Welcome

International visitors:
Italy Roma, Lazio
New Zealand Taupiri

Lyrics for "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago

Lyrics for "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago

Many thanks to
Keith King, who wrote to tell us:
"The artist who wrote and sung The Eggplant
That Ate Chicago was Norman Greenbaum
who in 1970 made enough money to retire for life with Spirit
in the Sky."



In addition to Norman
Greenbaum, Dr West's Medicine Show & Junk Band consisted of Jack
Carrington, gtr, vcls, percussion, Evan
Engber, percussion and Bonnie Walach,
gtr, vcls. The single reached #52 in the US Hot
Hundred and the band issued an album of the same name in 1969.
THE EGGPLANT THAT ATE CHICAGO
(Norman Greenbaum)
Dr. West's Medicine Show & Junk Band


You'd better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago,
For he may eat your city soon.
You'd better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago,
If he's still hungry, the whole country's doomed.

He came from outer space, lookin' for somethin' to eat.
He landed in Chicago. He thought Chicago was a treat.
(It was sweet, it was just like suger)

You'd better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago,
For he may eat your city soon (wacka-do, wacka-do, wacka-do)
You'd better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago,
If he's still hungry, the whole country's doomed.

kazoo solo

He came from outer space, lookin' for somethin' to eat.
He landed in Chicago. He thought Chicago was a treat.
(It was sweet, it was just like suger)

You'd better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago,
For he may eat your city soon (wacka-do, wacka-do, wacka-do)
You'd better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago,
If he's still hungry, the whole country's doomed ("it's in trouble!")
If he's still hungry, the whole country's doomed

Promise Fullfilled

A while back I promised that future clips would take the form of a real podcast. So here is the first. A podcast discussing the constant quest for humor on and off the air at KAAY.

The newscast at the end is an actual aircheck.

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-08-29T16_58_47-07_00

More from you...

Barry writes:

It's my first indoctrination to the KAAY blog, and I've enjoyed going through it, although a lot of it predates my radio listening days. I'm the former program director who produced Radio Yesterday, the show that Vdog was referencing. The KAAY transmitter building has hundreds of old tapes of commercials, promos, news features and national public affairs programs. I made several trips out there the last few years I was at the station, and that served as the genesis of Radio Yesterday. Among my favorite pieces of audio would be the 1973 jingles package, a promo for the 1972 Arkansas-Texas game that included a bet between DJs from KAAY and WOAI in San Antonio, and a report on the flight of Apollo 13, as voiced by Willard Scott. Former Chief Engineer Felix McDonald and his wife Oleta still live out by the transmitter. I'd like to make a return trip, but I'm not sure management would agree to that, since I've not had a tie to the station for almost a year. I came home with probably more than 300 reels, but there are still at least that many more out there, and it hurts me to know that they'll probably never see the light of day again.

Hey Barry,
How about sharing those jingles and promo with the blog? -A.J.

Don't Go Near The Indians Lyrics

This song was different from the usual hot rod, surfing, teen love songs of the era.

Take a look at the lyrics and read the interesting story line:

Don't Go Near the Indians
Rex Allen   Mercury  71997
(Lorene Mann)   Buttercup Music  BMI


{Son, don't go near the Indians
Please stay away
Son, don't go near the Indians
Please do what I say}

Since I was just a little boy
I liked to roam the hills
And to hear wild stories about the Indians
Was my biggest thrill

I'd shout and yell and holler like heck
I wore moccasins on my feet
And I'd make believe I was under a teepee
Every time I went to sleep

My hair was jet black and I was twenty-one
Lots of pretty girls around
But the paleface maidens didn't thrill me none
Around my Cochise County hometown

{Son, don't go near the Indians
Please stay away
Son, don't go near the Indians
Please do what I say}

One day I went to the reservation
And there by a shallow creek
Was a beautiful Indian a-fetchin' water
And I just had to speak

She smiled at me then quickly left
But the next day she returned
And it wasn't very long till I told her how
The love in my heart burned

{Son, don't go near the Indians
Please stay away
Son, don't go near the Indians
Please do what I say}

