Thanks for turning me on. Those were the words that Des Moines radio icon Dic Youngs used to close his radio program for over 45 years on KIOA.
Dic, or Youngsy as so many people called him passed away earlier this week. Today I attended the visitation service held in Des Moines. The feelings that I left with will be something that I struggle to completely figure out over the next few days.
Youngsy was a unique character. And I use that word because that is what he was. A character that was loved by so many that listened to him on the radio. First on AM 940 KIOA and then as music all but left the AM band on Oldies 93.3 KIOA.
Dic Youngs left a lasting mark on this community and every one that knew him. He was the embodiment of everything that is missing from radio these days. A person working for over 45 years on one radio station. I have been fortunate in my career that relatively, I have not had to move that much, but even with that my longest tenure has been six years.
But it was more than that. And I could write an entire book about the stories of this legendary man. The man who once went to a high school prom with a girl that did not have a date, that worked countless hours and devoted time to charity. That organized Rock and Roll Reunions and did it because he simply loved the entertainment business and loved being on the radio.
I don't know this for certain, but I don't think Dic Youngs died a wealthy man, at least from a money standpoint. He did what he did because that was what successful radio people did and people that just loved entertaining and making others happy.
A speaker at the service today summed it up better than I ever could when he said. "We grew up in the era where you used radio to effect good, not cause divisions."
I wish that there was the opportunity for radio to create the next Dic Youngs, but voice tracking and consolidation and greed have made that virtually impossible.
The second part of the equation for me was seeing some people today that I have not seen in over 10 years. In some cases much longer. People freeze in time and image in your mind. No one stops and thinks what John F. Kennedy would look like today. He is frozen in time the way he looked prior to November 22, 1963.
We are all getting older. I saw that in these long time friends and noticed how they had changed. Knowing full well that they were thinking the same about me.
It made me confront my own mortality.
I said earlier that I did not think Dic Youngs died a wealthy man. But if a measure of a man's wealth is the legacy he leaves behind, then he was indeed a very wealthy man. The people that turned out today to pay their respects were an amazingly diverse cross section of the population. Old and young, normal working folks and many dignitaries. They were all there. Plus his friends from the radio community. Many of whom will go back to competing fiercely tomorrow but today standing side by side to honor a legend.
So yes, Dic Youngs was a very wealthy man.
In the end the only way to bid farewell to someone like this, that brought such joy and friendship to so many, the majority of which didn't even know him personally, is to simply echo the words he used to close every broadcast.
Youngsy, thanks for turning us on.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The first time I met Ted Kennedy
One night recently when I was feeling somewhat depressed and wondering what the future held, I decided that instead of feeling blue, I would make a list of all the amazing and fortunate things that I have had the privilege of doing in my life.
Right near the top of that list was that I had on a few occasions, the opportunity to meet and talk with the legendary Senator Edward M. Kennedy. However, it is the first time that I talked to him that made a lasting impression on me and the moment is as fresh in my brain as if it was yesterday.
Most of my friends don't know that when I was a young broadcaster I spent a brief time working as a television reporter. It was not something I was especially fond of and as you know went with the radio side of broadcasting instead.
But as a young reporter, I once had the occasion to sit and interview the Senator and do a background piece on him. He was in Iowa to lend his voice to a colleague's campaign and on this particular trip had brought his entire family. His then wife, Joan, daughter Kara and son Patrick.
Of course, any discussion of his career at that point had to deal with the subject of the Chappaquiddick incident. As it came time to approach that subject I could feel myself begin to fidget in the chair, I started to ring my hands and felt a few beads of sweat form on my upper lip. As I fumbled for the words, I diverted my glance to his wife, then his daughter and finally his son. I didn't think I could do it.
He instinctively knew. And with amazing grace he reached his hand out, put it on top of mine and said, "Young man, do your job." I did. I will never forget the moment when he gave me the courage to do what some say is the hardest thing ever, speak truth to power.
His accomplishments are many. His compassion for his fellow man and his battle for "the cause of his life", health care reform are unequaled.
It is truly the end of an era. I don't think we will ever see another one like him. The last surviving Kennedy son. A man who left the world far better for his having been here. He will be missed.
God Bless Senator Kennedy.
Right near the top of that list was that I had on a few occasions, the opportunity to meet and talk with the legendary Senator Edward M. Kennedy. However, it is the first time that I talked to him that made a lasting impression on me and the moment is as fresh in my brain as if it was yesterday.
