Glen Campbell with Jim Slone, now retired, once one of the nation’s best general managers in country music radio. “A picture of Glen and me around 1973 or so…Glen and I became friends in 1961 when I was a disc jockey at KRZY in Albuquerque. We are both the same age…75. His birthday was April 22 and mine August 29. PS: The Billboard conventions were so much fun…especially for a small-town farm boy like me.” Jim once owned KCUB; his children left radio when they sold Slone Broadcasting, by then a five-station conglomerate, Tucson, to Citadel for $63 million. Jim said he fell in love with radio “the first time I walked into KENM in Portales, NM, a station owned by John Burroughs and managed by Leola Randolph. Jim started working there in 1955 while a student at Eastern New Mexico University. Said he loved Nat King Cole, Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra. In 1961, Jim shifted to KRZY in Albuquerque. In 1963 to KHOS in Tucson. In 1972, the owners of KCUB, almost bankrupt, offered him part ownership to manage the station. And that was the start of his phenomenal ownership career. And success.

REVERB MATTERS

Bill Thrasher, too many aliases to count or report, Atlanta: “As one of the old reverb and jingle enhanced DJs from the 60s and early 70s, I never missed a Vox Jox column in Billboard magazine. I remember when I was ‘allowed’ to work a summer weekend shift for the old WQXI in Atlanta, my first ‘major market’ station, I couldn't wait to see my name in Vox Jox. Damn, it never made it. Alas, it never got reported with the other names of Bob Bolton, Simon Train, Randy Robbins, Skinny Bobby Harper, Dr. Don Rose, Pat Hughes. Later in life, I finally figured out why. I wasn't in their league. I best did what I did in the medium and smaller markets and sure did have fun while I went broke. What a ride it was and I thank you for keeping us all informed along the way. As an aside, Kent Burkhart barely remembered me from the WQXI days, but he and I communicate on a regular basis now. I came along in radio in Quitman, GA, with the likes of Mike Harvey and Ron O'Quinn...we all moved to WVLD in Valdosta, an amazing station that was programmed by Al Evans Jr. (WAKE Atlanta, WFUN Miami). Ron went on to Tampa St. Pete where he posted the highest numbers ever, then to WFUN and then one of the offshore pirates. Mike is another story and he's still on the air and syndicated after all these years. Yes, Claude, those were truly ‘kick ass’ days in so many ways. As you put it, radio sure was fun for a while. Our promotions were only limited by our imaginations...and somehow the sales folks managed to sell it to somebody. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate their efforts more and more. You lived and guided many of us in a very special time, and even from us ‘2nd tier’ folks, it is fondly remembered.”

WARD MATTERS

I’ll admit it: At 79 years of age, I’m prejudiced about me and mine. When a couple of thugs (and they are well named by me) tried to usurp the role of Bill Stewart, Todd Storz, and Gordon McLendon in radio, I called them out. Sixguns at sundown! On the other hand, I’m the one who dared to tell the truth about the best friend, period, I ever had – L. David Moorhead in “Rocks Don’t Matter,” a short story in the collection “Radio Wars.” Personally, a not-very-nice guy to the rest of the world. Great to me and mine. Also one of the best radio men I ever knew.

Truth: I loved Frank Ward. I only heard him live once. The weekend evening he sat in at WNEW-AM in New York City. He phoned to let me know he was going to be jocking.

He was phenomenal that night that I listened. Stuck to the playlist. But obviously selected what he was going to play and when. I’ve heard the Magnificent Montague blend music like that. Different music, of course. And, too, with Montague, you got Montague’s patter. “Burn, Baby, Burn,” “Let It All Hang Out,” “Keep the Faith, Baby.” And no one could pound a book like Montague. I love Montague. His wife Rose Casalan. Still alive to this day. Lives in Las Vegas. One of the world’s greatest radio personalities. Won’t talk to me now. But I guess that’s his business and I respect that. Doesn’t change my opinion or my feelings half an inch. I don’t think it has anything to do with anything Barbara and I have done; I think it’s more a matter of who we are. Pity.

As for Frank Ward, that night on WNEW-AM was virtually magical. The right music, the right way. Tight production. Smooth. Mellow. Because I’ve listened to so much radio over the years, I’ve been fortunately to listen to some excellent radio personalities. I guess the peak might have been the morning I sat in with William B. Williams. That was an honor. He was, indeed, Chairman of the Board. Or was that Frank Sinatra? No doubt it was both. But few radio personalities anywhere could match the way Frank Ward did a show.

Yes, I knew Frank Ward personally. Barbara and I were invited one day to visit him and his wife in Connecticut.

So, I’m prejudiced.

Larry White just sent me an aircheck of Guy King at WWOL, Buffalo. In fact, he sent me several airchecks on CDs. “First CD is an assortment of Frank Ward airchecks. The WFUN Fundamental News aircheck was given to me by Larry Berger, who I met for the first time at one of your Billboard conventions. I, along with others, had lunch with Frank at the Americana Hotel and mentioned that to Berger, at which time he offered me the WFUN aircheck.”

