Nine months after I had flown to LA for my daughter Candis’ wedding (shown above) there I was winging my way back to LA again, but this time it was for the birth of my grandson.
Shortly after checking into my hotel, I got a surprise call from the expectant mother telling me that she would be joining me for dinner that night at my hotel.
After we finished dinner, she surprised me once again by asking if I could take her back to work because she had one more thing she had to do before she was ready to become a new mother.
However, as Candis has never heard any from me, I didn’t think this would be the best time to start, so off we went.
As I waited, it gave me a chance to wander around and check out all the gold records and posters hanging on the walls.
A few minutes later, When Candis came out of her office, she held a box set of CDs n her hands.
While handing them to me, she said with a tear in her eye, “Dad, your grandson is going to be so proud the day he discovers that his grandpa was a Rock Star.”
Now what was so neat about all this was that we’d recorded that tune shortly before Candis was born.
Early the next morning, I headed to the hospital for the big day but unfortunately, the induced labor thing wasn’t going very well so they went the cesarean route.As the Doctor said to me, “Mr. Johns, your daughter is much too tiny to be giving birth to a big guy like this.”
After picking her up at school the next day, and filling her in on all the details about her nephew’s birth, I also told her about the surprise gift her sister had given me.
When I asked if she would like to hear the tune, and she excitedly said yes, I slipped it into the player and cranked it up.
When I asked her what she wanted, she said, “Is it almost over?” Then when I asked why, she said, “Because it’s not very good, Daddy!”
(To hear what Cami heard that humbling day, click on the link near the bottom of the page.) 
I enjoy your words of wisdom.
Sincerely,
Walking in Memphis (The Genius)
Ron Hamilton: Tyler, At least have the cojones to write your last name, I totally disagree with you about George. My name is Ron Hamilton, and George knows what the hell he’s talking about! (The Genius)
Nick Alexander: You sure know when the New Yorkers are in town. Nothin’ but horns! Here in Texas, we have different horns: we bow to burnt orange and say “Hook ‘Em.” :o) (The Genius)
I have met them all but Harry. Man, what a voice. All these guys were terrific talents, and wow what a great radio station that was!
I would still be listening if they were still around! (WVBF Boston 1974)
Mike McVay: George: As someone who built a large radio consultancy myself and learned much from listening to your stations, you are undoubtedly the father of Adult Contemporary. You also taught us all how an AC could perform stronger than the then-dominant Top-40 stations of that era by building big entertaining morning shows. The model you created continues to be a huge part of the “Best Practices” of Radio today. You and I had some great battles that drove the overall shares of radio upward. We grew the audience by competing. In the words of Sun Tzu … “When the elephants fight, the ants take a beating.” (The Birth Of AC Radio)
Geo: Great hearing from you, Mike, and thanks for the read.
I’ll never forget while attending a George Burns conference with a beautiful companion, and when George spotted me, he pointed me out; I thought it was very kind of him.
However, when my companion leaned over and asked, “Did he just refer to you as the Grandfather of AC radio?” I had to respond with, “Nope, he said, Godfather ” 🙂We did have some great battles, Mike, and the radio industry was the better for it. You’re always at your best when you’re competing against the best.
Tim Moore: Well, as a 27-year-old VP at TM Productions, the career leap of a lifetime thanks to Jim Long, Tom Merriman, and Jerry Atchley, I arrived from Michigan, a “Northern radio Snob.” It’s not that I lacked respect for DFW radio; I simply hadn’t heard it. So shortly after occupying my office on Regal Row, I kept hearing staffers make references to “KVIL” and “Ron Chapman.” So I asked my top sales guy Mike Baer, “What is it about KVIL? I hear it mentioned all the time” He looked at me as if I was a Martian and asked. “Have you LISTENED to them?” I assured Mike I would, and for the first 2-3 days said to myself, “well, they’re really solid, and the morning show is very good, but…” Then, after two weeks, I said to myself, “This is the most incredible interpretation of AC on the face of the Earth. Chapman and his cast are incredible; everything the station does is relevant to the target and purposeful!” From there forward, I coached KVIL’s packaging and atmospherics. The trouble was (and still is), so few can “hear it,” much less execute it. (KVIL Jingles)
Geo: I love the word atmospherics, Tim. 🙂
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.
Geo’s Media Blog (They Say It’s Ur Birthday!) 10/03/21 Special Birthday Edition.
Celebrated my 40th
at the Polo Lounge
Where a lot of my old friends
all came around.
Even my wife Lana
decided to show
But her moving to Cali
was still a no-go.
I’m sorta, kinda, reluctantly celebrating my birthday today which got me thinking about past celebrations. My 16th, 26th, 40th, 50th, and 70th which all come with a story.
All of them were memorable, but my 40th will always be my favorite
Years later, going through the mid-life crazies, I walked away from everything and left for California, where I started my own company in San Diego.
In San Antonio, I lot MOYL on the AM, and on the FM, I launched the very first “Class FM. In San Diego, after we modernized the FM and hired movie star Martin Milner to do mornings on the AM, it was time to party “Dude.”
