Sunday, September 15, 2024

Ira Cook 1967

 


Time for some 1967 fun with KMPC vet Ira Cook.

Ira Cook 1967

More Ira Cook

Mary Helen Barro 1983

 


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



Charlie Tuna 1992

 

Andrea Bowen, who plays Teri Hatcher's daughter "Julie" on the "Desperate Housewives" TV series, joins Charlie with the latest scoop from Wisteria Lane (photo from charlietuna.com)

Time for another visit with Charlie.  He worked at every great station in Los Angeles during the week, but weekly we had our "Breakfast Serial"



Joe Allison 1965

 




Joe Allison had a lot to do with modern Country music.  He was a talent, writer, producer and record company executive.  In this broadcast he talks a bit about that.



Saturday, September 14, 2024

Wolfman Jack 1980

 


So can you help but remember the station you first heard these on?  I would have just arrived in Panama, and the Wolf howled supreme around the world...



Roger Carroll 1979

 



RC with Robert Wagner

I really wish I had the chance to see McCadden place in it's glory.  In 1979 Cherie McQueen was there:

 I was on two days worth of his program from October 1979, and maybe into November 1979. My visit home to the L.A. area took me to the McCadden Place AFRTS studios, where I was asked to appear on the shows with Roger. I was stationed at SEN/SEB Vicenza, Italy at the time

It would have been incredible to be there while these were being done.

I will go through what I have, must have been special.  Here is Roger from 1979. 

Mary Turner 1985

   

Mary Turner today

Mary Turner really rocked the house.  Normally when any of the jocks got a reaction, it'd be split.  The ones that were really liked would draw complaints.  I never remember fielding a complaint about Mary.  I remember the barracks rocking.  Thank you  Mary.  Continued success!


Friday, September 13, 2024

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Vance Graham 1973

   





KMPCs Vance Graham sees Amelia Earhart off.


Latino! A special program, presented five times a week. With Victor, at your service.

"Victor" was Vance Graham.  An announcer who's career went back to WWII when he was doing news at KMPC.  Later he worked at KFI.  Prior to Latino, Vance did the "Bolero Time" program for AFRTS.  "Vance Graham Bolero Show"  was a daily feature at KTYM Los Angeles in the 1950s.


We ran TWO Latin shows at the same time? I didn't know this. The other show was Viva!


Herman Griffith 1967

   



Herman with Jim Pewter and Roger Carroll

 Feeling brave? If you're young  or old Herman Griffith is here with the Records Caravan. Bold?  If you

Herman was at KGFJ in Los Angeles in the early 60s, was with us into the 1970s and not much else is known.



Andy Mansfield 1964

 


Andy Mansfield's tribute to MAJ Glenn Miller continues.  We're up to part 17



Tom Campbell AFRTS demo 1971

  




Tom Campbell is one of the AFRTS-LA friends that's been great in keeping this whole thing running.

After serving in the United States Air Force, Campbell was hired for his first radio job, at KEEL in Shreveport, La., by Al Hart, who would later become a newscaster and radio personality in San Francisco. Campbell subsequently worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota and at WONE in Dayton, Ohio before his move to KYA San Francisco in 1967.

In 1971 was one of the periodic restructurings of AFRTS.  They were concerned we'd be rocking too hard..   AFRTS sent a demo...


Tom Campbell 1971 AFRTS demo

More Tom Campbell



Command Perfomance 1945

 



 Donna Dae sings, "On The Sunny Side Of The Street." Herb Shriner is introduced as "Sgt. Shriner." Orson Welles (m. c.), Donna Dae, Larry Stevens, Herb Shriner, Ken Carpenter (announcer), Theodora Lynch



Roland Bynum 1973

 

Roland Bynum at KJLH


Roland Bynum has had a lengthy and successful tenure with us. His talent is undeniable, and he continues the magic in Los Angeles. Back in 1973, he hosted a show for us while also working on a show for Air Force Recruiting through Roger Carroll's company. It was all good stuff, featuring great music. That was The Roland Bynum Show.



Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Jim Pewter 1973

 




Welcome back Jim Pewter, we did go to different high schools together (I live about 5 miles from where Jim grew up).  Jim was in the Army, was at AFKN and then the magic began.



Don Tracy 1993

  

Don earned his due in Connecticut radio, through WPOP, WNHC and WAVZ then to win in Los Angeles.
KGFJ, KDAY, KABC-TV, KNX as a sales executive, his own ad agency and editor of the R&B Report.