Most of my friends don't know that when I was a young broadcaster I spent a brief time working as a television reporter. It was not something I was especially fond of and as you know went with the radio side of broadcasting instead.
But as a young reporter, I once had the occasion to sit and interview the Senator and do a background piece on him. He was in Iowa to lend his voice to a colleague's campaign and on this particular trip had brought his entire family. His then wife, Joan, daughter Kara and son Patrick.
Of course, any discussion of his career at that point had to deal with the subject of the Chappaquiddick incident. As it came time to approach that subject I could feel myself begin to fidget in the chair, I started to ring my hands and felt a few beads of sweat form on my upper lip. As I fumbled for the words, I diverted my glance to his wife, then his daughter and finally his son. I didn't think I could do it.
He instinctively knew. And with amazing grace he reached his hand out, put it on top of mine and said, "Young man, do your job." I did. I will never forget the moment when he gave me the courage to do what some say is the hardest thing ever, speak truth to power.
His accomplishments are many. His compassion for his fellow man and his battle for "the cause of his life", health care reform are unequaled.
It is truly the end of an era. I don't think we will ever see another one like him. The last surviving Kennedy son. A man who left the world far better for his having been here. He will be missed.
God Bless Senator Kennedy.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
How could I have let this happen??
I did something today that I simply cannot believe. Something so out of character, something so disgusting that I just don't know how I am going to be able to show my face to friends and family.
In getting the house ready to sell and arrange for the impending move we have gone through so many boxes, had a garage sale and discovered so many things that I had forgotten. But today, something happened that is likely to set me back emotionally for perhaps years to come.
In a back corner of the garage, behind some shovels, rakes and a decorative outdoor fountain that we no longer use, I found two cases of beer. As near as I could remember I had gotten them about three years ago Thanksgiving when we had some friends over and they had since gotten buried and forgotten.
Three years in the garage. The heat and humidity of summer and the freezing cold of winter. This had to be some pretty skunky beer.
You can't sit two cases of beer on the curb for the garbage man to pick up because skunky or not, you got to know the neighborhood kids would have been all over it.
Sooooooo....... I dragged both cases into the back yard, painfully opened them one by one and wept openly as I poured out two cases of Bud Light. Enough good beer to keep a couple weeks of good football watching parties going, or my buddy Jerry happy for a few hours.
My only consultation is that I know that in the time it took me to pour out the beer, The Busch family in St.Louis probably produced 100 times as much as I dumped out.
But as Homer Simpson would say, "DOHHHH... my beautiful sweet beer."
In getting the house ready to sell and arrange for the impending move we have gone through so many boxes, had a garage sale and discovered so many things that I had forgotten. But today, something happened that is likely to set me back emotionally for perhaps years to come.
In a back corner of the garage, behind some shovels, rakes and a decorative outdoor fountain that we no longer use, I found two cases of beer. As near as I could remember I had gotten them about three years ago Thanksgiving when we had some friends over and they had since gotten buried and forgotten.
Three years in the garage. The heat and humidity of summer and the freezing cold of winter. This had to be some pretty skunky beer.
You can't sit two cases of beer on the curb for the garbage man to pick up because skunky or not, you got to know the neighborhood kids would have been all over it.
Sooooooo....... I dragged both cases into the back yard, painfully opened them one by one and wept openly as I poured out two cases of Bud Light. Enough good beer to keep a couple weeks of good football watching parties going, or my buddy Jerry happy for a few hours.
My only consultation is that I know that in the time it took me to pour out the beer, The Busch family in St.Louis probably produced 100 times as much as I dumped out.
But as Homer Simpson would say, "DOHHHH... my beautiful sweet beer."
Monday, August 17, 2009
My friend was correct
April 27th of this year will be a day that I will always remember. It was the first time I got fired from a radio job. And while I was assured that it was not a performance issue, that did little to ease my concerns about mortgage, car payments and putting food on the table.
A couple years prior to that fateful day, I had made a smart move by hiring someone that has since become a very dear friend to me. Unfortunately he did not work for me very long because he heard a higher calling. He was an ordained minister that was back in radio because he was a little burned out and needed a break. But soon realized that he was hearing his original calling and is now a Pastor for a congregation in the Chicago area.
I bring him up because we e-mail often and he has always told me that he has us in his prayers. He also told me something that at the time I had a hard time accepting.
