TOP ROCK GIRLY JOCK TALKS SHOP

i|äx _xá Z|ÜÄá4
HEY DONNA, STILL WANNA?
TOP ROCK GIRLY JOCK TALKS SHOP
HzSoGood
“Stuff you didn’t know you wanted to know”
#139-December 2009
And now, ladies and gentlemen…
…make that, And now, ladies. A play in two acts.
TOP ROCK GIRLY JOCK
TALKS SHOP
B
ack when Betty Wright sang “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do,” that
wasn’t so far from the truth. Then came “Women’s Lib” and along with it a
conscious effort by mainstream media to put women in front of the camera and
behind the microphone.
Connie Szerszen was the right girl (Girly, if you will) in the right place
at the right time, that place being Chicago Top 40 powerhouse WCFL, working
as Talent Coordinator (a position which very likely would never exist
today). A phone call from a female discjockey at an FM with an all-girl
airstaff (something else that’d never exist today) urged Connie to audition
at WSDM. In a matter of just a few years, WSDM’s “Den Pal Dawn” became
WIND’s (and Chicagoland’s) “Top Rock Girly Jock” and “Polish Princess.”
And the rest…well, you’ll just have to get the book. You’ll be pleased to
know that as autojockographies go, Top Rock Girly Jock has more laughs (and
arguably more interesting off-air moments) than similar books by the likes
of Larry Lujack, Cousin Brucie or the late Rick Sklar. Anyway, Connie
doesn’t need me to talk this up: as you’ll see, she does a great job all by
herself. (And yes, Connie, that’s a compliment.)
At what point did you say to yourself “Hey…I can do this”? When I
started getting fan mail at WSDM and found that listeners were having fun
with the show in addition to the music they initially tuned in for. I had
been getting coached in the basics of broadcasting by many of the jocks at
WCFL while I was Talent Coordinator; once I felt comfortable with those
basics, I started to add elements that might make the show more "curious,"
more "surprising," so that listeners would be tempted to come back for more.
You’re gonna make it after all, ba-da-ba-bumm…wait, wrong city.
How different was being one of an all-female jock staff (WSDM’s “Den
Pals”), vs. being the one woman on the team (at WIND)? I never felt a
difference. Most DJs don't run into each other unless they're crossing over,
or there's a station function. And I rarely listened to other DJs because I
didn't want to subliminally acquire ideas that might be true for them but
not me. I knew who I liked on the air and would occasionally pop them on for
a bit, but not for long. If I listened to another DJ too long, it seemed my
own creativity got squelched, as I enjoyed theirs. If you want to bring
something fresh to radio, you have to do that on your own.
At WSDM, every female jock was unique: we each had our own style and were
appreciated for that. I do think the listeners gave me special attention on
WIND, though. After all, to that point, there hadn't been any female rock
jocks. Westinghouse Broadcasting put out a press release stating they had
"the first female on AM to have her own show, prime time, major market." It
was a bit of a shocker in Chicago. Women's libbers were thrilled, I guess. I
was just thrilled to be making more money in one day than I did all week at
WSDM by doing the work I grew to love.
The all-over-the-roadness of Top 40 in the ’70s was probably a challenge
in itself. When it came to the music, what especially made you nuts? What
really made me nuts was that the songs were on a Roll-A-Dex, and I had
to play the next stack that came up. Some songs would sound just awful back
to back, so I rearranged them for more balance and flow. Listeners used to
say I played different music than the other jocks, but that wasn’t the case.
The overall sound of the show was different because the mix was right, or as
close to right as possible.
As for some of the hits, I figured if they were selling, someone must like
them. I often sang along (off-air, and sometimes on-air) with the songs if I
liked them; if not, I just looked forward to my next intro. One thing I
thought was important was to always give a listener a fresh intro; I rarely
if ever repeated anything. When Captain & Tenille's "Muskrat Love" came up,
I remember saying "Muskrat Love - sounds like me and you: I smell like musk
and you smell like a rat." Sometimes, when I really liked an intro, I might
reword it for another go-around, but that was rare. The fireworks of radio:
so powerful for a few moments but so fleeting. What's good is quickly gone
forever, but that also holds true for what came out bad. Hah!
