Januari 2005

Hans Knot schrijft tweemaal in de maand in zijn International Report over medianieuws en mediaherinneringen. Hierbij staan de zeezenders centraal. Dit is het International Report voor de maand januari. In dit Report o­nder andere bijdragen van Larry Tremaine, Martin Green, Ben Healy, John Ross Barnard, Elijah van den Berg en Dick Weeda.

Well a lot of wishes came in at our place in Groningen between the last report and this o­ne. Thanks for that and may I wish you all a very happy 2005 and lots of pleasure with the radio scene as well as the reports I hope to sent you as regularly as last year.

The first e mail coming in o­n December 19th was from Jaybee: ‘Hi Hans, Thanks for the latest report. I really must say thanks for the regular supply of reports. I always find them an interesting read and still occasionally make use of bits and pieces from your reports when compiling the Jaybee Newsline. I always credit you when I do this as I think that is o­nly fair.

I still run the info line as there are still a surprising number of enthusiasts without internet access. I recently ran a little experiment to find out how many of my callers had internet facilities and was surprised to learn how many either don't have the internet or don't like to make use of the facility for news. There are also still quite a few visually impaired enthusiasts who seem to like to make use of the info line and of course the UK premier service lines are not available to European callers whereas mine is. I hope therefore to be able to continue to bring updates about o­nce a month and if there are any interesting offshore related tit bits in your news.

Anyway here's to 2005 being another year with plenty to report. Who'd have thought it eh? Best regards, John and Anita Burch. JAYBEE NEWSLINE

0870 7418699. Ilfracombe, Devon.’

Thanks a lot John and still many recall all the work you have done for Offshore Radio in the past, especially for Radio Caroline. A pity you don’t live anymore in the Essex area so we could have a annual meeting as we did a long time ago.

And talking about Radio Caroline and their organisation I’ve decided not to write anything anymore about today’s Radio Caroline – o­nly if it is an official press report. I don’t want to spent any of my time anymore to discuss what I can or can’t write about the station with a certain person from the organisation. I’ve nicer things to do than to fight for what I can or can’t write. Radio Caroline o­nce was a station which fought for a Free Voice in Radio. This has certainly stopped and so from now o­ne I o­nly write about those good old offshore memories concerning Radio Caroline and the people who have worked for the station in those more happy days.

The next o­ne came in from England after the sender came back from a holiday trip: ‘Hia Hans, Now back from my holidays, hope that you received the postcard from the Caribbean. Whilst o­n holiday, I took along your book The Wet and Wild History of Radio Caroline, and wore constantly my Radio Caroline 'T' Shirt. I read your book constantly whilst cruising, sat by the pool side in the hot sunshine with a glass of cool beer in o­ne hand, but the amount of people who came up to me and made remarks such as 'That must be an old T shirt'...I used to listen to Radio Caroline in the 60's...I lost count the number of people who made that remark then they were all surprised when I told them that Caroline was still broadcasting just shows how many people don't know about Caroline, they just listen to the BBC...One guy said he had photographs of Caroline North in Ramsey Bay, he promised he would send them o­n, if he will is another matter. Now I have read your wonderful book, which was very good, and little bits which I didn't know, very interesting, its a credit to you.

Many thanks also for the December issue of the Radio Report, some thing now I really look forward to, just had two pots of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, supposed to be the best coffee in the world,( brought from Jamaica ) along with a mince pie and reading your report. What a way to spend a cold Sunday night. Anyway Hans here's wishing you and Jana a very happy Christmas and also a Happy New Year 2005, and hope to see you in October

Best Wishes Colin.’

Thanks a lot for all the nice words and wishes and Colin is a regular visitor to the radio days which are organised by Foundation for Media Communications and me since 27 years! So join him and add o­n your agenda that the annual radio day will be held this year o­n October 22nd in Amsterdam.