He said, "You have been a good and fair boss. You have given a lot of people a leg up in this industry, and because of the way you have treated people, you have built up a lot of good will. Someone is going to step up now and help you out."
I am not a big believer in Karma, but I am a firm believer in the Golden Rule and while some days I do better than others, I try to live by that everyday.
And then I went through the whole period of a career change and my thoughts that I no longer wanted to work in radio. Problem is, I really didn't think I knew how to do anything else.
Well my friend was right. Last week I heard from a friend that is a Manager of a cluster of radio stations in my home state of Iowa. We had first met in the '80's and I have always thought he was a great guy. He had created a new job in his cluster and said, "You are the first person I thought of."
Within a matter of a couple days we had a deal put together and we are packing to move back to Des Moines and oddly enough I will be going back to work for Clear Channel, the company that fired me on April 27th.
So, the moral of the story is, my friend was right. Once again, do unto others....
It really is just that simple.
Bruce, thanks for helping me see that and your prayers. And Joel thanks for the opportunity. We are going to have some fun and do some good radio.
And one last thing. These two, while important to the story were not the only ones that had kind words and expressed good wishes during the last three months and I thank all of you too. Know that I will always be there when the time comes that you need me.
A couple years prior to that fateful day, I had made a smart move by hiring someone that has since become a very dear friend to me. Unfortunately he did not work for me very long because he heard a higher calling. He was an ordained minister that was back in radio because he was a little burned out and needed a break. But soon realized that he was hearing his original calling and is now a Pastor for a congregation in the Chicago area.
I bring him up because we e-mail often and he has always told me that he has us in his prayers. He also told me something that at the time I had a hard time accepting.
He said, "You have been a good and fair boss. You have given a lot of people a leg up in this industry, and because of the way you have treated people, you have built up a lot of good will. Someone is going to step up now and help you out."
I am not a big believer in Karma, but I am a firm believer in the Golden Rule and while some days I do better than others, I try to live by that everyday.
And then I went through the whole period of a career change and my thoughts that I no longer wanted to work in radio. Problem is, I really didn't think I knew how to do anything else.
Well my friend was right. Last week I heard from a friend that is a Manager of a cluster of radio stations in my home state of Iowa. We had first met in the '80's and I have always thought he was a great guy. He had created a new job in his cluster and said, "You are the first person I thought of."
Within a matter of a couple days we had a deal put together and we are packing to move back to Des Moines and oddly enough I will be going back to work for Clear Channel, the company that fired me on April 27th.
So, the moral of the story is, my friend was right. Once again, do unto others....
It really is just that simple.
Bruce, thanks for helping me see that and your prayers. And Joel thanks for the opportunity. We are going to have some fun and do some good radio.
And one last thing. These two, while important to the story were not the only ones that had kind words and expressed good wishes during the last three months and I thank all of you too. Know that I will always be there when the time comes that you need me.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
A kind gesture repayed.
There are very few absolute certainties. Things that are indisputable facts that everyone can agree upon. The sun is going to come up in the east and set in the west that kind of fact.
One such thought that I think most of us can agree upon is that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is an unstable, deeply disturbed, perhaps mentally ill man. The kind of person that keeps the world worried from day to day about what he is going to do next. And a nuclear armed North Korea is even more dangerous.
But yesterday, he displayed an act of compassion that was totally unexpected, unless you know the interesting back story.
Many years ago when Bill Clinton was President he sent Kim Jong-il a sympathy card when his mother passed. A gesture that apparently made quite an impact. Because apparently when you are one of the most hated men in the world any kind gesture sent your way makes a big impact.
Jump ahead to 2009 and the imprisonment of two American journalists tried and convicted and sentenced to hard labor in Korean prison. Efforts made to secure their release had made no progress.
Then out of the blue the news channels are reporting that former President Clinton is on the way to North Korea and surprisingly secures the release of the two and flies back home to the United States with them.
Why was he successful where everyone else had failed? Kim Jong-il said that he would not have released the two journalists to anyone else in the world. But he recalled the kind gesture of President Clinton's card when his Mother died and said he wanted to repay the thoughtfulness.
The point being, you never know when you take a moment to show kindness to your fellow man or do a kind turn for your friends how it might come back to you and even in this case, change the world.
That Golden Rule thing is something, huh?
Nice job Mr. President.
One such thought that I think most of us can agree upon is that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is an unstable, deeply disturbed, perhaps mentally ill man. The kind of person that keeps the world worried from day to day about what he is going to do next. And a nuclear armed North Korea is even more dangerous.
