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

More Joe Allison

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

More Mary Turner

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

More Memories with Chris Noel

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

More Golden Days of Radio

 

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

More Jim Pewter

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

More Herman Griffith

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

More Joe Ferguson

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

More Roger Carroll

 

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

More Charlie Tuna

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

More Gene Price

Ira Cook 1967

  

Ira Cook makes the day brighter!

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

Ira Cook 1967

More Ira Cook

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

More Larita Shelby

Jim Ameche 1965

 

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

Jim Ameche - 1965

More Jim Ameche

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

More From AFVN

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

More Gene Price

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

More Mary Helen Barro

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

More Charlie Tuna

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

More Joe Allison

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

More Wolfman Jack

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

More Roger Carroll

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

More Mary Turner

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

More Herman Griffith

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

More Andy Mansfield