WIXY's Gone Bananas

During the holiday season, I get to be thinking about family members who have passed on. I lost my sister, Bev, in March, 1997, my dad in September, 2000, my mom in April 2004, and my brother, Allen, in July of 2009. Most people who have read this blog, remember my writings about my brother, Ricky, who passed away in March, 2008. Ricky suffered from neurofibromtosis. He had seizures and had other developmental problems. But he always loved a good joke and had a very memorable laugh. I was really thinking about Ricky this afternoon, as I watched the Cleveland Browns drop their final game of the season to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ricky was a big sports fan. He became one when I became one. As I posted before, he was my shadow. And being blessed with living in the Cleveland metropolitan area, we rooted for the Cleveland sports teams, primarily the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers. And whatever hockey team represented the area. Ricky became a human sports encyclopedia. Right after his ...

Cliff Note: A week and a half ago, when I was in the WIXY 1260 Online studio, I was being interviewed by Lisa Jordan. We were talking about WIXY Superman, Larry Morrow. Lisa mentioned his book. Here is a repost of the review I had written about the book. The area of the country I live in has seen many talented people come and go in television, in radio and on the athletic field. Most of these people feel the need to take their talents elsewhere. The book I'm reviewing for this post is about one of the unselfish few who stay and use their talents for the betterment of the community. One of the media friends I have made since I started blogging is Sue Wilson, who happens to be the program director of Akron, Ohio country music station WQMX and morning show co-host. Sue had told me that Larry Morrow was one of her positive influences during her career in radio. This is Larry Morrow...My Life on and off the Air  is the autobiography of one of the classic good guys of the Cleve...

Cliff Note: In honor of my recent visit to the WIXY 1260 online studios, I'm reposting this. I originally posted it September 17, 2007. I know, I know.  Tim Lones  is the classic media expert, but I've had the 74WIXYgrad moniker long enough to be able to post about one of the all time classic top 40 radio stations. Next, a shout out goes to  Ray Glasser , webmaster of the  unofficial WIXY/1260 tribute site , where I got the header for this post. Ray was kind enough to leave a message for me in my comment section last weekend. I think all of us baby boomers had our own personal stations when we were growing up. Me, I had several. First station I can remember listening to was  KYW/1100 , then  WKYC  or  KY11 , Power Radio. When I was about 12 years old, I discovered the station which would provide the soundtrack for most of my teenage years- WIXY/1260. It was 1967, and I had gotten a transistor radio for Christmas, which was a big deal f...

Been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. Literally.  I achieved a goal that I thought never would happen. I was a guest on WIXY 1260! The current incarnation of this classic radio station is available on the internet at wixy1260online.com . This is a work of love by Ray Glasser and Gary Schmitz, a couple of guys who have a passion for classic radio. This station is streamed 24/7, mostly automated with a playlist of over 4,000 tunes, which is more than 13 times what any commercial station has. WIXY 1260 also has some disc jockeys who love to play the hits live. And the word is getting out about this classic! And this past Sunday, the special guest of Lisa Jordan and Majic Mike was Poetry Man himself, Cliff Feightner. Ray Glasser, aka Ray King, one of the Bosses Of course those who have followed this blog from the beginning know about my internet handle of 74WIXYGrad, that I took the name because I was a 1974 graduate of the WIXY School of Broadcast Technique. And one of...

For the customers that come inside They will see theft locks on the Tide From the way that it looks It's to thwart dirty crooks The rest should just take it in stride Catch Poetry Man during the Jeff Kinzbach Morning Show, weekday mornings 5:30-10 EDT on 97.5 WONE-FM, The Home of Rock N Roll or stream live at wone.ne t.

Been more than three months since I've posted anything here. Like many others, most of my creative efforts have been posted on Facebook page. Since, at last look, I have 439 "friends", the posts are seen by quite a few people. And even more people see them when I post on the groups I belong to. Of late, I've also gotten the audience of a local radio veteran, whom some, including myself, consider a legend, Jeff Kinzbach. All you folks removed from Northeast Ohio remember him as the head of the Buzzard Morning Zoo for many years in the 80's and 90's on WMMS. He is now the highly rated morning show host on 97.5 WONE, Akron's Home of Rock N' Roll. I have wrote in the past how our paths crossed as high school marching band announcers. Jeff came looking for me at a band show where, the school he announces for, Medina Highland, my alma mater, and the school I announce for, Rittman, were appearing together. That evening, we became friends. Jeff also sent me ...

Nowadays since my poetry is becoming well known, I decided to dedicate a Facebook page to it. No need to have a Facebook account, you can just go there and check it ou t. If you do have an account, find it and like it. the page is called Random Acts of Poetry . Hope you enjoy!