Michigan - Great Lakes Great Times ?

Today I produced 6 hours of talk radio on the fall of one of Detroit's most popular politicians. I know the day was described as "Historic" but for me it was "Pathetic". I'm so discouraged by the State of Michigan right now...we the Citizens have been beaten down by higher taxes, the longest winter in decades, a leaderless Presidential campaign and now the downfall of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. I've also chosen this time in my life to be farther away from faith then I've ever been. getting out of bed each morning is a true challenge. so where is my hope ? well...whenever someone reachs a lowpoint then things can only improve right ? I'm anxious for spring/summer...for Tiger baseball...for my 15th wedding anniversary in May...for a vacation...and for GOD to take hold of my broken heart again and fill it with Truth, Freedom & Grace. the sooner I learn that hearts don't find hope in the News & the Government the better off my attitude will be. Lead on GOD lead on...I find my HOPE in you ALONE.

JERI LANDRUM REMEMBERED

Today I visited Coates funeral home in Waterford to remember the life of Jeri Landrum...I met Jeri when I was in 5th grade, her daughter Heather was on the Waterford Village cheerleading squad and my oldest sister happened to coach her. a friendship between my sister & Jeri was formed. I also formed a friendship with Jeri's daughter Heather and she became like a little sister to me for those years. Today as I was leaving Heather asked me if I would jot down a few thoughts about Jeri whose is leaving behind two beautiful grandchildren who are 2 years & 6 months old respectively. I told Heather I'd be honored although those kids don't need to look too far past their mother to discover the spirit of their Grandma. Heather & Jeri had a very close relationship. I remember thinking that Heather was one of Jeri's closest friends even though Heather was in THIRD GRADE. Jeri was Bubbley and FUNNY and she showed such grace towards me by laughing at my juvenile jokes. I always felt welcomed and loved in Jeri's home on the lake. she had that hospitality rule of "what's mine is yours" did I want chinese food for dinner ? did I want something to drink ? and on and on...She loved the Redwings! before the whole world had cable Jeri had something called PASS/On TV that allowed us to watch the Redwings almost every time they played. but most of all Jeri LOVED Heather. My sister Lee and I would often joke about how Jeri was spoiling Heather but deep down we were just jealous. they had quite the relationship back then...the love they shared was VERY DEEP & REAL. Years later when I had just graduated from high School I ran into Jeri Landrum as she was picking up Wing Lauk's carry out...I double glanced and she looked at me and instantly said "HI!" and it was as if I hadn't missed a day even though it had been years...but that was Jeri's gift...she could make you feel warm and loved because she genuinely cared, she didn't have a phony bone in her body. and now today I see Heather Anderson after all these years, at first I was admittedly nervous because I wasn't much of a big brother the last two decades. but when I spotted my little sister across the room and she wandered over to say hello on one of the toughest days of her entire life she spilled over with that Jeri like warmth and Grace. she reminded me of some of the many memories we shared when we were kids. amusement parks, musicals & BeeGee's records! oh my gosh she loved that terrible "Grease" movie. it all started to come flooding back. all those great memories that we have were made possible because of my sister Lee bring us all together. I wasn't surprised today when Heather told me she now worked for a Dentist. because people who laugh alot also smile alot! and Heather and that great smile of hers would be the perfect fit for a Dentist's office. I thank GOD I had the Landrums in my life at an awkward time for my personal insecurities. they built up my confidence and made me a better person. can't wait to see you again in Heaven Jeri! and we'll share lots of laughs because my jokes are still stale and Heather if you ever need your big brother just call me. But in GOD's own amazing way he has given you another Jerry to share your life with and I hope he spoils you just like your mom did... Love Kevin

Pictured: Heather & Kevin at CEDAR POINT 1978 (30 years ago)

what happened to JOE ENGLISH

With the Heather Mills/Paul McCartney story in the news I got to wondrin whatever happened to the very talented JOE ENGLISH of WINGS and later the Christian Musician/performer ? when I searched I found this wikipedia bio:

Joe English (born February 7, 1949) is an American musician who, during the 1970s, played drums in Paul McCartney's band Wings and in the Southern Rock/Jazz group Sea Level, among others. A native of Rochester, New York, Joe English was a member of Jam Factory, a band based in Syracuse, that evolved into the Tall Dogs Orchestra of Macon, Georgia. Searching for an opportunity to expand his talent, he answered an ad for a drummer. The address led him to the basement of an old building where, much to his surprise, he found himself face to face with Paul McCartney. The audition was for Wings, and English got the job. His first album with Wings was Venus and Mars and, one album later, he would even take the lead vocals for the song, "Must Do Something About It" from Wings at the Speed of Sound. He was the drummer on the Wings Over the World tour. Eventually, by September 1977, part of the way through the sessions for London Town, English became sick and returned to Macon, Georgia, where he began playing with Chuck Leavell's band Sea Level. Following his Christian salvation experience, he formed the Joe English Band, with himself as the lead singer and drummer. The band toured the world, playing with other major Christian bands of the era, including Petra, DeGarmo & Key, Mylon LeFevre and Servant. The Joe English Band recorded a release without Joe's vocals called AKA. The band included John Lawry, who left to play for Petra in 1984. In 1986, Joe English played in former Petra vocalist Greg X. Volz's band, Pieces of Eight. In the late 1980s, English joined Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, Rick Cua and others as part of the Compassion All Star Band. In 1988, the band recorded live One by One, their only album together. As of the late 1990s, English is no longer able to play drums professionally, due to chronic ankle health issues. He played the drums left-handed. Currently, Joe lives in a small town in North Carolina about one hour west of Charlotte called Spindale. He has entirely given up his music career, and now he is a very influential part of the choir at his church.

when I looked into it. I discovered that JOE ENGLISH is a member of a "Cult" group formed by the pastor whaley movement. could anyone reach out to him ? this is so sad...

