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WAS THERE MORE
THAN ONE RADIO WEIRD BEARD?
It was 1973 when
I arrived as a DJ at KFJZ-1270 in Ft. Worth. SCOTTY HARRIS was my night time engineer. He usually remained in the engineer's
office, but sometimes would ease into the control room to see how I was doing and chat for a spell. SCOTTY had been an engineer
at KFJZ since the 1930s. He had just about seen it all in radio. He had many good tales to tell. HARRIS had a very good sense
of humor. Occasionally the female engineer was on duty. She was a tall attractive young black woman who was very good
natured, too. She dug the Motown sound that I laid down and would occasionally do the Bump to the beat.
ROD TANNER (Houston, TX) rodiana@ev1.net Subject: Remembers. Hey Jim, Been enjoying the column as usual, just haven't written
in awhile. Reading about Willie Nelson last week brought back some memories. I don't if you knew this or not but when I was
doing mornings at KRLY here in Houston in the early seventies, I was also the music director. And one of the things I remember
most is I was the first major market Top 40 station in the country to add "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain". Everybody
thought I was crazy, including most of the jocks but it turned out to be a big cross-over hit. Win some, lose some. Later,
Rod Tanner
Remember that period very well. Columbia
had invested a lot of money in WILLIE NELSON, so they hit the promo streets pretty hard. In Ft. Worth, the Columbia guy visited
KXOL-1360 to present NELSON's new release. WILLIE was already hot as a firecracker. Blue Eyes
Crying in the Rain landed on KXOL's playlist and it became the biggest cross-over hit for NELSON up to that point
in his career. This opened up vast new venues for WILLIE. Blue Eyes landed on Billboard October 11, 1975 and peaked
at #21. Of course, it was #1 on all of America's Country radio stations. Little did we know that KXOL was about to pull
a switch-a-roo to Country just a little over a year from then.
CHERRY WALKER (Rome, GA) flusteredmisscherry@yahoo.com Subject: Whatever happened to the Weird Beard aka Burt Markert? Since you seem to have so many contacts
from the good old days of rock and roll and the great dj's from the 60's and early 70's can you tell me whatever happened
to the Weird Beard? He was on the air in the late 60's and early 70's at WAKY in Louisville and then went to WBBF I
believe in Rochester. Can't find any references since then. Thanks for any leads, Cherry
There must be more than one
Weird Beard in radio, because this is not the same Weird Beard who gained fame at KLIF-1190 in Dallas.
When I was still in Dallas high school until graduation in 1962, RUSS KNIGHT, was a very popular DJ and KLIF-1190 held
almost total domination over Big D's radio listeners. Never dreamed that I not only would be on the air with the Weird Beard
from 1971-72 at KBOX-1480, but also be behind the mic at KLIF-1190 in 1972. Later on, with more ownership changes came a
call letter switch-a-roo. WFAA-570 is now known as KLIF-570. It has been all news for years. Ironically, WFAA-570
and WFAA-820 are on my resume from 1967-68, too.
RUSS KNIGHT was one of the best
radio talents and amigos that I ever had the pleasure of being around. We certainly had a lot fun on the air. Sometimes radio
takes us to far away places. Last I heard about RUSS is that he was in Michegan or somewhere in the northeast but that was
several years ago. Here is what is found when I searched the Internet for RUSS KNIGHT:
Russ Knight began in Texas as a
pioneering rock and roll DJ, earning great fame and respect in the business. Also known as "The Weird Beard," Russ came to
host a talk shown on WICC in the mid 1990's called "In The Heat Of The Night." He is without headphones as is his custom in
the WICC Talk Studio. Contributed by WICC News Director Tim Quinn. WICC AM 600 Radio Offices: 2 Lafayette Square, Bridgeport,
CT. 06604-6000 Bus. Office: 203-366-6000 Bus. Fax: 203-384-6000.
The WICC-600 (Bridgeport-New
Haven, CN) http://www.wicc600.com/russknight.htm site has a lot of historical facts which mentions that before he gained boundless fame in Hollywood,
BOB CRANE was a DJ at WICC from 1951-56. BOB went on to be a DJ in Los Angeles radio. Next, CRANE took on the role of Col.
ROBERT HOGAN in the TV's Hogan's Heroes. On January 29, 1976, BOB returned to the WICC studios for a 50th anniversary celebration.
It would sadly be his last trip to Connecticut. The legendary TV host, SOUPY SALES, was behind the mic at WICC in the 1980s
and 1990s.
CHERRY WALKER (Rome, GA) flusteredmisscherry@yahoo.com Subject: Burt Markert? Hi Jim, Thanks for your quick response. I am in Rome, GA and have never been
in radio but have a few friends who have been dj's and used to date a guy in Chicago, Pete Maus who was program director for
US 99, a country station. The Weird Beard I was looking for was at WAKY in Louisville, KY in the mid to late 60's and left
there in 71 I think for WBBF in Rochester. I found info on him right after I emailed you by doing a web search for WAKY. Unfortunately
he passed away in 95. You might find this link interesting, lots of radio jocks on there. Also, some great samples of radio
shows from the guys shows from 60's and 70's. http://www.79waky.com/index.htm Thanks once again, Cherry
A long time broadcast buddy
of over twenty-five years who put Houston's traffic reporting on the map, MARTY AMBROSE, has been named the
new Executive Director of the Houston chapter of the Variety Club. MARTY's a great guy and we're so happy for him.
