rock band Erotic Exotic. A bullet grazed Tallman's skull and he was taken to Bellevue Hospital.

                
Also in 1993, Nirvana played a surprise show at the New Music Seminar at Roseland in New York City. The band showcased songs from its yet to be released album, "In Utero."

In 1994, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter after Frank Zappa, who had died the previous December.

In 1996, Rob Collins, keyboardist with the Manchester band The Charlatans U-K, died in a car accident in Wales. The band was working on its fifth album at the time. A single and video, "One to Another," completed with Collins just a week before he died, was released the following month.

In 1998, it was announced that Iron Maiden will have to cancel the remainder of its U.S. dates due to throat troubles for vocalist Blaze Bayley, whose doctor advises him not to sing for one month.

In 1999, the US public TV performance series "Sessions At West 54th" introduced John Hiatt as its new host, replacing David Byrne.

Also in 1999, Woodstock '99 began in Rome, New York. The 3-day festival started off peacefully but ended in fires, lootings and accusations of rape.

              
In 2002, actor Leo McKern, star of the British-produced PBS series Rumpole of the Bailey, died after a long illness at age 82.  


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Gloria DeHaven (All My Children, Ryan's Hope, Nakia) is 83.

Actor Ronny Cox (Stargate SG 1, The Agency, Apple's Way) is 70.

Radio shock jock Don Imus is 68.

Country singer Tony Joe White is 65.

Actor Larry Manetti (Magnum, P.I.) is 61.

Singer David Essex is 61.

Singer-turned-US Congressman John Hall (Orleans) is 60.

Guitarist Blair Thornton of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 58.

Actress Edie McClurg (Hogan Family, WKRP in Cincinnati, 7th Heaven) is 57.

Actor Woody Harrelson (Cheers, Will & Grace) is 47.

Guitarist Martin Gore of Depeche Mode is 47.

Actor Eriq La Salle (ER) is 46.

Drummer Yuval Gabay (Soul Coughing) is 45.

Guitarist Slash of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N' Roses) is 43.

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman (Empire Falls, Liberty! The American Revolution) is 41.

Singer Sam Watters of Color Me Badd is 38.

Actress Charisma Carpenter (Veronica Mars, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is 38.

Singer Dalvin DeGrate of Jodeci is 37
.
Bluegrass singer Alison Krauss is 37.

Drummer Chad Gracey of Live is 37.

Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Brothers) is 36.

Country singer Shannon Brown is 35.

Actor Omar Epps (House MD) is 35.

Actress Stephanie March (Law & Order: SVU, Conviction) is 34.

Singer Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) is 28.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe ("Harry Potter" movies) is 19.


Chart Toppers: July 23rd

1949
Some Enchanted Evening - Perry Como
Bali Ha’i - Perry Como
Again - Gordon Jenkins
One Kiss Too Many - Eddy Arnold

1958
Hard Headed Woman - Elvis Presley
Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson
Willie and the Hand Jive - The Johnny Otis Show
Alone with You - Faron Young

1967
Windy - The Association
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
Light My Fire - The Doors
With One Exception - David Houston

1976
Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
Kiss and Say Goodbye - Manhattans
I’ll Be Good to You - The Brothers Johnson
Teddy Bear - Red Sovine

1985
A View to a Kill - Duran Duran
Raspberry Beret - Prince & The Revolution
Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young
Dixie Road - Lee Greenwood

1994
I Swear - All-4-One
Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Fantastic Voyage - Coolio
Summertime Blues - Alan Jackson

2003
Crazy In Love - Beyoncé Knowles featuring Jay-Z
Miss Independent  - Kelly Clarkson
Are You Happy Now? - Michelle Branch
Beer for My Horses - Toby Keith (with Willie Nelson)]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:22:22 mikedup http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216808766/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/m-1216808766/#num1
http://jobs.workopolis.com/jobshome/db/gi.featured_joblist?pi_employer=72471]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:26:06 ED1