AFN Berlin - Henry Michaels 1970

 

Robert Barker shares more memories of 1970 in Berlin:

AFN building Berlin 1945-79

Here is Specialist Henry Michaels hosting his AFN-Berlin morning Wake-Up Easy program from 26 Oct 70. It is apparent that Henry was still waking up at the beginning of his program for he misreads his time-check several times. Preceeding Michaels program you will hear a "Project Partnership" (the German word for tank is "panzier") promo, AFN Europe Morning sign on with the the songs of our armed forces, station frequencies, the National anthem, six hrs European time check, news with Jan Wood, USO Mail Call promo, Hymns from Home and NATO promo. Henry's program begins at 15:30 into the segment. Enjoy. Robert

AFN Berlin 1970 - Henry Michaels

Small World 1964

 Small World was similar to NBC radio's Monitor.  Some light music, comedy, features.  It's the program where Chris Noel got her start.  This is from 1964.  Host sounds like George Church

Small World 1964

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Pete Smith 1983

    

Pete Smith was part of the EZ listening tradition at AFRTS.  He followed John Doremus, who followed Jim Ameche.  He had quite a career in Los Angeles radio KNX; KDAY, 1956-58; KRKD, 1958-61; KNOB; KPOL; KMPC, 1961-88; KJQI/KOJY, 1993-95; KGIL, 1998. Pete was part of "Music of Your Life."

Roger Carroll was telling me that Pete was fulltime swing at KMPC.  What a gig.

Pete Smith 1983

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Jim Pewter 1980

   

Jim with Little Richard

Hey everybody, jump up in your seats.

Here is the man with a million beats.

They make you jump, they make you sing.

He'll do just about anything.

Everybody gonna rock and roll steady with the Jim Pewter Show.

Jim lived up to the slogan.  I could always feel the respect and love for the music.  He introduced me to a lot of amazing memories.

Hear Jim Pewter everyday at 6pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com 

Jim Pewter 1980

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Don Tracy 1983

  

1983 was a great year for me, I finished up at SCN and within the year had made it onto Boston radio (part time). Don Tracy had the happy music. Rockin the world was Don Tracy!

Don Tracy 1983
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Chris Noel 1967

 

A pretty girl, nice music and Chris Noel was perfect for this.  During the Vietnam war Chris did "A Date With Chris".  In 1967, this was the third week of the broadcast and it starts to fall in place.

Date With Chris - 1967

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Joe Ferguson 1983

  

From Portland, Joe Ferguson brought America to the world.  There was a project where several top jocks recorded shows for AFRTS.  Joe was the first.  Joe sent his shows in to hear once again.  Thanks Joe!

Joe Ferguson -1983

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Jim Ameche 1961

 

Jim Ameche's pop concert had some very interesting orchestral music.

Jim Ameche - 1961

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Gene Price 1990

   

Our visit to Soesterberg continues with Gene Pierce, er Price make another hour of magic.  Listen to the PSA at the beginning.  Talk about a non-denial denial...

Gene Price 1990

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Ira Cook 1961

  

Ira was a disc jockey in Hollywood for over 25 years working at KMPC the majority of the time. He also broadcast over the Armed Forces Radio Services.  We lost Ira in 2007.

Ira Cook 1961

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Mary Helen Barro 1980

  

Mary Helen in 1972 with Joe Ortiz

There's always been latin music on AFRTS. Chiquita during WWII and many others well into the 1990s. Mary Helen Barro held down the fort in the early 1980s. Here's Mary Helen, recorded off the air on AFN Frankfurt.

Mary Helen Barro - 1980
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Charlie Tuna 1982

 

Charlie Tuna 1969

Charlie was with us from the Vietnam years until 1996.  Easy to tell how he was a morning tradition for such a long time.

Charlie Tuna 1982

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Charlie Williams 1972

  

Charlie Williams in 1990

After Joe Allison left the Country Corner in the early 70s the show went to KFOXs Charlie Williams.  In 1972 Charlie moved to Nashville, managed Bobby Bare and did a talk show on WSIX.  Charlie passed away in 1995. It was Charlie who suggested to Gene Price that he get down to McCadden Ave and try for the gig..

Charlie Williams - 1972

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Wolfman Jack and Roger Carroll 1978

  

In 1978 from Torrejon.  Clips of Wolfman Jack and Roger Carroll.

Wolfman Jack and Roger Carroll - 1978

Roger Carroll 1977

 

Roger Carroll with Doc Severenson

Roger Carroll had an interesting story about how he became a DJ:

"Many years ago when ABC never played records live orchestras were dropped TV was just starting . I was at TV  and told by my boss ABC Chief announcer  Dresser Dalhstead I was going to radio and play records on the network daily three hour record show (the older guys refused to play records) I told Dresser , a good guy I was a network TV announcer and I did not play records. Dresser's exact response "get your ass over to radio or you ain't gonna be a network announcer".

Dress told me later he was even attempting to cross toes so he wouldn't break out laughing with my response.

ABC started selling quarter hours and I was getting network talent fees then of course the older guys wanted to do record shows. Then I got afternoon drive on ABC O&O KABC and then the Cowboy , Gene Autry offered ask me to come over to KMPC when my ABC contract ended...playing records was the best thing that happened in my long career"

It was a good thing for everyone.  Thanks Roger!

