|
A Thought for Today
Energy is everything. Without it, talent hasn't got a
prayer.
A very happy and blessed
Easter to all our readers.
Rod is taking it easy
today following a bout of food poisoning and I know you'll all join me
in wishing him a speedy recovery. I'm just thankful he got it out the
way this weekend. At least he can enjoy next weeks celebrations in an
appropriate manner.
As I mentioned last week yesterday saw
my first foray into the world of South African broadcasting and I
thought a report back would be in order today. I
doubt any of you will fully appreciate just how nervous I was as I set
out for the studio. Although the radio station is a pretty small one
in terms of audience (as a local community station it numbers about
150,000 listeners) it is staffed by some of the biggest names in local
broadcasting. Readers with a South African connection will immediately
recognize some of the names - Peter Lotis, Bob Courtney, Gordon
Mulholland, Dennis Smith, Lance James to name a few. All at one time
formed part of the now defunct Springbok Radio, in it's heyday the
largest commercial station in the country. Collectively
these guys lay claim to hundreds of years of broadcasting experience
and so it was with no small degree of trepidation that I arrived in
their midst, clutching my LP's in hot, sweaty hands, enquiring of them
rather timidly if I had the right place and were they really sure they
wanted me to do this? I needn't
have worried. One thing about professionals in any field - they have a
knack of putting newcomers at ease and making them feel quite at home.
Gordon Mulholland, lovely man that he is, provided the most valuable
piece of advice - "you're only talking to a microphone, a piece
of metal, you know". This somehow made enormous sense to the
novice and on I went with the show. I
wasn't expecting to receive any calls from listeners and didn't -
until I got into the McKuen/Yarbrough segment of the show. Boy, I
should have known! Sally called to tell me that she and her daughter
were in the front row at every concert Rod performed in this country,
to ask where she could get hold of his CD's and did I want a copy
of "The Black Eagle" as she was sure I'd never come
across it. Marion was hearing some of Rod's "stuff" for the
first time and loved it and Pauline earned my everlasting gratitude by
calling to say not only was she crazy about both Rod and Glenn's work
but that she hadn't heard a better musical program in years. And on it
went. Bottom line - I had a ball
and would do it all again if asked. Your letters of good wishes helped
a lot - thanks to those of you who took the time to write. Special
thanks to Ruth Moca, a South African reader who wanted to listen in. I
was so apprehensive about the whole venture I wouldn't even tell her
the name of the radio station! Next time, Ruth, if there is
one. Above all, thanks to
Rod, Glenn, Jacques, Charles, Gilbert and others. When you have
such great material to work with, this radio thing really is a doddle!
- Ken, Johannesburg, April 23 |
