Geo’s Media Blog. (Here’s To The Phantoms) new 5/04/20

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Long before I got into radio, I was a musician. I started out on the accordion and then switched to trumpet, but when I saw Elvis on TV, I knew that I had to become a guitar man.
Shortly after I bought my guitar, I was invited to join a singing group called “Shayne and the Devines,” which was kinda fun. However, being more of a musician than a vocalist, I persuaded Shayne to let me recruit some of my talented musician friends.

On tenor sax, we got Pete Proskurnik, who brought along his drum playing buddy Gordy Duke and I talked my friend Rolly Blaquiere into playing bass with his brother Lawrence on piano.
Now that we were a real band, the name Devines sounded a little too wimpy, so we changed it to Shayne and the Rebel Raiders. Then when we realized that our name sounded much too southern for a northern band, we became the Phantoms.

My Mom made us some very cool blue satin tux jackets (see above), so we were lookin’ good, but when Shayne found out that it wasn’t Shayne and the Phantoms, he walked.
When Shayne left, we replaced him with Donny Burns (pictured above) and added another sax man, Jimmy Harrison.

Now we were starting to sound pretty good, but when I spotted Perry Waksvik playing at a variety show for another band, I recruited him for ours. Perry not only had great chops on guitar, but he also sang all those cool Chuck Berry songs, and I moved over to rhythm.
Within weeks we became one of Winnipeg’s best bands, and I’d stumbled across a philosophy that I would use for the rest of my life, “He who is smart enough to hire people better than themselves is the smartest person in the room.”
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The Phantoms were not only were good, but we also became legendary. Unfortunately, though, our legendary status may have come more from our partying than our musical ability.
Part of our problem was that we could party anywhere at any time because we had a party trailer. (see above)
Originally the trailer was only intended to carry our gear so we could cut back to one car. However,  because we stored it at Rolly’s house, he decided to turn it into a small nightclub. Check this out; It had wall to wall carpeting, curtains, colored mood lights, giant pillows, and of course, a well-stocked bar. If that trailer could talk, what tales it could tell. Whew!

One of the reasons bands have a difficult time staying together is because sometimes the only thing they have in common is the music. Unfortunately, once the music talk winds down, the drama begins.
When we recruited Perry, it took us to a new level, but once the drama began, it was time to move on, and while looking for another lead guitar, Randy Bachman graciously filled in. When Terry Kenny from the Chord-U-Roys joined us, Randy started his own band that you may have heard of, The Guess Who.
 
Terry was a great guitar player, but he appeared to be a lot more reserved than the rest of us. (looks can be deceiving) His first gig with the Phantoms was when we opened up for Bill Black’s Combo on a Saturday night. Fearing that he may freeze up, I told Rolly to take him to the trailer in the afternoon and run him through the setlist a few more times.
However, like a fool, I also told Rolly to give him a couple of drinks to loosen him up, and y’all see this coming, don’t ya? When they arrived at the venue that night, Terry looked stiffer than ever, and Rolly was shitfaced! 🙂
GEO’S LIFE-LINES

Is it racist to have good thoughts about somebody just because of their race?

With greatness comes great responsibility.

The only people who tell the truth all the time are kids and drunks.

How much money can there be in Tobasco Sauce when you only use it one drop at a time?

The highest honor a man can bestow upon a woman is to ask her to marry him. Sometimes though, the greatest gift a woman can give a man in return is to say no.

The next thing you should do is that which you’re afraid to do.

Want the boss to notice you? Take the blame for something; you’ll be the only one in that line.

Who gave the prosecutors the right to plea bargain? I don’t remember voting for it.

I wonder if this is the America our forefathers dreamed of?

I think all government employees should get the minimum wage and have to work for tips.

A lot of great talent, unfortunately, comes from and is fueled by the dark side.

All races have good guys and bad guys, but I figure it’s time to rag on a few of the other races. Don’t they deserve equal time?

