Radio Geo’s Media Blog (Hillbilly Music) New 3/30/20

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While watching the Ken Burns documentary about Country Music a while back, I was very interested in the segment they did about Buck Owens because it brought back a lot of memories.
Back in the ’60s, I used to play in a band from Winnipeg called The Jury, who played in a lot of towns in Manitoba and the northern United States.

Sometimes, getting back home from some of these gigs required driving all night, and I guess because it was my car, I was the designated driver.
Unfortunately, back then, the only music you could get on the radio was Country, which at the time,I didn’t care for, but I kinda liked Buck Owens because he rocked a little.

Fast forward about twenty years to California, where I’m now a radio consultant.
One evening and as I left my office in La Jolla, I dialed up the Country station KSON for a change of pace.

I had no idea that as I watched the hills of La Jolla fade from the rearview mirror, I’d soon end up on the streets of Bakersfield.
Driving south on I-5, all of a sudden, Dwight Yoakam’s “Guitars and Cadillacs” came on so I cranked it up and sang along.

I think I like Dwight’s music because it reminds me of Buck Owens, which then also reminds me of my old band days.
Anyway, just as it begins to fade, the jock jumps in and says, “Hey, I bet Dwight will be singing that one when he takes the stage in a few minutes at the Convention Center.”

At that very moment, my headlights hit the exit sign for the Convention Center, and even though I had an early flight in the morning, “What the hell.”
Once inside, unfortunately, I discovered that the opening act wasn’t very good, so I decided to leave.

Fortunately, as I was walking out, I noticed a bar out back, so I decided to have a couple of CCs and Coke, hoping the whole night wouldn’t be a waste.
As I stood there sipping my adult beverage, suddenly, on came Dwight.

Talk about electricity, he was just rockin’, and the ladies were howlin’.
He had his cowboy hat pulled way down as he strutted and pranced all over the stage and his ripped skin-tight jeans with cool silver medallions down the sides looked painted on.

What a show, I was so glad I hadn’t left and was still thinking about it as I boarded my flight the next morning to visit WLAC in Nashville.
As I changed planes in Dallas, I thought I recognized RC Bradly from KZBS in Oklahoma at the gate.

RC was the sales manager there when I consulted them, so Taking a chance, I called out his name.
Sure enough, when he looked up, a big smile came over his face as he came over to say hi.

When I asked him what he was doing now, he shockingly claimed that he managed a hillbilly singer named Dwight Yoakam.
When I told him I’d seen Dwight in San Diego last night, he just laughed and said, “Let me see, do I have this right, George Johns, one of America’s most respected Adult Contemporary consultants, spends his downtime going to cowboy concerts?”

After telling RC my connection to Dwight came from my old band days because he reminded me of Buck Owens, RC asked if I would like to meet Dwight.
When I said, “Absolutely,” off, he went and was back a few minutes later with two guys who were wearing these very cool long trail coats made out of Indian Blankets.

After introducing me to Dwight, he said, “And this George is the legendary Buck Owens.”
You’re sh*ting me; how f#cking cool is that?

It turned out that they were going to Nashville to tape a TV Special, which was honoring the legends of Country Music.
Luckily, when they called our flight for Nashville, I’d used my reward miles to upgrade, so I got to sit upfront with them.

Once we were in the air and enjoying a couple of cocktails, Suddenly, Dwight and Buck got their guitars down from the overhead.
For the next hour, we were entertained by Buck teaching Dwight the words to a song they would do on the TV special.

The thing that made this even more special was none of us, including them, had any idea that we were witnessing the birth of Dwight Yoakam’s first #1 record, “The Streets Of Bakersfield.”
(To see them do it live, click the link at the bottom of the page.)

RADIO GEO’S LIFE-LINERS

You know you’re getting old when you no longer can handle doing the indoor sunglasses thing.

True happiness is when you laugh with a small child about nothing.

The Feds are considering adding a 25-cent-a-gallon tax to gasoline nationwide. How will that work in California, where the State government is already running that scam? I want the gun concession; they may be ready. Isn’t that what the second amendment is all about?

Speaking of guns, if the slaves had guns, would there have been any slaves in America?

No Blacks are moving to Africa, no Jews are moving to Israel, and I’m sure not moving to Britain, so why don’t we work it all out?

The only difference between the NFL owners and other owners is … The NFL pays a hell of a lot more.

Doing what you were born to do is easy; the tough part is figuring out exactly what that is.

The only good thing about time flying by so fast is you’re the pilot. 

I don’t think people who live in mansions should be the ones telling the rest of us how we should live. 

Speaking of rich people, why don’t politicians use some of that lobbyist payola to do some good? 

Speaking of payola, how can we expect the politicians who accept money from the companies who are hurting the planet, to work on climate change?

