Musings

Personality Radio

One of my first college roommate’s freshman English essays was, “My roommate wakes up laughing.” I didn’t really wake up laughing . . . but listening to 1960’s personality radio got me awake . . . and laughing. While my roommate may have found this more than a little annoying, are you old enough to remember when the radio was a vital part of our lives? It wasn’t just playing hits, it was how they were strung together and the snappy patter that segued them together.

But it didn’t start that way. In the 1940’s radio connected us to the war effort . . . and boosting morale among the troops and populace was an occupation of the music and the times—The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B and “I’ll Wait for You.”  A lot of radio in the 40’s was live . . . people singing live on the radio . . . even tap dancers from dance classes going to the radio station to tap for the audience  . . . and soap operas started on the radio.

The 40’s went from the big bands, the singing sisters to initially Perry Como, Patty Page and Doris Day in the early 50’s, but Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley changed all that in 1955. Rock and Roll mainstreamed first on radio, but really took hold in 1956 with the movie of the same name. What had been an underground movement which included listening to “race records” began to change many things. In fact, many politicians, preachers and parents felt demons had possessed their children in the mid 50’s and were certain of it by the 60’s.

Many thought TV would replace radio, but radio had its heyday during that of television. Much of that is owed to the development of Top 40 Radio and a format that surged across the country to capitalize on the surge of Rock and Roll. It was when radio went from “announcers” to DJs. We’d park cars in a circle and turn the radios up and dance—and the DJ was the personality that strung it all together.

If you’re from that time of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and the music was more than just the hits, there’s a hop for you complete with Texas Radio Hall of Famer and KILT DJ Bob Presley, who was on the air from 58-72. It’s an adult seniors’ hop. Bob has put together 1300 hits from those three decades, but to ensure your favorite artists are played, participants will answer some tough questions when you enter the hop such as when did you graduate from high school and who were your favorite artists.

So what will make this different from more contemporary DJs at adult seniors dances will be not just playing the hits, but the short and snappy patter in-between, and someone who knew what was happening and what the music meant to you. Capturing the rhythm of the time and what made you laugh and cry.

It acknowledges that “Boomers” are applying for Social Security in record numbers, and recreation relevant to this population segment will need to change . . . just like radio did to survive TV. Come re-live those Happy Days, some American Graffiti,  mixed with some big band.

The Hop is September 16, 1 to 3 PM, at Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way and sponsored by Sugar Land Parks and Recreation.

It’s free to be a kid again!

 Illustrated from Musings column in the 9/7/2011 Fort Bend Independent.

 What's your favorite decade and top 3 artists?

  The above question has been hard for me. I like music from many more decades than 3. And tooling around in cyberspace shows I'm not alone.

Just "Google" in your favorite decade with 1940 s music, or change it to the 50's or 60's and see what I mean.

My experience is that how people looked at what they expected from life began to change . . .just look at this Art Car Parade picture from 2003--it's not a bunch of teenagers building these cars, but mostly "kids" from the 40s, 50s and 60s.

I also have experienced several times how beling in a milieu that captured the times turns "seniors" into kids again. Come remember what it was like--if only for a couple of hours on Friday afternoon! What do you have to lose?

Please click on pictures to enlarge them.

I'd like to thank Bob Presley for his vast knowledge of the radio business whether it was "playing radio" with his mom, on the air, or in management and sales over many years. KILT was an acknowledged leader in Top 40 radio as well as has morphed through the years. His experience, insights and enjoyment of life was really inspiring to go out and research even further . . . I'm afraid I need 3 or 4 columns to really do this subject justice . . . but as I mused about it, I wondered if radio then is like texting is for the kids today? Their sense of connection with their friends.

Oops, The movie was The Blackboard Jungle that featured Rock Around the Clock . . .

Cheers

It’s not always a pleasant surprise the  e-announcements you receive, but a couple of weeks ago I got an announcement that Charlie Prause would be playing at a Thursday social from 7 to 10 PM at a new neighborhood deli Sorelle. Sure, Charlie is such a talented musician. But it was extra special in that Charlie lived next door to John and I when we first moved to Houston in 1972.