One of the great things about Top Rock Girly Jock is that it reminds the
reader how much fun radio used to be. They had you doing all sorts of crazy
stuff. Why do you think radio personalities don’t interact with their
listeners as much these days? Actually, most of the "crazy stuff" I thought
up myself - hah! (Comes naturally -- not sure if that's good or bad.)
I don’t think radio personalities are allowed to interact as much these
days. At some stations, only the morning man is allowed to do
personality. Most air personalities have now shifted to talk shows without
music. It's probably because, as generations change, styles of entertainment
disappear and are replaced by others. As a sign of independence, most young
folks don't want to listen to their "mom and dad's radio" so they look for
something different - not necessarily better, but better to them because
it's different. Just as the more conservative radio of the '40s and '50s
gave way to the louder and more brash rock and pop of the '60s and '70s. It
was a gradual explosion into the wild for that next generation.
I think many stations took that cue and now no longer offer personality
radio. They wanted to offer something new and cheaper for them. They put the
emphasis on the music, not the DJ. Music couldn't ask for a raise or
threaten to leave for the competition. What they forgot was that if all
stations put emphasis on the same music, not individual personalities, then
it would be far easier for listeners to jump around the dial for their
favorite song. Was that what led to the fractions in ratings today? Will we
ever see powerhouse music stations as back in the '60s and '70s, which had
personalities that are remembered today, personalities that did interact
with their listeners? Today's talk show hosts may be the only way back to
powerhouse stations. Ironic that stations dropped personalities to save
money, but instead lost money, and now personalities may be their only
chance at making things profitable again. (Although I did hear there was a
robotic talk show host in the works.)
In personality radio, listeners often got very attached to the DJ, like an
extension of their childhood imaginary friend. 'Til this day, many call me
their friend, even though I've never even met them. They write, they call,
they invite you here and there. And it's nice to be so warmly welcomed. A DJ
can then form a listener "palette" to help blend "show points" to appeal to
a variety of tastes, just as a good music mix does.
I remember the jolt between WIND, a true personality station, and WUSN
(US-99), which was, in the '80s, a back-announce, flip-card kind of radio.
It was extremely boring for me and didn't feel like radio at all. (I really
thought, if it could speak, a monkey could do it - maybe even better than me
because it might hold a monkey's interest.) At WIND, my efforts with their
personality format easily won me a "10" in the ARB. But if my mouth was
tied, if I wasn't allowed to do anything to help increase ratings, and if
the show sank, it would still reflect on me. I'd have to go down with the
ship. It was at that juncture that I walked away from WUSN and radio. Sink
or swim. The Marriotts eventually sold the station. Infinity owns it today.
Clearly, it was a far more sexist world during the 1970s, yet in the book
you never really dwell on this. Am I right when I say that the attitudes of
men mattered less to you than just enjoying the ride?
You sure read me
right there! I was definitely into the ride. And it wasn't merely about
"being on the air": I was too shy to want to be "on stage." And it also
wasn't just about the music; though I love music, because it so
easily speaks to your soul. I never thought a radio show without music could
have much appeal. This may be why so many talk shows have "bumper" music,
little snippets of classic songs to trigger that appeal. I mean, there's
only so much "Obama-Health-Care-yadda-yadda-yadda" one can stand, and it can
hardly be called entertainment.
My radio ride was more about reaching someone and "giggling" them. Making
them smile, with me or at me - didn't matter. Radio was a whole new
world for me: it was like partying with folks you knew were at the other end
and wanted to party too.
So, attitudes of men were never much on my mind in the '70s (except for
that first show, where one of them must have turned the microphone around so
I'd talk into the back end of it - always pull off the foam cover and check
before broadcasting!)
How many hats did you go through – or was it just one all those years?
There are tons in my closet -- but only one radio hat all those years.
Everyone at the station knew it was my lucky hat. I yanked it down over my
face so the engineer couldn't give me a wise-crack look and make me laugh
when I wasn't supposed to.
One day Edwina Moore of CBS2 here in Chicago brought a film crew to WIND
to do a report on my show. I wore my lucky hat that day too. Later, as Bill
Kurtis anchored the newscast on which it aired, I remember him saying
something about disc jockeys' comments - some clever, and some not-soclever. Not sure who wrote his copy but I knew he had to read it. Anyway,
there was a nice close-up of my lucky hat - will put that clip on
YouTube one day.