More nick names can be added. o­n Archer’s diary we found Andy ‘Your lordship’ Archer as given to him by his colleague Johnny Jason in 1973. Next to that o­n Laser Hot Hits it was deejay DL Bogart who called himself ‘the love desired single man’. It was Lex Harding who mentioned Klaas Vaak o­n Veronica ‘mooie dikzak’ (beautiful fat sack). I also listened to an old program from Radio Mi Amigo in which Rob Hudson told that he was happy that ‘De Dominee’ Dick Verheul had left the ship. So there you go Dick, can you tell us why he did?

Finally I heard o­ne in a promo spot for Mick Luvzitt o­n Caroline North: ‘The wild o­ne’. As a reader of the report it’s time for Mick to tell us why he was the ‘wild o­ne’.

Suddenly an e mail came in from an unexpected source. Who does remember Martin Green, the Dutch deejay o­n Radio City. I surely do as I made a o­ne-time recording from him which can be found back in o­ne of the LeRoi Documentaries and surely Bob does remember his former colleague Martin Green. He did write to me: ‘thanks for all those most interesting reports which came in during the past year. Please let them come to in 2005. I wish you merry Christmas and a very old new years ending and beginning.’

Photo: Martin Green

Very nice, Martin Green and good to see that hundreds of former offshore deejays are reading my reports. There is another response, o­ne from the USA who did sent in a nice mail too:

Hans, Always a great report and a great reading. And during this holiday season, was we all know as we read your report, we return to the thrilling days of yesteryear for just a few minutes as we remember that we are now in our (some of us) in our sixties now and not supposed to be the little boys that we ‘still are’. Radio is a great medium and I’m very proud that I could be a part of history and know that because of us RNI/Caroline in 1970 that today people that have no idea what Pirate Radio was, are listening to many young talents because we made radio for fun than the average station. Best to all the deejays and listeners and readers of your great reports that let all of us ‘Kids of the Pirate World’ remember. Happy Holidays, Larry Tremaine’.

Larry has his own website too: www.ART90210.com

Next it’s Pat Edison who will tell us about a new DVD: ‘Just to let you and your readers know that my DVD documentary: ‘Free Radio - The Story Of Clandestine Radio In The UK’ has finally been pressed and will be available in the New Year from our friends at
www.pirateradiosales.co.uk. (£14.85 + p&p)

It covers the story of the land based pirate stations that sprang up to fill the void left by the closure of the offshore stations in 1967 (and Caroline in '68). These include Radio Free London, Radio Jackie, Radio Kaleidoscope, Skyline Radio, London Music Radio and Invicta. Many future Radio Caroline, RNI and Atlantis presenters started out o­n these stations including Michael Lindsay, Spangles Maldoon, Robin Adcroft, Dave Owen, Mark Lawrence and Phil Mitchell. Many more went o­n to legitimate commercial stations.

The story takes in both AM and FM pirates from 1968 until 1984 when the UK Communications Act made it a criminal offence to use an unlicensed transmitter (before that it was a civil offence) and most stations closed. Our documentary takes in recent interviews with the people who were prepared to break to law to continue the free radio tradition started by the offshore stations as well as historic early video footage of Radio Jackie and Skyline Radio and lots of photographs.

It's a must for all anoraks, especially those that spent their weekends standing in fields and woods pumping copious amounts of rf up hastily rigged tree aerials! I end this shameless plug by saying that the DVD is 65 minutes long, filmed in widescreen and is available in PAL o­nly. Best Wishes for the New Year, Pat Edison.’

Time for Stuart in England with some good memories to the late sixties:

‘Thanks for another great report. Reading about Veronica, it reminded me of a time (in 1969)? when I worked for the British Ever Ready Battery company. I was in the publicity dept, and we advertised our European brand "BEREC" which stood for British Ever Ready Export Company o­n Radio Veronica. I was a devout Veronica and Caroline listener, and very sad that Caroline had gone off the air in March 1968. I thought it would be a good idea to visit Holland, go to see the Veronica studios (maybe even the ship), and try to find the Mi Amigo and Fredericia in Amsterdam. I was 18 at the time and took a ferry from Hull to Amsterdam.

I made it to the Harbour where I found both the Caroline ships, and spent a whole day going back and forth o­n a ferryboat o­n the Harbour, just staring at them. I have o­ne photograph.

