Saturday, November 14, 2009

Chicago Radio Spotlight


I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week it's with WGN Radio's Steve Cochran.

You can read it here.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Sammy's new look


He and his agent (sort of) discuss why he looks so white these days.

Veteran's Day

It didn't become known as Veteran's Day until 1954. Before that, it was Armistice Day, a day honoring the end of World War I.

Novemember 11, 1918 was one of the most joyous days in American history, tempered by the fact that we were in the midst of a flu pandemic that would wipe out more people than the war did. This film shows how San Francisco celebrated...



Chicago had a parade too. There were rules about what to do at a parade...because a large gathering of people was sure to spread the flu virus further.

Here are a few more details about that.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Berlin Wall

It was 20 years ago this week...



This day meant a lot to me. I had been to the wall many times during my years in Germany. I had gone through Checkpoint Charlie several times. I had been on the other side of the wall...and it was the most terrifying place I had ever been.

I didn't believe this day would ever come.

On the day it actually happened I was working for Steve & Garry's show. They made me call my relatives in Europe. My sister lived in Switzerland at the time, but S&G didn't like her because she didn't have a German accent. They wanted someone that could speak English, but someone with a thick authentic German accent.

So, I called my grandmother. She came on the air with them, and after the first Nazi joke, told them off and hung up on them.

I miss Oma. She died the next year. But at least she lived to see the wall come down. Her entire family lived on the other side of it.

Rock Trivia

The Beachwood Reporter collects these little tidbits of rock trivia. I enjoy checking out the list occasionally. Among the 575 items...

Cat Stevens went to Catholic school.

Ray Charles' favorite dessert was sweet potato pie.

Neil Young's early band, the Mynah Birds, featured future super freak Rick James.

Carly Simon's father co-founded Simon & Schuster.

The Who's Keith Moon died in the same apartment that Mama Cass died in four years earlier.

The Osmonds earned more Gold records in a single year than any other group in history.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at NWI Parent. This week it's called "Misunderstood Lyrics," and it features a priceless contribution from my middle son Johnny.

You can read it here.