Posts
Tom Campbell's back with some 1971 fun.
Hear Tom every day at 2pm Eastern 11a Pacific at www.mybestsounds.com
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Roland Bynum 1973
Here's Roland, with something a little bit different for the United States Air Force.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Jim Ameche 1965
Jim Ameche continues his review of the most beautiful music from the world's greatest orchestras with the Jim Ameche show.
There's a majesty to it that we heard from Pete Smith, John Doremus and Jim Ameche.
It's time to relax
Jim Pewter 1967
We never had Router issues when they played "Let's Go". I've never heard anyone else that could program a show as well as Jim Pewter. Play it loud.
Hear Jim every day at 6pm Central
Friday, May 9, 2025
Chris Noel 1967
Hard to think of such a thing as a personality that left such an impact after being off the air for such a long time. Chris stopped doing the show in the early 70s and still has so many fans that remember like it was yesterday.
Monday, May 5, 2025
Jim Ameche 1965
From Jack Armstrong to being the first to succeed with a syndicated DJ show, the voice of the Longines Symphonette, KMPC, WNEW. It was quite a career. Jim played beautiful music for us.
Just Jazz 1949
Gene Norman was one of the first AFRS jocks, in the 40s and 50s he was a big jazz promoter and record company owner and always had some time for us. This is magic a 1949 performance with Louis Armstrong and the all-stars.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Chiquita 1955
In 1945, the Armed Forces Radio Service initiated direct programming for its Hispanic audience with the Chiquita program, hosted by Chiquita Juarez. Ms. Juarez is believed to have undertaken a few minor film roles and appeared on Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Additionally, she was featured in a Father's Day episode of Duffy's Tavern as one of Archie the Bartender's potential romantic interests.
Ten years later, she was still doing the show.
Charlie Tuna 1989
Charlie at KHJ
The most consistent personality in radio was Charlie Tuna. He did the same meticulous program in 1970 that he did in 1995. Normally that would be a bad thing, not with Charlie Tuna.
He was heard around the world daily on the Armed Forces Radio Network for a 25 year – 6000 show run from 1971 to 1996, as well as on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, since the early 70’s. He’s now heard in syndication around the world.
Charlie has his own really great website over at charlietuna.com If you haven't been there yet you should!
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Jimmy Wakely 1971
I think we can say cowboy music.. Jimmy, in WWII was one of the last cowboy crooners and was a success in recordings, movies, radio and television. We lost Jimmy to heart failure in 1982.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Roger Carroll 1981
Roger Carroll and Los Angeles radio were the same thing. From 1948-58 at KABC and 1959-79 at Gene Autry's KMPC.
"KMPC was one of the most successful radio stations in the country, and had the lineup -- the most envied talent in the radio business," said Roger Carroll, who played records on KMPC. The key to their success, he said, was a rapport with the audience. "Everybody who listened to the station thought we were their friends."
Roger brought that sound to McCadden Av. and AFTRS. Part of the reason he related so well was that he was one of the few network personalities that were a veteran.
"I served two years active duty 1953-55 then 26 years doing my AFRTS show every Tuesday for five hours....my William Morris agents knew and told clients who wanted me to do their voice overs he is not available Tues 8a-1p doing his AFTRS shows many client who served in the military we will wait for him..."
Roger said it was very special "when parents of our guys in Viet Nam and around the world would call me at KMPC or write a letter, telling me their son wanted to thank me for doing the show that they hear on AFVN, FEN, AFN and all around the world."
Mr. Carroll's company was responsible for the recruiting shows done by Gene Price, Roland Bynum and himself heard every Sunday morning on hundreds of radio stations in the 70s and 80s
The theme was an edit of one of the KMPC jingles . Harry Zimmerman Orchestra
Monday, April 21, 2025
Mary Turner 1994
Mary lived large, incredible career and love her memories of Ft McCadden.
Let's rock!
Vance Graham 1974
We lost Vance Graham in 1984, his ashes were spread over the Pacific.
(a more complete version of the above is at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49068615 )
But now, from 1973, here's Victor and Latino!
Herman Griffith 1966
Herman with Jim Pewter and Roger Carroll
It's easy to see Herman Griffith as the voice of a community in 1966. There's a lot to his presentation that others refined and copied. Herman talks about Savings Bonds, with an interest rate very similar to today... Let's take a listen.
Herman Griffith 1966
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
This is the story 1947
A few years ago I picked up a lot of these and am finally getting to the transfers. Network did a great job explaining issues. This time a dramatization about how hunger led to Mussolini.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Andy Mansfield 1963
Here's part 3 of America's Popular Music, Andy Mansfield continues his tribute to Glenn Miller.
