Monthly Archives: June 2021

Geo’s Media Blog. (It Was 34 Years Ago Today) Updated 6/28/21.

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I recently told my Grandson Nathaniel that the secret to life was, “First, you figure out what you’d like to do, and then you find someone to pay you to do it.”
Unfortunately, though, your life will go by in a flash, as mine has.

When I was growing up in Transcona, all I ever dreamed about was being a rock & roll star.
So seeing as the thing most rockers have in common is a guitar, I bought one just like Buddy Holly’s.

Next, along with my friend Rolly (Termite) Blaquiere, we started a couple of bands, and before you knew it, we were cutting records.
Unfortunately, the money wasn’t great, so even though we had the #1 Canadian record on the charts when my daughter Candis was born, I left The Jury for the radio business.

It was an excellent decision because I was much better at radio than I ever was at playing guitar.
After becoming a radio guy, I moved around a lot and never thought much about my band days until I got an invitation to attend the reunion of all the ’60s bands at the Winnipeg Convention Center.

I hadn’t touched my guitar for over 20 years, so I only planned on watching the concert and hanging out with my old bandmates for a couple of days. (see photo above)

The nights highlight for me was watching Randy Bachman from BTO, Burton Cummings from The Guess Who, and Neil Young doing a twenty-minute version of American Woman.
The scariest moment of the night, though, was when Randy and Burton strapped a Strat on me and pushed me out on stage to join the rest of the Jury, who were laughing their asses off.

Standing there in front of a bunch of TV cameras while looking out at a sold-out crowd (see photo on top) scared me to death.
However, I did manage to tell a stagehand to make sure my guitar was turned off if he wanted to make it through the night.

Then the strangest thing happened, as Terry hit the intro of our first record, “Until You Do,” my hands knew exactly what to do.
After twenty years of not playing my guitar, I had no idea even what the chord progressions were, but there I was playing them, and it was the last time I was ever on stage.
(To view some of what went on that night, click the link at the bottom of the Blog.)

GEO’S LIFE-LINERS.

Radio Consultant Tracy Johnson said that Kidd Kraddick told him that he gave up some of his funniest stuff to his co-workers because it didn’t match his image.

The folks listen to the radio for 227 minutes every week. Can you even imagine what it would be if it was any good?

Your actual value is measured by how many people became successful because of your success?

If you want to accomplish something, you’ll find a way, or you’ll find an excuse.

Making magic memories is what our life’s mission should be all about.

We all respect that which we cannot do.

The Loss of your word is the biggest loss of all.

Marriage makes no financial sense to a man.

Little girls are fun and easy to make happy, but they become almost impossible as soon as they turn into women.

Why is it that the not-so-good-looking women are the ones who complain about men hitting on them, whereas the beautiful ladies never mention it?

Do women stop being naughty when the moment they no longer can conceive, or were they never naughty?

If the ladies really do like sensitive men the best, why do they always go home from the party with a Clint Eastwood type?

The only women I can handle attitude from are my daughters, and even that’s rather tough.

The government is the same as it’s always been, but unfortunately for them, we, the people, are smarter.

Before escaping to Canada, you may want to consider this, the far right is a little bit left of center.

Is it just me, or do all the presidents, upon leaving office, live like and near all the people they railed against?

Telling me what’s wrong with this picture pays a dollar an hour but fixing it pays a thousand.

If you can’t change the situation, then it is you who must change.

NFL kneelers ain’t gonna get the police’s attention; only what threatens their pensions can do that.

(For a little taste of what went on at the band reunion in Winnipeg, click on the links below.)

The short story above is about my going back to Winnipeg for a band reunion with #TheJury, #TheGuessWho, #BTO, and #NeilYoung followed by #Geo’sLifeLiners which deals with #Kneelers, #TheFarRight, #Canada, #NaughtyWomen, #Respect, and a few other #PoliticallyIncorrectOservations. For a sneak peek at some upcoming Geo’s Media Blogs, go to GeorgeJohns.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio and you can subscribe by putting your email address in the comment section below. Sharing and commenting is appreciated.

 

Geo’s Media Blog (Sandra) New 8/02/21

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This past Father’s day, for whatever reason, I started thinking about my sister, Sandra. (pictured with me above)
Sandra, who was named after my Dad, (Sandy) unexpectedly died from Measles when she was only four years of age.

My sister, amongst other things, had my father’s fiery disposition, and there is no doubt were she were alive today she’d be the matriarch of the Johns family just as her Grandmother Vince was.