Each night before I left the station, I carefully locked my hat in my
drawer in the Talent Office. One day, around the time when new management
was brought in, I opened my locked drawer, and my lucky hat was gone! I
couldn't believe it. No one else had a key - did radio staff know how to
pick locks? And besides, who would want it! It was about 6 years old, torn,
crumpled, with worn holes in the straw - and gone. Soon after, the station
changed formats. Must've been an omen.
Big takeaway from Top Rock Girly Jock: you have one amazing memory. So
you’ll probably be able to answer this. What was the nicest thing a listener
ever said to or did for you? Hmmm-- can't remember. (Just kidding.)
Actually, the first nicest moment was from a listener, John Kluczynski,
who also happened to be a Congressman. He had complimented my show to WIND
General Manager Phil Nolan, and together they decided that it would be a
nice honor to read me into the U.S. Congressional Record on my birthday,
July 3, 1974.
Another listener that stands out in my mind is Francis Grabowski. He made
a huge sign advertising my show and put it on the back window of his car. He
made wooden carvings for me (one of Elvis), he bought me trinkets from flea
markets, he was so proud to hear a Polish name on the radio. And David
Weinstein -- such an avid fan! He loved my Strip Radio game and called the
Chicago Sun-Times; they featured my show with a cover story in their Sunday
magazine Midwest.
There were so many kind listeners. One florist sent me 39 roses one day,
why, I have no idea. Some gave me figurines, Polish items, jewelry,
envelopes stuffed with cash, a velvet crown tagged "Polish Princess,” lots
and lots of fan mail. So complimentary, I was thrilled, but felt undeserving
of such adulation. I answered all the mail myself, until they started
writing back, and then "listener mail" became "pen-pals" and it was hard to
keep up. But wouldn't it be nice (Beach Boys) if everyone could get such
applause for their efforts!
As I mentioned when you were on with me at ‘RNJ, Chicago was – still is a hotbed for radio talent. Who influenced you, and who do you listen to now?
Of course, as Talent Coordinator at WCFL, I was somewhat molded by the
advice I got from the jocks there. But, like many other DJs in Chicago, I
was very influenced by one of the jocks at the competition: WLS' Larry
Lujack. The way he could evoke laughter was a goal I set for myself. Any DJ
could read flipcards and back-announce songs; anyone could tap into the
history of a song or artist and spew that out. But if a show were to be
truly entertaining, one had to evoke a feeling from the listener - make them
laugh, make them cringe, make them react. They should be involved, maybe
then they'd come back for more. And though Larry appeared to be nonchalant
about his work, I heard he worked very hard at it. He was very gifted in
communication (probably the Gemini sun sign at work) and presented an
entertaining, humorous, sometimes bawdy, attitude. It worked, he had great
ratings.
And he was also very kind when a fledgling DJ asked for advice. He taught
me, in one sentence, how to analyze a situation with humor, yet make it my
own. We are all influenced by someone, but we should always stay true to who
we are.
Who do I listen to now? No one. Not for music anyway, because most
stations don't offer the uplifting music/personality mix that I
once enjoyed. Guess they got their wish. Out with the DJ, in with the MP3
voice, roll the hits. Hey, I can roll my own hits. There are some
personalities on FM, but very laid-back - you know, where the jocks sound
like they'd been shot with a tranquilizer gun.
“Now, if we could only get Lar’ we’d have Mount Rushmore.”
Ok, pop quiz. For each of the following fellow Chicago air (or should that
be wind?) personalities, please tell me the first things that come to mind.
Clark Weber Classic "Personality" jock - an historical figure in radio great one-liners! Check out his book Clark Weber's Rock & Roll Radio. (Yup,
that's me, far right, at his bra burning ceremony - well, not HIS bra - I
mean – well, you know what I mean.) When I needed DJ coaching, Clark was
there! Wrote a note for me to take to my show at WSDM, to inspire and
encourage me.
Dick Biondi Toilet paper, tampons, and Kotex. Back at 'CFL, he once
decorated a secretary's office with this decor while she was out to
lunch. Today, he calls me "America's 1st Female Rock Jock" - guess he's been
around enough to know. At WJMK, I always loved when he left town 'cause PD
Charley Lake would usually schedule me to fill in for him. I heard Charley
thought I sounded like a female Biondi. Anyway, I got to make a few extra
bucks. Thank the Lord for the nighttime!
