Just for Fun

Throughout my storied radio career I have come across some very entertaining and often comical songs and tales geared to the Gospel audience. Sometimes the comedy was intentional. Most obvious is the work of Wendy Bagwell & the Sunlighters who’s work is intentionally funny. A few local singers with minimal exposure have been overlooked for their accidental comedic portfolio. Take for example a fellow in Savannah who penned the timeless classic, “Jesus Rode a Donkey Down Victory Drive.” His poetic device, a metaphor entailing our Lord riding a burro down world famous palm lined Victory Drive on His way to Tybee Island apparently.

The next songs my cousin Ray told me about a few years back. A songster in his hearing sang, “In the winter You’re my afghan / in my car You’re my anti-freeze” and he also mentioned the big hit by country music’s Bobby Bare, “Dropkick Me Jesus (Through the Goal Post of Life)” from 1976. Give me a break.

Let’s not forget the Jerry & the Singing Goff’s cover version of “God’s Gonna Get ‘Cha (for that)” was originally done by George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Ain’t nothing like basing your theology on a country song. The Jerry Goff cover version was played lyrically unmodified on Gospel stations all across the USA in the late 70’s.

Often I would host, in person, preachers live at my radio homes. Some were earnest but a little confused. Once in my first studio I had a preacher lady give her testimony. The rather large elderly black woman was getting very excited about her personal relationship with Christ when in her discourse claimed that, “Jesus is my boyfriend!” What!? I had to hide my face in my hands laughing hysterically as I could plainly be seen through her studio location into my control room seat by glass partitioning.  I could see thousands of radios simultaneously switching off.

Other preachers were allowed language freedoms not afforded Howard Stearn. A few of these guys often used descriptive pejorative terms of certain lifestyle groups. If the FCC had known, our license might have been pulled. None of these shows were auditioned before hand or on a profanity delay when live. All required was their money for airtime. 

Then there was a certain preacher from Dallas, Texas whose Success in Life show debuted on our air in about 1985. He claimed that indescribable wealth could be yours with a thousand dollar “vow” to his ministry. He was later exposed of fraud on ABC news when hundreds of letters from listeners were found outside his offices in the dumpster having contributions excised from them. He made claims of praying over each letter personally. That his very tears stained the notes until the ink bled. He also had a TV show. I think you can still see this name it and claim it charlatan on cable to this day.

I think God must have a marvelous sense of humor. Many think they are inspired. Some are. A few, well, let’s leave God alone to judge.

Stay tuned.

The Silent Decades

For over ten years I thought very infrequently of my radio past. Up until Fall of 2008 I had suppressed any thought or public mention of my previous life in broadcast media. One evening while working as manager of an auto parts retail store I was discussing with a fellow manager and part time country musician his passion for recording his music. I know he wasn’t impressed by my story but I felt the need to enlighten him with the brief details of my 12 year DJ career. I was ignored but relieved that I finally revealed a past that I was quite proud of at one point and I really didn’t expect his arrogant personality to receive it. The conversation was merely a catalyst for a new phase of my life.

It was a load off my chest because I was once again captured by the radio bug. I was burned out with the retail hell into which I had fallen. I needed more out of life. I was waxing sentimental over my old career and could not escape thinking about and writing about it. This obsession eventually became a blog, podcast and Internet radio station, The GRIN.

Still, I need a tangible outlet for my audio passion. As I noted in a previous Gospel Aircheck  post I’m trying to get involved in church sound and media again. This objective seems out of reach. I detect little movement from those who could use me and I am somewhat discouraged. Do I face reality and completely abandon my dream? Or should I be more proactive?

Is it 1995 all over again when I saw a new door open in a completely different field? ‘95 was a turning point into the world of retail. It was my final foray into radio because my new employer would not allow me the one day a week I worked at WBTR-FM. Forward to 1999, I got involved with the sound crew of an Assembly of God church known regionally for its Revelation to Calvary production that ran for weeks and was advertised on the Atlanta market’s large FM Christian station, WVFJ.