When Sandra came down with the Measles, we’d already moved back to Canada.
My Dad had taken a job as a salesman for the Singer Sewing machine company in a small town in Northern Manitoba called Swan River.

Swan River, which is about 300 miles from Winnipeg, didn’t have the best hospitals, so my Dad decided to take my sister to a larger facility in Dauphin, Manitoba.
Unbelievably though, his boss refused to let him use the company car for personal business, so, of course, he took it anyway, but unfortunately, it was already too late.

The weird thing about that tragic event is, I have no memories of anything that went on for several years after it occurred.
I remember living in Australia where Sandra was born, attending Kindergarten in Vancouver, and being in first grade in Swan River, but nothing else.

In fact, my next memory is our moving back to Winnipeg when my Mom was about to have my brother Reg and I entered the 5th grade.
I do, however, vividly remember my Father’s fat boss.

I’m pretty sure that the rage that still burns in me today began the day my sister died.
In fact, if that fat f#ck of a boss stepped off a curb in front of me today, I know exactly what I would do.

My Dad was so heartbroken over Sandra’s death that I don’t remember him ever mentioning her again.
My Mother never got over my sister’s death, and when I talked to her on the phone just a few minutes before she passed, not only was she not afraid, she actually seemed happy.

My brother Reg and I were the sad ones, she truly believed that she was going to be reunited with her precious daughter which I so want to be true.


GEO’S LIFE-LINERS

Those who appear lost may, in fact, just be wandering.

Hey, I guess Simone Biles disproved the theory, “Winners never quit and quitters never win, huh?”

What’s up with the hotels? After giving you a room rate, at check out, they tack on a “Resort Rate?” You’d think they’d be happy having us back instead of ripping us off. 

I’ve never understood being “pussy whipped,” but many great men have been dragged to their knees by women lesser than themselves. Can you spell John, Harry, or Edward?

Hey Winnipeg, how many groups from the early and mid-’60s still have all their band members intact?

Fathers protect their children forever, but we don’t dedicate our lives to them as their mothers do.

So what’s more important, a good woman or a good career?

Why does Hollywood continue to depict that most minorities are smarter than white males? What the hell did they invent?

Something you don’t see anymore, someone having a glass of milk with a meal.

Just like it’s the drivers who make the difference at the Indy 500, it’s the person on the radio who plays the music that makes the difference.

In the ’50s, a man could have a stay-at-home wife, buy a house and a new car plus send his kids to college. What the hell happened?

Was there ever a car prettier than a Cadillac Eldorado, what say you, Moto?

The people I hate the most are dirty cops and dirty politicians.

The louder the war, the softer the music. Is there anything louder than silence?

The only people who claim they don’t care about money are those who have it.

Does anybody other than the wealthy believe we should be in the desert?

I used to be the dream maker, but now I think of myself more as the dream provider.

I love the riff, “I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.”

There’s singing the songs you wrote, and then there’s living the songs you wrote.

I never realized that Biden is only the 2nd Catholic President of the United States. I have no idea why the Catholics haven’t organized as the Jews and Muslims have; they’d be politically unstoppable.

Doing it yourself is usually what gets it done. It usually takes one door to close before another opens.

When I was a kid, the only laws that I obeyed didn’t interfere with my lifestyle.

Can you even imagine what men could accomplish if they stopped wasting their time chasing “pussy?”

Everyone is gifted, but most don’t use their gift.

All the governments in the world are more like each other than they are like the people they govern.

Has anybody tried to escape the US on a raft lately so they can enjoy life in Cuba?

So how much do our Olympic basketball players make compared to those who are beating them?

COMMENTS

Bruce Munson: George, I accessed the video from your link…but the footwear scared me away?  Should I revisit it and try to get past those shoes? (Adult Content)
Geo: Yes, you should, Bruce, ’cause it’s all about the stuff that’s above the shoes that make the shoes work.

Jed Duvall: George, at least in the field of entertainment, you rank with Clive Davis, David Geffen, and Barry “Killer” Diller, as among the world’s most interesting men! (About George A Johns)
Geo: Whew!

James Copeland: I worked as a musician in a recording town, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and made a similar decision to focus on radio. Now 35 years later, I’m having a go at music again. Great read. (Until You Do)
Geo: Good for you, James; sadly, I don’t even remember how to play anymore.