Yvonne Daniels Classy lady - kind - great broadcaster. She was "celebrity"
- Billy Daniels' daughter - and she truly knew and understood jazz. Was
probably born with music in her veins. I can still see her - white suit,
mini-skirt, long white boots. She was stunning. But what men remember most
was her voice. Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame posthumously - most of
the WSDM Den Pals were there. Would have been nice to have honored her while
she was alive to enjoy it.
Ron Britain Creative, innovative, progressive radio. He was like "Saturday
Night Live" before its time. His "Subterranean Circus" was landmark radio.
Some web sites honor it to this day. To have your work cherished for decades
is the mark of genius. Not everyone has such impact in radio. And a kind,
considerate person, even in all his fame.
Fred Winston Friendly. Loved to catch some of his show. Made me laugh out
loud (oh, excuse me, LOL). Maybe because we're both Polish? Also a great
photographer!
Larry Lujack
Iconic. Often imitated but never duplicated. Next question:
How many DJs have tried to be Larry Lujack? (His influence can be heard in
many jocks if you listen closely; sometimes even Rush Limbaugh sounds a
little "Larry.") But only Larry can be Larry. His unique analysis of the
mundane was often brash but hilarious. A very gifted talent, even on a bad
day. Chicago's loss to retirement. My vote for the top of the stack in the
Radio Hall of Fame.
Steve Dahl Men's Room. That's the last time I ran into Steve Dahl. He got
there first. I only used the Men's Room because it was closer to the studio,
and I only had a few minutes to, uh, you know. He warned me, said I should
use the "Ladies" because the Men's Room was nasty, filthy. (Hey, I'd heard
that said about some radio shows too!)(Wasn't that goin' on with the morning
guy he replaced?) Anyway, as I stood there, between bathrooms, listening to
him, I wondered if he could tell me how to get a million-dollar salary too.
Bob Dearborn Multi-talented, creative and a gentleman! Had a huge Chicago
following with numbers that rivaled Wally Phillips - entertainingly witty in
various formats, and skilled in all ends of the business. He blended
intelligence and humor like no other - almost poetic. Some "MP3" voices
admire him today. Wouldn't be surprised if we heard him back in Chicago!
John Landecker Fun! Always "outside the box" - a natural for radio. My
former competition in the '70s, with me at WIND and him at WLS. So what did
he do? Called me from his show, during my show, and made me part of his
"Boogie-Check" (I thought of calling him back for a "Booger-Check.")
Jim Stagg Radio's guardian angel. Honest, fair, kind - and smart. Always on
top of everything! Knew how to pick hits. Saved my Talent Coordinator job
for me when the GM tried to replace me with his girlfriend (while I was away
on vacation)! Jim didn't need a white horse for everyone to notice the
prince he was. He helped everyone he could. AND joined the Beatles on their
first American tour! Rock and Roll Heaven is lucky to have him, though he's
definitely missed here.
Where did the idea for “Strip Radio” come from? And did you ever think to
yourself that you probably influenced several “shock jocks” without actually
being shocking yourself? Good question! I knew I wanted to do something fun
on the show on Friday nights. I never did ask the PD for permission to do
this. From the title alone, I'm sure he'd say no. But what's that old
saying, "It's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission." So in a
way, I was protecting the PD from having to be responsible if the bit
failed.
How did this pop into my mind? I mean, I never played "Strip Poker." I
never even played "Spin the Bottle." In fact, I hardly ever played, period.
Must have been some Freudian thing. "Strip Radio" had a shock title but was
very G-rated, so, hopefully, it would attract listeners from both ends of
the spectrum. It never occurred to me that it might have inspired shock
jocks. It was just an innocent game (we never took off the undies) with a
sleazy title. Nothing risque ever came of it - now that I think about it, I
might have been labeled a "jock-teaser." (Can I say that?)
As a Chicagoland media personality, what was the neatest thing you did
that didn’t involve being on the radio? Well, there was the neatest thing I
almost did: I got called by ABC7's Program Manager to interview for the
hostess opening for AM CHICAGO. And at the end of the interview, he told me
they would also be talking to a woman from out of town, named Oprah Winfrey
- and had I ever heard of her? With that, I thought for sure I was a slam
dunk, since she'd never even worked in Chicago.
