LET’S GET SIRIUS!
January 17, 2025
How ‘bout this girls and boys?!
We’re more than two weeks into Year 25—
And despite all that’s happened, we’re all still alive!
This is my 101st newsletter and kind of a special one ‘cause I’m gonna ask a favor of y’all.
First, some background.
Folks of my 80+ vintage grew up listening to the radio.
During WW II, men in our neighborhood are serving abroad and we huddle around our giant wooden console in the living room and listen anxiously for “news from the front.”
And of course, there was the music.
Some songs of the time are about separation, longing and loneliness: “I’ll Walk Alone”, “Till Then”, “We’ll Meet Again.”
Some are catchy toe tappers: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and “G.I. Jive.”
Then we’d escape reality with popular radio “sitcoms” like “Fibber McGee and Molly”, “Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy” and “Allen’s Alley.”
So a love of radio was deeply embedded in my DNA at a very early age.
Then in my teens along comes Top 40 Radio and we all fall in love with this new thing called rock and roll.
“Rock Around the Clock”, “Ain’t That a Shame”, “Good Golly Miss Molly.”
Local D.J.’s become my heroes and I crank up the volume in my room until my Dad storms in and threatens to confiscate the tiny—but LOUD—little portable atop my dresser.
Early on I begin to fantasize about someday turning it on and hearing my own voice.
Then, fresh out of high school, The Four Preps are signed by Capitol Records and, like every artist I know, I vividly remember the first time that dream came true.
It’s 1957 and I’m heading West on Sunset Boulevard with the top down on my battered old ’41 Mercury convertible when “Dreamy Eyes”—the Preps first release—comes on.
I go berserk, jam on the gas and roar to my girlfriend’s house with the volume cranked up as loud as it’ll go.
I’m so excited I bump up over the curb onto her carefully manicured front lawn, stand up on the front seat and bellow along at the top of my lungs.
Her Father is not amused.
So again, radio and all it represents resonates in my young life.
And it’s not the last time a wish on my list will come true.
Those of you who read my stuff know how often I stress the word “lucky” when recounting highlights of my career.
And though modesty is not one of my more conspicuous virtues, I‘m honestly not bragging when I cite how many wonderful fantasies of mine have luckily become realities over the years.
Singing shoulder to shoulder with Crosby and Sinatra.
Writing and recording gold record hits at the fabled Capitol Tower.
Performing on Ed Sullivan and American Bandstand.
Co-starring in a hit movie with Sandra Dee.
Even breaking the sound barrier in an F100 Super Sabre jet fighter.
(Forrest Gump—eat your heart out.)
But there’s one goal I’ve yet to achieve and I’m hoping you’ll help me make it happen.
A little more background:
In 1989, after a 20-year hiatus, fellow original Prep Ed Cobb and I re-form the group as a vocal dream team with Diamond Dave Somerville original lead singer of the Diamonds and Jim Pike original lead of The Lettermen later replaced by Jim Yester original lead of The Association.
As we begin strenuous preparation for our first concert tour, through a remarkable coincidence, I’m offered my own weekend music/interview radio show on Gold Coast Broadcasting in Ventura.
It's hectic, but being a manic striver I joyfully embark on my new dual pursuits.
My radio show “Pop Americana” consumes whatever time I can squeeze in between Preps’ tours and I luxuriate in being a part of the medium I’ve loved since childhood..
My guest list includes: Nancy Sinatra, Tommy Smothers, Helen Reddy, Bill Medley, Sister Sledge, Mason Williams, Peter Tork, Pat Boone, Kay Starr, Jerry Vale...
...and Steve Allen.
I’m in heaven and experience how gratifying it is to be on the other end of the radio and share my conversations with beloved music makers.
Inevitably, as the Preps tour schedule expands, I have to let go of “Pop Americana,” but not the dream of someday getting back on the air.
And then along comes Sirius radio—Top 40 music on steroids—and that hope is re-kindled.
But how do I make that happen?!
Here’s that word “lucky” again.
I share my quest with a longtime friend, an esteemed broadcasting veteran.
She makes a few phone calls and the next thing I know, Sirius extends me an invitation to do a Guest DJ shot on 50’s Gold Sirius XM.
It's hard to express my excitement when I finally enter the plush Sirius studio, don my earphones and get the cue to start my patter.
It's only a guest shot but optimist that I am I refuse to think that’s all it will be.
I spin my tales for over an hour and their masterful editor trims my chatter down to a taut forty minutes.
Click here to hear it right away.
And for those of you who are Sirius subscribers, here’s the broadcast schedule:
1/21 10am, 3pm ET,
1/22 1pm ET,
1/23 8am ET,
1/24 5pm ET,
1/25 9pm ET
1/26 7pm.
The 50's Gold channel is on channel 72 on SiriusXM.
If you like what I did, I hope you’ll forward it to your family and friends.
Hell—forward it to your enemies too.
And here’s the most important favor I need:
Reach out to the Sirius powers that be and let them know you enjoyed my offering…and would like to hear more.
Here’s how:
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Feedback Submission
Submit your feedback directly through SiriusXM's website—click here to go there.
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Email
Send an email to SiriusXM at genfeedback@siriusxm.com.
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Phone or Chat
Call customer service at 1-866-635-2349, or use Harmony, the SiriusXM AI-powered Virtual Assistant by clicking here, then clicking "chat now".
Come on gang, I’m 88 and still chasing dreams and a regular slot on the air would be the joyful culmination of all the show biz adventures even I—the big dreamer—could not have imagined.
Please do not let the fact that I am a former astronaut, regular Red Cross blood donor and volunteer first responder influence you in any way.
Seriously, I hope you’ll lend me a hand—and your ears—to make one more dream come true.
And thanks a bunch in advance.
That’s it for now.
Till next time, please take care of yourself and each other.
bb
