The Boss Is Back!

Back in the mid 60s, a brand new format and a whole new style of presentation came on the air in Los Angeles. It was a style that was to go on and influence the Pirate ships broadcasting to the UK as well as a huge number of stations in later years (wherever CHR was sold)!
It was called Boss Radio.

Tight links, loud and energetic jocks and just the hits.

Some of the legendary guys from that era include The Real Don Steele and Robert W. Morgan. Steele was to become the best known voice of the Boss format and is seen by many as the template for the early CHR presentation style: tight, energetic and individual.
Well, Boss Radio is back...KHJ is online now at http://www.khjradio1.com/

Broadcasting from Boss Angeles, I took a listen to the streaming feed for an hour or so and heard the massive 60s and 70s hits that made the station famous...but for some reason they also included 50s songs. The 50s was never a part of Boss Radio...but we'll see how that works.
No live jocks yet though - that would be the business !

This clip is Robert W. Morgan on KHJ. Sounds corny now, but back in the day, this was awesome.

Mike Read goes to Star.

Former BBC Radio 1 'DJ', Mike Read is to host a new mid morning show on Gloucestershire station Star 107.5FM...which will also be simulcast on Big L (where he has been for the past few years).

A lot of people still remember the TV documentary set in Big L, which was on our screens last year. It showed Mike, David Hamilton and the other Big L presenters living together in the radio station (it broadcasts from a large house in Frinton On Sea).

It was...shall we say, an unusual programme in that they all seemed to be re-living a scene from a pirate radio station in the 60s or 70s.

Big L now broadcast online only.

Here's a nice clip highlighting Mike at work...make up your own mind.

Robbie Robinson.

Glad to hear my old boss at Sunshine 101 is on the mend after his heart bypass surgery and is back at home in the Canary Islands. A lot of folk will know him better as Robbie Dale from his Radio Caroline days...but I'll always know him as Mister Robinson Coo Coo Ca Chew (The Very Generous General Manager)!!

Robbie told the story recently of how last year the late Chris Cary called him asking if he would be interested in setting up a station in the Canaries. Robbie thought, "That could be fun". The thought ended abruptly though when Stella (Robbie's wife) got wind of it. Two words put the brakes on the venture - they were "No" and "Way"!!

Get well soon Robbie.

Where are they now? - Dickie Bow.

I first met the man they called Dickie Bow, in Atlantic 252 back in the mid-90's. It was during one of my returns to Ireland from Canada. At that stage, Dickie had come off mornings and was presenting his own evening show on the station. He was a friendly, inclusive and very warm personality who made me feel very much at home. Always the sign of a class act at any radio station.

After leaving Atlantic, I guess most people presumed he would up sticks and head back to The UK. But no. The next stop on his travels was to Tipp FM in Ireland.

If you are in Limerick these days you will hear now his tones on Live95.

But you won't hear the name Dickie Bow mentioned - have the days of crazy radio DJ names gone? Yeah, probably. It was all very much of it's time wasn't it.

Dickie hosts the breakfast show now under the name Mark Whelan. The show is Mark and Catriona In The Morning.

The last time I saw Mark was at a PPI Awards night and it was just like meeting an old friend again. He was the same warm and welcoming guy I remembered and he seemed to be really enjoying his work and life in Limerick.

Check the show out on http://www.live95fm.ie/

You'll hear what all of those years of training and learning can do. Mark is a natural behind the mic, but I also know he works very hard at his craft.

His style is fun, informative and cheeky. He appeals to both Male and Female listeners (no easy thing) and I believe it's down to the fact that he comes across as real and sincere, no matter what he is talking about.

One of the good ones (as they say)!!

Clip of Mark (then Dickie) in his old A252 days:

Christmas FM Update.

Dublin's specialist Festive station comes on air on the 28th of this month, running straight through to Stephens' Day. Freq is 88.9.

The man behind this worthwhile project is Garvan Rigby and he has secured some big names from across the pond to help out on air with inserts and content - you may be surprised at who they have set up!

Oh, and I say worthwhile because part of the reason behind the station is to raise funds for their charity partner, the ISPCC.

http://www.christmasfm.ie

When The Guest Takes Over !!

This is Gene Simmons from KISS on air with Mark & Mercedes In The Morning on Mix 94.1 in Las Vegas.

Like him or not - he's good radio!

Ace & TJ make promos !

Now this is how Promos should be made....!
http://www.acetj.com/videos/player.php?mediaID=2470
(You've got to click the link above...no YouTube available).

Ace & TJ are syndicated out of Charlotte NC to eight stations across the US South.

Originating station is WNKS - KISS 95.1

http://www.AceTJShow.com