Guy King should have been sent back to the boondocks. His voice needed a bromo. Not the voice I knew, which had a lot of bottom to it. Pacing off. And the music? “White Sports Coat” by Johnny Desmond? This version couldn’t touch the buttons on Marty Robbins’ “White Sports Coat.” King said the record was on Coral Records. Remember that label anyone? Next, some big band music. Then to “After School” by the Teardrops? Horrible tune. But King promoted a record hop later at which the Teardrops were appearing. Mentioned a drive-in theater with a double feature. Didn’t sign off. A Tad Smith was next with orchestral music.

The CD reads that next was the Aero Drive-in pre-movie show,1953. Frank Ward. Had to be the same day, because Ward also promoted the record hop. Kept announcing the time until the start of the movie.

Frank Ward was in perfect voice. Coming through strong! Quality of the broadcast was exceptional. First tune after an instrumental was “Don’t Take Your Love From Me” and then “Here Comes That Heartache Again” by Tony Bennett. Absolutely superb! God, but Tony is great! Then Kay Starr with “Half a Photograph,” followed by an Ames Brothers tune. The music was impeccable, especially for the time of day. “Matilda” by Harry Belafonte was also great. Upbeat.

Difficult to believe that Guy King and Frank Ward were the same person. But, without question, prejudiced or not, Frank Ward was a sensational radio personality.

Also on the CD, a Gillette commercial, probably ad-libbed, while Frank was on WSAI in Cincinnati and an example of the 1960 news on WFUN, Miami, when Frank Ward was program director.

More Larry White: “Another CD contains an aircheck of our friend Joey Reynolds, arguably the best night-time jock in America at the time. On the same CD, a cut of Dan Ingram where he was totally cutting up. When listening to this, it’s hard to believe that Rick Sklar was even around – must have been out of town. This appears to have been recorded off the board rather than off the air, since the levels are all over the place. The last cut is from an aircheck of Ron Lundy’s last show of CBS-FM. Ingram’s in the studio and George Michael is on the phone. Michael reminisces about the then WIL program director Art Wander, who later worked for me in Buffalo during the late 80s. Funny bit! The next CD contains audio produced by Chuck Blore for the 1968 Bill Gavin Convention held at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. “The History of Radio” and “The History of Advertising” as only the genius Chuck Blore could put them together. And the last CD, an interview with WCFL, Chicago’s major architect Ken Draper. I believe I learned of this interview while reading your blog via RadioDailyNews.com.”

It’s great to have friends. Thank you, Larry.

DAVI MATTERS

“Davi Sings Sinatra” by Robert Davi is a tremendously beautiful CD. Subtitle: “On the Road to Romance.” Produced by the great Phil Ramone.

Difficult to choose a “best.” But I loved “All the Way.” And, yes, you almost see Frank in your mind. Davi has that superb phrasing that was so wonderful with Frank. But Davi is not Sinatra. And, in this particular case, that’s not a criticism. Davi’s voice is clear. You understand every word. And as you listen, you realize that he means it. I feel that it’s somewhat of a mistake to compare him to Sinatra. I would never have mentioned it. Because Davi is good! Deserves his own niche. His own Las Vegas stage. And MOR radio stations – are there any left out there – could program every cut here. Sit back and listen to “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.” Beautiful, mellow, warm, tender, enthralling. “Summer Wind,” the same. I can think of a dozen ballad singers who had excellent careers and none of them could sing as well as Davi. Right now, as of this moment, I’m a huge Davi fan!

Ernie Farrell would love this Davi CD. Dick LaPalm, too.

FYI: I once had every song that Frank Sinatra cut at Capitol on reel-to-reel and could play naught but Sinatra for hours throughout the house on Moraga Drive, Los Angeles, and over the swimming pool, too!

This Robert Davi CD and press kit came from Don Graham. I had to wag my head. Hearing from Don Graham and Morris Diamond in the same week…Wow! In the case of Morris, it was a newspaper article written about him; Jack Robert’s Hollywood Hills blog provided the link. Great article.

Then, on my desktop appeared a photo of George Furness and Juggy Gales with George Wilson. And then I read in Hollywood Hills that Jerry Sherrell’s son was performing in a club in the San Fernando Valley. Lord, memories! Isn’t it a pity that so many good record people have gone on? Jan Basham and others. Harold Childs. We were once a crowd.

DJ MATTERS

If you haven’t yet, look at http://thegreatdeejays.com. Bob Whitney and Bob Todd have done an amazing job on this website. In the vernacular, it’s absolutely the most.

VEE MATTERS

My beautiful wife of more than 50 years chatted with Karen Vee this week. Both her and hubby are doing fine, after a touch of the flu. She reports that her husband is “cutting back a bit.” Sons Jeff and Tommy have the recording studio in St. Cloud, MN, and Robby has his own band and plays the heck at casinos and etc. throughout that area and occasionally outside the area. All is well with rock and roll, George and Scotty.

BOOK MATTERS

By the time you read this, I should have uploaded “HURT,” a cute little horror story, onto Amazon.com/Kindle Books. Still waiting on Bill Pearson to finish the cover for “My Name Is…” and as soon as the cover arrives, I’ll also upload it as well. Price of these eBooks is only $2.99. To download/buy one of the eBooks, go to Amazon.com and find the link to Kindle Books. After you’re in Kindle Books, search my name for the entire list of books available. My beautiful wife Barbara has been reading “The Music Convention” and enjoying it. Rollye James told me a while back that she loved “Xtreme.” No, she is not the heroine. As old Gustave used to say about Madame Bovary, well….