Johnathan Goens was voted Van Buren Player of the Week

Thanks to those of you who voted without knowing why. We were up against a much larger city, Fort Smith, and your votes really helped.

Now the scolding. You are not voting in the poll to the immediate right asking how you get your music now. Over 100 people have viewed this blog since I put this poll up and only three have voted. I need this information for some personal research I am doing. Your vote is completely anonymous and you will not get spam or anything from voting. I just takes a second to put you pointer in a little circle in front of the choice where you get your music and click vote.

I answered by vote on the "scoped or unscoped" poll by posting unscoped airchecks as much as possible. So humor me here and vote in the music poll. Your votes will encourage me to keep this blog going.

A.J.

Thanks for Voting

Thanks for voting on the poll to your right. The aircheck in the post below is a result of your vote. It is unscoped. The quality is not great because it was recorded as a slow speed.

Now I need a personal favor. Will you go to:

http://www.fortsmithradiogroup.com/

Scroll down and vote for "Van Buren Pointer Johnathan Goins" as player of the week.

Johnathan is an outstanding young man that runs the sound board at my church.

Thanks in advance for you help.

A.J.

Received this email which really fit an aircheck from 12-6-1971 that I was working on.

Follow your KAAY blog all the time.

like the razorbacks stuff..............like the george jennings airchecks too. another favorite is listening to old ads / commercials because i remember some of the "long gone" stores /shops/ restuarants........

do you have any razorback play by play or interviews with coach broyles? always remember the announcer bud campbell back in the day .

thanks for the memories.
G . Hammons

This aircheck has all that. Notice the Black Oak Arkansas spot, and the spot for the wig stores with three locations. There is also a complete Breakfast Serial. Sonny Martin a/k/a Matt White and George J. Jennings are the jock and newsman. Notice all the live commercials. KAAY charged a premium for the jock to do an adlib spot live. Sonny and George were great talents in much demand.

Here is the link:


Click here to get your own player.

Chickenman & KAAY

The above homemade video pays tribute to Chickenman with one of the first episodes.
While I was Program Director at KAAY, I was never able to sell management on buying the series that was in syndication called Chickenman. I wanted it badly, and the sales department was indiferent on the possiblilities of selling it to advertisers. When I became manager of KCLA in Pine Bluff, AR, we tried but could not sell it to advertisers in order to buy it and air it.

Chickenman originated with Dick Orkin, then at WCFL. The voices were mostly all WCFL staffers at the time.

Every jock/programmer/manager has their own favorite radio station that they look up to. Mine was WCFL. The Chuck Blore jingles, all the creative and different programming elements,Chickenman,the jocks, a great, great sound.

Rex Humbard Passes & and his link to KAAY

Rex Humbard passed Friday.

Elvis Presley watched "his preacher" on Sundays, and Humbard officiated Presley's funeral service.

Humbard began a career in media at age 13, when he began broadcasting on KTHS radio in Arkansas, singing gospel songs and inviting listeners to hear his father preach. In the early 1940s, Humbard began a daily radio program.

There it is the link. KTHS was the call letters of the now KAAY. In those days it was licensed to Hot Springs. (read previous posts about the history of KAAY).

Humbard was the son of a minister and a member of the Humbard Family Singers. He was born on August 13, 1919 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In April 2007, Humbard returned to Hot Springs to be inducted into the Arkansas Walk of Fame.

The Big Red

Another Razorback Record:

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-09-24T08_06_56-07_00

Another Razorback Song

I hope to eventually get all the Razorback songs posted. Here is one that I have not previously posted. It's "Razorback Number One" by Cecil Buffalo and The Prophets. Produced by J.Paul Scott it is on the Lakeside label with a Hot Springs address.
Here's the record: http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-09-22T12_08_56-07_00

The Razorback Red-The Rivermen

I found this record going through some that Pat Walsh had given me. It is Razroback Red by The Rivermen. It was produced by J.Paul Scott. I know nothing else about this record. I need your emails to fill me in on the details. By listening, I can determine it is 1966. Email me what you can add to the information on this record. Here is the record: (click the play button to listen)


Click here to get your own player.

Many Thanks to the Current KAAY

Many thanks to the current KAAY website http://www.1090kaay.com/
for their link to this blog. If you go to the KAAY website, under the tab "contact us" which has a "History" section. There you will find a KAAY history and this link.

Thanks guys for the mention and link.