I told my daddy I'd found a girl
Who meant the world to me
And tomorrow I'd ask the Indian chief
For the hand of NovaLee

Dad's trembling lips spoke softly
As he told me of my life
Twas then he said I could never take
This maiden for my wife

SPOKEN:
Son, the white man and Indianss were fighting when you were born
And a brave called Yellow Sun scalped my little boy
So I stole you to get even for what he'd done
Though you're a full-blooded Indian, son
I love you as much as my own little feller that's dead
And, son, NovaLee is your sister
And that's why I've always said

SINGING:
{Son, don't go near the Indians
Please stay away
FADE:
Son, don't go near the Indians
Please do what I say}


Transcribed by Little John
These lyrics were transcribed from the specific recording referenced



above, and are for personal use and research interest only.

If you can find a recording of this let me know..ajlinds@yahoo.com

More KAAY Silver Dollar Survey

Double click on the survey to read.
Thanks again to Harold Ott for this survey dated 7/29/63. The first thing I noticed is that Buddy Karr must have been changing since no picture was there for the name. I was obviously there playing all those songs but I can not remember "Fat Lady" by the Spidels. I'll have to do some more research to bring that one back. I am still looking for Rex Allen's "Son Don't Go Near The Indians". I have checked all the music services but have not found the song. These things become a real challenge to me. Anyone out there up to the challenge of finding this recording?

Wolfman Jack & KAAY

From David Montgomery

Shortly after we moved from the 7th Street studios into the new building on Cottondale Lane, we had a rip snortin' grand opening party to celebrate the opening of the new studios. All the local and regional politicians, advertising agency people, and anyone having anything to do with radio or TV in central Arkansas were invited. The building was packed with celebrities, local media people and a variety of VIP's and special guests, and it was really something!

To make the Grand Opening party memorable for the listeners, we arranged to have Wolfman Jack do a live show from the new studios, take listener calls and generally do the Wolman thing custom tailored for Little Rock and the nighttime sky-wave audience. This happened not long after the American Graffiti movie made the theater rounds, so Wolfman's name was well known at the time. The Wolfman flew into Little Rock, got a VIP limo ride to the studios and met with the staff and then got a 5 minute lesson on how to "run the board". (There were several helpers nearby to make sure things went smoothly.) Expectations were high, and he lived up to his reputation as being outrageous and fun! And so it happened - Wolfman Jack came to Little Rock to do his show live from the new KAAY studios.

(Cue Wolfman's voice: That's K-A-A-Y in Little Rock, baby - A-Wooooooo)
...

Another comment moved to the MAIN post

Vdog says:

I read your article and it was great. I would like one of the bumper stickers if it is the one with the sunshine, with KAAY written on top.It is a shame what KAAY has turned into now. I'm glad to have thisblog and the old audio to listen to.Between '04 & '06 KAAY aired a program called Radio Yesterday.It played the old songs as well asold commercials, news pieces, & jingles. When the former program director left, the program sadly no longer airs.

Hey Vdog....let's not be too hard on the current KAAY. They are just doing what the old KAAY was doing, trying to make a buck. After all the old KAAY had 3 religious and farm blocks a day. The only top 40 station that I know of, who could do both top 40 and some block programming and get away with it. I always remember Pat Walsh beating the night time jock over the h ead with the ratings book showing Gardner Ted Armstrong and The World Tomorrow, having as high or higher rating as the jock. Whatever happened to Garner Ted Armstrong? -A.J.

Comment on Follow Contest & Funmobile

Just in case you don't read the comments, here's one as a main post:

Dave, thank you so much for these memories. Going to A.J.'s KAAY blog site is like Christmas every day. You never know what he's going to post next. This is indeed keeping the memories and history of KAAY alive. It's a treasure for all of us. From my recollections, the "Follow" contest script read like this:"This is _______________, on East Main street, following a green Ford sedan, Arkansas license plate number XXX 345. If the driver is listening, and will pull over in a safe location, we'll award them ten dollars and ninety cents, or one hundred dollars, if they have a KAAY bumper strip on the exterior portion of their automobile!"I do remember the "Funmobile" as well. Thanks again, Dave (and A.J., as always).Richard Robinson

Hey Richard and Dave didn't the person doing the contest id himself as KAAY mobile unit or money cruiser #2 ?