Here I was a somewhat jaded former broadcaster now volunteering with a highly professional crew. The pastor stressed excellence in the audio and it showed. Theatrical sound effects, creative audio processing and other elements of a proper audio presentation were the norm. It was the best sound I had ever heard in a church setting. Regrettably, I had to leave the team after 8 months or so when marriage to my first wife ended in 2000. My ex attended the church before me and it was agreed that I would leave.

Another ten year cycle passes and I find myself in the present wanting to take what I’ve learned to a new church setting. One pastor is interested in an effective media presentation complete with theater style lighting and effects. So far I’m still deciding weather to get involved with the Media Shout computer operator position Pastor sees me filling. I have liked photography, computers and video as a hobby but audio is my obsession. Maybe the path is clearer as I wrap up. I’ll see eventually. For now I’m remaining at my home church, warming a pew.

One constant in my life is my love of all things audio. Over the last 30 years I have learned all I could about analog and digital sound. In fact, I have started a new business Peanut Whistle Audio Restoration. I specialize in analog cassette and reel to reel transfer to CD-R and other digital media. I will take your tapes, remove noise and normalize for CD then transfer to your choice of digital media all for a very reasonable price. Other services are available. The only limits are our imagination. I apply all my radio production and theatrical audio expertise to every project. Custom editing is available. Email me nealrhoden@thepeanutwhistle.com or call 678-230-2424

Stay tuned.

Gran Torino

Long before the 2008 Clint Eastwood movie of the same name I owned two of them. I am speaking of the Ford Gran Torino. One a 1973 four door station wagon olive green with fake wood side panels that I drove most of the 11th and 12th grade. I went everywhere in that thing; assisted my dad in his piano tuning business, drove him to church trotted off to his preaching engagements and in later years to my job at WEAS. The thing looked like a tank and finally died when I lost the transmission in it.

Next was a tomato red two door Starsky and Hutch special. I loved that car. Unlike the TV show which featured a ‘74 model mine was a ‘76 without the broad white racing stripe. I had bought it from my station manager for a $1,000.00 and she let me make payments of $50.00 a paycheck. Good job security I suppose. I kept it detailed and made the local Western Auto my second home. One Sunday after church, I wrecked my baby by rear-ending a black Trans-Am or Camaro similar to the Smoky & the Bandit car Burt Reynolds drove. There was hardly a scratch on the car I hit. My eight year old beauty sustained major front end damage. The plastic grille was smashed along with a huge dent in the right front quarter panel. The one and only body shop estimate I got was for $1,200.00. Oh my God! 200 more than I paid for it. To top things off I was ticketed for driving too close, made a court appearance and covered the $50.00 fine. Unfortunately, I didn’t have collision insurance or $1,200.00 so I had to drive her wrecked.

 

Despite all the cosmetic flaws, I kept the Torino running good. I had a great honest mechanic at the Ford dealership who would do maintenance and repairs on his lunch break and charged me cost for the genuine Ford parts. I learned a lot about cars from this veteran wrench turner. He was a master diagnostician who seemed to know everything. God places the right people in your path.

I, on the other hand, was a complete novice. I bought a cheap Western Auto ratchet set and got started making repairs on a trial and mostly error basis with a Chilton’s manual by my side. One day I decided to remove the non functioning Eight Track stereo. Hey, I worked at a radio station so this should be reasonably easy. Right? I exorcised the unit and left a yawning hole in the panel which was never filled with a new radio. My dad ribbed me constantly for my amateur surgery. The patient did not survive. As a substitute I took along a Sony portable radio for musical accompaniment and news on the 30 minute ride to work every day.

From that point forward I decided to learn all I could about cars; their intricate electrical systems, ignitions, and parts. Self education paid off later in life when I embarked on a lucrative 13 year career in auto parts following my life in radio; obtaining an ASE certification along the way, all thanks to my initial tinkering with the Gran Torino.

Stay tuned.