ST. PATRICKS DAY TRIBUTE

TODAY IS ST. PATRICKS DAY! SO THIS POST IS IN HONOR OF THE LATE LEGENDARY BROADCASTING IRISHMAN JP McCARTHY, MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE DETROIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM FOR THE EXHIBIT HONORING JP!

NEW DETROIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM EXHIBIT FEATURING
CLASSIC RADIO VOICES OPENS SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH

DETROIT – A new exhibit opening at the Detroit Historical Museum on Saturday, March 8th features six of our city’s most notable radio personalities of the past and present. Entitled Detroit’s Classic Radio Voices, the exhibit features artifacts, photos and audio from the following:
· Bob Allison – the folksy host of the “Ask Your Neighbor” radio program since 1962, originally on WWJ-AM and now on WNZK-AM, he also gained fame as the host of “Bowling for Dollars” and as the Twin Pines milkman on “Milky’s Party Time” on Channel 4 (then WWJ-TV).
· Sonny Eliot – billed on WWJ Newsradio 950’s website as a “wonder of wit and weather,” he has broadcast his inimitable weather forecasts on the station since 1950, in addition to his lengthy stints doing weather on Channel 4 (then WWJ-TV) and WJBK-TV2 and his hosting of the popular “At the Zoo” television show for 17 years.
· Ernie Harwell – a member of both the Radio and Baseball Halls of Fame, this broadcasting legend became the voice of the Detroit Tigers in 1960 and continued with only one brief interruption through his retirement at the end of the 2002 season, endearing himself to fans of all ages with his signature calls like “LOOOOONG GONE.”
· J.P. McCarthy – the immortal morning man at News/Talk 760 WJR, this Detroit institution and Radio Hall of Famer woke up Detroit with his friendly conversational style and unequaled talent as an interviewer from the early 1960s through his untimely death in 1995.
· Dick Purtan – the quintessential morning radio funnyman, this Radio Hall of Famer has taken his highly rated show to a succession of stations over more than 40 years in the Detroit market, starting with WKNR-AM in 1965 through his current 12-year stint at Oldies 104.3 WOMC-FM.
· Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg – a trailblazer for both Blacks and women in broadcasting, she came to Detroit from Memphis in 1963 and became a sensation as an R & B disc jockey and social commentator at WCHB-AM and WJLB-FM before buying a station in 1982 that became gospel and talk WQBH-AM, where she starred until her death in 2000.
The exhibit continues in the Museum’s Kresge Gallery through Sunday, August 24th. The supporting sponsor for the exhibit is Big Boy Restaurants, and the Japanese Business Society of Detroit Foundation is a community sponsor, with media partners WWJ Newsradio 950, News/Talk 760 WJR and Oldies 104.3 WOMC.The Detroit Historical Museum, located at 5401 Woodward Ave. (NW corner of Kirby) in Detroit’s Cultural Center area, is open to the public Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. On Mondays and Tuesdays, the Museum is not open to the public but available for group tours by calling (313) 833-7979. Adult admission is $6. Seniors (60+), college students with valid college ID, and youth ages 5-18 pay $4. Admission for children ages four and under is free. Parking in the Museum’s lot is $3 at all times. Permanent exhibits include the famous Streets of Old Detroit, Frontiers to Factories, The Motor City, and The Glancy Trains. For more information, call the Museum at (313) 833-1805 or check out our website at www.detroithistorical.org.

SHIRLEY EDER -RADIO PIONEER & HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

I have grown to really admire one of Detroit's former Hollywood insiders, her name was SHIRLEY EDER, her Bio is written below. I'm hoping to be part of a special documentary on her life later this year.

Date of Birth11 July 1919, New York City, New York, USA
Date of Death28 May 2005, New York, New York, USA (Alzheimer's disease)

Shirley was born and raised in New York City's Washington Square. Her father was a New York Supreme Court justice. He was quoted as saying "life upon the wicked stage was no life for a girl", but at age 16 Shirley was able to secure a role in "The Women" starring her soon-to-be good friend Celeste Holm at the Adams theatre in Newark. Shirley was given 10 lines but 7 of the lines were given to the Producer's girlfriend thus ending her attempt to impress her father and begin an acting career. Her dreams of working in show business never faded but her ability to cover every aspect of show business became her calling card.

Beginning her career on radio station WINS in New York at age 17, Shirley began doing daily radio programs focusing on women's issues, her good friend Mitzi Green was an impressionist (as Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn) but stars caught on and started stopping by.