KAAY Worldwide welcome to......................

Netherlands Zeewolde, Flevoland

KAAY Funmobile, Follow Contest and more

From Dave Montgomery:

Don't know if you might remember me [ Dave Montgomery ] - I was at KAAY from appx 1969 through 1980, with a stint out for Army duty. My tenure at KAAY spanned the end of the LIN era and into the Multimedia era, and across the Seventh Street studios as well as the Cottondale Lane studios. I worked for Felix McDonald, the C.E. and I also did some weekend fill-in work on air using the name David Ray (another LIN corporate officer).

At one point, Felix and I came to your studios in Pine Bluff to put in a ground system for your new transmitter site.

Anyway, I can offer some behind the scenes perspective if you are interested in this kind of thing. I have one of the KAAY bumper stickers I will scan and send to you - do you remember Pat Walsh's "Follow" contest? It went something like this -

" This is ______ _______ on East Main street following a green Ford sedan, Arkansas license plate XXX 345. If the driver is listening and can wave and pull over in a safe location, we will award them $25, and if they have a KAAY bumper sticker anywhere on the outside of the vehicle, they will win $100."

Also, remember the "Funmobile"? The big blue remote broadcast trailer? We did hundreds of remote broadcasts from all over central Arkansas, including the annual Toys for Tots broadcast from Toy Hill at War Memorial Stadium. Sonny Martin (Matt White) did this for years, and was taken over by Bob Robbins (Bob Spears) after Sonny moved on.

If you are interested in any of these stories, let me know, and I will pass them along. Best regards, and am enjoying seeing the stories and history lessons.

Dave Montgomery

Huntsville, Alabama

KAAY Music Survey ? Date

Thanks to Harold Ott for the above survey. Double click on it to enlarge.
I need some help on this one. Who is the Rob Robbins in the photograph?
Sorry the date is cut off the bottom, but Harold said he would try to find the original and do another scan in color and with the date I hope.

Garage Bands

Lately I've been commenting on performers and shows and KAAY. Thanks to Jack Hendrix and working on a class reunion featuring The Pine Bluff Play Boys, I was introduced to Harold Ott, whose passion is garage bands and music in the Central Arkansas area. He has promised some surveys and we are are exchanging some material. I would highly recommend his site for a great education in garage music. Be sure and scroll down to near the bottom of the photos for a very early "Beaker Street" poster.

Here's his site:

http://www.psychofthesouth.com/

..........another Beaver Production

Double click on the letter to read it.

As you can see from the letter ZZ Top frequently played Little Rock and KAAY was always a big part of the promotional effort.

More on KAAY concerts

I remember one show KAAY promoted was a Jerry Lee Lewis concert in the basement of the Robinson Auditorium. Seems like we had tables setup and it like a nightclub format. Like most performers of that day he gave it all to the audience. We had rented a piano from Reed Music Company. He promptly put it on coke cases so he could stand up and play. By the end of the performance he had destroyed the piano. Any money we made on the concert went to replace the piano. He gave it all, including the piano, to the audience." Goodness gracious, great pianos of fire."

The actual Louie, Louie Lyrics

Remember to read this blog from the bottom up.

As promised yesterday the lyrics to Louie, Louie as verfied by the Kingsmen at a live appearance at the North Little Rock Armory probably in 1963.

