ROCKOLLECTIONS: REMEMBERING DICK CLARK, PETE FORNATALE AND FM RADIO PT.1

[Mike Pell]

This show title and photo is slightly deceptive.
I will spend a little time with Dick Clark.
And did you know there was a song written by an ex-Byrd ABOUT Dick Clark?
The rest of this half hour, and all of the next, will be dedicated in fond memory to a guy who inspired and encouraged me to tackle those large and long Themes I sometimes do.
And the short ones too.
It now appears the first to bring a calm intelligence to an FM presentation of Rock & Roll was Pete Fornatale back in 1964!
That was when he began Campus Caravan at WFUV- a sophomore convincing the Jesuits at Fordham University to allow him to play Rock on their educational station.
That alone would land him in the Radio Hall Of Fame, lol!
I will have songs, airchecks and personal memories of those free-form FM Radio days of the 60's!
As a DJ, or more correctly a Musicologist, Pete was a genius- setting a mood, playing just the RIGHT song and entertaining you.
Now if I could only be half as good...hey, I AM half as good, lol!
We had a competition going.
Enjoy, we are just getting started!

 

Here's the link to what will be an introduction for you, or a flashback, at WLSO.FM:

 

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/2272

 

 

Mike

[Mike Pell]

RJ,

Thanks, and I wish I could have seen Dick with Kiss on American Bandstand, lol!

That must be classic!
Wonder if it's on Youtube?

I figured most people had never heard the entire version of Bandstand Boogie by Les Elgart, so that's what I try to do, give a little History lesson every time out.

Pete Fornatale was a fantastic DJ/Musicologist.

And the trip back to an actual, real Woodstock commercial was so enjoyable to hear.

Plus the Palisades Park commercial, I had forgotten you could take a bus there it's been gone so long, lol!

And even in Georgia you heard that theme song they had?

You must have been exactly like me...always going up and down the dial, looking for different things on the radio.

Man I remember listening to Montreal Canadiens hockey games in FRENCH, LOL!

Hell, I knew the players and could figure out what was going on...but then as a kid I LIVED hockey!

Oh, with that commercial, may I officially welcome you to New York City, lol!

Nice choice, the Golden Pell to Poco for Consequently So Long.

A few more listens and you'll love it.

Who is it, Scott, who is a big Poco fan?
Like me?

A group really worth investigating...trust me.

Thanks for the listen, writing, and putting up with me chasing you down, lol,

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

That's a real nice tribute Mike. 

 

I remember the weekly American Bandstand that came on Saturday.  I'm pretty sure Kiss was even on their once.  I always like to hear the little soundbites.  And that's definitely the first time I've ever heard the entire version of Bandstand Boogie, otherwise know as the Theme to American Bandstand.  Very nice.

 

The Pete Fornatale stuff was good too.  I especially liked the Woodstock commercial.  It almost got the Golden Pell.  And how 'bout that Palisades commercial he did, mentioning the cross-town bus.  I was a small kid in the late 60's/early 70's, but I remember listening to the radio.  I remember the sound of it and the feel of summer on my skin.  That commercial put me right back there, even though I've never been to New York City.  That could have easily been an advertisement in Augusta, Georgia.

 

Golden Pell to Poco for Consequently So Long.  Great song title and a very good little tune.  I thought it was Glenn Campbell for a bit until you said Poco.

 

 

[Mike Pell]

You can be a wise sage without being old!

I like my sage fresh...parsley, rosemary & thyme too, lol!

[Jon]

Oh, C'MON! You're supposed to be a wise sage!

[Mike Pell]

Don't piss me off, just for that I won't tell you, lol!

Yeah, it was Donna Summer...sure..she fit right in with FM Radio!

[Jon]

You mentioned something about summer, it wasn't Donna Summer, it was the season. You MUST be getting old, not even remembering!

Why didn't The Moody Blues play Woodstock? (You're old, you should know )

[Mike Pell]

Jon,

No, it was just a little get-together by some artist-types in upstate New York, lol!

There were some folks Pete mentioned in the commercial that did NOT play- to me, chief among them being the Moody Blues.

Pete gradually rid himself of much of his New Yawk accent, and while not typical his voice was something you got used to.

Actually, what he would play and put together musically made his voice a non-factor!

 

 

And you mentioned summer...

 

 

I did?

Wonder what I was talking about...can you give me a clue?
Don't think it was Donna Summer.

And I have nothing against her, in fact there are a couple of songs by her I would play on the show.

But I was VERY anti-disco during that time.

You want robins...I'll send you some robins, lol!

Thanks for the listen and writing, I think you listened to 3 parts in 2 days so I appreciate your Iron Man status,

Mike

[Jon]

Nice show Mike. I am curious about that Woodstock concert that Pete announced. Was it something big? Seemed to have some pretty big names there. I did like his voice as well, not your typical "radio" voice, but it soothed me.

And you mentioned summer...for Donna Summer? Too bad you didn't throw in robins in the summer, that would have been ultra-cool.