Don Sherwood was a San Francisco, California disc jockey during the 1950s and 1960s. Billed as "The World's Greatest Disc Jockey," Sherwood spent most of his career hosting a 6 to 9 a.m. weekday program on KSFO in San Francisco. He once said, "Disc Jockey's are the lowest form of life".   

Basically, the job description is  to entertain, with personality, creativity and informtion. Disc Jockeys do exatly that, entertain, and that is not always as easy as it may seem. 

Unlike a firefighter racing into a burning building,  A Seal Team 6 member saving an American prisoner, or a scientist working towards a cure for cancer, a "jock" just talks.

But it is the involvement with the audience, the personality of the jock, which is the real key.  Forget the voice.

There are so many guys who get off on listening to their own "radio voice", it is laughable. When that voice is combined with creativity, and an ability to communicate, it's the holy grail! (Bobby Ocean, Robert W. Morgan, Charlie Van Dyke, Chuck Buell, Les Garland). But the voice is not the key.  

Dale Dorman

Look at Dale Dorman and Arnie Ginsburg in Boston, Bruce Morrow in New York, and Rick Dees in Los Angeles. Not really "great" voices but top jocks because of their personality and talents. Arbitron notes that voice quality is not even one of the top 5 reasons people listen to radio.  And it does not have to be a male voice, as Alison Steele, Mary Turner and Delilah have proven.  

HOW BIG IS YOURS?

Finally, there is Ego, defined by Webster as "a Latin word meaning "I", which derives from the Greek word "Εγώ (Ego)" meaning "I", often used in English to mean the "self", "identity"" . Normal people all have a "healthy" ego. Radio jocks are over the top!  

Recently, I spoke with a jock with many years experience who progressed to CEO of a major radio company. You would know his name immediately, Hollywood Hills has used him as a source many times. "This time"  he said, "please keep my name out of it, as my comments will result in whining emails from many insecure jocks".  Will do Mr. Radio.

When recognition comes from a colleague or listener it has much more credibility than self promotion. Now, my thoughts are about my own bio prepared by CRN promotion. Perhaps it was "hyped" too much with celebrities who readers don't need to know about. It is factual, and I was thinking about toning it down but my EGO would not let me!

Whatta Lady!

Les Garland had told me about Paul Drew's exwife Ann, and what a remarkable woman she was.  Ann was in LA to attend to some final arrangements for Paul, who passed away last week. Les was absolutely correct again. I had a chance to meet Ann Drew. This lady is first class.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Thanks to Don Graham, Danny Davis, Ron Jacobs and others for checking in on me yesterday and asking why "no column?" The truth is, I just did not feel all that well.  Better now, and back to work!  It is refreshing to know that people care and will track you down when you don't show up!  Thanks Guys!

(Click for Bio)

"Guys, I too never knew Paul Drew.  However, when I came to LA and went to work for KWST-FM, I was invited to a big deal New Years’ Eve Party for Radio/Records people following a Bette Midler Concert. Paul Drew was there, along with a lot of artists who were heard (and/or wanted to be heard) on KHJ. I figured what the hell, I would go up and introduce myself to the one man who made RJ seem ‘mellow’ (not to be confused with Mellow Yellow…which left most of us confused, go figure).  I started to cross the room when I was cut off by this adorable petit woman.  It was Bette Midler and she walked right up and slapped Drew on the face and called him a host of names and walked away".  BRENT SELTZER

Full Story is confirmed by The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame

"Jack: I wrote this for Drew and posted it on my FB. Feel free to use it if you want.  The last time I saw Drew, he had many nice things to say about you."  GERRY CAGLE  COMMENTS ABOUT PAUL DREW     GERRY'S WEBSITE

Jack Hobbs

While at WRKO in Boston, I had often heard rumors of a great promotion done a few years earlier while the station was still in the music mode. It was after Mel Phillips and the Legendary Now Radio 68/WRKO.  At the time Jack Hobbs was GM and Les Garland was PD.

Phone Freaks, Oldies Freaks, Label Freaks and Aircheck Freaks have been a staple of Top Forty radio. With the phone freaks, basically it is a small universe of people calling hitlines, usually requesting the same songs and dedications. It is a tough challenge for jocks to satisfy them.

Airchecks are easy as the best source is the site Bobby Ocean has along with Uncle Ricky -  http://www.reelradio.com/ 

Labels are more difficult as many collectors search eBay , music stores and private collectors.   BUT  -

The Oldies Freaks who can recall any Top Forty Hit, the date, Artist, Title, Chart Position, length and intro can rejoice!

There is no need to clog up your brain with this useless info anymore. I was an "Oldies Freak" too, until Mel Phillips showed me the light.  You need to be "Living in the Now", and that means get rid of all that useless info. Most people really don't want to hear it anyway. And if you feel the need to get info on any song just "Google" it and you have all the facts you need. It cleans out your brain and brings you into the "Now".

Mel Said, Change your ways, "That was Yesterday, and Yesterday's Gone"

And I said, "1964 - Chad & Jeremy on Ember Records"   OOPS!

I may have relapsed!

Timmy sent along info "Happy Together Oldies Tour".

 Here are the dates: