It's summer 1982, I'm enjoying life in what was left of the Canal Zone and Charlie Tuna had us staying Tuna'd
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Friday, August 16, 2019
Tony Booth AFKN 1969
Tony in Stars and Stripes
It's always great to hear the stories. Tony Booth shared his:
My time doing "Good Morning, Korea" from 1968-1970 are some of my most fond memories of my 51+ years in broadcasting. Just so happened I was lucky enough to have Lt. Col. Frank Tennant as the CO at AFKN when I arrived and his support of the entire unit was a credit to his career. (Just so happens that tomorrow 10/28) is his birthday so Happy Birthday, Colonel.)
The unit had some of the best talent probably assembled in the Army at the time except in Vietnam since so many of us were drafted. I volunteered for the draft so I could get AFRTS (remember the MOS? 71Q and 71R).
To those who served with me in those years regardless of what you did or where you were stationed, let me say "Welcome Home." I heard that for the first time about 5 years ago.
Today in addition to hosting my afternoon show at Big Oldies 107.3 in Richmond, Va (Bigoldies1073.com on the web), I do about 35-40 hours a month at the USO/Richmond International Airport. The rewards are endless. Someone asked me recently if my dedication to those in uniform today had anything to do with the way we/I was treated when I came back home from Korea and the Vietnam War was still the hot topic, I said, "maybe a little but, honestly, I like the fact I get a new audience about every hour and can tell my jokes and stories and the only ones bored are the other volunteers...LOL"
Here's Tony at AFKN
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Chris Noel 1970
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A few years ago, Chris sent her original disks for us to share. Wonderful radio. When I was in Korea, several years of her shows were saved at the TDC station. Great listening then and now.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Jim Pewter 1976
Has there ever been someone that could program music as neat as former AFKN'er Jim Pewter? Can't see him ever hanging up his rock and roll shoes.. We went to different high schools together.
Friday, August 9, 2019
AFN 1982 RIP MIke Sutton
AFN photographer PV1 Bruce Scott who also lost his life in the crash that day
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Roger Carroll 1928-2019
We lost Roger on 7/31/2019. He was in the ICU, with family and it was peaceful.
I knew Roger for about 10 years. We'd trade stories and argue, always repectful It was the internet. He had saved a few boxes of his shows, which he sent over so we could hear them here on the blog. It was gracious.
A few years ago he told me "I have Roger Carroll Radio". When I figured out what that actually meant, he had a URL. That would just be the start. We talked about what would be necessary to do something with it. Someone else eventually setup a website, with streaming that was sort of functional. I sent over the audio I had. I don't blame the guy who set it up, there aren't many web folks with broadcast experience.
Roger and the other guy had a falling out and he asked if I could help, Took a couple hours and http://rogercarrollbestsoundsintown.com was on the air. He loved it. Smaller scale but it was being the front office again. So for the last few years, I'd keep it running. RC would let me know what he liked and didn't like and I'd tune it up.
At almost 90 he was very, very sharp. Every idea made sense and made it better.
I was doing some shows, all of the promos. He would give me critiques. Things that held me back when I did this for a living he saw immediately.
We'd chat, he sure could tell stories of an amazing life, career and family.
Roger started at a small station in Maryland, was one of the first announcers for the newly formed ABC network. Went to work for Gene Autry at KMPC, did voiceover for CBS, decades with AFRTS.
He made my life better. He was a friend.