The Big Man is Gone (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011)

 

Bruce Springsteen said the late E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons loved their fans and gave everything he had every night on stage.

"Clarence lived a wonderful life," Springsteen said on his Web site following Saturday's news that the 69-year-old Clemons died following complications from a stroke he suffered June 12. (From B.J. Hammerstein, Detroit Free Press.)

This Just in: A Football Score from 1967!

Recently we uncovered original copies of what we called WTIT Newsletters. We only did them for a short while in 1967-1968. We thought we’d share them. It might shed insight on how we really thought everyone listened to WTIT. Though you’d have to be in our studio (to this day) to hear it. But back then, we were in high school and we played a lot of tapes at parties.  Here’s a piece of trivia: We always note that our original DJ staff was Bud Weiser, Galloping Gary, Bouncing Billy, Johnnie Walker and Killer Joe. And that was the first true staff that carried the ball from 1968 to 1973. But in our first year in 1967, Bud, Gary and Billy tried out a ton of guys who were given a shot before we settled on Joe and Johnnie. They literal joined WTIT on the same night in June of 1968. Johnnie and Bud are the only two original DJs that are still with the world's first and longest running Tape Radio Station.

FROM THE FUN TOWER: October 30, 1967

“What’s Terrific in T-I-T-Land”

Volume 1 Number 2

Number 2? Not us! This is the second in our series of newsletters. The popular demand for these have been overwhelming. We think you are using the back for scrap paper.

Football: The Hartford Charter Oaks: Last Saturday Bud Weiser and Galloping Gary attending the Oaks football game. The announcer was fantastic. We are in negotiations to add him to the WTIT DJ staff. Bouncing Billy and his dad were pleased that Hartford beat Montreal 38-14. Why? Bouncing Billy's dad is one of the owners of the Charter Oaks. 

Soul Tape: On WTIT Tape 1, Bud and Gary hosted a Supremes' Hour!  What an hour! When fellow DJs Billy, Sid and Dick heard the show they suddenly got nauseous and left the studio. 

A new jingle player, please! Our last show had no jingles because our tape deck that we use for them crapped out! We asked for donations, but our fans say they hate the jingles even more than the shows. If you'd like to voice you opinion call the WTIT Fun Line at 232-1936.  

Please check out our comedy blog at WTIT.net!

WTIT NEWSLETTER 1

FROM THE FUN TOWER: October 21, 1967

“What’s Terrific in T-I-T-Land”

Volume 1 Number 1

What’s this department? This is the first in a series of newsletters prepared by the DJs of Tape Radio Station WTIT. Our aim is to let our fans learn more about The Big Station and our tapes.

Voila! We’ve started a new policy of cutting off a record if we don’t want to hear the rest. We always say “Here’s a WTIT Record Cut - Voila!” The first caller to WTIT wins whatever is left of the record.

Interpretation Songs! This summer Bouncing Billy, Sid Schaefer and Bud Weiser starting making up our own lyrics to the songs that we play. It tends to usually be the same song, Tommy James’ "I Think We’re Alone Now". It’s a honey of a disc!!

Mothers! For an interesting view on how to deal with your mother, check out Sid Schaefer’s take on Bud’s show on WTIT Tape 17.

And Fathers? Sid comes through again with the parent of the opposite sex on The Sid Schaefer Show on WTIT Tape 13.

Charlie and Boney! Check out the new additions to The Galloping Gary Garage Show. They’re the latest “engineers”. They are trying to rival Bud Weiser’s cast of Fats and Skinny.

Stop the Tape? Never! But if you phone should go - be in the know! Know how much cash is in the WTIT Jackpot.

Summertime 1967: Fun is the shows we did this summer! Check out WTIT Tapes 9, 11, 13 and 17 for summer fun on Tape Radio Number One!

The WTIT Weather Girl! Whether or not there’s weather, you will find up to the minute (perhaps “up to the year”) reports from our charming Weather Girl Leslie on WTIT Tapes 12, 14 and 17.

The WTIT Top Ten Songs of the Week!

1. The Beatles, "Penny Lane"

2. Aretha Franklin, "Respect"

3. The Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together"

4. The Who, "I Can See For Miles"

5. Jackie Wilson, " Higher and Higher"

6. Sam and Dave, "Soul Man"

7. The Doors, "Light My Fire"

8. The Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth"

9. Procol Harum, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale"

10. Otis Redding, "Try A Little Tenderness"

RIP Gerry Rafferty

Gerry died yesterday at 63. While Stuck in the Middle with You was our favorite tune, he was best know for his solo hits Baker Street and Right Down the Line. (To watch the video, turn off the music at the bottom of this page.)

So This Is Christmas 2010

We Still Miss You, John

Words cannot convey the loss I felt 30 years ago tonight
when Howard Cossell announced
on Monday Night Football 

that John had been assassinated.

I heard from a lot of friends after that.
They knew how I felt.

My lady bought me a neat Lennon tee today.
Johnnie Walker texted me.

It still stings after 30 years.

We miss you, John.

It' Johnnie's Birthday, His 70th

John Lennon would have turned 70 today. I have said that The Beatles were the closest thing that I ever got close to as a religion, and that John has always been my hero. The Beatles were not just another rock group, from Rubber Soul through Let It Be, The Beatles explained their thoughts on life, love, politics and philosophy while being the most innovative rock band of all time.

I did a philosophy project in college on The Beatles. I received an A+ from my philosophy professor at Emerson College. The project was on the psycological influence of The Beatles' lyrics on a generation we now call Boomers. Emerson is a premiere arts college with broadcasting, theater and speech as its specialty. I will share just one nugget of what will be a book that I am bound to write.


The Gospel according to St. John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was good.

On The Beatles' song The Word John sang:

In the beginning I misunderstood but now I've got it, the word is good. Spread the word and you'll be free. Spread the word and be like me. Spread the worda I'm thinking of, have you heard the word is love? It's so fine, It's sunshine, It's the word, love.

From that point of the word love became sunshine with The Beatles. From Good Day Sunshine through Here Comes the Sun, the word “sun” became the word love.

I never met John Lennon. But he was my friend and mentor. So, I will just say “Happy Birthday, John.” Thank you for coming along and touching our lives. You taught us a great deal. We learned to Imagine.