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

Click here to see all AFVN posts

Mary Helen Barro 1983

  

Mary Helen Barro, "la voz de su casa" She carried on on the Latino tradition of Chiquita, Victor, Hernan Escodon and others.

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Ira Cook 1965

   

Ira Cook with Elvis Presley

Ira started with us in 1960, still there 20 years later.

Ira Cook 1965

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Joe Allison 1969

 

Joe Allison really was country music, starting as a DJ in Texas in 1945.  He went on tour hosting Tex Ritter and got Tex to record one of his songs.  From there, Nashville radio until going to a station in Pasadena CA.  Penning "He'll Have To Go". Later to run the country department of Dot Records.  Starting in the mid 60s Joe was recording the Country Corner for AFRTS.

Country Corner - 1969

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Veterans Day 1963

 Today is Veterans Day in the United States.  Originally the holiday was Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of WWI.  

Here Rests In Honored Glory 1963

Wolfman Jack 1979

  

Let's revisit 1979. I was 22, in Korea and don't remember most of the year. I met Wolfman at LAX when I came Stateside. Only time I was ever totally speechless at meeting a celebrity. Play it loud!

Wolfman Jack - 1979

More 

 Wolfman Jack

Hear Wolfman Jack every day at 3am on www.mybestsounds.com

Mary Turner 1992

     

It was a scandal.  In the early 80s when the network started the Mary Turner show.  Loud Rock and Roll.  What will the generals say?  We'll find out.  Mary brought her KMET show to the world and it was a very good thing.

Mary Turner 1992

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Chris Noel 1969

 

A life of service.  In 1969 that service was with AFRTS.  Thank you Chris.

Hear Chris Noel every day at 11pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Date With Chris - 1969

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Golden Days Of Radio - War of the Worlds

 

Frank Bresee is back with another look at radio's golden days.  Today, the exciting conclusion of "War Of The Worlds".

Hear the Golden Days Of Radio every day at 8pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Golden Days Of Radio 1975

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Jim Pewter 1970

 

In 1970 Guenther was in Germany listening to the Americans on AFN.  He saved a lot of it.

Here's a 1970 visit.

Be sure to hear Jim at 6pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Jim Pewter 1970

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Herman Griffith 1967

     

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas "Jimmy Mack"

"Time for something for the brave and the bold, it's the Records Caravan".  The music was changing.  Herman made it better.

Hear Herman weekdays at 3pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Herman Griffith 1967

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Spotlight Bands - Fort Devens MA 1945

 

Mostly, I try to stay away from CONUS network radio shows.  Spotlite Bands is a little different.  During WWII Coca-Cola sponsored the top bands in America playing at military bases in the US and to be recorded for AFRS.  Here's Charlie Barnet, playing at Lovell General Hospital, Ft Devens MA

Spotlight Bands - Charlie Barnet October 1945

Joe Ferguson

  

Joe Ferguson was one of the jocks from all over the country sharing his skills in an experiment AFRTS tried in the early 80s.  He shared these shows and I'll always be grateful.

Hear Joe every day at 11:00am Central www.mybestsounds.com 

Joe Ferguson - 1983

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Roger Carroll 1970

Here's Roger at the Hollywood Palladium

Roger spent decades with us and did some wonderful radio.  His day job was at KMPC but he grabbed a lot of announcing work at the civilian networks.  A few years ago he shared his collection with us and I'm glad I can help share it.

Roger did some very stylish radio.  But you've never heard it  begin quite like this...

Hear Roger every morning at 9am Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Roger Carroll 1970

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Charlie Tuna 1982

 

It's summer 1982, I'm enjoying life in what was left of the Canal Zone and Charlie Tuna had us staying Tuna'd

Hear Charlie every morning at 8:00 Central at www.mybestsounds.com

Charlie Tuna - Summer 1982

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Gene Price 1980

  

Gene Price, Charlie Tuna and Jim Pewter

So is it inspired silliness, wonderful radio or country music at it's best?  All three, it's the Gene Price show from 1980 on AFRTS...

Hear Gene every morning at 6am Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Gene Price - 1980

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Ira Cook 1967

  

Ira Cook makes the day brighter!

Hear Ira Every day at 5am Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Ira Cook 1967

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Early AFN

 

Been a long time since we looked at AFN in the 1940s and 50s.  Here's some misc material from Frankfurt and Stuttgart with Bob Smith, Keith Griggs and more.

Early AFN

GI Jive 1945

 

In 1943 Martha Wilkerson was the voice of the girl left behind as GI Jill on on the brand new Armed Forces Radio Service. 

GI Jive 1945

 More GI Jive here

LaRita Shelby 1995

 

 

LaRita still keeps it happening.  Take a look at her filmography. We were lucky enough to have her doing a show for us.  This is another one of George's recordings.

 

At her website, http://www.laritashelby.com there are some wonderful videos (buy the cd!).

 

LaRita Shelby 1995

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Jim Ameche 1965

 

Jim Ameche has another hour of the most beautiful music of the best orchestras from around the world.

Jim Ameche - 1965

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AFVN Gary Gears 1968

 Here's the 1968 year end show from AFVN.  Gary Gears, who went on to great things at the best Chicago stations voices this.

1968 A Year in the Life of Man

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Gene Price 1973

  

Gene had been doing the show for about a year, starting a quarter century of making friends around the world.

Hear Gene every morning at 7am central at www.mybestsounds.com

Gene Price - 1973

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AFRTS 1977

  

In November 1977 I was rocking AFKN TDC and we were running these same shows from AFRTS-LA.  Bruce Phillip Miller has a "Coffee Break", Roger Carroll with a Word or Two, Roland Bynum and Kris Erik Stevens.