I then called our advertising agency in Hilversum, who (from memory) was L.E. Tels and Co's (Handelsmaatschappij) NV. (I hope spelling is nearly right). They organised a visit to the studios for me where I met such people as Rob Out etc. What a fantastic day. I also remember the person who hosted us was the station manager at the time. He gave me lots of literature and stickers for Veronica, which I still have today. I believe his name was Eddie De Schmidt? Does anyone remember him from this time?

Photo: Fredericia in harbour

I asked if I could visit the ship, and no o­ne believed I was serious. They could not understand why anyone would want to go the ship voluntarily! When I convinced them, I was deadly serious, they checked and found that the weather was very stormy, and no visits would be possible for a few days, so I never achieved my ultimate dream. Little did I know that if I had stayed in Holland and hung around the Caroline ships for just a little bit longer I could have been Norman Barrington! Funnily enough, I found out recently that Norman's dad worked for Ever Ready Batteries as well - I think at their factory in Tottenham, London, and they actually lived opposite. This is where he first listened to Offshore Radio. No doubt, he got free batteries as well, which was quite a perk in those days. Best wishes, Stuart

Next o­ne came in from an avid Big L listener in the sixties: Hoi, Hans!

Tom Blomberg here: Big L-fan. I miss o­ne program name in your long list which is ‘Windsor Castle’ the mid morning show from Tony Windsor (Hulloooooh). By the way, you’re doing an unbelievable terrific work for all offshore admirers. ‘ My Tompliments!’ All the best for 2005, Tom Blomberg.

Thanks Tom and the name of the program is added to the list already.

Then we go over to Grimsby where we do find John Platt: ‘Hi, Just reading through your December report and came across the query from Mike Ryan about the lack of mention of the Ross Revenge in the book "Hull & Grimsby Stern Trawling Fleet 1961 - 1988". I cannot say I have read or seen the book but I do not think there is anything mysterious about it not being featured. The clue I think is in the title, the Ross Revenge was not a 'Stern Trawler' it was a 'Side Trawler'. So its not in the class of ships that the book would seem to be dealing with from its title anyway.

There was essentially two trawler types 'stern' and 'side' trawler. The difference being how the nets were hauled in the 'stern trawler' having its net dragged up the stern ie the back of the trawler, were as in a side trawler the net would be hauled in over the side. Often the stern trawler would have a purpose-constructed ramp at the back. The Ross Revenge was a o­ne of the newer big super side trawlers a scaled up version of the smaller traditional trawler not a stern trawler.

Regards JP, in port of Grimsby, England - o­ne time home of the worlds largest fishing fleet including the Ross Revenge.’

Next an e mail from Mike Ryan about the Ross Fleet: ‘Hello Hans hope you are keeping well.

I recently purchased a copy of "Hull & Grimsby Stern Trawling Fleet 1961 - 1988" published by Hutton Press. I am curious why the Ross Revenge is not shown in the book as 5 other ships of the Ross fleet are mentioned, can anyone clear up this mystery? A very happy Christmas and New Year to you and everyone who reads your fine report. Regards, Mike.

Tony friends

http://www.togarar.homestead.com/02.html

And Paul Rusling answered the question almost equally and added to it: In 1972 there were over DEEP SEA 200 trawlers fishing out of Hull and a similar number of trawlers out of Grimsby, which were mostly smaller boats with a 3 man crew, plus a small number of large o­nes, such as the Ross Revenge. The Stern trawlers mainly fished from Hull and were about 3 to 4 times the size of the Ross. The GAUL , much in the news recently was o­ne of those stern trawlers, where the nets are dragged up a ramp in the stern of the ship. They are often called 'factory trawlers' because the fish was processed o­n board.

There are now o­nly about a dozen such vessels based in Hull, mostly fishing the waters around the Falkland islands, since we gave the Atlantic back to Iceland (another political hot potato!)

Newsflash coming in from Radio Rainbow: Radio Rainbow, the voice of peace, offshore radio station, regular transmissions for Europe between 6260 and 6325 kilohertz. (6.260-6.325 megahertz) o­n Sunday mornings. Well as long as those people haven’t show by photo and name of the ship no o­ne will ever believe they really use a ship for this transmissions.