But yesterday, he displayed an act of compassion that was totally unexpected, unless you know the interesting back story.
Many years ago when Bill Clinton was President he sent Kim Jong-il a sympathy card when his mother passed. A gesture that apparently made quite an impact. Because apparently when you are one of the most hated men in the world any kind gesture sent your way makes a big impact.
Jump ahead to 2009 and the imprisonment of two American journalists tried and convicted and sentenced to hard labor in Korean prison. Efforts made to secure their release had made no progress.
Then out of the blue the news channels are reporting that former President Clinton is on the way to North Korea and surprisingly secures the release of the two and flies back home to the United States with them.
Why was he successful where everyone else had failed? Kim Jong-il said that he would not have released the two journalists to anyone else in the world. But he recalled the kind gesture of President Clinton's card when his Mother died and said he wanted to repay the thoughtfulness.
The point being, you never know when you take a moment to show kindness to your fellow man or do a kind turn for your friends how it might come back to you and even in this case, change the world.
That Golden Rule thing is something, huh?
Nice job Mr. President.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Treasure in the basement
People that follow me on Facebook have been teasing me about my posts for the past two weeks about working in our basement nearly everyday. Lots of speculation on what all must have been down there that it was taking so long to go through.
I have to admit after about a week of it that it was getting discouraging. I swore, no more pack rat.
People that work in radio normally move a lot, so it is best to kind of travel light. But I had been pretty lucky with my last two gigs. Five and six year runs, respectively. But even with that there were still boxes that had been moved that dated back as far as 20 years. I found airchecks of my old shows that were on reel to reel. Memos from old P.D.'s that dated back to my college days. And an unbelievable assortment of odds and ends.
So after about a week, I was ready to adopt a new philosophy. I decided that it might be a good idea to just toss the boxes without even looking in them. After all, if I had not missed it in ten years, or 15 or 20 years, how important could it really be?
And just when I decided that I would implement my plan I opened one more box. In it, among other things was a 20 plus year old letter handwritten to me from my Grandmother. She passed away seven years ago at the age of 99. She was a remarkable woman and to see her handwriting again brought forth a rush of memories.
Then I found a picture of my Dad and his High School Basketball team. And some family genealogy that he had given me many years ago. In another box I found some items that he had given me from his extensive collection of coal mining items. And some funny cartoons drawn by my Mother
And a sympathy card from my entire air staff at WOLX when a family member had died. And then there were boxes and boxes of pictures. Some happy, some sad. All ones that I was thrilled to see.
So needless to say, throwing the boxes away without looking would have been a horrible mistake. Sure, I might not have actually known what I tossed but I would have been deprived of so many memories.
It also left me thinking about my own legacy. Am I doing enough each day to make sure that when I am gone, that someone will come across some act of kindness, silliness, or just a good memory left behind by me?
The point being, some of the little things we do each day may seem insignificant at the time, but 20 years later when someone is cleaning out their basement, it might just make them laugh, cry or just pause with a smile.
I promised myself that I would try harder to remember to do those things, so that hopefully someday I will make someone's day like finding those things made mine.
I have to admit after about a week of it that it was getting discouraging. I swore, no more pack rat.
People that work in radio normally move a lot, so it is best to kind of travel light. But I had been pretty lucky with my last two gigs. Five and six year runs, respectively. But even with that there were still boxes that had been moved that dated back as far as 20 years. I found airchecks of my old shows that were on reel to reel. Memos from old P.D.'s that dated back to my college days. And an unbelievable assortment of odds and ends.
So after about a week, I was ready to adopt a new philosophy. I decided that it might be a good idea to just toss the boxes without even looking in them. After all, if I had not missed it in ten years, or 15 or 20 years, how important could it really be?
And just when I decided that I would implement my plan I opened one more box. In it, among other things was a 20 plus year old letter handwritten to me from my Grandmother. She passed away seven years ago at the age of 99. She was a remarkable woman and to see her handwriting again brought forth a rush of memories.
Then I found a picture of my Dad and his High School Basketball team. And some family genealogy that he had given me many years ago. In another box I found some items that he had given me from his extensive collection of coal mining items. And some funny cartoons drawn by my Mother
And a sympathy card from my entire air staff at WOLX when a family member had died. And then there were boxes and boxes of pictures. Some happy, some sad. All ones that I was thrilled to see.