If you think it’s tough trying to get people to give up their guns, wait until you attempt to talk kids into giving up their video games with guns. 

How come the list of what my homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover is at least twice as long as what it does cover

Isn’t it weird how the best are also usually the worst? 

Life being unfair doesn’t give you the right to do wrong.

I think my friends back home should bang on Baby Trudeau about Canada’s shrinking dollar. It’s worth 70 cents at the moment.

So here we are hunkered down from an enemy we can’t even see but at least I’m sequestered with a beautiful 24-year-old so I should be happy, right? Oh, did I neglect to mention that it’s my daughter?

COMMENTS

Tim Byrd: George, Good stuff, we understand that it is the middle class that makes the country work, but when the plan on their (currents in office) part is to “fundamentally change America” to a socialist gulag, there becomes a derailed train running at high speeds that no one has the fortitude to stop. It is, after all, as you said a Republic; Politicians are not known to have balls in their sack or a bone up their back. And so it goes…..Thanks for all the George(isms)  (It’s The Middle-Class Stupid)

Robin Solis: That Paul McCartney bit had it all, didn’t it?  And it just fell perfectly into place as the karaoke in the car is a regular segment. Although not a fan of the show itself, I did watch the Stevie Wonder segment when it came out. It was me, and I love Stevie. But I guess when it’s Sir Paul, there’s just that Beatles Magic that happens. I’m still swooning. (Radio Royalty)
Geo: Robin, my favorite quote from Sir Paul, is, “I am more amazed by the Beatles now than I ever was when I was one.

Ron Paley: Geo: I am truly honoured to be mentioned in your blog, and finally, after many years, we find out how close we were to each other in the CKY Winnipeg days yet, so far apart. It wasn’t until we got together in West Palm for brunch in 2010 that we met again for the first time since the early ’60s. Your achievements in radio are to be admired, and thanks again for the posts on Facebook and mentions in your blog.

Bruce Devine: Hi George,
Somewhere around here, I have the CFTR Last Contest promos Jack McCoy cut for us as well four reels of music beds he sent along. I can never hear Rod Serling without thinking Last Contest.
Considering there was only one Mono production studio (no multi-track) to handle the station’s regular traffic and all those prize packs (each prize pack aired only once)…it was really something. Plus, if you recall, that studio had hot water heating, and often, sometimes in the middle of a take, the pipes would Clank and; we’d have to start all over again. (The Last Contest)

Doug Chappell: George,
Congrats on today’s read… I love it when your politically incorrect side comes out… as the song goes, “Don’t go changin'” (Designated Survivor)

Eric Edwards: Said it then, and I’ll say it now, “the wrath of the buzzard” was the best station id ever produced… I had the good fortune to work with Chuck many times in Los Angeles; he was an amazing talent (Chuck Riley)

Geo’s Media Blog is an inside look at Radio, Music, Movies, Books, Social Media, Politics, and Life is primarily written for men, but ladies are always welcome.
For a peek at upcoming Blogs or to see some you may have missed, go to GeorgeJohns.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. 
Sharing and commenting are appreciated.

5 thoughts on “Radio Geo’s Media Blog (Hillbilly Music) New 3/30/20

  1. Jerry Bobo: George, another great chapter in your life events. I want to be the first in line to purchase the book. Keep’em coming.

    Geo: Thanks for the read, Jerry. I’m finally near the end of editing the book but it still seems longer than War and Peace.

    • Two reflections on today’s blog, Brother George.

      First, during my chance to play Country Music every morning on the radio, I was offered the chance to interview Dwight Yoakam. Heck yeah! SEVERAL staffers, with far more format experience than I, later specifically warned me that he was “a very difficult interview,” and “how disagreeable he’d be.” Just the opposite! I had a very enjoyable and overtime visit, although I couldn’t get Dwight to sing the hook I loved of “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” live on my show.

      And the second, I always remember RC Bradley was the very FIRST person I ever heard to use the expession “throw him under the bus” when we worked together in 1986! 🙂

  2. Hi George,
    We would love to attack Turdeau (Not a mis-spelling) but with this virus attack we are fighting he cannot be found as he is hiding in his cottage !! I see Trump is working every day… The story of Buck and Dwight is wonderful even when I was not particular on country music I loved them they were the original bridge between country and rock…but we have to add Johnny Cash into that club. First record I ever bought was a 78 of “I Walk The Line”.

  3. Re Hillbilly Music – some years ago, Jack McCoy and I were syndicating promotions and one of our sales people landed a deal with the legendary WSM in Nashville. Having almost exclusively worked with Rock, CHR and AC stations, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pretty sure it was going to be heavy-duty hillbilly time and I didn’t own a big hat or a pair of boots. What a surprise to find a bunch of very pleasant Radio folks as sophisticated as those in LA, New York and Chicago. It turned out to be a great client relationship that lasted for years.

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