November 28, 2011

Hey, we made it through Thanksgiving and "Black Friday". Staying away from the stores, malls etc. certainly helped. Watching the news makes you wonder what the hell has happened to manners and civility in this country. Anyway, on with the show.

This week there's come cool music, as always and Lou Rawls is one of the birthday artists. That's never a bad thing. We also hear from J.J. Barnes, Cassandra Wilson, Walter Jackson, The Four Tops and Jackie Wilson. I hope you enjoy the music because I sure enjoyed putting the thing together.

Now, it's on with the holiday season and shopping............*groan*

November 21, 2011

Welcome to Thanksgiving week if you're in the United States. A time to be grateful for what we have and the real beginning of the "commercial" Holiday Season. Christmas music is everywhere, well, except for FNST Radio. We're resisting for a few more days and then it'll be very limited.

This week has some jazz, a few standards and some good Soul Music (of course). There's also a bad joke I mananged to sneak by Ginger & the Techie Gnome :-D There's a little R&B 101 and good birthday artists as well.

Have a safe and fun week. Treasure your time with family and friends.

November 14, 2011

Wow, middle of the month! How the heck did this happen?

About the show? Hang on, I have to look. How 'bout some Temptations, Miracles, Marvin (if I have to type his last name for you; you're in the wrong place), some good Beach Music and a couple of surprises? Other than that, you're going to have to listen.

I wish I had something witty or profound to offer but it's been one of those weeks. Enjoy the music and let it take your mind off the worlds' problems for a little while.

November 9, 2011

I have something I'd like to share with everybody. This is an email we received, this past Monday. Ginger hasn't seen it but I did share it with RJ.

I'm one of those ingrates who tunes in occasionally, gets a big kick out of what they hear, then doesn't bother to say thanks. So ... thank you very much, and congratulations on deftly mixing music of different genres and different decades and different degrees of prominence. Jerry Butler's "Sail On" hardly is prominent anymore, but you played it a half hour or so ago and it fit just perfectly. Ditto the relatively new tunes you played by Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse. And I'll bet that any minute now you'll drop in something by the Del Chords, the Intentions or the Emperors. Keep the good stuff coming!

Now I have to tell y'all, this type note makes everything we do, all the hours picking songs, levelling the volumes and as Ginger will testify all the time it takes to put a show together, worthwhile.

In this, FNST's birthday month, we really are "damn proud" of what we've managed to build over the past five years.

Thank you again for being part of the FNST family.

November 7, 2011

YES!!!!!!!

How about this? We made it 5 years!

This weeks' show is a bit of self indulgence, on my part. There are the weekly birthday artists and some requests from our listeners but for the most part it's tunes that I wanted to hear. A trip through FNST's brief life, if you will.

As RJ and I kick off this month long party there are people we need to thank for helping with this project.

First of all, the artists who gave us so much music. Without the songs, there would be no FNST Radio.

Second, on my list, are FNST's listeners. Y'all have joined in, sent notes, suggested songs and most of all spread the word about us. Without you, we probably would have folded the tent a long time ago,

There's also a special thank you for "the Professor", Dave Bupp and FNST's promotional director/ co-host of the weekly show, Miss Ginger. I can't begin to tell you how much they have helped with the music. They both have provided information about groups and singers as well as turning me loose in their record collections. (they took a whole lot better care of the vinyl than I ever did)

David is like having a living encyclopedia of soul music to use a reference. His knowledge of the songs and who performed them is awesome. Ginger's Detroit roots and insights are also invaluable. The music scene in the motor city may have changed the world but it really was kind of a small town.

Finally, my thanks to all the singers and musicians who have "friended" me on facebook. You've helped shaped the sound of FNST Radio. Especially Butch Halpin for his help on the Beach Music scene and Ruby Andrews for sharing her memories of the "other Detroit" and Chicago artists.

There. I know I've forgotten people but I have a whole month to correct that.

Enjoy the music.