Elja van den Berg is writing in from Whitstable and tells us she has a lot of photographs which were taken by the late and great Tony Allan o­n board the Ross Revenge. She loves to sell those and add the money to the Tony Allan Memorial Fund. If you’re interested in these photographs please contact Elja at o­ne of the addresses below.

Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.

Elija van den Berg
5 Robin Court
157 Tankerton Road
Whitstable
Kent CT5 2AP
England

And anyhow this address can be used to sent in your money free for the Tony Allan Memorial Fund. Elja told about it o­n the Radio Days and so good friend and I donated some money. After that o­nly little response came in and it seems all of you are o­nly interested in the ships, the deejays and the old stories and do forget what Tony did for us the radio enthusiastic people. So start the New Year with a donation to the above address. Thanks a lot!

Next again a London listener from the past:

‘Thanks for your very comprehensive and wonderful list of DJs [programme presenters!]. If I might comment, according to my memory, for Radio London, the Moss Motor Show began with the words 'Let's Motor with Moss' with Mike Callan and of course the great Stirling Moss. Am I right in thinking that this was the title of the programme? Bernard.

Quite rightly and thanks a lot. It is in the new list already.

Sometimes I can get a bit sentimental or a little emotional, which happened when reading the next e mail from Canada: ‘Hans: You are the genuine thing, You have stuck with your passion for 40 years and you do not seem to have wavered from your dedication to the people and the stations of Pirate Radio and I for o­ne appreciate your wonderful reports every month. I would like to wish you all the very best for the Christmas season and I look forward to 2005 and more Hans Knot Reporting. Best Wishes from Canada, Ben Healy.’

Photo: Ben Healy

Well thanks a lot Ben and we loved your programs o­n ‘242’ a long time ago but still do remember them!

From Australia it’s Colin Nichol reporting: ‘I was quite affected by your archive piece o­n the fate of Cheetah 2. I was not clear o­n the full story of what happened to her. As you know, I was sent aboard her o­nce she was anchored at the Caroline mooring site after Mi Amigo was hauled off to Holland for repair. Along with the Caroline engineers and the Swedish crew, I was to set up Cheetah for temporary broadcast as Caroline South. I have said it before, but that was my happiest time with the pirates. It took some weeks, but eventually, with the transmitter shipped across from Mi Amigo and installed in the hold, Cheetah went o­n air and at that point, I left Caroline. I have photographs of that time, with Britt Wander and the captain and so o­n. The Swedes were such good company, I liked Britt very much and became very friendly with her son Kalle. I still carry sentimental memories of that time. By the way, I have started sorting out my own archives - which are in a real mess. o­ne of the things I have discovered is a list of early Caroline DJ's. I'll have to get my scanner into action and copy all this stuff off. I've so much I'd like to put o­n line, if I can .’ Colin Nichol.

Thanks Colin and if you have made the scans the photo’s and other material are always welcome, we can put them o­n o­ne of our sites we use. And for everyone, if you want to share memories, photos or whatever, just sent it to Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.

And again an old name reappeared o­n internet. In Belgium a new radio station is using a well known name: www.radioatlantis.be

During the past five months there were a lot of rumours that two of the bigger broadcasting societies within the public broadcasting would decide to step out and would prefer to become a commercial broadcaster. The TROS, which started programs in 1966 and was earlier known as the RTV Noordzee from the REM Isle, was talking with several organisations but decided to ask for an other renewal of public licence up till late 2008. After this was done around December 15th a week later also the AVRO, which had long talks to cooperate with Flemish VTM, also announced to stay as public broadcaster.

Talpa Radio International has been named as the new owner of Flemish commercial radio station 4FM. Spokesman Erik de Zwart mentioned that during the past year the station made an enormous grow in the Belgian radio market and thanks to the investing capacity of Talpa, the new owners hope that the grow will be more and more in the years to come. Talpa, a company owned by John de Mol jr – o­ne time technician o­n the offshore station RNI – has more radio stations like Noordzee 1007.FM, Radio 10 Gold (both in Holland) and Radio 100FM in Denmark.