Hey, if it was good enough for Bogey and Bacall, it was good enough for me.
What I did was email some invitations to friends all over North America asking them to join me for a birthday a drink in the Polo Lounge.The first person to respond was my old friend Charlie Minor who asked what arrangements I’d made with the lounge?
The bottom line is, none of your friends will be able to get in!”
Charlie then suggested that I meet him the morning of my get together in front of the Polo Lounge and bring $50 in cash.
Sure enough, true to his word, on Saturday morning there was Charlie waiting for me in front of the lounge.
After he introduced me to the Maitre D’and I slipped him the fifty, they both assured me that my birthday party would be the best.
I later realized that the fifty dollars I had paid upfront was the best investment I ever made.
How’s that tune go again, “Oh What A Night.” My party couldn’t have been better, red velvet ropes leading to a huge reserved table.
Then whenever one of my friends would show up, the Maitre D’ would loudly announce their name as being for Mr. Johns’ table.
I’d invited friends from all over North America, and because a lot of them couldn’t make it, some of them called.
Every time one of them did, the Maitre D’ would loudly announce, “Phone call for Mr. Johns,” as he brought the phone over to me.
One of the strangest of those phone calls was from Russ Morley from WRMF.
When I answered, he asked if my wife was there and, upon hearing that she was, said, “Oh shit,” and hung up, and a little while later, I heard, “Singing telegram for Mr. Johns.”
Then, before I knew it, a beautiful young lady was sitting on my lap singing happy birthday to me.
I remember thinking, “You would think that the singing telegram folks in Hollywood would be the best, hell, this girl can’t even sing.”
As the night progressed and the announcements continued, it wasn’t long before the celebrities who were all gathered at the bar were craning their necks to see who the hell I was.
It was a stellar night for a kid from Transcona who a few years before had sat around with his buddies in a shops class “California Dreamin’.”
I only wish Easter, Bomba, Ringach, and Shift could have been there to raise a glass with me and celebrate the fact that one of us finally made it to Surf City, Man!.
GEO’S LIFE-LINERS
So, let me ask you this, does a life insurance company have to pay the beneficiary if the policyholder is executed for a crime?
What’s worse for you, smoking or Covid 19?
I was a much better father than I ever was a husband, but then again, I had 3 shots at being a father.
I’m not a fan of women who marry very successful men and then try to crawl into their spotlight. Right, Yoko, Meghan, and Wallace?
Speaking of bad women, they make better spies than most men ’cause they can sleep with anybody.
Speaking of bitches, I wonder what Hitler’s mom was like?
The most exciting thing that can ever happen to you is meeting a woman who makes you want to start smoking again.
Guys are never late for their first date with a beautiful lady.
The biggest problem with the CanCon rules was, America stopped trusting the Canadian charts. Hell, even as big as the Beatles were, they knew, “If you don’t make it in the states, you didn’t make it?
Never ask the question if you’re nervous about the answer.
Sure easy to figure out that the New Yorkers have left West Palm Beach; the horn honking has finally subsided.
Memories are the greatest gift you’ll ever receive.
I find it amazing that politicians would have the balls even to consider fucking with the abortion act. Hell, almost every woman I know has had one, and they don’t appear ready to give it up.
Only God gets to decide what’s a sin.
Why would you want to live in a country where most of the population doesn’t look like you?
I love strong women, but I wouldn’t say I like taking orders from them. But then again, I don’t like taking orders from anybody.
Wow, the Chinese kicked ass in the Olympics, huh? Almost beat the US in gold. What kind of genetics is that?
Is anybody buying all the black and white marriages they’re showing in a lot of commercials?
If you can’t change the situation, try changing yourself.
A yes becomes a no, much easier than the reverse.
An obstacle sometimes attracts your attention more than your dream does.
Do Atheists do good things?
Why would anybody think that rich politicians who live behind the walls of mansions know what’s best for us?
The ratings were higher when we didn’t know what party Walter or Johnny were affiliated with.
Very few virgins have another guy on the side.
The most exciting women are the ones who make you want to start smoking again.
I’ve never been tolerant of those who try to tell me what to do. However, I must admit that I take my daughters’ advice under advisement.
Men horde money; women spend it.
Even though every child is special, your need to have one isn’t.
Except for my daughters, no woman is as innocent as she appears.
At what age do women start to think that they don’t look good naked?
As Fred Heckman use to say at WIBC in Indy, “If you want great ratings, then you have to be the radio station the people tune to when they see a huge column of smoke.
I’m politically unpolitical, hell, even I don’t know what that means.
Being gay doesn’t give you special rights.
Nobody wants, nothing.
Has taking hard drugs ever led anyone to a better life?
I remember when a lot of us felt insignificant, I think we may have overcorrected.
COMMENTS
Kevin Robinson: Reid is the best!
The 1070 towers are now gone. I could walk out of my front door and see the twinkling array. Sad indeed. (Self Transcendence)
Geo: Yes, very sad, Kevin. WIBC, or “Big Mama” as we used to refer to her, brought me to America and provided my family and me a pretty good life. May She Rest In Peace.