Chuck Knapp: And because my early radio mentor Ron Yantz and I traveled to meet Chuck Dann at CKY, we got to hear the Jury songs. We couldn’t wait to get back to Fargo and put them on the air. We got to tell listeners we meet you on Main Street, and the rest is history, as they say.  Life… What a ride!
Geo: Ahh, that explains all those North Dakota gigs we got, Chuck. Oh, and it was 432 Main, to be exact. 🙂

Jenn Jenn: Seriously, GEO, why did you even open the text. Kenny and I get spam texts daily. I don’t bother to block them anymore because the scammers use a rotary list of numbers, and they keep coming.
We live in a pathetic world; count on the people you trust and never respond to those you don’t.
Amen. Good story, Sir GEO (Scam Alert)
Geo: The thing about it, beautiful was, it happened back in 2012 when the subject matter was interesting to me, plus I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the scam. It cost me $15 to do so, but I got a radio show out of it, and the scam was brilliant.

Tim Moore: George, my first awareness of Trump came in the mid-’80s when his book was released. Frankly, it was worth the read. I was a young radio owner blessed with early success, so moving from a right-brain performing posture to a somewhat more analytical business perspective, naturally reading Trump’s concepts and personal were impressive and actionable.

Once upon a time–not ALL that long ago, Americans respected winners, and that went beyond Wall Street! Winning teams, coaches, players, business people, Military leaders (how far away Gulf War One seems) when we revered our Generals and Admirals as heroes.

I’ve given up on the American “political perspective,” which has devolved to the current state. Given this unprecedented disdain for winners (or God forbid differing opinions), I can’t help but wonder how these fine Americans would treat Patton, Halsey, Schwarzkopf, or Grant? (Unthinkable Trump)
Geo: I hear what you’re saying, said the deaf man to the blind men who said, “I see where you’re coming from.”

Geo’s Media Blog is an inside look at Radio, Music, Movies, Politics, 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 encouraged and appreciated.

 

Happy Fathers Day.

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Fathers Day.

Happy Father’s Day to the legend himself!
The man who carried me until his arms were about to break, who scared away every sales lady during countless dress shoppings, who has so many stories he had to start a blog, who started my love for wine, who makes friends wherever he goes, who is always open to listening and being educated by his liberal political activist daughter, who is so proud of being a dad and will accept anyone as a new “adopted” child.
Love you, thank you for a lifetime of memories.
P.S. look at him rocking his Father’s Day gift.

(A new Express shirt, of course)

About George Johns. (8/5/22)

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Born and educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canada.

The ’60s

Played guitar and sang backup with Shayne and The Devines and The Rebel Raiders.
Played guitar and was the bandleader for The Phantoms and The Jury.

Played guitar on The Jury recordings:
Until You Do.
I Tried To Tell Her.
Back In My World.
Please Forget Her b/w Who Dat?

Part-time board op –  CKY – FM Winnipeg.
Production Director – CKY – AM
Music Director – CKY – AM
Program Director – CKOM – AM Saskatoon
Program Director – CKSO AM/FM Sudbury

The ’70s

Program Director – CFRA Ottawa
Program Director – CFTR Toronto
Station Manager – CFTR.

National Program Director of Fairbanks Broadcasting:
WIBC/WNAP Indianapolis
WVBF/WKLB Boston
WKOX Framingham
WIBG Philadelphia
WRMF/WJNO Palm Beach
KVIL FM and AM Dallas

Vice President of Programming for Fairbanks Broadcasting

Studied with Mike Vance, Dean of Walt Disney University

The ’80s

Became an American citizen.
Formed The Johns Company, which consulted radio stations in the US and Canada.
Merged The Johns Company with Fairwest, which syndicated:
Continuous Country.
Music Of Your Life.
The Class format.

Became a principle of:
KLLS San Antonio
K103 Portland
WZPL Indianapolis
WMET Chicago
STAR Milwaukee

Now

Radio Advisor and Talent Coach
Write a Weekly Blog Entitled Geo’s Media Blog.
Writing Three Books entitled:
“Guitars & Radio & Wild Wild Women.”
“50 Ways To Keep Your Lover.”
1001 Life-Liners.

Highlights Of My Musical Career:

The Jury shared the stage in Winnipeg in the mid-’60s with; The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and Neil Young.
The Jury’s “Please Forget Her” was the #1 Canadian record in Canada. On the flip side, “Who Dat?” became a cult favorite and was covered by several grunge bands, and was also recently listed in a publication as being 50 years ahead of its time.