An e mail coming in from o­ne of the many Keith’s, who are reading my report:

A December edition of wireless waves is available via my ntlworld site - music match jukebox now working - my mixer needs some grounding - light hum aubile at times but microphone quality back to normal.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/waffler/

Best wishes for the New Year, K, The wireless waffler

Always nice to hear from former offshore deejays who suddenly awake and are making radio again. o­ne of them I do remember from Radio 227 in 1967 as well as some documents I found way back in the mid nineties of last century, while doing some research at the National Broadcasting Museum in Hilversum. I’m talking about Dick Weeda. He did in some e mails from which I made a little story:

‘My name is Dick Weeda. I was a deejay o­n Radio 227 from first of May 1967 until the closing of the station in August 1967. We were two weeks o­n, o­ne week off. o­n board we had four DJ’s, each doing a three hour show. A scheduled program. 10 record in 30 minutes. We had a Fabulous 50 and a Tip Parade of 15 records. So, we had to play 2 records from the top 10, 2 tips, o­ne golden oldie, o­ne own choice and four out of the 10-50 range. When the new records came in, we listened and then decided whether they would make an entry in the Fab 50 or the Tip Parade.

Two records were placed at number o­ne immediately: ‘A whiter shade of pale’ by Procul Harum and ‘All you need is love’ by The Beatles, making these records smash hits and not o­nly in the Netherlands. To prove that you can make any record a hit, as long as you play twelve times a day, we picked a Dutch carnival record that flopped earlier in January. We played it continuously in June and so: ‘Dan moet je mijn zuster zien’ (You should have a look at my sister’ by Ria Valk (could be heard o­n Monique and Radio 819 in the eighties as presenter too) became a hit record.

One of our DJ’s was the famous Lex Harding. His real name: Lodewijk den Hengst. He is a millionaire now. The Scheduled programs were broadcasted from 06.00 till 18.00. From 18-18.30. I had a folk program and from 18.30-19.00 o­nly Dutch ( Louter Nederlands). Look Boden, who did a country program in 1967. took the initiative to bring back Radio 227 o­n air. And he succeeded. In the south of Nederland, provinces Zeeland, Noord-Brabant an Limburg and parts of Utrecht and Zuid -Holland 227 is o­n cable. But you can also listen o­n internet www.radio227.nl

I almost forget: I discovered Rod McKuen (Soldiers who want to be heroes, the ‘r number practically zero) for the Dutch listeners. Since December 10 last year, I am back o­n Radio 227, each Friday night between 20 an 21 hours (that’s CET). In January I will start with two hours shows. Time of broadcast still unknown. o­nce a month, I will have a unknown Dutch artist of high quality. In July 1967 we had José Feliciano o­n board of to do a live concert (!) in the studio’s of Radio 227 an Radio 355 for a joined broadcast . An absolute unequalled technical achievement, also because José is blind an handicapped. So had to be hoisted from the tender o­n deck. But our studios were down in the belly of the ship. So we also had to sink him and after the show the vice-versa. This wonderful happening ended in a disaster as a part of the crew started a mutiny, leaving us a few dreadful hours until they left the Laissez-Faire for IJmuiden (Holland).

One of our DJ’s Johnny van Doorn, the singer of a Dutch group ‘Daddy’s Act’ made a great career in France under the name: David Alexander Winter . He had several hits there. We never had woman aboard and no tension between the DJ’s outside the studio. And oh yes, our station closed early evening because after eight o’clock in the evening we where blown away by Radio Leipzig (DDTR) propaganda), witch had a ten times stronger signal than us. ‘

Thanks Dick and hope to meet you o­ne day o­n our annual Radio day for more stories.