Yup, I was almost Oprah. Don't count your chickens. But just think - I
could've had tons of money, dates with Stud-man, and Gayle for a
girlfriend. But I'm not sorry. She does a great job - I'm happy for her.
(But you'd think she'd at least put Top Rock Girly Jock on her book list!
After all, I practically handed her the job but not following up on my
interview!)
Now that you’ve written the book, when do you plan on releasing all those
songs you recorded back when? Would you believe, Streeterville Studios
never gave me a copy of my recordings! I do have the music tracks, so I
suppose I could re-do it. My voice hasn't changed at all: folks still think
I sound like I'm in my twenties (probably because my vocabulary hasn't
improved at all -- Hah!)
Seriously, that's one last thing I'd like to do in my life (right after I
finish my next book). Most DJs have, at one time or other, made a record.
Maybe I'll do a whole album - a song about each old boyfriend - would
probably have to be a country song, what with all the cheating and alcohol.
Wait, now, I said, seriously – OK, I do have a few melodies plunked out on
my piano. Now all I need is to write the lyrics. Hmmm, when I asked Neil
Diamond how he did it, he wanted to know if he told me, did I think I could
do it? I said yeah, but he never told. And I would have to do both - I'm no
Elton John with a lyricist. But I stay tuned by singing "Lullaby" to my
parakeet every night. She loves it.
Thanks to Top Rock Girly Jock, you’re in demand again, doing the media
dance. Is returning to radio on a regular basis something you’d still want
to do? YEAH!!!! Do you know of an opening? Who's hiring? Give 'em my e-mail
([email protected]).
Not sure if we'll ever see personality radio again in my lifetime. And
it's become my trademark. When I did flipcard radio, fans would call to ask
if I were sick or sad, because I didn't sound like myself. In fact, right
before WIND changed formats, I was told to talk softly, to not say anything
humorous, no laughing! (Reminded me of third grade.) Jim Stagg, PD at
WMAQ, called me on the hot-line during one of those days, extremely worried
- thought for sure I was sick. He could not believe the orders I'd been
given. But I proved to myself that I could take direction. Bad direction,
but then it wasn't my call. I was sorry then that I hadn't accepted Jim's
recent offer to leave 'IND for 'MAQ.
Although I'm not doing my own radio show now (but always looking), I am
doing guest spots on other shows, like yours! On WRNJ, that was such a
kick! And I loved the music bookends you picked especially for my interview!
So - guesting on WRNJ - does that make me a "Jersey Girl?" I also did one
last week with Jerry Puffer at KSEN in Montana. Such fun!
Yup, I'm starting to feel like a "poor" version of Paris Hilton: no job,
just showing up for interviews, plugging this or that. A couple weeks ago, I
joined Steve & Johnnie on WGN here in Chicago as they announced my book.
They've invited me back for their "One Hit Wonder" night with Wayne Jancik
(who has a book out on Billboard's one-hit-wonders). That should be coming
up in December.
By the way, I am thoroughly enjoying your books, both '60s and '70s
versions! Wish I'd had those before CBS pulled the plug on WJMK to go
"Jack." It's always amazed me how having the #1 rated show on Saturday
nights in Chicago just wasn't good enough. I still get mail and calls from
listeners asking where I'll be next - "Heaven Knows!"
“Bobby, what d’y’say we get out of here and grab a pierogi?”
Top Rock Girly Jock is a great book about radio, but it’s as much about
the importance of family and the desire to make your dreams real. What does
Connie Szerszen, the girl who made her dreams real, value most of all? God
first, then my family. Following up on the opportunities that come your
way just might be doing God's work. Dreams becoming real are wonderful,
but so much more so if they can be shared with loved ones. Being able to
work at what you love, and what makes you feel fulfilled, is its own
reward.
I try to encourage readers. Top Rock Girly Jock may be about "my" life,
but God has blessed everyone with "stardust." Some scientists say that our
human bodies actually have some of the same elements as stars, and what do
stars do? They sparkle up there in the sky for everyone to enjoy. We should
share our stardust, and sparkle for each other.
You can get your own copy of Top Rock Girly Jock at – where else? http://www.toprockgirlyjock.com/.