The only addition I would suggest to the history, would be a mention of the religious blocks that were always a part of the KAAY programming from the beginning.

I'm Still Stuck on 9-11

If you can watch this without a tear in your eye let me know.

WKRP Opening

All of you in radio can relate to the "town to town, up and down the dial" part of the opening jingle.

American TV is running the series on cable. Check your local listings for time and channel.

In an episode they recently aired, Johnny Fever accepted a job offer in Los Angeles. What transpired made a two parter.

At KAAY almost everyone got job offers from larger markets. I remember a call from Charlie Murdock, WQAM Miami. It was flattering, but I wasn't interested in leaving Arkansas, and I was having too much fun at KAAY. In those days, if anyone saw you making an aircheck, it was almost a sure sign you were looking or someone had asked for an aircheck. The only exception was Barry Wood a/k/a Mike McCormick. Barry was in the Air Force and worked for us part time. He later went full time after he got out of the Air Force. Barry rolled a tape everyday. He was always working on his show to improve.

WKRP Closing Jingle

Long time readers of this blog know my fondness for the TV series WKRP. The lyrics of the closing jingle has always been questioned.

I have read from several crediable sources that it was just jibrish to make fun of rock lyrics. I tend to believe this.

If you go to the original posting of this on You Tube you will see a couple of people posting susposed lyrics in the comments.

This is almost like the Louie Louie lyric controversy.

Who was the Masked DJ?

Many thanks to Jerry Sims for the "Beach Boys & Glen Campbell" item. When I posted it I slipped and missed the signature line. I have corrected that and if you have previously read the post and wondered who wrote it, please scroll down below and re-read it.

Programming Note: WTIX on XM Radio Friday

XM Satellite Radio features a top 40 radio station each week on Channel 6. This week is WTIX New Orleans. This is significant for those of us who only heard WNOE. Tune in and hear what you missed if you didn't live in New Orleans. Don't ask we why XM has never featured KAAY. Ask them.

Beach Boys, Glen Campbell & KAAY

Emperor…



Here is a story I have told several times to those who like KAAY stories….Feel free to use.



I always loved to do promotions when I worked at KAAY. As you know, some of the jocks did not like to appear in public. I thought it was great fun.



The Beach Boys were really hot and were coming to Robinson Center . Promoters wanted one of us to introduce them, and I was excited about it. As was often the case back them, Brian Wilson, became “sick” and the concert was postponed because of it. As I remember, they promised to re-schedule and ticket holders were offered a refund or could hold them for the concert later. They did as they said they would and returned. We talked it up a lot on the air, just like they wanted, and the concert went very well. A few Hot Rod & Surfin’ songs into the concert, Mike Love told us that again Brian Wilson was “ill” and not with them. He introduced a “fill in” and asked the audience to make welcome the replacement…..an Arkansas boy named Glen Campbell. He then featured him solo doing Roy Orbison’s “Crying”. I am not sure why I remembered the name or the song, but I did.



I just missed an opportunity to talk with Glen earlier this summer in Branson. I was in Springfield , Missouri on business and decided to go down to Branson to see Glen and Andy Williams together. I have a business friend there who was, at one time, married to Glen’s daughter. I talked with her (Glen’s daughter) at the show, before her appearance in it, and told her the story. We were both interested to know if he would remember the show and be surprised that I remembered the “Crying” solo. I was unable to talk to him after the show as planned, because of a lightning strike in the middle of the show that caused a change in their post show plans. Glen, by the way, is still a great performer, and Andy still has that special voice coming out of what looks like a 96 pound frame.



I keep up with the Blog on a regular basis and always say…..I have never had more fun than when y’all were pumping my voice over about a quarter of the U.S……and Canada….and Central America….and…..on and on.



If listeners thought we sounded like we were having fun, they figured it right. Non stop.



Jerry Sims……Sonny Martin 1962-1967

Brenda Lee better than the outcome of the Razorback Game

As I previously mentioned in a post Brenda Lee was in Alma Ar this past weekend. She's still short, big hair, and bid voice. The audience responded with a standing ovation.
Here is a video clip of Brenda in 1962 the year KAAY went on the air.