The REAL lyrics (transcribed) for Louie, Louie
Including interjections.
[These notes by A. Sattler, ahs@nevada.edu]
Louie, Louie
The Kingsmen
Released by Wand Records, 1963
Playing time 2:43
Written by Richard Berry
Climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
where it stayed for six weeks
Rereleased in 1966: reached #97.
LYRICS
Louie, Louie
Oh no, me gotta go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, said, ah
Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, me gotta go.
A fine little girl she waits for me
Me catch a ship for cross the sea.
Me sail that ship all alone
Me never think how I make it home.
Ah, Louie, Louie
No, no, no, no, me gotta go.
Oh, no.
Said, Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, said we gotta go.
(indistinct yell in the background)
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, oh, constantly.
Ah, on that ship I dream she there
I smell the rose, ah, in her hair.
Ah, Louie, Louie
Oh, no, sayin' we gotta go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, but, ah,
Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, said, we gotta go.
[Yelled] Okay, let's give it to 'em
right now! [instrumental]
Me see Jamaica, ah, moon above.
It won't be long, me see me love.
Take her in my arms again,
I got her; I'll never leave again.
Ah, Louie, Louie
Oh, no, sayin' me gotta go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
But, ah, Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, said, ah, we gotta go.
I said we gotta go now,
Let's get on outta here.

[Yelled] Let's go.
Transcribed by David Spector
Sept. 2000
Public Domain


Read the whole interesting story at:

http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/louie.asp

Louie, Louie, & KAAY

As I started discussing below, Louie Louie, and The Kingsmen were very significant to me at KAAY. I still remember the hand written dirty lyrics that circulated in the high schools. It became so bad that the then General Manager of KAAY Len Carl (Voth) read the actual lyrics in a very dignified editorial.

Keep the women and children away from this blog tomorrow!

I will post these scandalous lyrics tomorrow.

In the meanwhile, enjoy The Kingsmen website. Especially go to the home page and go down to the law suit tab. It's really long but gives you a great incite into what happens to many recording artists.

The Kingsmen still perform with two of the original members. Few bands can make this claim to longevity.

I think they figured out early, the money for performers is in personal appearances.

Here's the link: http://www.louielouie.org/

Rock Shows & Bands

At KAAY we had the opportunity to promote shows and work with show promoters. My greatest memory is Joe Dickey and I bringing The Kingsmen to Little Rock. Louie Louie was a hit the first time around. The Kingsmen were from Portland, Oregon. I don't remember if they had any shows between Portland and Little Rock, but I do remember having an armory full of fans and no Kingsmen in site. We got a call that their trailor was broken down in NW Arkansas and they would be late. We were worried enough because the rumors of dirty lyrics in the song Louie, Louie were rampant. The Kingsmen arrived. Great bunch of guys. They assured us the lyrics were clean and almost meaningless. The took the stage and played non-stop. No breaks.
The crowd ate it up. One of the best shows I've even seen.

The story of the Len Carl. station manager editorial about Louie, Louie another day.

Today I have a clip from my friend Jack Hendrix who supplied the KOTN music survey below.
His high school band The Play Boys made a record, that made the local music surveys. Even though we never played it at KAAY, and I didn't know Jack until later, I want to include it here for those of you who like to collect garage bands, this is a really early example from 1962. At KAAY we did play some local bands that had records. Today, the internet is about the only way a local band has a chance to be heard. Most radio stations today have such a tight playlist and record companies are really big and untouchable. The small hometown independent label is almost a thing of the past. Enjoy side A and B provided for educational purposes only:
http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-08-16T14_15_28-07_00

I don't have a clue

.........but welcome to the KAAY Blog:


Cote D'Ivoire
Abidjan


Some changes in the works. Chapter 1 of my book is completed...not edited but completed.

I plan to make the audio cuts for this blog into real Podcasts. Currently all I do in dump the audio clip there to have a place to host the cut. I figured out I am getting a lot of hits on the podcasts and I'm sure people who are coming their expecting a real Podcast are wondering what I am doing. Some times I wonder what I am doing.

I have also got some more new things in the works.....stay tuned..

Oh, almost forgot. Does anyone have a copy of Rex Allen's Don't Go Near the Indians? I have checked Itunes. Walmart Music downloads, Rhapsody, with no luck. If you are new read the post below about the KOTN music survey. I think we played the Rex Allen song at KAAY and I haven't heard it since.

It is on the album Billboard Country hits 1962 if anyone has that.

