Due to me finding your WKAZ web site, I
reconnected with my friend Bob Turley & former WCHS jock named
Butch McClung (now at WWNR Beckley). I trade e-mails with Bob
Turley almost daily & talk to Butch McClung a lot. Had I not
located your site, I would have probably never gotten back in
touch with these guys. The 95 WKAZ site really touched me &
stirred up lots of feelings from way back.
Here's some answers to your
questions....Yes, that WAS Bob Turley on the Station ID. You'll
notice he voiced many commercials on those air checks. Regarding
the day-parted music, I can't remember a "clock" of scheduled
music. We took the standard breaks at :20 :40 :50 as best
I can remember.
They used some colored tape to tag the
records for day-parts. From what I recall, YELLOW= mid-days,
BLUE=all day parts, BLACK= nights. I'm sure the logic was while
the kids were in school, they wanted to target adults. Songs
like "If I Never Knew Your Name" by Vic Dana would have been a
YELLOW. "Tonight I'll Say A Prayer" by Eydie Gorme would be the
same. The station was not rigid at all. It was just kinda'
understood & everybody followed the logic. Like I just knew not
to play "Born to Be Wild" as an oldie in mid-days.
Papa Jay had free reign at night. He
could do whatever he wanted. No rules on when we used the "boing"
time tone ... I don't think it had a name. The station was part
of a small radio group. It could have been possible all of their
Top 40 stations used it, I don't know. It was NOT on cart. You
just pushed this button on the right of the console.
I told you before the reverb was on the
Mike Channel Only. If you switched it off too quick, the reverb
would chop off abruptly and sound terrible. Papa Jay was the
worst at doing this. His board work was not the best sometimes.
With respect to the oldies we played, from what I remember, the
station didn't really have that much of a library. I had a good
selection of various hit LP's at home. Many days I would bring
them in and the jocks would have fun choosing their favorites.
That was the case with Mike Hammer playing "What's a matter,
Baby" by Timi Yuro. Then you notice later I played "Lavender
Blue" by Sammy Turner. Both from a various hit Liberty LP.
I'm amazed that I even have the memory
of this stuff!!
By the way, Bob Turley was a wonderful
person to work for. Excellent people skills. On the other hand
GM Harvey Guenther was a horse of a different color. He never
gave me any trouble. I just tried to fly under the radar (I had
been warned).
I have been to
reelradio.com, and yes
you are welcome to share these with Richard Irwin. The Warner
Brothers movie deal is fine as well. Bob Turley could possibly
be a good resource for the Movie. He could possibly re-create
the breaking news of the crash. He still sounds just like he
always did.
Feel free to pass my e-mail phone
number, etc. if I can help them with elements for the movie. By
the way, my Godfather Jack Valenti was president of the Motion
Picture Association for many years. He retired recently, and I
haven't talked to him in several years. I guess I've covered
about everything. I still want to submit MY West Virginia story
for you. I just need to DO IT!!!