Those were heady times in Houston. Houston was really starting to take off . . . and the Galleria was the big deal—the place to see and be seen. Charlie had an evening gig at the piano bar near the ice rink. A prime place, with mover and shaker customers . . .the Scanlans were regulars as well.

Charlie would preside at the baby grand piano, with his trio. It was big city, sophisticated and international.  But it was also a little like a very upscale Cheers bar with regular customers, but add more travelers and visitors. And Charlie always knew your name . . . or made you feel welcome if he didn’t. He has that extremely rare combination of a light touch on the piano, mellow cornet, good showmanship and a winning, hospitable personality.

Charlie moved on to the Petroleum Club so we hadn’t seen Charlie play for more than ten or fifteen years when he was playing at the San Luis in Galveston. And it was like Cheers again.  So as excited as we were about seeing Charlie, there’s always trepidation—will he still “have it?” We’ve all seen the faded musicians who aren’t bad . . . but they don’t quite “have it” anymore. Well, Charlie still “has it” and he was backed by a stand up bass player and drummer.

But the great thing, it was in the neighborhood . . . and it was packed to capacity. With “bring your own bottle” there was a lot of talking and laughing and tables pushed together.  And Charlie has a wide repertoire that encourages requests.

Good for the neighborhood and for Sorelle. It’s a colorful, clean “mom and pop put your life savings into a dream” with a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and dolci including Gelato and Italian Cream Cake, an Italian flair to the menu. (and look carefully in the picture above--that's fresh basil Venerando (he goes by Bennie) grows himself--and all the food is fresh from various Farmer's Markets).

They really need to charge a corking or decanting fee because it was a fun evening of laughter and high spirits. We’re always saying we want to see the corner of Cartwright and Cypress Point cleaned up. Well, the Venerando Gonzaleses have stepped up to the bat. They are open every day for lunch . . . and every day but Saturday and Sunday for dinner.  And talk about bringing cheer and value—there’s the social on Thursday night from 7 to 10 PM.  

Support your local retail merchants. Look for the ones bringing value to our neighborhoods and community. Who invests? Who is on committees? Who has their names on the shirts of the teams and school groups that support your kids and grandkids—various events? Make sure you patronize them too.

And what’s the TIRZ plan for Cartwright? Texas Parkway is coming along, so it’s time to start planning on Cartwright. Gone is the time that TIRZ #1 can be without focus, a plan, and private partners—if we want to see positive change, energy, and more cheer in Missouri City.

From Musings column in the 8/17/2011 Fort Bend Independent. 

More thoughts,  ideas and a menu!

It's amazing what a little imagination and entrepeneurship can bring to a neighborhood. Bennie took a property in San Antonio and his leadership turned a neighborhood around. Now in Missouri City neighbor Joan Fox got the word out . . . Charlie Prause was willing because he had his birthday party at Sorelle . . . and that's the kind of thing you can do and not spend an arm and a leg or have to clean house before or after!

Look at how clever and creative the interior is . . . now the owner of the center needs to follow through with a new awning he promised . . . Let's expect something . . . but be willing to give back ourselves. Let's support businesses that bring value and have a track record of believing in something everyone else has given up on!

You can bring your own bottle and glasses if you wish . . . It's time for some energy and good cheer in Missouri City . . .

And here's a menu with all the details. Download Sorelle Menu

The awning . . . Sorelle's awning isn't as bad as the rest of the center.

Can't understand why merchants aren't clamoring to move here! Bennie believes the owner will follow through eventually, because you see in the pictures above, it certainly doesn't reflect his A restarant rating for cleanliness by Missouri City or his sense of style and presentation.

Thanks to Jim Young for last two photos and the great photo of the crowd and the band (the second photo in the article, which was taken on 8-18-2011 and conveys the energy and fun of both events).

More good news. The owner has started repairs  (as of 8-18-2011) on the front of the building and promises the awning is next. We'll keep you up-to-date if and when it is finished!

Update . . . painting is done, awnings are almost complete . . . and signage is next. Click here to learn about the Sweet Celebration for the new Missouri City Recreation Center.