Elvis & KAAY

We played him and that's about it. I have played Elvis records all my professional life. I've never been a fan until lately. I talked about that previously. Seeing all the TV exposure lately reminded me of my only brush with the king of rock and roll. I was in Pine Bluff, AR, at KCLA and my good friend Larry Graham was working in sales. Elvis came to town at the then new Pine Bluff Convention Center. This first show sold out and they added another. Larry knew someone in the band, I think the drummer. He got us some trinkets, like the drum sticks from the concert. My daughter Holly, was old enough to go to her first concert and it would be Elvis. (free tickets that Larry got) I was standing in the concourse talking with Ross Hall the first manager of the convention center. When the orchestra started the 2001 theme, I could feel the electricity in the air. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. This was near the end of Elvis and Col. Parker was pushing him for all he could. Elvis was obviously sick at the time, but you have never seen a performer give more to that Pine Bluff, AR crowd than Elvis.

Legend has it that in the early days of Elvis, as he was touring small venues like the Louisiana Hayride, came through Pine Bluff and did an interview in the old KCLA studios. He burned a small hole in the carpet from a cigarette, for which Ken Kesterson never forgave him.

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

Why post a KOTN music survey on a KAAY blog?

Well first I have been begging for KAAY surveys and a good friend Jack Hendrix, sent me two music surveys from the Pine Bluff AR market. The survey above is significant because the date is very close to the sign on date for KAAY. Double click on the survey to enlarge it enough to read.

Buddy Deane owned KOTN at this time, having left Baltimore where he was a famous TV dance show host and disc jockey, to own a radio station in Pine Bluff, AR. Buddy has been the inspiration for two movies and a Broadway play. John Water's Hairspray in 1988 featured Buddy in a bit part. A Broadway play is currently running called Hairspray and the movie currently in theaters, is based on the Broadway musical.

I left KAAY to manage a radio station in Pine Bluff, KCLA. Buddy and I became avid competitors. Many years later, I would open retail stores and some of the first advertising I bought was on Buddy's morning show. Buddy and I became good friends.

Tony Warnier wrote a book on Buddy Deane several years ago, and I hope to have information soon on how you can get a copy of the book as it goes back into print.

Back to the survey. Several items about this survey. If gives you a great history of the songs popular when KAAY went on the air. On Sept 8th, 1962 Buddy was not doing the morning show it was Buzzy Bennett. a big name in radio brought it to rebuild the station. I called my friend Jack and asked why there were pictures and names blacked out. We finally figured out, an announcer had left and they probably had a big supply of blank surveys with Bill Lewis's picture on them. Rather than reprint they just blacked out his name and picture on the over prints.
The Bob Robinson picture is just dark.

My friend, Jack Hendrix, had a high school band, "The Playboys". You'll notice they had a record that made it to #22. "Baby Doll" was actually the flip side. The band thought "Oh Poo Pa Doo" should have been the "A" side.

I also thought it was hilarious that the "Teen Tune of the Week" was Don't Go Near The Indians by Rex Allen.

A quick international welcome

Glad to have all our visitors and regulars, and a special welcome to :


Indonesia
Jakarta, Jawa Barat

Another complete KAAY Ear On Arkansas 10-12-69

Thanks again to Russell Wells from Georgia, for 2 complete Ear On Arkansas episodes. As always you are encouraged to save these or any of the material from this blog. In fact, that is the purpose to share as much of the KAAY history as possible. If any of you readers have any recordings, photographs, MUSIC SURVEYS, or other KAAY material, please contact me at ajlinds@yahoo.com. I can transfer any thing from reel to reel tape, broadcast cartridges, cassette, record, etc. to digital and return it to you with complete safety.

Here is Ear On Arkansas for 10-24-69:

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-08-15T06_05_55-07_00

On Aug 9th this blog had a record download of 120. I thought that was from the fall jingle but thinking about it that was not it, because the fall jingle was hosted by a website. This 120 came from PodOMatic and I am at a loss as to why so many PodOMatic downloads on that date. The hits on the blog that day were not that high. It would be bloggers downloading multiple files or outside hits coming to the podcasts from Itunes or other podcast searches.

KAAY Complete Ear On Arkansas 9-7-69

Sorry for the delay in posting this. I am having problems with the storage site I use for audio, so I have had to go back to Podomatic.