Tom Campbell 1978
After his service in the United States Air Force, Campbell landed his first radio gig at KEEL in Shreveport, Louisiana, thanks to Al Hart, who would later become a renowned newscaster and radio personality in San Francisco.
Campbell's career took him to Minneapolis, Minnesota at WDGY, and to WONE in Dayton, Ohio, before he settled at KYA 1260 AM in San Francisco in 1967. He was famously generous, often lending his personal phonograph, record collection, and even his car to listeners, with the understanding that they would return them, which they invariably did.
His home and car phone numbers (indeed, he had one of the rare car phones in 1967) were listed publicly in the white and yellow pages across the Bay Area, and he welcomed calls from listeners even at his residence.
Tom Campbell hosted two programs for us: "Tom Campbell Stateside" and the more album-focused "Playback." Tom generously shared a few boxes of these from his garage. I'm deeply appreciative. Now, it's time for "Playback."
BIll Stewart 1969
From 1969 here's Bill with guest Mort Garson, the writer of "Our Day Will Come", Mort did neat things with the early synthesizers.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Jim Pewter 1970
Jim Pewter in a 1967 promo picture at AFRTS
(picture courtesy Jim Pewter)
Jim spent 30 years at AFRTS from 1966 through 1996, every show a painless education of rock.
Guenther recorded a bunch of these from AFN and it's some great listening. Thank you Guenther and Jim!
Don Tracy 1983
East coast Don Tracy, way back when...
Let's get the party started with some Don Tracy fun!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
SEN Pledge Drive 1969 Joe Ferguson
Joe Ferguson sent this over a long time ago. Joe had a history with us. AFN, SEN (later changed to SEB and Losa Angeles, Portland and I'm sure more.
But, save those dollars! The SEN Pledge Drive is coming up!
John Doremus 1967
Music for the dinner hour from John Doremus. After the run of the show John did many spots and short form shows that ran for years.
Friday, April 11, 2025
Ira Cook 1967
Time for some 1967 fun with KMPC vet Ira Cook.
Hear Ira every morning at 10am Central on www.mybestsounds.com
Monday, April 7, 2025
Joe Allison 1965
Joe Allison was a singer, songwriter, producer and record executive. He lived the music and and made it better. AFRTS brought him worldwide.
Wolfman Jack 1975
The weekend starts any time you have Wolfman Jack. Once again I'd like to thank Hans Knot for making this available.
Roger Carroll 1981
Young RC...
Time for a 1981 visit with the best sounds in town. Roger takes it uptempo today. Good stuff...
Sunday, April 6, 2025
MaryTurner 1984
Time for another visit with Mary Turner, She started at the network in 1981 or so, bringing a new perspective. It was rocking...
Mary checked in last time with good words about her AFRTS time.
Friday, April 4, 2025
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?
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 1963
In 1963 the loss of Glenn Miller was still fresh. Here's part two of Andy Mansfield's tribute. He did a great job and talked with a lot of the people that knew Glenn.
Tom Campbell 1971
Tom Campbell had an amazing focus. He just sounds excited and like every last word is important. And it's not an act, he's excited about life, He really could make reading the phone-book pop.
Hear Tom every day at 11a Pacific, 2p Eastern on
Monday, March 31, 2025
Jazz International 1960
There's always been great jazz on AFRTS, Howard Leucroft hosts Buddy Collette. Here's some great music.
Jim Pewter 1980
Jim and Laurie Allen (another Minnesotan!!)on tour
Famous Minnesotans! Jim Pewter. Jim was on the network shortly after leaving AFKN and stayed on until 1996. Here's memories of memories from 1980.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Don Tracy 1983
"You can tell it's hot" Don Tracy starts the weekend with this Friday show from 1983.
Chris Noel 1969
Thanks again Chris Noel! For a lot of troops you were the thing that made a hard time livable.
Joe Ferguson 1983
In 1983 the network did a cute bit, short term deals with jocks all ovr the country. "The Voice of Home".
Joe Ferguson has your favorites on a Wednesday in 1983. Here's the Joe Show!
Thursday, March 27, 2025
John Doremus 1969
What could be more universal than travel? John Doremus has songs and stories about going places and seeing things.
Gene Price 1975
Gene Price is back. Time to board "The Country Express"
Start your day with the Gene Price show. 5am Pacific/8am Eastern
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)