COMMENTS

Ken LeMann: As good as it feels to heap importance upon ourselves, let’s be honest. Radio may, in fact, be part of show business, but it’s somewhere on the very outskirts – maybe just beyond community theater! It seems like a lot of it is getting farther away every year. (Yeah But)

Bruce Devine: Another great thing about Earl & other announcers at CFTR, was that he was initially a singer, so his sense of music & his pacing was so much better than someone just using a countdown clock. Don Parrish was also a classically trained singer & Fred Davis a horn player, No need to explain to them what you wanted them to hit…they could feel it. I’m still op-ing  NHL radio feeds out of Montreal…Earl is reading liners on practically every back feed! (Earl Mann)

Jerry Keifer: The first serious fault I see with JVC’s entry into the West Palm market is News radio 900. The “Belle Glade” station has always had signal problems in West Palm dating back to the ’60s and the various formats they tried, R & B, country, religion, and gospel music. Fair to good in a car but no building penetration.  The guys are doing a great job with the content, but you’ve got to be able to hear it. (Consolidation Is A Bust)

Jim Hilliard jr: Everyone in the world listened to Pierre Trudeau except his wife and the Stones! (A Woman’s Wants)

Jim Harper: As I recall George, it was YOUR idea to make me the PD then selling it to management by saying, “He’ll be too busy to mess up the sound of the station.” You were right on all accounts: It is much easier to make a successful morning show if you’re the PD, and you ARE too busy to wreck anything on the station. Forever grateful. (What The Hell Happened?)

John Ryman: George, hadn’t talked to you for a while, even more, good stuff here…..you ARE one of my radio heroes. Health slowly returning here…..gets better every day, and the outlook is excellent! Blessings. (Good People Are Irrelevant)

Joasia Holotka: More crazy stories by the minute George!!!  From what I understand, it’s quite a compliment to be mentioned in a similar way to Jo Myers. Thank you! (You May Be Lunch)

Greg McClure: George, I really love reading your past life review and current observations. Right on the money, so to speak. My dad liked to laugh and liked to love his 13 children. More than once, he’d say: “the feet pay for the head’s mistakes.” It took me some time to figure that out! –another fan of the vast audio radiance, Greg. (I’m The F**king Boss, That’s Why)

Joe Tobin: Your comment that any forward motion is good motion was not lost on me. In fact, many of the comments made by you, and by Jim H, still ring true. You were overwhelmingly positive and always urged me to keep trying; obviously, you were speaking the truth. (Comments)

Scott Courant: Geo, Salespeople were never high on your list, but we did a few unique things together. (Palm-Aire) As Reineri once said, “Once and a while, you’ve got to give one back.” Talk soon! (Thank You)

Geo: Love hanging with you sales guys, Scott, just don’t like working with you.

Gordon Zlot: George,
We’re honored to be included in this list.  Oh BTW…I just figured out what KY was CKY.  I thought you were referring to …..you know KY Jelly, but what’s that got to do to oidar? (radio backward)  I’m off to have a martini now, and you know where that might take us!

Geo: Martini-ville is always a good place to head to, Gordon, lots of Muses hang out there. (Thank You)

Geo’s Media Blog is an inside look at Radio, Music, Movies, and Life. For a sneak peek at some upcoming Blogs or to see some that you may have missed, go to Geo’s Media Blog GeorgeJohns.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. Sharing and commenting is appreciated.

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3 thoughts on “Geo’s Media Blog. (Here’s To The Phantoms) new 5/04/20

  1. Dave Charles: What a combination,,, being in a band and radio! That way you get the best of everything, right George. Great to get a sense of your history. (Here’s To The Phantoms)

    Geo: An evil combination, Dave, that’s for sure. 🙂 Thanks for the read and the comment.

  2. Ah Donnie Burns…what stories we could all tell about Donnie. Short stint at CHUM Toronto (where I worked with him), then became a legend at CKGM Montreal, and again at CHFI Toronto (he owned afternoon ratings for several years). All the while voicing national spot after national spot after national spot. Donny was so cool. Worked with him again when I was Creative Director at Telemedia Network Radio in Toronto. AGain….stories! Hope you’re well George.

  3. George, I learned a big lesson playing in a band and later in the record biz…the best players are not always the best band mates. You are on stage for about an hour but have to live and deal with the other bands members for the other 23. I learned to never replace and adequate player that is great band mate with a great one because it can break the “one for all and all for one” feeling .

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