BILLY JOE
SHAVER NAMED TEXAS STATE MUSICIAN
As the Texas Commission
on the Arts announced its appointments to the positions of state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist
and state three-dimensional artist, Country music legend BILLY JOE SHAVER was named Texas State Musician. The positions will
be filled by one-year appointments. The 2005 appointees include Texas Poet Laureate ALAN BRIKELBACH of Plano, Texas State
Musician JOHNNY GIMBLE of Tyler, Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist KATHY VARGAS of San Antonio, and Texas State Three-Dimensional
Artist SHARON KOPRIVA of Houston. The 2006 appointees include Texas Poet Laureate RED STEAGALL of Fort Worth, Texas State
Musician BILLY JOE SHAVER of Waco, Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist GEORGE BOUTWELL of Bosque, and Texas State Three-Dimensional
Artist JAMES SURLS of Athens.
Representative HARVEY
HILDERBRAN, chair of the House of Representative's Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism said, These men and women
bring art and culture to Texans everyday. I am honored to have them live in our great state, and am pleased that we could
salute them with these designations.
SHAVER is presently touring
on the heels of his BILLY JOE SHAVER - Live c-d on Compadre Records, which was released in May 2005. University of
Texas Press recently published BILLY's autobiography, Honky Tonk Hero. A 60 Minutes segment on BILLY JOE's life was
shot by DAN RATHER and will shortly be scheduled. SHAVER is nearing completion of a new studio album due for September release.
Several big recording
artists known to most of us were added to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 23, 2005. This group of five inductees
includes TOBY KEITH, BILLY PARKER, BOB BOGLE, NOKIE EDWARDS of the 1960s instrumental group, THE VENTURES and TOMMY ALLSUP.
Also, the historic CAIN’s BALLROOM in Tulsa has been selected for induction into the 2005 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
The annual conscription ceremonies will be held in Muskogee, on October 27, 2005. TOBY KEITH is the most red-hot performer
in today's Country Music. BILLY PARKER is a legendary DJ is his own time. BILLY has spun platters on Tulsa's clear channel
50,000 watt Country KVOO-1170 and Gospel KFMJ-1050. PARKER has been a member of Country Radio Hall of Fame in Nashville since
1991. BILLY recorded for Decca and other labels Many of his tunes landed on the Billboard Country charts.
WHAT FAMOUS MUSICIAN
PLAYED PIANO WHEN THE GRATEFUL DEAD WERE ON TOUR IN THE 1990S?
(Find the answer at the bottom of this column)
JOHN STEEL (Houston, TX) jockey@hotmail.com Greetings Jim, Just came across your site on the web and am enjoying it a lot. Many of the names that I have seen
are ones that I have worked with. I worked in San Antonio at KONO with Rod Tanner, Johnny Shannon, Rick Reynolds, Chris Cooper,
Howard Edwards, Charlie Scott, Vic Brandon, and many others that I an still trying to remember!! I think that I remember you
when you were with KITE and possibly with KBUC. I have also worked in Corpus Christi, East Texas, and in Houston at KNUZ,
KLDE, KILT, ETC. Great to hear some real radio people are still around. John Steel
Yes, it's the same ole me. Back in August
1968, HARREL BANKS pulled me away from WFAA-820 in Dallas to be Program Director of KBUC fm-am in San Antonio. In 1972, JOHN
RHODES placed a call to KLIF-1190 in Dallas to get me to return to the Alamo City for PM Drive news at KITE-930.
JOHN ROOK (Northern ID) jr@johnrook.com Subject: Cume + TSL = SUCCESS. I dunno why radio continues to invite tune out. For years we always did everything
we could to make a listener feel comfortable…enjoying the time they spent with us. Sure we had some personalities and
content that created awareness, but never anything distasteful or that would alienate the trust listeners had in their favorite
radio station. We attempted to be a “friend” and they rewarded us on a daily basis. Listeners trusted radio. www.JohnRook.com
The major reason the legendary GORDON MCLENDON
sold his Texas radio stations was he was getting a divorce and did not want his wife to get her hands on any of his masterpiece
radio stations. GORDON sold KTSA, KILT, KILT FM, KLIF and KNUS FM, but for some reason the buyer backed out on KNUS FM. They
still placed their bets on AM radio. So, the talented and crafty MCLENDON and his son BART took KNUS FM straight to the top
and beat out the Mighty 1190, KLIF. Much to the dismay of the new owners.
