December 26, 2011 Retrospective

It’s that last show of the year. A time to look back.

We’ve had some good news. FNST has grown and new people have joined the Facebook page. It’s not the doldrums it used to be. We also added a bunch more music to the random playlists.

There was, also, the inevitable bad news; The losing of so many performers, songwriters and arrangers. The people who contributed so much to the music we love. This show, as in years past, pays tribute to those who have passed.

This week is Ginger’s first anniversary on FNST Radio and her birthday, too. This is just cool. It’s been a blast having Ginger as my co-host. She manages the birthday artist segments, tries to ride herd on my bad puns and manages to pull off whatever else I throw at her with grace and humor.

Happy Birthday, Ginger !!!!!!!!

As we look forward to 2012 my hope, for all of us, is peace and understanding. May it be a good year for the world.

Thank you for being part of FNST’s family.

T'WAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

T’was the week before Christmas and all ‘round the station the Program Director’s mind just kept racin’.
Each tune was reviewed, picked with some care, hoping to make it onto the air.
A script was written, re-written times ten, to be thrown away with “We’ll wing it, again!”
Miss Ginger had birthday artists under control as the Techie Gnome fought the pooter and said, “Let’s roll!”
With half his programs missing CT didn’t panic, though he was heard to remark, “This ain’t the F******’ Titanic.”
A show was delivered for listeners and friends but we hope it’s a long time ‘fore we do that again!

From RJ, Ginger and yours truly, Merry Christmas Everybody.
May your week and Christmas Day be safe and filled with love and peace.

December 12, 2011

This past week we said goodbye to Howard Tate, Dobie Gray and J. Blackfoot.
It hit kind of hard, here on the "northcoast". FNST has been playing their music since we first started, with good reason. It's the music we grew up listenting to on car radios, jukeboxes and those late nights when we were supposed to be sleeping but had the radio on. Remember, twisting the dial, trying to pull in those distant stations where they played a whole lot more than Top 40?

Anyway, this week's show has a J. Blackfoot tune and twin spins from Howard  Tate and Dobie Gray. There's also a couple of tunes featuring my favorite Temptation lead, Eddie Kendricks, a little Chicago soul, some Christmas music and a great closing song you'll just have to listen for.

The countdown is on for shopping. As you go about your day, smile, greet people and watch the reactions.
See you next week.

December 6, 2011 R.I.P. Howard Tate

I'm at a loss. Howard Tate was one of the most soulful voices, ever.
God bless you, Howard. Thank you for the music.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inthemix/135088798.html

December 5, 2011

Oh my goodness, this is some work! Happy first Monday of December everybody.

This weeks' show is mostly about rare and unreleased songs and the majority of them are from Motown vaults. But, there's also a lot of R&B101 to go along with it. No, it's not dry facts and figures it's a little real life stuff.

Ginger and I are joined by "the Professor", Dave Bupp, for an inside look at some of the talented singers and groups of the 60's and 70's. We're talking actual stories from the man who shared stages and dressing rooms with some of the best R&B acts. It's a show Dave and I have discussed doing for quite some time and I hope you enjoy it.

Dave and I talk frequently, exchange emails even more, and you're actually going to hear what conversations are like when it's about the music we love.

There's music by The Contours, The Four Tops, Little Stevie Wonder and a whole lot more.
If you love soul music you'll be diggin' on this show!

Now, I have to get back to work editing the conversation a bit. There's over an hour of phone call with some non music stuff y'all don't need to hear LOL.