Intermission
40 shopping “Days” ‘til Xmas: ’Tis the season to be gifting, and what
better gift for the pop culture know-it-all than Book of Days? Let me lay it
out for you: hardcover, bargain books, with CDs. And if you’re in and/or on
radio, these are fabulous reference books. If you’ve heard either of my
weekend on-air fiascos, you know I feature a “reading” from one book or the
other for whatever date it happens to be. Now, if the B&N folks were smart,
they’d offer wrapping paper to match either of the covers below. If you get
’em – or if you’ve already got ’em – thank you.
Perfect together.
Let me count the countdowns: Still time to go to
http://www.tunemagic.net/VoteTop77/ and vote for your faves in the annual
Top 77. Results will be posted Christmas week and aired live on Bob Radil’s
Friday Night ’60s and ’70s Show January 1, 2010.
Perhaps it hasn’t yet become as expected as post-holiday bills, the first
frost, or those tax forms in snail mail just as you’re taking the tree down,
but we’re working on it. “It” being the “other” I.R.S. - as in, It Really
Shoulda been a Top 10 hit - pain-voted Top 104. Voting will begin for the 3rd
annual I.R.S. the day after Christmas, so start thinking about what songs
that never reached the Winner’s Circle deserve attention this year.
Is this thing on? If you tune in Saturdays 9am-1pm Eastern on Oldies WRNJ
and every other Sunday (next on 11/29) 10am-2pm Eastern on even-more-Oldies
WGHT, maybe you’ll decide that it shouldn’t be.
Ok, shush, everybody back in your seats. Lights down, curtain up again.
Does Donna still wanna?
(yes, she does)
D
onna Loren says “thank you” when you tell her she’s still the sexiest
girl next door. And it’s true: the years have done nothing to diminish her
charm. See for yourself at www.donnaloren.net.
A few weeks back, the one-time queen of the beach flicks, the “Dr. Pepper
girl” who belted out the hits on Shindig! and made the variety show rounds
(back when there was such a thing as a variety show) was my guest via phone
(from Hawaii, so the ultimate beach) on WRNJ. We not only talked about those
days but also what Donna’s done “post-retirement” (in 1968, she left the biz
for a tougher job, being a wife and mom).
The thing most people probably remember about you is being in all those
American International beach movies. I was in four of them, and it all
began with Dr. Pepper. When I signed on to be their spokesperson and became
the Dr. Pepper girl, part of their ad campaign was sponsoring the movie
Muscle Beach Party. The fellow in charge of the advertising company wrote
that script. Suddenly I found myself seated at Big Drag’s (Don Rickles)
beach shack holding a Dr.Pepper, and from there I was introduced to Dick
Dale and performed the duet with him on “Muscle Bustle.”
So here’s this series of films about young people dancing and having all
kinds of fun at the beach. What was going on behind the scenes? If Perez
Hilton was around then, would he have had a lot to blog about? I’ll cut to
the chase. It was more about the infamous Bill Asher, who was directing the
films. He had a trailer on set. I was a minor and very protected by my
parents. My adopted father, who was also my mananger, was glued to me at all
time, so I was a voyeur watching the beach bunnies, the surfer girls being
invited into Mr Asher’s trailer.
You appeared on one of the early episodes of TV’s Batman, which you had to
have taped before the series went on the air. Did you have any idea this was
going to be the phenomenon it was? Absolutely no clue. Although I remember
driving up to the studio where there was a chain link fence before you could
pass though the guard gate, and there was already a battery of teenagers
trying to climb the fence. When I met Adam West and Burt Ward, I realized
Batman was really special, but I had no idea it would become iconic.
Protecting Donna from all kinds of Jokers.
I tell people who are too young to remember you that you are your
generation’s Britney Spears. I hope you take that as a compliment. I really
appreciate that! Actually, we had a similar start because I love to sing and
so does she, we both appeared on the Mickey Mouse Club when we were the same
age. Of course, it was a different time, and I was in a unique situation: I
had a very close watch on me at all times because I was always the youngest
and a minor in the group. And by the time I was 21, I retired.
Appearing on so many TV and variety shows, you were arguably the most
visible female singer of that era. To me it’s ironic, since most other
female singers who had hits at that time didn’t get the exposure you did,
yet you had a hard time jumpstarting your recording career. Why do you think
that is? It’s always been a mystery to me, seriously. And, you know, I
continued to record. When I was going through my first divorce in the early
’80s, I decided to go into the studio. I was married to someone who worked
at Warner Brothers studios. Actually, that’s where we had met: I was an
artist on Reprise and he was a producer at Warner Brothers (editor’s note:
that was legendary producer Lenny Waronker). After many years we separated,
and rather than going to counseling, I ended up going into the studio, and
my dear friend James Burton assembled his Elvis band and actually saved my
sanity during a traumatic time in my life by going in and just making music.