Many thanks to Russell Wells in Georgia for two COMPLETE "Ear On Arkansas" programs. In the past I have only posted excerpts from the two vinyl albums that KAAY put out that were excerpts of various Ear episodes. If you are new to this blog you need to catch up on what Ear on Arkansas was. Just go to upper left and enter "Ear On Arkansas" in the search box and search this blog.

On this first complete episode you will hear Barry Wood a/k/a Mike McCormick, Walt Sadler, a/k/a Ron Owens, George W. Jennings, a/k/a George J. Jennings, and several others. Also many of the spacers or bridges between bits are from Tommy Riggs a/k/a Rock Robbins. In some Tommy plays keyboard, and some he sings and plays.

Tomorrow I hope to post the other 30 minute show.

Speaking of satire which is what "Ear" was, be sure and catch "The Half Hour News Hour" on Fox News. The writing seems to get better each week.

Here's Ear:

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-08-14T11_53_00-07_00

Heatwave! but fall is near...Football practice is underway

To help you stop thinking about global warming and get ready for fall, here is a little heard fall jingle. I'm not sure what jingle company did this. I believe it was some of the original set that Jim Hankins, a/k/a Mike McCormick brought from Nashville. This would be 1962 vintage.

CLICK HERE

KAAY Music Surveys

As you know, I have been doing an intensive marketing campaign to find KAAY music surveys. Much more than just begging on this blog. Some of the best in the business, (like Tony Warnier) have made on the air appeals. The airchecx listserv posted my appeal. Even though they got 20 responses to a Jerry Reid lyric comment, NOTHING to my request for KAAY music surveys.
Richard, you write learned dissertations, great research, blog submissions, but NO KAAY music surveys. Well, at least a life-long friend Jack Hendrix is sending me a KOTN, Pine Bluff, AR music survey. I guess I'll have to be content with that.

More comments from Jerry Sims:

A.J.,

If responding to your KAAY Blog Spot is what keeps you going, I had better start responding.

I try to check in several times a week to see the latest. My time at KAAY was the most fun time of my life, and it is great seeing things that remind me of it. The jingle packages get me pumped up as well.

The bit on Howard Watson reminded me too of some things. I currently work with one of his sons (Jeff) who does our TV production for Hank’s Furniture. I keep up with Howard, and his health problems, through Jeff. I also gave him a copy of one of the original Silver Dollar Surveys to have reproduced. He did and had it framed for his dad.

Note to Jerry: The KAAY jingles do the same for me. I have the long KAAY sonovox jingle as a ringtone on my cell phone.

KAAY Blog rewards

What keeps me going.....hearing from some many of you with very vivid memories of a radio stations over 40 years ago. I am also greatly encouraged by the grand children of some of the people envolved who are interested in their grandpa's past.

My children, were born during the KCLA, Pine Bluff phase of my life. To them radio was just an extension of their house. They appeared in commercials (doesn't everybody) I hope some day they have a desire to research the past.

I have seen the new Hairspray movie. Only because the original and the current movie are based on Buddy Deane of Baltimore Radio & TV fame. Buddy had a cameo roll in the first Hairspray movie. I'll have more about Hairspray and Buddy Deane another day.

I've written about Richard previously. If you need a refresher, you know the routine, upper left hand corner, search this blog. Richard and I share not only a KAAY interest but a movie theater business interest. Also, remind me to write someday about drive-in theaters.

Richard Robinson writes:


