By Anita Garner
My blogging buddy, Dave Williams and I were rock and roll disc jockeys, proud to be rock jocks through some interesting times, playing the hits and talking about the artists. We call this website The Aging of Aquarius, but it wasn’t just the Summer of Love that turned the music around again. Two major industries, music and broadcasting, have been completely reinvented.
The first board I ran on the air. Turntables!
We told you what you were listening to, using a “talk-up” or what you’d just heard – called a “back-title.” These had to be precise. For a talk-up we watched the second hand and memorized the point where the vocal started, and during those few seconds, it was our job to tell you something about the song or the singer.
I’ve turned over the car radio to the Grand, and she moves around among stations. Radio is not the way she learns about music. No one on the radio says the name of the artist or the song. Sometimes the car’s dashboard screen tells us, but not every time.
Once upon a time, getting onto a radio station’s playlist was the goal and without it, there was no assurance new artists would be heard. I ask the Grand, how do you learn about new music, fall in love with your favorites, know when they have new songs coming out? Friends, she said. Okay, but word of mouth has to start somewhere. Who starts the buzz? And who’s singing that song? I still want to know.
Dave’s still on the air – mornings at KLIF, Dallas – bringing you news and information and friendly wake-up talk. His board looks something like this.
– – – – –
Music this week is “Pick Up The Pieces” – Average White Band, 1974