Through the years I’ve been privileged to work with some very talented people like Jim Harper who was also one of the classiest guys I’ve ever met. Jim was part of the Harper and Gannon Morning show on WNIC in Detroit and I was the new station consultant. No matter what Jim somehow always managed to look like he had just stepped off the set of the TV series “Miami Vice”.
When Steve Gannon left to do his own thing Jim decided to do his show a little more like Johnny Carson did his which was always my favorite type of morning show to coach after studying the Tonight Show for so many years so Jim and I hit it off instantly. Although I knew from the git go we had a big problem that needed to be fixed immediately. The big problem was that the current Program Director was the type who wanted to do a more music morning show but as I discovered years before you don’t need a talented guy like Jim Harper around to do one of those. I felt the PD was not only gonna be a pain in the ass to deal with he was also standing in the way of Jim becoming a Detroit legend he as destined to become. I informed Jim that the main reason Ron Chapman wanted to be the PD of KVIL in dallas was so he could protect the morning show. Ron was simply not going to answer questions about his morning show to some Music Director who had managed to get himself promoted to the Program Director’s position. My plan was a simple one, we get rid of the current PD and make Jim the temporary Program Director. Jim claimed there wasn’t a chance in hell that Corporate was gonna buy him as the new PD and I agreed, but as I explained everybody is always very comfortable with the word temporary. If they don’t buy this plan Jim I explained we are doomed because they will make us look for the perfect new PD before allowing us to get rid of this guy and by then your morning show will be ruined. I believed as I told Jim that we didn’t have the luxury of time coz the future is now. I don’t remember how long they looked a new PD but I do know they never found one as good as Jim. Don’t you just love when devious plans come together.
Aren’t protest marches kinda old school now.
>Seeing as 25% of people skip over a tune 5 seconds after it begins you may consider working on other aspects of your programming.<
Ahh, George, you are priceless! Love your blog!
High praise Doug, thank you. (-:
Hi George, I id with Ron C. about his main reason for becoming pd at KVIL. Protecting the morning show of Knapp & Donuts at KS95 was my # ! reason for doing the basically “thankless” pd job for 12 years in Mpls. and it worked.
As I recall Chucker it worked real well you may have noticed I never came to town to do battle with you, I picked my fights wisely.
I remember Jerry St.James and Jim Harper on WNIC and when the news hit that they had split up and Jerry was going to WMJC. From what I recall, they both where to go to WMJC and Jerry had already singed and Jim said he wanted to be either the Program Director or Music Director and the station said no.
So, both started looking for new on air partners and Harper/Gannon and You hit the air first on WNIC followed a few months later buy Jerry St.James and Elliott on WMJC.
Jim and Steve had the funnier show by far but somehow it all fell apart and Steve left only to return when I think when Jim Harper and Mike Bradley bought WABX and renaming it WDTX.
Jeff and Jer left for Chicago then San Diego and where a team for thirty-three years when Jerry then going buy his real name Jerry Cecek retired from the show leaving Jeff Detrow (Elliott) still with the program.
Jim retired from a station in Detroit also called “Magic” and I read that Steve Gannon passed away a few years ago.
Ah Detroit radio in the 1980’s.. loved it!
Jeff I had the privilege of working with Harper and Gannon in Detroit plus Jeff & Jer in San Diego. All of them were very gifted and fun to work with. I learned real early just how they liked their coffee and gave it to them exactly that way. geo
Would you know where or if I can get my hands on a copy of Steve (Casey) singing; “I’m drivin to work”?
I’m sorry I don’t Jeff.