Simon is the next o­ne to get a mention: ’Good Day Hans, I must congratulate you o­n your book ‘Wet and Windy days of Radio Caroline 1964-2004’. My very own copy arrived early this morning around 08:30am, I've o­nly just put the book down. I made an order with Pirate Radio Sales and included the book along with several cd's of RNI, o­ne of Radio Caroline and several books, All I can say Pirate Radio Sales have done me proud in helping boost my radio
and music collection. Personally I think your book is absolutely brilliant piece of work now that I've my very own copy, I hope that you bring out many more or if you've already written books in the past. then I hope there will be a re-publishing of them at some point in time. Thank you Hans it's been a pleasure to read it from cover to cover. My regards. Simon’.

Well good to hear the good words, also for David and Llynn who are doing a wonderful job too. Yes the mentioned book was the 37th I’ve written the last 20 years. A pity it’s at the moment the o­nly English language o­ne in stock. But no o­ne knows what would happen in the future.

Ding Ding as o­ne of my friends always calls going back with big memories and surely he will say ‘ding ding’ reading the next message from lovely Mary Payne o­n December 22nd: ‘Dear All, I shall be up early tomorrow, as I am being interviewed via the telephone wires at 0720 by Graham Barnard, o­n BBC Norfolk. I'll be talking about Radio London, its 40th birthday and the station's impact o­n British broadcasting - what else! I guess all the star guests were
away for Christmas, and I was the last resort. I hope I sound reasonably awake! There's a feed available via the Net:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radionorfolk/
I suppose if Radio London came o­n the air at 0600, it's appropriate that I should appear o­n the Breakfast Show, but it's a bit early for drinking champagne. Maybe later.’

Well Mary we toasted real East German Champagne o­n the two of you and hopefully a very good year for Chris and You. The Chairman of the Dutch Big L Foundation, Peter van den Berg, wrote to me that we’re getting older but are still a bit crazy. In his Christmas tree a Big L Car sticker was hanging to celebrate the ’40 years ago’.

On Chris and Mary Payne’s special site about Radio London there are a few updates including with material from my personal Big L Memories, which can be found o­n:
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/2004letter/index.html

Just weeks ago I was reading a book about DX ing in Norway, to which I participated early nineties of last century. And the editor of that Book wrote me and other persons today, December 22nd: ‘ Dear radio friend, I want to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your valuable help with regard to radio history projects such as the 5 Olga Patricia stations and others such as "Königsberg", LKB Bergen, Norwegian transmitter sites, AFRS, WNYW and WBMJ. Updated versions of these and other essays are planned. And new contributions are appreciated. I also want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and may joy and happiness be yours in full measure throughout the new year to come.
best regards Svenn Martinsen
http://www.northernstar.no/heritage.html

Christmas was also this year the day that Good old Kenny Everett could have been sixty years of age if he hadn’t left us so early. Capital Radio came with the ides to make s special about his career. A pity they o­nly played items from some Captain Kremmen episodes as there is a lot of material available of the many production Cudly Kenny did through his wonderful career from Big L versus ‘208’, BBC and Capital Radio. So next time it’s better to invite someone with connections to the late Kenny to do the production and research instead of Paul Coyte.

Press report from Talpa International owner of several radio stations including Radio 10Gold, comes in o­n December 28th. From January 2nd the station will pay a lot of attention due to the fact the Dutch Top 40 is 40 years of age. First it started o­n Radio Veronica in 1965 and 10 years later also TROS adapted the chart, followed by others. o­n January 2nd in Almere Town a Square will be named ‘Top 40 Square’. The unveiling will be done by mayor Jorritsma in cooperation with chairman of the Top 40 Foundation, Erik de Zwart. He’s working for Talpa too and started his career as Paul de Wit o­n Radio Caroline in 1979. Music will be sung by George Baker (‘Little green bag’ was a world wide hit as well as ‘Una Paloma Blanca’) and Corry Konings. She had several Dutch language songs including ‘Huilen is voor jou te laat’ (It’s too late for crying’) which was the longest running song in the history of Dutch Top 40 as she was in the chart with that song for 41 weeks in a row. o­n the same day deejay Mark de Brouwer will pay attention to the first ever transmitted Top 40 from January 1965.

Also each week o­n Sundays there will be special programming between 18 and 22 hrs Dutch time. At the end of the year Radio10 Gold will be transmitting the Top 4000 all favourites, which will be compiled by the listeners out of the 40 years of Top 40’s.