(Note: you can listen to Donna’s early recordings, such as “Hands Off,” on
YouTube.)
What happened to all that music? All of it was locked up in boxes in my
garage all these years. My current husband decided to make some space and
clean out the garage, and he said, do you think these tapes even play? So he
started checking everything, and ultimately that resulted in this latest CD,
which I never really intended for anyone to hear, but I’m very happy to
share my music from that difficult time in my life. Now I am going back into
the studio, compelled to make more music.
One recording of yours that jumps out is actually a re-recording of a song
you performed in Beach Blanket Bingo, “It Only Hurts When I Cry.” You can’t
help but hear the emotion you bring, which certainly wasn’t there the first
time. Obviously, the beach party movies were sort of silly and meant to be
fun, but the meaning of the song is obviously profound. So now I’ve
exchanged my youth for wisdom!
The other thing people should check out at www.donnaloren.net are your new
photos. You must be drinking the same stuff Dick Clark drank all those
years. Thank you so much! I’ve just been blessed with lots of love and joy.
I’m happily living here in Hawaii, where I love to be. It’s just a choice, I
guess. The one thing I admire is this new thing, 60 is the new 40.
Maybe I should have asked if she can sing Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again.”
Then there’s that shot of you and Betsy (above). I don’t know who to look
at. I raised my children in that! That went from baby buggies to
surfboards!
What’s next for Donna Loren? I’m working on my next album. Stay tuned!
You can get Magic, Donna’s CD collection of songs she recorded during
those crazy ’80s – featuring a knockout remake of Dusty Springfield’s
“Wishin’ and Hopin’” – at http://www.donnaloren.net/.
The HzLine
Who’s saving radio’s keester?
Check out www.KYOURADIO.com and a Show called "Radioldiez" and Big Daddy.
Friday night at 8 Pacific time and Sunday afternoon at 3 PM Pacific time.
See what you hear?
Name withheld
radio is a GHreaT thing to have on while you are doing something else.
(driving, working, paying bills, etc.) main problem with most music stations
is that they keep playing the same old same old. so if you like to listen
all day you GHTta have other options.
but you have discovered the haven (rich) radio station for yourself recently
and are a part of the GHreaTest secret known to man (& women).
WGHT 1500 AM from pompton lakes NJ has become a national broadcasting
phenomena. you hear music from several decades and not the same songs all of
the time. there are songs that you barely remember that bring back the
original sound of that period anew. there are the WOW songs (ask Pete
forrnatale what that means). and then there is a sprinkling of the old
familiar stuff too. with djs who are there to guide you, play your requests
and give you prizes too.
Ira Sonin
When I listen to the radio I am usually in my car. My favorite is NY
Q104.3 classic rock. I know when I turn to that station that I'll hear a
song I like and that I can sing along to - at the top of my lungs if I
want...lol. I like the "Get the Led Out" segments each morning; this year to
celebrate LZ's 40th anniversary, the radio statioin extended their "Get the
Led Out" series to both morning and evening. Very cool. Love hearing tidbits
about the artist from inside people who do the research, and the delivery of
the information is quite cool, as Carol Miller does her show like she really
"knows" the band.
When I am driving in South Jersey or PA, I listen to one of two stations.
There are newer stations, but I still listen to the two I listened to when I
was living there during my high school years, WMMR 93.3 and WYSP 94.1.
YSP had Howard Stern which back in the 80's was (or me at that age) a show
I could enjoy and 94.1 still has "Breakfast with the Beatles" every Sunday
morning.
I can't seem to ever NOT listen to these stations because I know they keep
me entertained and the variety of music they play far exceeds what I have in
my own collection.
Minerva Alvarado-Metzler
Minerva, if I’m not mistaken, Carol Miller really does know the Zepsters.
There is more creativity in your email than in most radio markets!!
on innovation and save the day!
Jerry Del Colliano
Inside Music Media
Gee…the only way to answer that is…
Click.
Bring