Football Weekend and KAAY

Looking at the weekend hits, everyone must be watching football. Hits to this blog are drastically down this weekend. Must be football. Reminds me of the season when KAAY ran Razorback football and Arkansas State. This particular year when the two had games playing at the same time, KAAY was paid to carry A. State live and delay the Razorbacks. (blasphemy) I only remember it happening one year but I may be wrong. This was during the time when almost every station in town ran the Razorbacks. It's the main way Arkansas built such a large statewide network. There was a rights fee but it was very small. Times have changed as have the Razorbacks.
Frank Broyles is gone. I never thought I would live to see it. Last night I was able to watch the Razorbacks and go to the Brenda Lee concert at the same time. Ain't technology wonderfull.

Did You Work Weekends at KAAY?

If you did I would like to hear from you. Be honest. Readers of this blog will spot a phoney in a minute. For years after I left KAAY, I ran into people who claimed to have worked for the Mighty Ten Ninety. (And I knew they didn't). I have even seen some people online that claimed to have worked for the Friendly Giant. (And didn't).
Weekends were a entirely different atmosphere. No one to answer phones. Saturday morning usually found Pat Walsh stuffing everyone's mailbox with reprints of the lastest FCC rulings or something funny he had found. A salesman or two might wonder through dressed for golf or other casual fun. Whomever was in charge of "Ear On Arkansas" was putting finishing touches on Sunday's broadcast. By noon most had cleared out and the jock was on his own. Other jocks might drift by to see what was happening.On the air was a different story. You can bet there would be a remote from somewhere. Either paid or a station event. Pat would call in a follow contest at most any time of the day or night. The fun never stopped. As night fell and KAAY went directional North and South, the fun heated up. More phone calls and the chance for a weekend jock to show his stuff. Let me hear from you if you worked weekends or started weekends at KAAY. Email me at ajlinds@yahoo.com

More About Not Forgetting

Here SHE is, the USS New York, made from the World Trade Center !

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."


The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

Brenda Lee coming to Alma AR

Look for A.J. in the cheap seats. ($30). We have a great Performing Arts Center at the high school here.We are the Alma Airdales, hence the bronze statue.

Ray Price is scheduled for his third visit here. He sold out the first time. (Remember "For The Good TImes") We've had others, 3 Dog Night, Glen Campbell, etc. Many times I've referenced shows promoted by or advertised heavyly on KAAY. How about some of you ex-KAAY staffers remembering some shows promoted on KAAY? Email me at ajlinds@yahoo.com.

Whatzzhappenin?

Occasionally I like to welcome our foreign readers. The web is a lot like answering the phone at night at KAAY. You never no how far that signal is going to reach. At least the power bill for a web venture is a fraction of running 50,000 watts.

Today I'd like to welcome a reader from Belzoni, Mississippi

Thanks to the "Have You Forgotten" video, my average hits per day is over 40. That's not big numbers but it keeps me going.

I got a note from someone who could not view the "Have You Forgotten" video. If that has happened to you, try updating your computer so that you can view "You Tube" videos. Go to the www.youtube.com website and look for some help in downloading a simple program. This is very important. You Tube, is the next big media. Some of the You Tube posters are getting millions of hits. The computer has given the individual with a very limited investment, the ability to have his own radio or tv station, and attract millions of viewers/listeners. Scroll down this blog and look at the posts about the songs I found on You Tube. This could be a serious threat to Itunes and other pay download music services. What is the future? A device that will do it all.
Cell phones would like to be that device, but they are still hung up on the idea of charging you by the minute for everything you do. The cellphone business model has always amazed me that folks will buy into getting a free phone to sign their life away for two years. Apple certainly got away from the free phone model and charged through the nose for what they hope will be another Ipod success story. Microsoft on the other hand has a disastrous product called Zume and a terrible operating system called Vista. Try buying a new computer without Vista. It is getting harder and harder.

If the top 40 KAAY were competing in today's market, it would be all over new technology. And not just streaming off the air audio. I think top 40 KAAY would have a separate, stand alone, staff doing just internet, YouTube, cellphone stuff.

The news department would be supplying video newscasts on the internet.

Contests would be on every media. Of course there would be AM/FM but maybe even a low power TV so there would be access to cable. ALL under the same brand KAAY.

It's fun to dream, let me hear your ideas.

ajlinds@yahoo.com

Have You Forgotten?

Share as you wish!

So....what is the Emperor doing now?

Well, here is an article in the Fort Smith Arkansas paper that explains some of my civic activity:
http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2007/09/10/features/e-features02.txt

George Jennings wife Nancy passes

It is with much sadness that I report the passing of Nancy Jennings, George Jennings wife.

