Monday, February 01, 2016

Radio as a career and Harry Chapin sings W.O.L.D.

Radio, a fun career but not stable.

Those of us that were in radio felt the late Harry Chapin was singing our life stories in many ways.

 I remember being in my rock and roll band, going from town to town peddling our records, stopping into radio stations so the on-air jock could play our latest record, and they did. 

I would sometimes say, "You know, I like music so much I am going to become a DJ." 

The answer most of the time would be, "No you don't, unless you want no security and to become a radio gypsy through no fault of your own. Format change, new manager or PD thinking you made too much money" etc."

I never listened to their advice and instead became that DJ. 

I am glad I did it but the truth they talked about came to be.
I did mornings in Grand Rapids, nights in Detroit and on-air in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. 

In the 1990s, I decided to build houses, one-at-a-time and do on-air DJ at the same time, so I had something to fall back on. Only slept a few hours a day.

If you listen to the words of this song you will understand.

 Harry Chapin, a great song writer and performer ( Taxi) another excellent down to the raw bone was killed in a car accident on the way to a free concert he was going to do. 

Harry's wife said that he did so many free shows they barely had enough to live on.

 Wish he could have stayed with us longer. I am sure he would be performing even today.
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Give a listen, 

Joe

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