Ducks Aplenty
The humble duck plays a major role in my home life. It’s all because of this scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We insert a duck into every conversation that we can. …
Celebrities
What Marcus Had to Say
Derek recently narrated a book devoted to the stoicism of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus – let’s call him Marc – on second thought let’s not – lived from the year 121 to 180. For the last 19 years of his life, he was the Roman Emperor. Until Derek got this job, I was unfamiliar with his master work, Meditations, although millions around the world have read it. …
What Marcus Had to Say Read More »
Ten Feet Off of Beale
It’s impossible to visit Memphis without getting a repetitive earworm of Marc Cohn’s 1991 hit “Walkin’ in Memphis”. (If you don’t know it, get thee to YouTube and check it out.) Cohn’s autobiographical, Grammy-winning song brought Beale Street – and most of Memphis – to the masses. Walkin’ in Memphis mentions many of the city’s highlights, from catfish on the table to gospel in the air.  …
Ten Feet Off of Beale Read More »
Walkin’ (Too Much!) In Memphis
There’s no need to park in downtown Memphis and walk ten city blocks to your destination. We know that now! Looking back, I can’t remember why we did this on our second-last day in the city. It wasn’t the only time we paid for parking when a free spot was available at our destination. Tourists, eh? …
Walkin’ (Too Much!) In Memphis Read More »
Walkin’ In Memphis
It had been about twenty years since I first visited Graceland. Elvis purchased the mansion, on nearly 14 acres of land, in 1957. The sellers doubled the price to about $100,000 once they found out who the buyer was. The King’s parents moved in and Elvis joined them once he finished filming Jailhouse Rock. Graceland was named for the original landowner, not for Elvis’ beloved Mother, Grace. …
Walkin’ In Memphis Read More »
Eight Days a Week Times Two
I’m taking a two-week hiatus. No radio show. No news-hounding, at least not like usual. And no blog posts. …
Eight Days a Week Times Two Read More »
Throwback Thursday – Giving Into Temptations
Picture it: 1984. Or was it ’85. No matter. I was working as a “swing” host at all-hit-radio CKSL. Think CFTR but in London, Ontario. Swing means my shifts swung around the clock. There were a couple of overnights, an evening, an afternoon and fill-in shifts when necessary. The promotions department asked me to accompany a couple of contest winners to Detroit via limo, to see the Four Tops and The Temptations perform. …
Throwback Thursday – Giving Into Temptations Read More »
Caught Between Two Schools
Someone in authority recently called me “old school” as high praise because in the old school we put in extra effort and we put on our game faces when we needed to. We followed policy and didn’t make a scene – often to our detriment. Old school wasn’t necessarily the better school, to be sure. …
Caught Between Two Schools Read More »
Throwback Thursday – Def Jam
Some people have stacks of concert tickets from their teen years. I can count on one hand the number of concerts I saw when I was young. Growing up in rural Ontario, traveling to a live show wasn’t a top priority. Let’s see, there was Triumph, Frank Zappa – I’m already stumped. Apparently I only needed peter pointer and a thumb on one hand. …
Throwback Thursday – Def Jam Read More »
Living on the Edge
Ken says, never apologize for showing emotion. I’m fortunate that he feels that way as tears streamed down my cheeks from about 8:15-8:30 during Friday morning’s show on News/Talk 1290. …
Living on the Edge Read More »
Christmas Classics
When the holidays roll around, what’s your go-to show or movie? Ken and I had this discussion on the air last week. He doesn’t stray from the time-tested classics: It’s A Wonderful Life, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I say, he’s missing out. …
Christmas Classics Read More »
Write With Me
Back in September, I posted a blog about what potential radio guests should know before they pitch an idea. (Want to Attract the Media? Follow These Tips!) It was shared several times on social media and some people messaged me privately to say that these things never occurred to them. I know! That’s why I wrote it. 🙂 …