So needless to say, throwing the boxes away without looking would have been a horrible mistake. Sure, I might not have actually known what I tossed but I would have been deprived of so many memories.
It also left me thinking about my own legacy. Am I doing enough each day to make sure that when I am gone, that someone will come across some act of kindness, silliness, or just a good memory left behind by me?
The point being, some of the little things we do each day may seem insignificant at the time, but 20 years later when someone is cleaning out their basement, it might just make them laugh, cry or just pause with a smile.
I promised myself that I would try harder to remember to do those things, so that hopefully someday I will make someone's day like finding those things made mine.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
That's all I can stand, I can't stand no more.
The famous quote of Popeye, one of America's legendary cartoon characters when he had hit the limit of his patience.
That's the way I feel today about losing something else that I feel passionate about. First thanks to the John Hogan's and Lew Dickey's of the world I lost my passion for radio. An industry that I had worked in my entire adult life. The last nine months before Clear Channel made me a statistic with their downsizing were so miserable that there are only about four or five radio companies left that I care to work for.
But today, it it not radio it is politics. Most of my life I have been fascinated by the political process. Over the years I have volunteered countless hours working for candidates and causes I believed in.
And oh boy.... then came the news channels and talk radio. I became a total news junkie.
MSNBC is the most watched channel in my house. Keith Olbermann was a nightly appointment.
Now everyone that knows me knows that I lean to the left politically. Some have even said that I am to the left of Russ Feingold. But which side of the aisle I am on really has nothing to do with why I am fed up.
What's bothering me is that our elected officials are no longer worried about doing what is best for the country, or for their district or city or county. It's about one side trying it's best to stop the other side.
I think what finally brought all this to the forefront for me was when an elected official actually said the other day that if the Republicans could stop health care that they could derail the entire Obama Presidency.
Now I wasn't a fan of W, but if one of the Democrats had made a similar statement I would have felt the same way. You can disagree on issues but to say that, or to say what Boss Limbaugh said about hoping the President fails. It's just too much.
Now make no mistake. I think both sides are guilty here. It is not about Democrats vs. Republicans, it is about just trying to destroy the other side at any cost.
So, I am swearing off talk radio and MSNBC for awhile. Whether it is Ed Schultz, Glenn Beck, Limbaugh or Olbermann. I can't take it anymore.
I will still fight for the issues I believe in... but listening to and watching this endless, mindless drivel is too much.
I have installed a ipod jack in my car.
That's the way I feel today about losing something else that I feel passionate about. First thanks to the John Hogan's and Lew Dickey's of the world I lost my passion for radio. An industry that I had worked in my entire adult life. The last nine months before Clear Channel made me a statistic with their downsizing were so miserable that there are only about four or five radio companies left that I care to work for.
But today, it it not radio it is politics. Most of my life I have been fascinated by the political process. Over the years I have volunteered countless hours working for candidates and causes I believed in.
And oh boy.... then came the news channels and talk radio. I became a total news junkie.
MSNBC is the most watched channel in my house. Keith Olbermann was a nightly appointment.
Now everyone that knows me knows that I lean to the left politically. Some have even said that I am to the left of Russ Feingold. But which side of the aisle I am on really has nothing to do with why I am fed up.
What's bothering me is that our elected officials are no longer worried about doing what is best for the country, or for their district or city or county. It's about one side trying it's best to stop the other side.
I think what finally brought all this to the forefront for me was when an elected official actually said the other day that if the Republicans could stop health care that they could derail the entire Obama Presidency.
Now I wasn't a fan of W, but if one of the Democrats had made a similar statement I would have felt the same way. You can disagree on issues but to say that, or to say what Boss Limbaugh said about hoping the President fails. It's just too much.
Now make no mistake. I think both sides are guilty here. It is not about Democrats vs. Republicans, it is about just trying to destroy the other side at any cost.
So, I am swearing off talk radio and MSNBC for awhile. Whether it is Ed Schultz, Glenn Beck, Limbaugh or Olbermann. I can't take it anymore.
I will still fight for the issues I believe in... but listening to and watching this endless, mindless drivel is too much.
I have installed a ipod jack in my car.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Welcome
So I have decided to enter the world of blogging. I'm not really sure who, if anyone will read them but it sounds like a good idea to have an outlet to comment on things or just simply share something cool that I have found. So I guess I will see if it is another phase with me, which I am famous for and then lose interest in, or if it turns into something fun. But like they say, give it a try... don't cost nothing.
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