“KAAY Memories”
I was almost ten years old when KHTS became KAAY over Labor Day weekend in 1962. For the next two+ decades, this powerhouse radio station in Little Rock, Arkansas, was a major part of my life. Since my brother was nine years older, he was listening to the Top 40 hits during that period. Every day during the week, we never missed the “Top 10 Countdown,” aired right after the 5:00 p.m. newscast. Over the years, I listened the this station at all times of the day and night, from Marvin Vines delivering the agricultural news, to the “KAAY For the People” bumper strip promotion. Along with most of my friends, we listened with intent and wonder at the unique Clyde Clifford on “Beaker Street.” It was an incredible program. Of course, with top-flight disc jockeys like “Doc Holiday,” “Sonny Martin,” “Rock Robbins” and the rest of the “Mighty 1090,” it was enthralling to a kid growing up during that time. It was mostly the influence of KAAY (along with Gene Stewart, a disc jockey at my hometown Conway radio station, KCON), which had a profound impact upon me, and ultimately convinced me to go into radio broadcasting. One thing about KAAY, you never heard any dead air. I have never listened to radio programming that was any tighter, and this was long before the days of computers.
KAAY helped me indirectly in my personal relationships, too. In 1987, I went to work as the morning disc jockey for KDEL radio in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, which was owned and managed by Eddie Graham. I grew very close to both Eddie and Carolyn, his wife. In 1989, I met their only daughter, Frances Anne (Fran). In 1992, she made me the happiest man on earth, by becoming my wife.
From 1992 until 1995, while a graduate student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and later, as a university teacher, I found myself once again going back to my childhood and KAAY for research interests. Currently, I am working on a dissertation for a Ph.D. in mass communications from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. At this point in time, I am writing about the impact of “Beaker Street,” from a historical perspective. It has been a treat getting to finally meet in person some of my childhood heroes like A.J. Lindsay, one of the “Doc Holidays” and “The Emperor,” and Clyde Clifford. Conducting research like this is difficult, but it is truly a labor of love. I have been privileged to talk with two of the KAAY giants, who have since gone on to heaven. They include Pat Walsh, and George J. Jennings. I hope to continue telling the KAAY story through research and writings in the future. This blog site has been a Godsend, not only for me, but also for all of us who love KAAY and want to keep its legacy and memory alive. If any of you have any information on “The Friendly Giant,” please share it with A.J. and/or contact me. I would be forever grateful to you. Thanks again, A.J.

Comment on Howard Watson, Ear, and more

This is also posted under "comments" but as always I don't want you to miss this comment in case you are not reading comments.

Russell W. has left a new comment on your post "What ever happened to Howard Watson?":

I've been away from a lot of my 'net activities lately, and am getting caught up with the KAAY blog.

Couple of notes: it almost sickened me to read of the old Ear On Arkansas tapes getting bulk-erased. The moment I read this, I got up and pulled out a copy of a tape which Mr. Walsh lent me many years ago - two (2) EOA programs, one dated September 7, 1969 and another from a month later, October 12. I am putting this onto CD as I speak .... I'll e-mail you, so you can respond with a mailing address.

In my young and green years in Arkansas, I spent Summers during college working parttime at KEZQ, back when Howard/Len Day was doing mornings. I didn't have much interaction with him, other than filling in for a graveyard or two. Very nice and gracious, and what I remember the most about him was the tall Razorback coffee mug, which to this day I'm convinced was actually an growth on his right hand.

I continue to enjoy the stories. If this is living in the past, keep on doing so, please.

Russell Wells
Rincon, Georgia

Thanks Russell, I hope all of you fans of satire are watching "The Half Hour News Hour" on Fox News. If I didn't know better I would think some of the "Ear On Arkansas" writers were working on that program.

KAAY and Girls, Girls, Girls

Jerry Sims, a frequent contributor to this site, brought back some memories I would like to expand on. First, a segment from his recent email:

Your posting on your “reverb gadgets” was funny too. I was always amazed at the things you came up with. Particularly the garden hose one at KXLR. Gary Weir and I loved our jobs so much that we would spend most of the night, after which ever one of us signed off, back in the production room. Sometimes girls seemed to enjoy it too.

I was single and 18 at KAAY. Being a veteran of the broadcast business already, (KAAY was my fourth radio station) I had learned you never date or even encourage the girl listeners. I remember one New Year's eve party at Jim Hankin's(a/k/a Mike McCormick) house. We were celebrating and of course had the station on. The DJ (who will remain nameless) would call the party and tell us a girl from Mississippi had called to say she was on the way by bus to meet him. Through the night she would call and report getting closer and he would call the party with more panic in each call. I know it almost sounds like a movie script. I'll save you the gory details, but needless to say the nameless DJ learned to avoid listeners. Maybe that's why we paid someone to answer the phones at night.

