So, yesterday was National Radio Day. Thought it'd be fun to post something that not too many people in my profession would do: Post an "aircheck" from my FIRST EVER time on the radio. Yes, it's saved for posterity on a cassette in my office at home. This would be from September of 1986, when I was a freshman at Iowa State University. They had a campus radio station, completely run by students, in my dorm (Friley Hall). The station is still there, it's just got a different name now. As I think back over some great times in radio...from working at KGGO in Des Moines where the studios overlooked our a swimming pool (with lots of hot college girls on weekends)...to working out in southern Maryland and all that the Washington, D.C., area has to offer...to working for years at All Hit 98-9 (with too many stories to mention)...to working in Madison, Wisconsin...and finally Q106.5. I've had a great career. BUT...some of my fondest memories are STILL working a once-a-week airshift at KUSR...the campus radio station. We got to pick ALL of the music...and do whatever. Those were really great times.
For the purposes of this aircheck...I did NOT include the commercial that comes after my voice. WHY? Because it was the one time in my broadcast career where I let an F-bomb slip! I was being trained by a blind guy, Caine Brolin. He was great. I open the microphone a little after 2am...say what you hear on this tape...then, play the PSA. Suddenly, Caine starts pointing at me...with a worried look on his face. I say, "What? What's the problem? Did I do something wrong?" He keeps pointing. Finally, I realized my microphone was still on. So...I said, "Aw, F*&#." THEN, turned it off. Again, it was 2 in the morning, so no one called. Thanks God!
The other thing you'll notice about this is...I WAS REALLY BAD! I mean...REALLY bad. It's amazing that I was able to turn THAT into a 33-year career. So, happy National Radio Day to all of my radio brothers and sisters...
BY THE WAY...my REAL radio beginnings go back to 1978...when I'd play disk jockey in my bedroom...