The Jury opened for music legends Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash, plus early British Invasion acts Peter & Gordon, Manfred Mann, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, The Zombies.

Highlights Of My Radio Career. 

Created the first-ever Adult Contemporary music format at CFTR in Toronto in 1972 and launched it again on KVIL in Dallas in 1973.

Created the nationally syndicated “Magic Ticket,” which was one of the first sales/programming promotions.

Co-Created “Fantasy Park,” which was nationally syndicated.

Created Class FM format for KLLS in San Antonio and then syndicated it on 40 radio stations..

Put “Music Of Your Life” up on Satelite, which was carried by a hundred radio stations.

Co-created and launched WKLB, Boston’s first Country Radio Station.

Email: radiogeo@gmail.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. Cell 954 868 6759

 

ADULT CONTENT VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED !!! #4 All-Time (2013)

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I’ve known Joasia (pictured above) for over 25 years now but I had no idea that she was this naughty.
Had I known, I would have been all over her a long time ago. Check her out on the link below.

http://youtu.be/cRbVIh3Tsio

GEO’S LIFE-LINERS

The wonderful world you live in may, in fact, only be a figment of your imagination.

Greatness is usually accomplished by a person who is out of time.
The only thing that really makes life worth living is dying!

I wonder how different the world would be if it were against the law to lie at any time.

One Man walking the talk adds up to more than the 50 who are talkin’ it.

I have finally figured out you have to ask for what you want because seldom does a nice surprise ever show up.

Isn’t it strange when some women you thought were beautiful when you first met them become less attractive as you get to know them whereas some of them are not so attractive become beautiful during the same time period?

One must think about the future to have one.

Just ’cause I don’t say anything about it doesn’t mean I don’t know all about it!

Everything already exists; we just haven’t discovered it yet.

Why would I care what some groups calling themselves minorities want? I only care about deserving individuals, not a bunch of people who became part of a group to be noisier.

Why would the press interview the V/P of marketing about anything? I wonder what kind of spin they would try to put on this year’s Boston Marathon to try and discount the bombings.

Most women have about a 10-year window to find the Man of their dreams because they are at their best and then they are not.

Well, it looks like Obama is afraid of the same evil characters the Presidents who came before him were, so don’t expect the Banks, the Oil Companies, and the Pharmaceutical companies to get warm and fuzzy anytime soon. 

I knew I was in trouble the day Jim West said … I know you’re already overbooked, but I just received a large certified check asking if you had room for one more client, and from where I sit, you look like you’ve got the room. The real problem was I agreed with him.

If you don’t believe in magic, I’ve just gotta hear your explanation of love.

My Nephew Jamie Boychuk, a “suit” in the railroad business, says that unlike Radio, which uses inspiration as motivation, we just pay our people a lot of money and kick their ass to get things done.

Bruce Munson told me the more you deal with banks, the more you understand why John Dillinger became a folk hero.

Instincts are not all good.

I think you could quiet a large room by simply explaining the theory that pointing out what’s wrong with this picture pays a dollar an hour, whereas fixing it pays a thousand dollars an hour.

Does anybody know if they still have an ethics class at Harvard, or was it canceled due to lack of interest?

Speaking of ethics, there, of course, is no such thing as business ethics, only ethics.

Some women don’t realize they are only who they are, not who they married.

Why do the less talented have bigger egos than the gifted?

When the sales folks don’t like the music, you better book a bigger room for the rating party.

When talented people appear to be normal, ya gotta wonder what else they are lying about.

The people who appear to be the happiest in the world usually come from the saddest place.

When the creative department of an advertising agency runs out of neat things to say about the Big Mac, McDonald’s solves it by hiring a different agency.

As impressive as seeing someone working really hard, they seldom produce anywhere near what a person working smarter does.

My Brother Reg once asked me why I continued to date the Women who threw gasoline on my fiery rage rather than finding one who could calm me. Someday I’ll tell him, but until then, he’ll just have to use his imagination.

If you don’t have anymore more questions than answers, you’re not really living.

When I first moved to America, Jim Hilliard told me that we needed a 24-hour rule, meaning I couldn’t quit nor could he fire me for 24 hours after we became extremely distraught with one another.
He later changed that to a 48-hour rule claiming that he needed more time to calm himself.

Originally they told us that the reason for consolidation was to save local radio. They wouldn’t lie to us, would they?

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 are encouraged and appreciated.