Bill Zwecker, a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, was nice enough to write a piece about us when we put out "The Radio Producer's Handbook." This article appeared in the Chicago Sun Times on November 1, 2004."5 Questions with Swanson & Kaempfer"
By Bill Zwecker
Sun-Times Columnist
Veteran Chicago radio producers Rick Kaempfer and John Swanson have spent the past two decasdes learning the inside scoop on how to make good radio--or at least successful radio--as the unseen (and mostly unheard) creative minds behind such phenoms as Steve Dahl & Garry Meier, Kevin Matthews, Eric & Kathy, Jonathon Brandmeier, and John Records Landecker.Now the two have have joined forces to pen "The Radio Producer's Handbook," and last week they shored some insights with me.
Q: You've worked for some of the biggest names in Chicago radio. When I throw out their names, describe them in a word or short phrase.
A: John Landecker? (Answer: Kaempfer: "Energy"). Jonathon Brandmeier? (Answer: Swanson: "Energy on Red Bull"). Eric & Kathy? (Answer: Swanson: "Dynamic Duo"). Steve Cochran? (Answer: Swanson: "Great interviewer. Always knows his stuff."). Steve Dahl? (Answer: Kaempfer: "True natural for radio. A total original.")
Q: Name something you could not believe was happening to you.
A: (Swanson): For me that's an easy one--meeting Paul McCartney. The moment before he walked up and I knew I was going to meet him a the House of Blues in Los Angeles, I actually did pinch myself--knowing this was a big moment. (Kaempfer) "We're both Beatles fans--when I met Ringo, that was same for me. I can remember every word of that conversation. Also for me, as a writer--meeting Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner."
Q: Who was a better guest than you ever expected?
A: (Kaempfer) Two of the biggest comedy punch lines of the 80s and 90s were Barry Manilow and Dan Quayle--and yet, when I reluctantly had to book them--they both turned out to be fantastic.
Q: Any heroes who disappointed?
A: (Swanson) Yes. Harrison Ford and Christopher Guest. Harrison was on for "The Widowmaker" and he obviously was not happy about that movie. It was all one-word answers. As for Christopher Guest, I was so looking forward to him--I love all his movies. I was looking for him to say something funny--anything! He gave us nothing!
Q: Who was the most arrogant guest you ever had?
A: (Kaempfer) Larry King. He just walked in, handed me his coat, and said "Cream, No Sugar." before he even said hello.
If you want to check out any of the previous From the Archive segments, click here: http://rickkaempferarchives.blogspot.com
This is the last official "From the Archives" segment. I'll still be dipping into the archives occasionally for a weekend segment or two in the future, but starting next Thursday, it will no longer be a weekly occurance.
In this space next Thursday and every Thursday until my book "Severance" comes out--I'll be doing a feature called "Media Notebook". It will feature links to articles about the finances, politics and personalities in the media (the subject of "Severance"). I think you'll see why this subject is so ripe for satire.
See a free preview of it here: http://medianotebook.blogspot.com)