Here is a portion of the obituary from their Son, Dean:

"Nancy Seerden Jennings, 68, of Sweeny passed away September 7, 2007. She was born November 17, 1938 in Bay City,

Texas to the late Capt Seerden and Louise Hale Seerden. She was a former longtime resident of San Antonio.

She graduated from Bay City High School in 1957 and earned a full music scholarship to attend Southwest University in Georgetown.

She taught music for many years and inspired everyone around her without effort. She will be greatly missed by everyone, including her cat Susie.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Karen Jennings of Boise, Idaho;

sister and brother-in-law Linda and Frank Knezek of Sweeny;

granddaughter Genevieve Jennings of Boise, Idaho and special friends Grady, Cynthia & Jonathan Whitlock of San Antonio.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Jennings in March of this year and a son Greagory Jennings.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Taylor Bros.

Funeral Home in Bay City.

Those desiring may send memorials in her memory to Amed Hospice,8901 E. F. Lowry Expwy, Ste. B, Texas City, TX 77591."

Amed Hospice went above and beyond what they were required in keeping Mom comfortable.

New Feature to the right

I have added a poll to this blog. I am wanting to know, which way you prefer airchecks with all the music or with the music cut out. Scoped music cut out, unscoped with all the music in.

Vote like they do in Chicago, early and often.

Keep those cards and letters coming in.........

Russell W. has left a new comment on your post "KAAY Wayne Moss Aircheck Ike & Tina were still tog...":

A true artifact .... pure "Housewives' Heaven"! Very high gold %, too; I don't think there were but one or two currents on here (I liked the quirky Rosemary Clooney song).

Mass-appeal radio is such a quaint notion in the present day.

Please keep 'em coming!

KAAY Comments

vdog has left a new comment on your post "More KAAY Jingles":

I listened to a lot of the old audio when Barry did Radio Yesterday. There are some 60's audio pieces, I guess about 2/3
of the audio Barry has date to the
early to mid 70's.
Hopefully he will put some more on the blog.
Next, I would like to comment on the Cottondale building. It is the
current home of The Point 94.1 (a
classic rock station) & 103.7 The
Buzz ( a sports talk station).
I mention this because 2400 Cottondale was once home to KAAY.
The Point & The Buzz are the last locally owned radio stations in Little Rock. They are in the process of designing a new building on Huron Lane, after they
move their will no longer be a radio station in that building.

More KAAY Jingles

Thanks to Barry McCorkindale for these KAAY jingles:

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-09-07T06_12_13-07_00

KAAY Wayne Moss Aircheck Ike & Tina were still together

This aircheck from 2/2/72 is Wayne Moss as his real name. This would be his second tour of duty. He may be the only KAAY jock to use his real name. Even George J. Jennings real name was George W. Jennings. Bruce Jenkins was his real name but B. was inserted in front to give it more of a show biz sound B. Bruce Jenkins. Again I digress. On this aircheck you will hear a commercial for the "Ike and Tina Turner Review" at the Barton Coliseum. Read more about Wayne Moss by going to the top right of this blog and enter Wayne Moss in the window and click "search this blog".

Enjoy:
http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-09-06T08_01_56-07_00

Jonnie King Update

Jonnie King has left a new comment on your post "KAAY Personnel":

I've been pretty busy and haven't been to this Site for awhile.

To update my KAAY Info: I was there from April,1969 - September,1972.

I'm now celebrating my 40th Anniversary in Broadcasting, and will do a Special Show on my nightly Internet Broadcast to celebrate this coming Monday (9-10-2007). Please stop by if you can:
www.billontheair.com

Many thanks to all !

Buddy Deane Aircheck

With all the discussion below about Buddy Deane, I am happy to add an aircheck from 1976 of Buddy on his own station in Pine Bluff AR, KOTN:


http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-09-04T14_05_39-07_00

Some of you may have more, but this is the first and only aircheck of Buddy, I have ever run across.

Buddy's Top 20

Buddy Deane, Hairspray, & KAAY

Well the connection of Buddy Deane to KAAY is very remote. I guess the connection is me.
When I left KAAY to become manager of KCLA, Pine Bluff, AR, Buddy Deane and KOTN was my main competition.

Who is Buddy Deane...well for those of you who don't know, he has been the subject of 2 major motion pictures, and a broadway play...Hairspray.