LARRY TODD (Austin, TX) larrytodd@juno.com Jim, Good story on Roger miller. Circa...late 50's or early 60's. I just don't remember exactly. I
remember when he worked at a service station on North Fillmore, the Dumas Highway, in Amarillo. Later, he became a fireman
and was assigned to the firehouse near the tri state fairgrounds in Amarillo. His district fire chief was Captain Snuffy Williams.
Some of the firemen thought him to be a bit strange as he seemed to sing a different kind of song. In fact, they asked him
to sit in the firehall rather than firemen quarters. Guess they wanted a straighter type of western music. Anyway, most of
the guys who I know who remember him in those days in Amarillo say he was rather shy. Larry Todd
Wondered if LARRY TODD is originally
from the Amarillo area because he sure seems to know a lot about that part of Texas. Boy, I understand the winters are frigid
in Amarillo. As a newspaper delivery boy for the Dallas Times Herald, 4 am on Sunday mornings with nothing but darkness, cold
temperatures, ice and snow made me long for tropical climes. Anything below 60 is too cold for me. Houston's humidity stays
high all the time. That makes the cold colder and the heat hotter. Asked LARRY, what's a typical day in the life of the famous
TV news anchor, LARRY TODD, like? Does he tire of the adoration of fans and fingers tire of signing autographs?
LARRY TODD (Austin, TX) larrytodd@juno.com I was born and raised in Amarillo. First broadcasting job.. you know the bit. I delivered the afternoon
paper which also meant Sunday mornings. I froze my butt with 110 customers. Snow and wind. That sure dug into my psyche to
move to Austin.
Having retired and becoming ordained.
I'm doing chaplain work. Marriages, funerals and the like. I love it. I hope to become a police chaplain to work with cops,
deputies, firefighters NOT inmates...nor victims. A chaplain ins not a minister nor preacher, but mostly a listener and helper.
As to signing autographs...not
a single person has recognized me from TV. I did go back to Amarillo last month. I was in a nursing home when one of the residents
there stopped me and asked..."Say, did you used to be Larry Todd." I replied, "Yes 'em, I used to be Larry Todd on TV
Ten." >grin< I love it.
I am blessed to have the
broadcast experience to help me be a better chaplain. I sure had some great teachers...Jim Pratt, Joe Holstead, John Moncrief,
Travis Linn, Joe Roddy, Edd Routt, Jim Rose...JIM ROSE..! Peace unto you. take care Larry Todd, 627-1774 www.Avalonsanctuary.com
Wonder how many of us radio newcasters
began our broadcast careers delivering the news on a bicycle?
WHAT TWO
FAMOUS SINGERS ATTENDED NORTH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY?
(Find the answer at the bottom of this column)
LEE ANDERSON (McAlester, OK) sleepylee@mcalesterradio.com Jim..I am sure glad Chet Maxwell showed up with info on KENS/KBAT and Roy Hofheinz and the country
saga of KENS. I was beginning to think that was one of my dreams. Keep up the good work. Lee
DAN CUTRER (Dallas, TX) www.solizcutrer.com I moderate a Yahoo music discussion group, 425 or so hillbillies, former dj's, former Nashville musicians,
Jones' road manager, the guy who gave Paycheck his first job in music (Paycheck was AWOL from the Great Lakes Naval Air Station
for conking an officer over the head with a pipe), music lawyers, etc., we have in the gc#4 file area the song Cash stole
line for line and note for note for Folsom Prison, Hank Sr. stole for "Cold Cold Heart", etc.
It takes a couple hours a day, nobody in the lawyering side knows how much time it takes.
I understand completely. But, it's a labor of love. And every couple days there's the equivalent of opening the icebox door
and finding Fidel Castro inside smoking a cigar.
Learned a few days ago that Bob Moore, legendary drummer on all the Nashville hits of the
50's-70's, Bob Moore of Mexico, produced Orbison and owned 1/3rd of Monument Records. That explains the heavy drums and why
Orbison never sounded like anybody else. Bob also laughs that Fred Foster at Monument was super-pissed when he discovered
he'd signed Orbison, he thought he was signing Gene Vincent http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/greatcountry/
Best wishes from Dallas! Dan Cutrer SOLIZ & CUTRER, pllc Attorneys & Counselors at
Law Dallas & Houston 6116 North Central, Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75206 www.solizcutrer.com
PRETTY GOOD AT TRIVIA?
SEND YOUR NOSTALGIA QUESTIONS ALONG WITH THE ANSWERS.