Next a report which came in from John Ross-Barnard who is also, like me and many other readers interested in American radio too.

‘Radio listeners lost several good friends in 2004, including John A. Gambling, Gene Klavan, Chuck Leonard and the unforgettable Scott Muni.

Photo: Scott Muni

John A. Gambling, who died Jan. 8 at the age of 73, was the voice to which millions of New Yorkers awakened o­n WOR through the '60s, '70s and '80s. He was the middle man in radio's most remarkable dynasty: John B. Gambling, John A. Gambling and John R. Gambling, who held down mornings at WOR from 1925 to 2001. Gene Klavan, who died April 8 at 79, was a somewhat zanier morning man from the pre-Stern, pre-Imus era. He was heard o­n WNEW-AM from 1952 to 1977, first with Dee Finch and later solo. Klavan was known for his army of characters and his razor-sharp wit. Chuck Leonard, who died Aug. 12 at the age of 67, was best known for cracking the colour barrier at WABC in the '60s and '70s. He had warmth, enthusiasm and versatility, which at o­ne time or another landed him o­n seemingly every station in the city. Scott Muni, who died Sept. 28 at 74, had o­ne of radio's unlikeliest and most unforgettable voices. Everything he said sounded as if it had been filtered through a cheese grater, but he became an institution of rock-'n'-roll radio, primarily from his 31 years at WNEW-FM. He was o­n the mighty WABC during the early-'60s Beatle years, but after he switched to FM in 1967 he came to define a looser, more creative style of deejaying. Several well-known radio newsmen also passed away during the year, including Bob Hagen, 68, who spent many years o­n WNEW and WINS, and Pat Parson, 65, a long-time voice o­n WCBS-AM.
Also passing were Harry Fleetwood, 86, who played classical music o­n WNBC and WNCN from 1954 into the late '80s, and Bill McCord, 87, a long-time staff announcer at NBC and with "Monitor."

Old-time radio fans mourned the death of Jackson Beck, 92, a o­ne-man history of radio. Beck did everything from the opening of "Superman" - "It's a bird! It's a plane!" - to ad classics such as "You're not going to pay a lot for this muffler." From 1942 to 1945, he was radio's roguish Cisco Kid. Fans of old-time broadcast eloquence lost Alistair Cooke, whose "Letter From America" o­n the BBC was also played o­n U.S. radio stations for most of its 58 years.

Cooke, who lived in New York, wrote his last letter less than a month before he died o­n March 30 at the age of 95. Of course, former President Ronald Reagan, who died June 5 at the age of 93, started his show-business career as a radio announcer. It was a particularly tough year for rock-'n'-roll radio pioneers. Joe Niagara of Philadelphia's WIBG died in June at 76. Bill Randle of Cleveland's WERE (and WCBS in New York), o­ne of the first deejays outside the South to play Elvis Presley records, died in July at 81. Hunter Hancock of Los Angeles, the first major West Coast white deejay to play black records, died in August at 88. John Peel, a BBC host who broke a lot of ground in the '60s, died at 65, and Ed Sciaky, a Philly jock who was an early champion of artists including Bruce Springsteen, died in January at 55. ‘

Thanks a lot John for this part of the report.

Then exclusive news for a o­ne-day cooperative broadcast between several public and commercial radio stations in Holland. o­n Thursday January 6th Radio 10 Gold, Noordzee FM, Radio Veronica, Yorin FM, RTL FM, Radio 538 and Radio 3FM all will transmit the same program under the name Radio 355. It will be for the first time in Dutch radio history that public and commercial radio stations will work together. The aim of this special broadcast it to get as much money as possible for the people who are houseless due to the enormous disaster, which took place in Asia with Christmas. Never before in my love I felt so shocked and really no other news took interest at all the first days. The name Radio 555 has been chosen as ´555´ stands for the giro account number where people can put their money o­n. I hope every listener will donates as much as they can. And also I hope you the reader will also donate to you countries own charity responsible for donations. Till next month I wish you all a good health, a sensible way to give and take and as always your comments can be sent to Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.