Post Number 300/A Toast To Me

It's only fitting that post number 300 would be about the beginning. May 12 1976 was my very first day on the air. If I remember correctly, it was a Saturday night and I had to climb the back stairs of WHBF AM in downtown Rock Island. This was a huge building and finding my way through the maze was thrilling. About two weeks before, I rode my motorcycle down to Washington Iowa and apply at KCII (which later on in life became one of my affiliates), just to get started. My marriage was in trouble and I just wanted to work. They didn't hire me in Washington. Having real long hair and riding in on a bike might have had something to do with it. I then met with Dick Stuart, PD of THE contry station in town. After boasting about my abilities and basically being confident in myself, Dick was overwhelmed and added me part time. My job was to make sure the automated FM stayed on the air and be witty and brilliant between country tunes on the AM. Believe it or not, the first song I played was "Chevy Van" by Sammy Johns. WTF? It was kinda country sounding but then the playlist resembled much of what was played back then. It was Merle, Ronnie Milsap, etc, etc. I was so thrilled when I was asked to fill in for the afternoon gal the next week when she went on vacation. I was so in awe. It was a drug. I was now hooked. I was pretty scared back then, not knowing where the future was going to lead me, but after a while, it all seemed to work out. I am sure it will this time. 30 years. I celebrated with chicken wings and a portabella sandwich at Culpepper's. I also played basketball twice on Friday. Not bad for an old guy. Here's a toast to all of the musicians and composers I have met throughout the years. Guys like Harry Chapin, Robin Trower, Van McClain, Nancy Wilson, John Mellencamp, Lou Reed, Dave Mason, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Max Weinberg, Jon Anderson,Bryan Adams, Steve Perry, Boz Scaggs, etc etc etc.