Friday, March 31, 2017

Chris Noel - 1969


Chris toured the world many times bringing home that much close.  Thank you Chris!



Wednesday, March 29, 2017

AFN Latin Tempo - 1980


In the early 1980s Guenther recorded a lot of AFN off air.  Most of the time just the music but there are some neat breaks on these tapes.  I've heard from several Germans that really liked the latin shows.  There were some interesting similarities in the music.  Question for you, I've seen the local AFN Spanish show listed as Latin Tempo and Latin Tiempo (Time).  Do you remember?



Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Jim Ameche - 1965




Before Pete Smith, before John Doremus there was Jim Ameche with 'the most beautiful sounds around' . Jim's radio career started with "Jack Armstrong the All America Boy" in the 1930s. When radio changed in the 1950s Jim adapted his career and became one of the first successful syndicated DJs.


Sunday, March 26, 2017

Charlie Tuna - 1975

Charlie wrote in a few years ago to clear up a mystery I had been wondering about:
"I guess whoever tagged that photo at AFRTS didn't check the spelling on my name. The photo is one of a series of shots that world famous photographer Henry Diltz who's done a bunch of magazine covers of every music star in the world took that day at in Topanga Canyon, and I remember him commenting at the end of the session "We got lucky today, no snakes crawling around in the grass this time"! Thanks Henry:)"
 
 

 

AFRTS 75th Anniversary reunion.


There are a lot of people planning to participate in this one.  Familiar names from the network and troops from all over.  This will include a tour of the network in Riverside.

Join past and current members of the Armed Forced Radio and Television Service as we celebrate 75 years providing education, information and entertainment for our Armed Forces overseas.

September 12 - 15, 2017 Moreno Valley, CA

There's still time to register!


Joe Allison 1965


Joe was a very successful songwriter, performer, record label executive, producer, DJ and I'm sure I left something out.  He was the AFRTS voice of country on the Country Corner in the 1960s.  Both Joe and the music were slick (In the good sense).  It was right after the hillbilly years.  Here's a visit to the Country Corner...



AFN Operation Information 1953


Operation Information was a weekly "Radio Newsreel" on AFN Berlin. Let's go back to January 1953.

 
 


Roland Bynum - 1973

 
In 1973 Roland was making magic for AFRTS and for Roger Carroll's company with these shows for Air Force recruiting.  Off to the Creators Workshop and "Soul In Motion"
 
 



Friday, March 24, 2017

AFN Reunion 2017

Stephen Johnston checks in with our first reunion update of the year.

Hi...just thought I'd let you know that 20 of us are meeting in Laguna Beach October 5-8 from the 1966-70 era of AFN Frankfurt. So much of AFN was still profoundly affecting our military culture then that we are collectively a substantial prepositive of a "Good Morning Vietnam" German style. It was a strange and wonderful time!

Soundrich1@gmail.com 

Staying at The Tides in Laguna...October 5th-8




Please be sure to pass on your reunion updates!

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Jazz International - 1960


There's always been great jazz on AFRTS,  Howard Leucroft hosts Buddy Collette.  Here's some great music.




Monday, March 20, 2017

Chris Noel - 1969


In 1969, Chris Noel was bringing America to the troops around the world on AFRTS.  She still has a lifetime commitment and I'm very grateful.



Sunday, March 19, 2017

Roger Carroll - 1967


Roger Carroll

Roger Carroll has the happy hour from another recently saved ET.  At the time there was a lot of KMPC talent on the network, Roger one of the best.





Saturday, March 18, 2017

Gene Price - 1991


Gene Price is back with some 1991 memories.  Take it away Mr. Pierce...


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Mary Helen Barro - 1983


Mary Helen Barro is back with the best en musica latina!



Col Tom Lews - 1945


"Victory Through Air Power" normally sounds like an interesting topic, but this time Colonel Tom Lewis talks about the war and the AFRS part.  This is from a 1945 broadcast to the Los Angeles Advertising club.  Happy 75th anniversary AFRTS!



Joe Allison - 1965


Time to visit the Country Corner!  Joe Allison with another hour of your country favorites.  Joe was the first to bring a "modern country" presentation to what had been hillbilly music.




Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Jingles again



I remember in Korea in the 70s and again in Panama they would send us a jingle reel with local sings, AFN, AFKN whatever.  The only ones that I had heard were weak acapela sings fading into tracks from the jingle package.  I know that in Vietnam they "borrowed" demo packages and spent a ton of time editing really great jingles.  That was probably done in other places.

Norman came up with something interesting.  The late 60s Pepper-Tanner set had nice sings.  I don't know what the story is on this.  I wonder if AFN bought them.  Anyhow we only seem to have one cut.  Do you have the rest?



Sunday, March 12, 2017

If Freedom Failed 1951


AFRTS informed the troops about the menace of Communism with the 1951 show "If Freedom Failed".  Hollywood's best turned out for the troops.  Today's star Jeff Chandler.  The programs went into the station libraries and aired many times over the years.



Chris Noel - 1971


Chris Noel makes home that much closer in this 1971 memory.  Remember White Plains?



Roger Carroll - 1967

Roger Carroll at the ElectroVoice

Here's Roger with another visit to 1967.  It's a classy sort of thing just not done anymore.




America's Popular Music - 1965



Andy Mansfield  was with the network in the 1950s and 60s, playing records from his own collection.
Andy's original show was "Turn Back the Clock" with  his wife, former big band singer Virginia.  Always some interesting choices...





Saturday, March 11, 2017

Roland Bynum - 1973


Roland was keeping it real in 1973.  Phil had recorded some of his favorite AFN personalities from the Stuttgart station, some noise but that's how I remember it.



Friday, March 10, 2017

Mac McGuire - 1952


I try to not make this all 'Old Time Radio', but there were a lot of at a lot of great shows over the years.  When I was lucky enough to be somewhere with a big library, I'd pull random things down and listen. Sometimes there was a surprise. Here's a morning country music show featuring Mac McGuire and his Harmony Rangers.  Program originated in Philadelphia at WIP and sounds like it was carried on one of the networks, probably Mutual (letters with song requests from around the country are mentioned).  Dated 2-1-52 in the disc matrix.  There's a dedication to a troop in Korea .



Thursday, March 9, 2017

Jim Ameche - 1965





Before Pete Smith, before John Doremus there was Jim Ameche with 'the most beautiful sounds around' . Jim's radio career started with "Jack Armstrong the All America Boy" in the 1930s. When radio changed in the 1950s Jim adapted his career and became one of the first successful syndicated DJs.

More Jim Ameche

AFN Park Seward - 1975



Park Seward is on the air with K-Town's biggest and brightest!


Friday, March 3, 2017

Humble Harve - 1979


Harve Miller was another great talent in Los Angeles Radio.  His countdown show ran for years and it was a delight.  Just last week someone asked for Humble Harv, I was going through some backups and here we go..