Chris Noel 1971

 


It's Friday and you have a Date With Chris.  As the years went by, Chris being responsive to the troops played more and more rocking music.  Such a talent.



Joe Ferguson 1983

 


Joe Ferguson from KUPL Portland, OR did a series of shows for us in 1983.  For a while the network had jocks from all over the country doing shows for us.  It was some great radio.



Pete Smith 1971

  

Pete Smith continued the tradition of easy listening pioneered by John Doremus, becoming a Los Angeles radio legend. His career included stints at KNX, KDAY from 1956 to 1958, KRKD from 1958 to 1961, KNOB, KPOL, and notably KMPC from 1961 to 1988. He was also part of "Music of Your Life" and worked at KJQI/KOJY from 1993 to 1995 and KGIL in 1998. At KMPC, he held the enviable position of full-time standby, making it one of the coolest gigs around.



Sunday, September 8, 2024

Gene Price 1991

 


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


Ira Cook 1961

 



In the early 1960s, they weren't really recording at McCadden.  Recordings were done at the stations, usually but it was haphazard.  Here's Ira Cook recorded at KMPC in 1961.


IRA LEIGH COOK Passed away on May 15, 2007 at the age of 90. 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. He was a beloved husband of Virginia for 58 years who predeceased him. 


Ira Cook 1961

More Ira Cook

Mary Helen Barro 1983

 


Winter is getting closer...  I'm thinking beach and Mary Helen Barro..



Saturday, September 7, 2024

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:)"
 
 

 

Friday, September 6, 2024

Joe Allison 1965

 

Joe was an exceptionally successful songwriter, performer, record label executive, producer, and DJ, among other roles. He served as the voice of country music on the AFRTS program "Country Corner" during the 1960s. Joe and his music were polished and sophisticated, marking a transition from the hillbilly era. Here's a visit to the Country Corner...



Thursday, September 5, 2024

Wolfman Jack 1974

 


You're never gonna believe this.  Wolfman has heard about what could be your perfect career opportunity, in the US Air Force!



Jingle Jingle...

 



I recall that in Korea during the 70s, and later in Panama, they would distribute a jingle reel featuring local songs, whether from AFN, AFKN, or similar. The ones I encountered were typically weak a cappella songs that transitioned into tracks from the jingle package. In Vietnam, I understand they "borrowed" demo packages and devoted considerable time to editing and producing high-quality jingles, a practice likely replicated elsewhere.

Norman unearthed something intriguing. The Pepper-Tanner jingle set from the late 60s featured appealing songs. The backstory is unclear to me. It's possible that AFN purchased them. We seem to have only one cut from the set. Do you have more?


Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Roger Carroll 1981

 

Roger and Beverly Carroll

Thanks again RC for sharing the memories.  Seems like only yesterday, I'd finish my show and The Happy Hour was there.  Roger was with us for three decades.  Give a listen...



Mary Turner 1994

 


Mary lived large, incredible career and love her memories of Ft McCadden.
Let's rock!

Mary Turner 1994

More Mary Turner


Herman Griffith 1967



For the brave and the bold!  It's the Records Caravan!!  Some pretty amazing radio from Herman.


Tom Campbell 1971

 


AFRTS network programming was like driving a battleship, small changes when necessary.  In 1971 they got serious about a more contemporary sound.  In the first group were Tom Campbell and Wolfman Jack, with Charlie Tuna to follow shortly.  Here's Tom's first show for AFRTS.





Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Andy Mansfield 1965

 

Andy Mansfield and Kay Starr

Andy Mansfield did a great job with the oldies of the past decades.  In the 50s he did a similar show "Turn Back the Clock" with his wife Virginia.



Roland Bynum 1983

 


Here's 1983 visit with frequent visitor Roland Bynum (Hi Roland!).  I would have been playing this on SCN in Panama.  Super memories. Play it loud.

Bill Stewart 1968

  


Great jock, swinging tunes.  It's time for your Musical Bill Affair! Bill was also a successful record producer that played a lot of his songs on the air at KMPC.   That became an issue.



Monday, September 2, 2024

Jim Pewter 1983

 

Revisit your memories with Jim's latest half-hour special, featuring the original version of a song popularized by the Beatles. Jim, one of our own, brings this essence to every show. Music like this isn't made anymore, and no one presents it better.


Don Tracy 1995

 .



Thanks George for taking the time to record these in 1995. It's a Don Tracy Friday. The party starts now!