GENTLEMAN JIM CARTER (San Antonio, TX)
JCarter536@aol.com Jim, I worked for Bart at KNUS in '76. I was doing weekends at the time, fresh out of a full time gig in
Oklahoma. At the time I was doing three part time gigs. One at KNUS, another at WFAA and another at KOAX. As the new year
approached I committed to working on New Year's Eve to KOAX. After my commitment, Bart approached me to work that same night
at KNUS. Jim
From 1977-78, I was a DJ, plus did music
research on KIKK FM when its studios were in the then brand new nice 2-story building on Gulfton in southwest
Houston. After CHRIS COLLIER left the building as KIKK FM's Program Director, BOB YOUNG came aboard as a replacement. I left
KIKK and went on over to KNUZ-1230. LARRY VANCE asked me to tape a promo to announce my arrival on the KNUZ airwaves. Ironically,
when at KILT FM, in the 1990s, CHUCK TILLER told me that he was the one who dubbed my promo tape onto a cart to be aired immediately
on KNUZ. Those were the days my friend.
BLAKE LINDSAY (Dallas, TX) blazin_blake@iqmail.net Jim, I really like that KKYX SA signal. Wish they were being productive with that huge day time fifty K. Their ten
K, is a decent south bounder too. When I worked the seven to midnight shift with KTSA, there were two nights, that I accidentally
on purpose, didn't hit our pattern button, which made us go direction five K, north and south. It was great getting calls
from at least four states. I got caught the second time, when we got a nice friendly note from the FCC, due to 560 in Beaumont
Texas being splattered on by my oops. I actually felt badly about our interference, and it never happened again. I am making some great hit bound CD's with my wife. She is
fourteen years younger, but knows twice the oldies that I do. Gotta love that about her. Have a Blazin Good Evening Jim!
Blake
When I was a DJ on clear channel 50kw WFAA-820
in Dallas from 1967-68, it sent a strong signal to 38 states. Think of the power of that RCA ribbon mic. Never knew where
the next call was coming from, or letter. Received a letter from some college girls in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. They wanted
me to come spin some tunes for one of their dances. Guess they thought I was like JOHNNY CARSON and have somebody fill in
for me while I flew my private jet to their town. If they only knew. A guy from Chigago called at least once a week for MARTY
ROBBINS' El Paso. Received a call from an island in the Caribbean, Alabama and other states. Still have a box filled
with letters to a WFAA contest that I had. Maybe ought to try and find it to jot down where each one came from.
Wondered if BLAKE ever met my buddy BRUCE
HATHAWAY. BRUCE was quite a star on San Antonio radio at KTSA-550, KTFM FM and TV. BRUCE used to keep his hair and beard died
jet black. The shape of his beard made him look like a young ABRAHAM LINCOLN. HATHAWAY always wore a black shirt and pants.
Looked every bit the star that he was. A really nice guy. BRUCE had an American Bandstand type of TV show in the Alamo City.
BLAKE LINDSAY (Dallas, TX) blazin_blake@iqmail.net Jim, Subject: WFAA-820 50kw clear channel! Back in the early and mid seventies, I listened to 820 WBAP, in Indianapolis
IN. I was especially excited in the Summer of 76, when my friend had been on vacation in TX, and we were swimming in my aunt's
nice big pool. My friend surprised me, by throwing in her brand new WBAP ball, with the proud WBAP logo on it. We played with
it in the pool, and I sure wanted to keep her souvenir, but didn't ask her.
I was nearly twelve, twenty-nine Summers
ago, and sure knew about all of those true clear channel stations. Most cities more than 750 miles from a fifty K clear channel
station, now unfortunately have a small station of 500 or a thousand watts, which dismisses that covering 38 states idea.
Even here in Dallas, we have a CP, for a Brand new 700. Fifteen hundred watts day time, and 920 after sunset, which will more
than likely block out WLW for forty or so miles each direction. Blow torches, were a blast in the seventies and early
eighties. Fun memories indeed.
Bruce is a very good person. I was
working with KTFM, from early 84, through 1988, and Bruce was working mornings on KTSA, wrapping up his twenty-five year tenure,
in August 1985. He landed at KSMG for eighteen months, and went right to KAJA, when KSMG decided he wasn't a fit. I believe
he was with KAJA mid days, through 1992. Don't know if he is still reading news for metro Traffic, on KKYX, but think he left
there about a year ago. Bruce would be 69 years old now, and when I saw him on March sixth of 2004, at the Lee Randle KTSA
reunion, he sounded and acted like the same great Bruce, who I admired for years. Got to stop and go to Church now Jim. Talk
to you soon. Have a Blazin Good Week! Blake
Lots of things going on with the WALLFLOWERS
these days. webmaster@mail2fans.myreg.net For instance, the WALLFLOWERS Store is now open. You can visit their site at http://www.thewallflowers.com . Click on the Store link to purchase your W-F t-shirts. The WALLFLOWERS will be on CONAN O'BRIEN's TV show July 15th.