KAAY Remembered

Thanks to so many of you who are taking time to send an email about your KAAY memories.
I am still anxious to get some KAAY Music Surveys. I have posted appeals on other groups but so far nothing. Kevin writes from Columbus OH:

Hi there,

I grew up in Monticello, Arkansas and started listening to KAAY in spring of 1980... completely missed out on the 1960s and 70s stuff unfortunately, but I remember the first time I picked up KAAY by recommendation of a friend. Tom Gallagher was on the air playing "Ride Like The Wind" by Christopher Cross. I was 12 years old and Tom Gallagher, Ray Lincoln, Bill Hickok and company got me hooked before long.

It's great to read your blog (I'm an infrequent guest, not as much time as I'd like to play on the computer these days) and learn more about the history of one of my all time favorite stations. KAAY was in the great company of 89 WLS and KNOE-FM in Monroe, Louisiana in my book :-) I miss those days, and wish I had some of those tapes I made back in the early 80s.

Keep posting cool stuff, and I will be back to read and listen to it all!

Thanks,

Kevin Wooldridge
Columbus, Ohio

KAAY this is an unofficial blog

I got an email message that caused me to think I probably need to add a disclaimer to this site. This blog is a creation of a former employee and is for the purpose of sharing airchecks, photos, and other nostalgia connected with KAAY as a top 40 station. I tend to focus on the early years, 1962 through the 70s since less seems to be available for this time period. The email below caused me to pause, because I thought everyone knew what happened to KAAY. It is still on the air on 1090. The station abandoned the music format, and underwent several changes in ownership during the mid-1980's. Religious broadcasters have utilized KAAY's signal to spread messages nationwide. It was mainly a Southern gospel station when it entered Christian radio in 1985, but it switched to contemporary Christian music in 2000.

KAAY is the most powerful AM Christian station in the United States, with 50,000 watts of day and night power. The webpage for today's KAAY is:http://www.1090kaay.com/

On the website you can buy a KAAY tee shirt and get a free bumper sticker.

KAAY is currently owned by Citadel Communications Corporation. I am very pleased to have some of the current management and employees as readers of this blog.

Here's the email that prompted all of this:

Hey A.J.

What happened to KAAY? Are they still around? Did they make
the switch to
talk?
Hopefully they didn't go dark. I loved to listen to them
when WLS & WCFL
were being
choked out by skip interference.

I remember they had the same JAM Jingle package as WABC did
back in the
70's.

They were the south's WLS as far as I was concerned.


Dave Schreyer

Pub/Editor
History of Twin Ports Broadcasting
Twin Ports Media Blog

Tom Bigby a/k/a KAAY's Buddy Karr heard from

Here's Tom's email. If you would like Tom's contact information email me.

My son sent me the link to your KAAY Blogsite... what memories...Hard to believe I was 19 years old, had no clue as to what I was doing and I was playing radio on one of Americas Great Radio Stations...... I had the pleasure of working at KAAY-WCFL and WLS...... and Later KFI in LA and of course in Philly for 18 years at WIP.. most of what I am doing now is consulting for the company at our News -Talk- and Sports Stations.. Still loving life and the radio business...Two Kids, Four Grandkids and one Great Grandkid...I am a happy lucky man....

My best to you.. Sorry to hear about George.... any idea where McCormick is these days...

Tom Bigby

I've been to Manhattan, Kansas

After I got out of radio, a sales job took me to Manhattan and several other cities in Kansas. So, it was great to hear from someone in Manhattan. Here is his email:

Dear Mr. Lindsey,
This is a short note to thank you for your efforts on the
KAAY blog.
I grew up in western Kansas in the late 1960's, so I had to
wait till
after dark
to listen to KAAY, and I must admit,
I missed a lot of sleep over the years listening through
the night on my transistor radio.

I found your site by accident, using Google to search for
airchecks,
and I am most grateful for your willingness to post the
KAAY
history and the airchecks.  They bring back a lot of
memories.

Like many others, I miss the live DJs, the ''charts'', and
the general
excitement of live radio.  Thanks for reminding me what it
was like!

Best regards,

Dave Schmidt
Manhattan, Kansas