AFRTS November 1977

Mary Helen Barro 1980

  

  Let's remember the beaches, con salsa with Mary Helen Barro.

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Charlie Tuna 1973

 This was sourced from the mastering reel with the slug still intact. 

Charlie was at KKDJ during the week and was squared off against Charlie Van Dyke at his old KHJ home.  Robert W. Morgan was at K-100.  Talk about a radio battle!  But we can treasure the Saturdays at the McCadden studios, making radio like this:

Charlie Tuna 1973

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Joe Allison 1969

 

Joe Allison really was country music, starting as a DJ in Texas in 1945.  He went on tour hosting Tex Ritter and got Tex to record one of his songs.  From there, Nashville radio until going to a station in Pasadena CA.  Penning "He'll Have To Go". Later to run the country department of Dot Records.  Starting in the mid 60s Joe was recording the Country Corner for AFRTS.

Country Corner - 1969

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Wolfman Jack 1977

  

This is nice, Wolfman recorded off of AFN in Germany in 1977, at the end Wolfman is on voice tracks talking about USAEUR.  Did all of the AFRTS-LA team record these?  Howl!

It's been almost 30 years since we lost Wolf.  

Wolfman Jack - 1977

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Roger Carroll 1981

 

Mr and Mrs RC

Memories of 1981 with the Happy Hour. Such memories. It was quite a hit on SCN..

Roger Carroll - 1981

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Mary Turner 1992

     

It was a scandal.  In the early 80s when the network started the Mary Turner show.  Loud Rock and Roll.  What will the generals say?  We'll find out.  Mary brought her KMET show to the world and it was a very good thing.

Mary Turner 1992

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Herman Griffith 1068

     

Indeed, the music was fantastic. Herman Griffith, who joined us from KGFJ, was known for not "hitting the posts." This was due to the lack of a proper headphone output when AFRTS upgraded their studios. Given his style, Herman relied on the headphone output more than others. His energy and the music are truly memorable.

Herman Griffith 1968

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AFKN Faun Mann 2020

 

The morning show from Daegu (used to be Taegu) with Faun Mann. The tradition continues. I notice the similarities. Someone in Berlin the 1940s sounds a lot like someone in Vietnam. Done well it's just relating to the troops.

Visit their website: http://afnkorea.net/

AFN Korea - Faun Mann 2010

Turn Back The Clock 1958

  

Andy Mansfield and Kay Starr

 

Turn Back the Clock was a fascinating show.  Andy and Virginia Mansfield were playing the songs of 20 and 30 years ago. Of course in the mid-50s that could mean Al Jolson and acoustic cylinders.  Let's revisit 1958 and Turn Back The Clock.

Turn Back The Clock 1958

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Tom Campbell 1971

    

The music was great and so was Tom Campbell.  Tom was one of the greatest one on one voices and through that was very successful being the voice of several great sponsors.   Tom's still around, and taking your calls...

Hear Tom Campbell everyday at 1pm on www.mybestsounds.com

Tom Campbell - 1971

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Roland Bynum 1981

 

Time for another visit to the Creators Workshop.  

Roland Bynum - 1981

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Bill Stewart 1967

  

Bill Stewart kept it jazzy and had a long AFRTS run..

Bill Stewart - 1967

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Jim Pewter 1968

  

PV2 Jim Pewters and Jill St John in Korea 1964.  Jill was with the Bob Hope show.  Copyright Playground Productions.  Courtesy Jim Pewter.

Jim Pewter has your favorite oldies.  These guys did such a great job with Command Information.  I was just listening to this one and realized I had spent a minute being interested in a spot about hepatitis .  I would have been in Korea around this time.  Street vendors, things swimming in the water.  I did avoid the tattoo parlors..

Hear Jim every day at 6pm Central at www.mybestsounds.com

The music's great.  C'mon down to the malt shop..

Jim Pewter - 1978

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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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Chris Noel 1971

 

By 1971 Chris was doing a rocking show.  In the beginning it was more MOR/standards based.  She did both great.

Date With Chris - 1971

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Joe Ferguson 1983

  

From Portland to you.  Joe Ferguson from KUPL did a series of shows for AFRTS in 1983.  A few years ago he shared them with us.  It's a fun listen.

Joe Ferguson - 1983

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John Doremus 1969

  

Been a long time since we had a visit with John Doremus.  John was the big voice of soft music after Jim Ameche and before Pete Smith.  He recorded a bunch of PSAs for us that we were using many years after.  He was the one that brought music to air travel.  He hosted a nationwide program of soft muisc on the BIG AM stations in the 60s.  Big talent.

John Doremus 1969

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Early AFN

 

Here's another bunch of surprises from the early years of AFN, in no particular order but probably the 1940s and 50s. 




Early AFN

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Gene Price 1973

  

Willard is back, with your favorite silliness. Gene Price Country World is nice way to start the back to work crunch.

Gene Price - 1973

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Mary Helen Barro 1983

  

It's a Friday in 1983, and Mary Helen is ready with your favorite Latin hits. Let the fiesta begin!

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Charlie Tuna 1986

 

Charlie Tuna with Hershel Bernardi 1981, Hershel

was the original voice of Charlie The Tuna, as

I was recently reminded.

Such a loss, Charlie Tuna.  So many of us listened closely and TRIED to absorb.  He always worked harder than anyone else and it showed.

Charlie Tuna 1986
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Joe Allison 1969

 

Joe Allison has your country favorites in this 1969 memory

Country Corner - 1969

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