BOB KELLY (Houston, TX) BKelly@abbott-simses.com I also attended Boude Story from 1957-58 before my family move to San Antonio. I attended Russell
Elem from 1950 to 1957. Lots of memories, and I agree, it was something like out of the movies...great looking school,
night football games, girls drill teams, all DISD schools played eachother with one game a year in the Cotton Bowl, cheerleaders,
etc. Those days are gone, and the Bishops Grill also just closed. Robert E. Kelly, Jr. Abbott, Simses & Kuchler,
APLC 1360 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1700 Houston, Texas 77056
San Francisco, California's KZBR FM-95.7 (Bonneville) has decided to join the tide and is now
referred to as MAX FM. And so it goes. KATIE MASON, who was a midday DJ at KZBR FM has moved it on over to Hot AC KLLC as
a part-time DJ.
BOTH ROY ORBISON AND PAT BOONE ATTENDED NORTH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY'S
SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
CHARLES EUGENE BOONE was born June 1, 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida. BOONE's family moved to
Tennessee in 1936. PAT is a direct descendant of DANIEL BOONE. PAT married RED FOLEY's daughter, SHIRLEY, on November 7, 1953.
PAT had six #1 hit singles and twenty-six Top Twenty tunes. PAT appeared in 15 movies.
Singing runs in the BOONE family. DEBBIE BOONE, who had the #1 smash hit in the fall of 1977,
You Light Up My Life, is PAT's daughter and brought home 3 Grammys. NICK TODD, who charted two tunes on Billboard
in 1957, is PAT's younger brother. Both NICK and PAT recorded for Dot Records in the fabulous fifties.
ROY ORBISON was born in Wink, Texas on April 23, 1936. Wink is about 50 miles southwest of Odessa
and a little over 80 miles southwest of Lubbock, which is the home of BUDDY HOLLY and WAYLON JENNINGS. In 1952, ROY's first
band was called the WINK WESTERNERS.
In 1956, ORBISON recorded for Jewel records as lead singer for the TEEN KINGS. This produced
a Rock-a-billy tune called Ooby Dooby. Their recording was promising but had no promotion to back it up. That's when
the legendary STAN PHILLIPS stepped up to the mic with a Sun Records contract for ROY to sign that same year.
On Sun Records, Ooby Dooby landed on Billboard's chart, but leveled off at #59 in the summer of 1956. CLAUDETTE
was the name of ROY's wife and that was the title of another of ROY's early Sun Records tunes.
ORBISON moved it on over to Monument Records and never looked back. This union brought two #1
platters and seventeen Top Thirty hits. Only the Lonely was ROY's first Top Five hit which climbed to the #2 position
on Billboard in the summer of 1960 and sold over five million copies.
In addition to ROY's fabulous voice, another major factor in his big beat sound was BOB MOORE,
who played the bass on all of ORBISON's Monument records. Oh, Pretty Woman became ROY's biggest hit as it struck
#1 on Billboard in the winter of 1964 and sold over seven million copies. That unforgettable Rocker is still used in commercials
and movies. ORBISON made a lasting impression on Rock music and all of us ORB fans which will live on and on.
MGM Records was next. The fine song, Ride Away, was the first MGM Records Billboard
charter, but stopped at #25 in the spring of 1965. This is one of my many personal favorites. The BEATLES had invaded America
and pretty near filled up the chart which left little room for other artists, but ORBISON carried on. Ironically, ROY ORBISON
was bigger in England than the BEATLES during that period.
ROY began to devote all his concert energy to that part of the world. This hurt his homeland
success and falls on the shoulders of his management team. A similar situation is that Col. TOM PARKER refused to let ELVIS
tour anywhere outside the United States. The only time was Aloha From Hawaii which was viewed on satellite by over
a hundred million fans worldwide.
The Ride Away single and LP cover pictured ROY astride a huge Harley 74. Both of the
ORBISONS loved motorcycles. Know the feeling well. Several scratches, scars and bruises are testament to that fact.
Once, when ROY and CLAUDETTE were riding out in the country, she lead the pack. ROY observed
his dear precious wife as a train struck her and she died due to massive injuries. This was devasting to ROY and
he never really got over it. Probably another factor in the dramatic vocal expression in his fine recordings, most of which
are sad love songs.
Here's a little known fact about ORBISON's sunshades that he seemed to always wear. This came
about very early in his career. At an early concert hall appearance, ROY's glasses were missing. His only available pair
of prescription eyeglasses were his sunglasses. Thus was born a ROY ORBISON trademark.
When ROY was asked to join the supergroup, the TRAVELING WILBURYS in 1988, his career was revived.
This was an elite group - GEORGE HARRISON, BOB DYLAN, TOM PETTY, JEFF LYNNE and ROY ORBISON. ROY's contract with
Virgin Records found ORBISON back in the Top Ten with an uptempo Rocker called You Got It, in the spring of
1989, which hit #9 on Billboard. He never got to witness the huge success of that great tune because ROY ORBISON died
of a heart attack on December 6, 1988.
Jim Rose
Houston, Texas
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