In 1988 John Waters made a movie based on Buddy's Baltimore TV dance show. Buddy played a bit part in the movie and when it premiered in Pine Bluff, Buddy told me, he was somewhat embarassed by the movie.

If Buddy were alive today, he would be proud of the broadway musical Hairspray that opened in 2002.

Now the same people who wrote and produced the broadway play, have made in into a new movie that is in theaters now with John Travolta. I saw the movie recently, only because of my interest in Buddy Deane. If you like show tunes and broadway dancing, this is a good movie. If you are a kid, you will probably walk out. At least the original film used the music of the time. All three are intent on building a plot around racial tensions of the time. John Travolta does do a good job.

All of this to plug a book by a friend of mine. Tony Warner, (read previous posts). He has recently updated his original book. The photographs are of the original book and cover. The book $25.00 + shipping. $5.00 Priotity mail and $2.50 Media Mail class. May I remind you that the book "Superjock" about Larry Lujack autographed, are selling for almost $200. So ask Tony to autograph your copy and buy several. Put them up and wait for them to go out of print.

To purchase books, email Tony at : tonywarner@earthlink.net
Pictures of the original book back and front cover above
Click onthe pictures to enlarge and read

Scroll Down...Radio Geek is a new post

Scroll down and read "Radio Geek" . It is a new post and should be on top but it didn't come out that way. -A.J.

Too Much Fun

I'm like a kid in the candy store. I've discovered something new today at least for me. When you are looking for a song always check YouTube.com Another example, I was looking for "Let It All Hang Out-The Hombres...sure enough there it is and a great video. Catch the dogs at the end.

Records ...those vinyl things with a hole in the middle

Often as I listen to the 60s channel on XM radio I will hear a record that we played at KAAY that I don't have and would like to add to my collection. I go to Itunes, Walmart downloads, and Rhapsody and usually find it. This was not the case with Johnny Rivers-I Wash My Hands in Muddy Water. I found something better than spending money. And you can get the feel of vinyl as you watch the video.

Check out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ad3UHFufQoI

Was that fun?

KAAY Radio Geek

Hi AJ -

I happen to catch you tonight on 106.3 talking about KAAY,
and especially enjoyed the "shop talk" about the jingles.
I called in to relate a KAAY story, and was told I should
contact you.  Here is my story (the short version).

I just moved to Little Rock three weeks ago from Wisconsin.
I immediately checked to see KAAY is STILL religious.
(That makes 23 years R&R and 22 years religious, which to me
is still pretty weird.)
My first radio job was in 1980 at age 17 in Wisconsin
Dells, Wisconsin working 6pm-midnight.  I would set up a boom
box on the new desk tuned to 1090 (the best spot for
reception) and listen to see what song was played, then play it on
the air myself.  Our AM frequency was 900, so at sundown, I
could also get WLS booming into the control room, and
would do the same thing - listen and play whatever song they
played.  I'm sure DJs around the country were doing the same
thing.  I was always positive I was playing the hits.  I
drove a '66 Rambler and WLS and KAAY were the only stations I
had on the radio.

I enjoy reading your blog, even though the 60s were a
little before my time.  I have a few Dx tapes I made during the
early 80s, but is there any way to get a hold of airchecks
from that era?  (1974-1985) ??  I know there are people out
there who trade airchecks.  Can you offer any suggestions?
Living in Wisconsin, WLS was my main focus, and I have a
very extensive collection of Larry Lujack, et. al.

Thanks again for all the great info, and keep up the good
work.

Regards,

Bob Schultz
Little Rock 

Welcome:

Canada

Mud River, British Columbia

KAAY 45 Years Ago Today (Labor Day)

Listen to how it all started:
http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-09-03T08_16_15-07_00

From Fred Holland

Fred Holland has left a new comment on your post "Welcome": I was at KAAY from June 1982 to January 1983. I was I think the 2nd to the last program director before the station was sold by Multimedia. A few people I remember include Dick Price who we hired for mornings, Janice Laffoon, who introduced me to then Gov. Clinton, Ron Castelle the best news voice I've ever heard. Carl David Hamilton was the GM. I did afternoons and couldn't believewhat that 50KW could do after sundown. Anyone else out there from my era?Fred HollandHuntsville, AL

Hey Fred,
How about giving me those names, their a/k/a, and years at KAAY, so that I can add it to the employee roster. Some one also needs to write a whole bit on Dick Price. Wasn't he known as "the singing pig" ?
Thanks,
AJ