Their performance on PBS Soundstage will air during the third week in July. Check your local listings for dates and times.
The WALLFLOWERS are on tour. W-F was on the east coast recently and continues its summer tour with shows in Las Vegas and
several California cities this week. Visit the News page for updates on THE WALLFLOWERS site.
EDWARD GUERRERO (San Antonio, TX) edward-guerrero@sbcglobal.net Jim, Dan Burleson triggered the nostalgic wheels when he asks about Jud. All of San Antonio remembers his presence
in many broadcasting venues here in the city. There two most predominant events and/or situations come to the minds of our
family. First, his never ending sparring events when working out with KENS TV with their sportscaster, Dan ("The opera ain't
over till the fat lady sings") Cook. There were very colorful encounters between the two at the show endings.
Second, My family
met Jud by chance. I happen to be buying donuts at a donut shop in the Lackland/Kelly AFB area in the 70's. As i walked out
of the shop Jud stepped into the store. I said Hi to him...and he being friendly as always started a conversation. As we stopped
at the door's threshold i noticed my oldest daughter (6 yrs old then) jumping up-and-down in the back seat of my car parked
in front. She and my wife were all smiles when they recognized him. I siezed the situation by saying that he had a very serious
fan of his inside my car. Hearing this he followed me to the car. As we approached the car, my daughter lowered the rear window
and begged him to say his signature ending of all his shows "Hug someone it will make you feel real good". He obliged and
gave her a hug when he poke his face through the car's window. We all have been laughing about this for the past 31 years
or so. Jud Ashmore is still active in weathercasting out the Texas Hill Area...KRNH FM 92.3 Kerrville and also contributes
his forecasting expertise to KBUC FM.
Dan Cook has retired
after +50 years sportswriting and sportcasting, part cliche' originator "The opera ain't over until the fat lady sings". He
added to "The opera...(It) ain't over until the fat lady sings"...the last part of the phrase thanks to 1935-1945 Texas political
legislature of the Texas Republic Congress. Regards, Ed G. San Antonio, Texas
KENS TV CH-5 began broadcasting
in the Alamo City on February 15, 1950. That was the day that WALT DISNEY released Cinderella and WILLIAM INGE's
Come Back Little Sheba premiered in New York City. The A.H. BELO Corporation in Dallas owns KENS TV, which is a CBS
affiliate. The call letters came from its original owner, the San Antonio Express and News whch began publishing a newspaper
in 1865. The Express and News is owned by the HEARST Corporation. KENS-680, which has been KKYX for decades and was KABC and
KBAT prior to that was in the original group. In 1971, I was a DJ and talk show co-host on KBAT-680.
The Fiesta Commission
has awarded the contract to Channel 5 to televise the Battle of Flowers and Flambeau parades. These huge events had been carried
by the local PBS affiliate, KLRN TV, which borrowed an assortment of local broadcast talents as commentators. The Commission
said it made the switch in an attempt to increase promotional opportunties and increase national exposure. Officials
believe KENS TV's link to CBS TV will lead to greater coverage of Fiesta events.
Some interesting facts
about San Antonio are that it is the 9th largest city in America with a July 2002 population estimate of 1,194,222. That figure
indicates an increase of 3.7% over the year 2000. The population breakdown shows that 58.7% are hispanic, 31.8% white and
6.8% black. Also of interest is that KITE-930 is now KLUP, KBUC-1310 is KXTN and KBUC FM is KCJZ.
BRUCE
HORNSBY PLAYED PIANO WITH THE GRATEFUL DEAD ON THEIR 1990S TOUR.
BRUCE HORNSBY joined
the GRATEFUL DEAD as a temporary band member in 1990 and performed in the majority of DEAD shows until March 1992. BRUCE occasionally
sat in with the DEAD both before and after this period. During this time the DEAD did not release any studio recordings. Away
from the DEAD, HORNSBY has performed and recorded with his own groups and guested on many other recordings.
Jim Rose
Houston, Texas
Nominated for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame
in 2004 and 2005
Member of MARQUIS Who's Who in America
Nominated for the CMA Music Director of the Year - 1977
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