Roger Carroll 1977

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Barbara Randolph 1971

 

Barbara Randolph c 1962

 

Barbara Randolph brought a lot of rock to AFRTS. Detroit born Randolph was born in 1942 eventually adopted by actress Lillian Randolph with a singing career that included a stint at Motown. Her movie roles included Guess Who'd Coming to Dinner.

 

In the late 60s, she joined our network

 

Barbara Randolph 1971

Mary Turner 1983

     

In the 80s and 1990s Mary Turners show was so popular she had two programs on the network.  Her regular Mary Turner Show and "Off The Record", where she interviewed rock's biggest stars.

She made waves in Los Angeles radio too, and eleven year run at KMET and returning in the 90s to KSLX.  Now she's involved in many charitable causes including the Betty Ford Center in Ranch Mirage.

Mary Turner - Off The Record - 1983

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Chiquita 1949

   

 

We tried to serve all soldiers.  Part of that being our native Spanish speaking troops.  Chiquita debuted during WWII and was still going strong in the 1950s.  I'm trying to locate more information about her.  Apparently, she had some small movie roles in the 1940s.

Gracias amiga por todo!

Chiquita - 1949

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Herman Griffith 1972

     

Here's Herman with Roger Carroll, Jim Pewter, Gary Owens and the rest

In the early years of the Vietnam war there was not a lot of rock programming coming from the network.  Herman Griffith played rockin soul for the "brave and bold on the Records Caravan."

 

Herman was at KGFJ between 1963-66 and we know little else.

 

Herman had helped Roland Bynum get is first big Los Angeles gig and a few years later disappeared.

 

During those years, Herman was on our team.  I just wish I had more of these...

Herman Griffith - 1972

 

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Andy Mansfield 1963

  

Andy continues his tribute to Glenn Miller, here's part four.

America's Popular Music - 1963

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Tom Campbell 1971

    

Paul Bunyan was very young Tom Campbell

In 1971, Tom Campbell was still the new guy, he did a show about what were the 10 most hated songs on the radio.  There were truly some clinkers...

Tom Campbell 1971

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Roland Bynum 1981

 

It's a Wednesday happening on AFRTS with the Bynum...Still has it.

Roland Bynum 1981

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Bill Stewart 1967

  

Today Bill Stewart's guest is Rudy Vallee.  Rudy was the biggest of the big in the 1920s and kept going for five decades.  It's a fun listen.

Bill Stewart - 1967

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Jim Pewter 1968

 

Nice work if you can get it. (courtesy and copyright of Playground Productions)

In 1967 Jim was managing Forever Records.  They put out a two record set to benefit the USO.  "Jim Pewter Salutes the USO Shows with 21 Hits From The Past"  I've got to pick up a copy.  Jim shared this original artwork picture with 21 teen models in Pasadena.

Jim Pewter  - 1968

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Don Tracy 1984

  

No holding some people back.  Don was in Hartford, parlayed that into Los Angeles.  At the top of his game was doing the AFRTS show for a long time.  Thanks Don!

Don Tracy - 1984
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Diego Garcia 1995 Stephen Payne

 

Stephen joined the United States Navy in 1991. He graduated from Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Benjamin Harrison. He was a Navy broadcaster during his deployment in Diego Garcia, in the British Indian Ocean. By the time of Stephen’s Honorable Discharge in 1996, he held the role of Journalist Third Class, and he was awarded two Navy commendation medals as well as a Navy Achievement Medal. On this visit Stephen is with Marine Elizabeth Allen.

Stephen passed away in 2025 at 56 years old.

Stephen Payne - Diego Garcia 1995

Chris Noel 1968

 

The face of home to thousands of Vietnam era troops was Chris Noel.  She has spent the past several years running a homeless shelter for vets, in Florida "Ceasefire House" click here.  Our less fortunate brothers need your help.  Please consider helping.

A few years ago Chris sent her collection of shows to us so that we could hear them again.  Thanks Chris!!!

Here's a memory of 1968...

Date With Chris - 1968

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Joe Ferguson 1983

  

A young Joe Ferguson had done some shows as a dependent at the stations.  Years later Joe was jocking in Portland OR.  AFRTS had done one of the coolest things they ever did.  Asked jocks from around the country if they'd like to do shows for the network.  Joe saved his copies and made them available/  Thank you Joe!

Joe Ferguson 1983

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John Doremus 1968

  

Amazing set of pipes and smooth.  John Doremus had evening music for many years.  Similar to what Jim Ameche did earlier and what Pete Smith did later but smoother and bigger.  He had recorded Music Through the Night shows sponsored by the airlines that ran on the biggest AM clear channel stations in the country.  He also was the one that started syndicating in flight music.

John Doremus 1968

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AFVN Jim Huntley 1970

 

Years ago I was talking with Bob Casey.  Bob had quite the story.  One of the things he did at AFVN was start the Million Dollar Music oldies show.  After he left the show continued.  Here's Jumpin' Jim Huntley

AFVN Million Dollar Music

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