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My youth slipping away

Cruising the radio message boards today, I was hit with the loss of another part of my life. This time it wasn't a relative. Not even anyone I ever met. John Larsh, also known as Jack Armstrong, or Big Jack, a late evening dsc jockey on WIXY/1260 and WKYC/1100 in the mid 60's passed away this past Saturday.

I'm sure there will be much written about him and even more memories posted on the boards, as he touched many lives while on the airwaves.

My main memory was his boisterous delivery. I also think he set a record for most words said in a minute.

I remember him harrassing his newsman, Ken Courtright, right before the news. The station was owned and operated by NBC, and in those days the stations took their news more seriously. I mentioned that in the comment section of Ohio Media Watch about a year or so ago and Alan Courtright, Ken's son, sent me a nice email telling me about his(Alan) sitting in the studio when the harrassing happened. It was all done in good fun.

But the thing that us Northeast Ohioians will remember will be this: He called himself:

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAHHHHH!

John Larsh, Rest in peace.

Comments

Anonymous said…
WIXY...great post about radio memories. I never listened to John. I've heard of Ken Courtwright and wish I had met him. He worked at WQKT years before I was there.
March 24, 2008 11:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Great music on the blog! I remember Terry Cashman from like 20-25 years ago!
March 24, 2008 11:45 PM
Linda Jones Malonson said…
Not familiar with this person, so I will just comment on the title of your post.

The mind never ages, just the body .. so if you think young you are young.
March 25, 2008 4:33 AM
60sRock said…
Big Jack was a leeedddaaaah in AM radio. Yes, he could say more words in a minute than anyone else I've ever heard! He soundes as if he were high on sugar, caffeine, speed or a combo of all three but it was just PURE talent whish can't be beaten by anyone!

Ken Courtwright - wasn't he the guy who showed his funny side when he recorded "Time After Time" which was played on WKYC? I remember hearing it several "times"... "time after time, after time, after time, after time, after time, after time..." This probably would've been during Big Jack's stint at WKYC - Great stuff from a great radio staion!

I'm very sorry to hear of Big Jack's passing. It makes me feel my years since he wasn't much older than me! He's gone but will NEVER be forgotten.
March 26, 2008 3:31 AM
Liquid said…
"Yoooooooooooooooooooooooo,
Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

I love it!
March 26, 2008 10:32 AM
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