Geo’s Media Blog is a politically incorrect look at Radio, TV, 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. Your sharing of my blog with friends and also commenting would be appreciated.
Geo’s Media Blog (Let’s Hear It From The Girls) Part 6
I think it’s pretty obvious that Geo’s Media Blog is written for men, but surprisingly, not only do women read it, some of them even leave comments.
I also think that it’s pretty obvious that I love the ladies, so in that spirit, may I present the final chapter of my series entitled, “Let’s Hear It From The Girls.”
COMMENTS
Jennifer Suna Randall: Geo, I love successful hard-working people. In order to rise up from humble beginnings, one needs to be more than intelligent. There are so many wonderful, hard-working people out there, but they unfortunately never become successful in their own profession or their own minds.
I love that you were the one to make it to the top!I never had a career where I could make it on my own. I did obtain my own insurance license and worked for my ex-spouse running his insurance company for 24 years. I’m good at saving money though and being lucky in love.:-)
Geo: Jennifer, imagine what I could have become if I was as beautiful as you. xo
Janny Cakes: It was so great seeing you this summer, looking forward to seeing you again on Thanksgiving.
Geo: Me too, Jan.
Margaret Mayer: Loved this Geo! Have a fabulous time college shopping with Nathaniel, and enjoy the train ride with Candis.
Geo: Thank you, Margarita, miss ya!
Ashley Geo, do you wanna be my baby’s Daddy?
Geo: I’d love to try Ashley, but I may be out of bullets.:-)
Bonnie Cameron:. . Celebrate. . Celebrate. . Dance 2 the Music !!!!Happy B’Day Geo.
Geo: Thank you, Bonnie, but I am trying to do away with them, they’re just making me older.
Candis: Hey Dad, it was so much fun hanging out with you while you were here in Burbank. And I know that Nathaniel had a great time with you checking out colleges on your latest bucket list adventure.
Dad: What a great couple of weeks it was, honey. The weather was great, and except for the bus ride, Nathaniel and I had a great trip capped off by getting to see you and the Getty Museum.
Geri Jarvis: Hi George, Continue doing what you do for your daughter. First of all, it keeps her off the pole. (smile) 2nd..she’ll expect to be cherished by her husband when she does get married… She’s very fortunate to have you. My dad and I barely knew each other!
Geo: Thank you, Geri, I can’t imagine not knowing my Daughters.
Greta Sellitti: I have been waiting all day for this. 🙂
Geo: I didn’t mean to keep you waiting my dear.
CPA Cindy: Hey Geo, I may not be as sexy as some of the above but I’m the one keeping your ass out of jail.
Geo: And I’m forever grateful, Cindy. Hey, now don’t forget to take care of those beautiful puppies of yours.
Texas Ladies: So Mr. Geo, just what is the difference between a Sugar Daddy and Santa Clause?
Geo: Well, for one thing, Sugar Babies, a Sugar Daddy expects a little more than cookies and milk in return for his gifts.
Liz Rivera: George you rock! Trying to catch as many of your posts that I can. Some of the best content out there. “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before”… Bravo!!! To tears…
Geo: Thanks for the read, Liz, and also, thank you for your nice comments.
Laura Neville: To have her give you as a father, the honor of always having a piece of you with her, is the best form of a tattoo anyone could ever have. I say, go for it and make it special for both of you.
Geo: Great advice, Laura, thank you.
Emily: Hey Uncle George, when are you coming back home to Transcona so you can hang out with the family?
Geo: Yes it’s been much too long Grand Neice, I haven’t been back since I reunited with The Jury in 1987 at the “Shakin’ All Over concert.”
Geo: Lead on ladies.
Hey Geo where are you? You and Big Bob need to get your asses back to Island Jacks. We’ve got some great bands now and they are all playing the stuff you like.Geo: I’m only coming back if you’ll dance with me?
Geo: Wow, Maureen, that Torrey Pines hill was a killer. Whew!
Cheryl: Hey Geo, when are you going to stop hanging out at BJ’s and come see me at the Duffy’s on PGA?Geo: Soon, Cheryl, very soon.
Sarah & Mindy: Hey Geo, good meeting you at Duffy’s. Do you want to hook up at Rosemary Square this weekend?Geo: I would love to, ladies.
Shannon: Hey Geo, if your daughter Cami really wants to teach, tell her that we could sure use her help at the Renaissance school which is nearby.Geo: Thank you, Shannon, I’ll pass it on.
Miami Girls: Jorge, estes listo para la fiesta?Jorge: Si!
Linda Duffy: Geo, do you remember dragging the garbage out with me and my sister?Geo: I do, Linda, and I’m still laughing about it.
Palm Spring Ladies: Geo, it’s time to fire up Gordon’s jet and head back to the “Springs” for Mojitos and Martinis.Geo, now you’ve got me thirsty, ladies.
Jo Mama:</strong I like what you write a lot, but I love the song Candis and the kids wrote. “Cool 2 B a Kid” is 2 cute, thanks for sharing.Geo: Thanks for the read and the listen, Jo, I miss ya!
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. Your sharing of my blog with friends and also commenting would be appreciated.