In 1944 she married Edward Slotkin, an executive of Hygrade Foods. Edward was serving in the Army at the time so Shirley put her career on hold to go with him for two years. In 1946 she began at WMCA in New York as an emcee of a variety show featuring celebrity interviews. At both WMCA and then later at WOR she hosted "Mic About Town" and cultivated a wide circle of friends in show business.

In 1951, Shirley started a program on WOR TV with Ilka Chase and Dorothy Ward called "Women Talk it Over". In 1956 she joined "Monitor" as a roving reporter and interviewer. By then , Shirley had moved to Detroit and began working as the Girl On The Go on WJR Radio show "Composite". In addition she also did her own show "Dear Shirley", giving advice to listeners who wrote her letters. She also wrote a weekly column in 175 newspapers throughout the country through the Bell Syndicate. And she wrote as a guest columnist for Dorothy Kilgallen.Now 20 years into her career she was courted by the Detroit Free Press and the Knight Ridder syndicate to write 4 weekly columns on Show Business.Shirley was able to form relationships with Barbara Stanwyck,

Frank Sinatra,


Lana Turner,



Joan Crawford,


Ginger Rogers,


Bob Hope


and many more. She was also able to stay on top of the Broadway scene by maintaining close friendships with Ethel Merman,


Credited by Carol Channing for saving "Hello Dolly!" from being scrapped. The musical was not being well received by Detroit audiences before heading to Broadway, she wrote a special column about how great the musical was and it became a smash!.

She also had great relationships with Jacqueline Susann, Neil Diamond, Peggy Lee, and many more.She had unlimited energy and passion for getting the story right, her consistent need being to maintain integrity and the confidentiality of those stars who shared their innermost Private thoughts and dreams with her. She was able to write those stories in an entertaining and compelling way, even when the methods and meanness of the gossip industry changed right before her eyes. She reigned as a Hollywood reporter with class and longevity.

THE 2008 DETROIT TIGERS

I'm expecting great things from this years Tiger ballclub. first of all the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera will be a huge boost to the batting order and the friendships of other key players like Magglio Ordonez. When I met him at Tigerfest he told me he'd be happy to sign with the Tigers for 10 years! well Dave Dombrowski will probably get that done.

I also ran into Placido Polanco at Tigerfest...is there a more humble, professional & talented Tiger than Paulie ? if he doesn't get injured this season he will make a legitimate run at the MVP HE'S THAT GOOD!

Another new Tiger who has been downplayed this year due to the monstrous Marlin trade is Edgar Renteria. Edgar had a poor showing with the RedSox a few years back but with this stellar line up in Detroit he should get a looksie at some good pitches and could hit over 300.The big fear we have is Pitching. Dontrelle Willis hasn't had that BIG injury in his career yet...Kenny Rogers may not be able to get thru an entire season...Justin Verlander is basically the only "sure thing" we have...Nate Robertson can be domiNATE or he can be dominated...and our farm system has been dwindled down to so so talent and Jeremy Bonderman struggled last year with elbow issues. that would make this line up null & void.

I hope I'm wrong and our pitching surprises everyone with quality outings and consistency...I know this much, Jim Leyland & Dave Dombrowski know what they're doing and Mike Ilitch has proven he wants a winner here. and I have my season tickets in section 130 where Lorna and I will cheer on the Tigers all season. !go Tigres!

PREDICTION: World Series Bound!

LARRY NORMAN VISITS ANOTHER LAND

I'm still mourning the loss of the founder of Christian Rock LARRY NORMAN. I have several memories of Larry Norman I'd like to share:

1.8th grade -(1980) Larry Norman Visits the Redford Theatre. after the concert Larry is walking from backstage out to the merchandise table to sell product and meet & greet fans. I'm walking behind him and I say "Mr. Norman, how can I get my friends to listen to Christian music" he reacts with a little anger "you can't! if the music is good they'll listen. if it's not good they won't" he also said that if you put the needle down on the first cut and the song is bad throw the whole record away. If I'd taken that advice my record collection would be severely smaller that it is today.

2. in 1985 at GREEFEST in Canada my cousin Tom carries Larry's guitar for him across this large park for his press conference. Larry tells my cousin "If anything happens to this guitar it may end his ministry" so Tom took it very seriously.

3. in the mid 90's we went "thru the windsor tunnel" to see Larry in concert across the border. of course Larry made lite of the fact folks were going thru tunnels to see him sing. it was hilarious. it was also this night that Larry was asking folks to yell out requests and when we screamed "watch what your doing" from the "Something new under the sun" LP he tripped over his amp and nearly fell. it was priceless.

4. in 2001 we went to Toledo, ohio where Larry performed from 7pm to 12:30am, we were all exhausted when the concert was thru. he did some piano, guitar & sermonizing. I'll never forget it.

The void left behind now that Larry is gone looms very large. He will never be duplicated and his impact will continue for decades to come. I miss him. last year I celebrated my 40th birthday and I received in the mail this signed photo. I will treasure it forever. goodbye Larry Norman, thank you for your creativity & influence.