Thanks for viewing the Whistle. Come back soon! Check out my companion blog Gospel Aircheck at http://gospelaircheck.blogspot.com

Rock Even Mom Will Love

The 1980’s were a musical decade chock full of synthesizer driven pop thanks to the Yamaha DX-7 keyboard. An instrument heard on almost every track from Van Halen’s Jump to Amy Grant’s Find a Way. Looking back at the decade of my late teens; most of the eras top 40 or as it became known then contemporary hit radio (CHR) songs had that signature sound. Today’s post isn’t really about keyboards. It chronicles my youth obsession with Contemporary Christian Music and particularly Amy Grant.

I eventually graduated from pop culture to more mature fare listening to the Blues, Classical, Jazz, Oldies, Talk, and of course Gospel. All the time I have been simply a lover of music. These days I do not understand why I found certain songs appealing. Chalk it all up to maturity.

Amy grant was a promoters dream. She was, as her concert commercial noted, a phenomenon. I never before or since have seen a bigger star in Christian music. By 1985 she had become such a success in CCM that the secular record label, A&M had signed her allowing her to retain her Word Records affiliation as she was now promoted as singing, “music with meaning.” Her then current hit, Find a Way was popular on both secular and Christian radio. Her Unguarded album was sold with two different covers: one on the Word label of her pictured dancing, harmlessly, and the A&M cover with her dancing in a more sensual pose. The dual covers stirred up quite a controversy in the Christian press and Gospel radio circles.

I attended an October 1985 concert by Amy and saw her perform a couple more times by the late 80’s. The first show was at the Savannah Civic Center Arena and I remember how awkward I felt dipping and swaying to the beat of Everywhere I Go. I was no dancer. Screaming teen girls rushed the stage like any other rock star show. Theatrical smoke and lighting effects prevailed along with high decibel ear splitting sound. It seemed that it was more of a cult of personality instead of an exposition of God’s plan of salvation. The show was, however,  positively reviewed the following day in the local paper and was described as “Rock that even mom’ll love.”

The Grant era ushered in Christian radio that was extra light on the plan of salvation and heavy on entertainment. As I scan the Atlanta radio dial these days the two biggest Christian FM’s promote themselves as family friendly or positive music, Christ has been put aside for the sake of the almighty dollar. Most of the music they play is so bland, vaguely Christian, that secular radio is more preferable when I listen to radio at all. Do not misunderstand, I am not a critic of any particular Christian artist. Secular promoters and corporations have no business in the the Lord’s work period. Watering down the Gospel is not an option. There are hard rockers that are Christian to the core with an obvious message prevalent in their music. On the other hand there are singers who happen to be Christian who sing secular music. I have no problem with them living within their own convictions. Please, whatever you sing; pop or rock,  just don’t call it Gospel if it has no ministry content. Download the commercial here or press play below.

May the Good News go with you. Stay tuned.

Truly Awesome

You know there are just some songs upon first hearing that I knew would become more than just a hit, but a phenomenon. Such was the case in the late 80’s of Awesome God by the late Rich Mullins. As both a radio programmer and music director thousands of Lp’s and 45’s were submitted to me for airplay. Most were somewhat derivative. I had a good built in hit-o-meter and could sense the records that would stand out among the vast sea of pretenders.

“You’ve got to hear this new song!” I exclaimed to my music director. She agreed that the Awesome God tune was exceptional. We  decided right away to put it into heavy rotation. The 21 years that followed have proved the songs initial staying power due to its simple, profound message. It has been covered by numerous artists including Carmen, Michael W. Smith and others. It has been sung in churches the world over and continues to inspire new marvelous versions for a completely new generation.

God is timeless. He is truly awesome. That is not just an English adjective to describe Him. He is the Word itself. Take from verse one:

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just puttin' on the ritz
(our God is an awesome God)
There is thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fist
(our God is an awesome God)
Well, the Lord wasn't joking
When He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason that He shed his blood
His return is very close and so you better be believing
that our God is an awesome God

May the good news of the Gospel go with you.