This is my very first ‘blog’… so, please be gentle. I’ve written all my life, sometimes rather well; I’ve written thousands of memos in my radio career, and some major presentations, speeches, even liner notes for albums and CDs. But, never wrote a ‘blog’. So here goes. I’m excited about it, because it’s a new way for me to connect with you – after all, how could I do this before ?
I’d have to wait to hear from you in an e-mail, or a letter, or a phone call. That was fine, and I’ve answered many thousands of folks in those ways. But I could never choose the subject – I was always responding. I think I’ve got some interesting things to share with you, and because I’m in charge of what you hear on the radio station – I’m hoping you’ll be interested. I’m sure you’ll let me know.
Let me keep this first ‘blog’ short – so you can explore our other bloggers too – check out what our Happy Gang members have written – Bill Gable, Eva D and John Gallagher, or our ‘lady of romance’ – Ziggy.
I’ll wrap it up with this promise to you – I’ll always tell you the truth – you can count on it. Now, that also means, I may not always be able to talk about somethings which must remain private or confidential – in those cases, I’ll tell you that. I believe every good relationship is built on trust and respect. Till next time… Gene.
Dear Mr. Stevens:
Yesterday afternoon I went off to Canadian Tire to pick some more !@#$$%^&* leaf bags, and was tuned into your program on the car radio. Up came Bing Crosby singing “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams”. I grew up in Sackville, NB, where my father managed the RCI shortwave station. In the 1930’s or 1940’s he acquired, somehow, a transcription disk from a radio program that Bing was recording. Said disk had several holes in the centre to ensure physical stability. Bing was singing “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams” when something went awry and he ad-libbed a new verse, which went like this if memory serves me:
They cut out eight bars the dirty bastards
And they didn’t tell me which eight bars they were going to cut
Why don’t they tell about these things
Holy Christ I’m going off my nut
The four Smith children enjoyed playing this and singing along with Bing.
When my mother moved out of her home the disk went missing. Just as well, as I don’t think you could play over the air!
Ciao.
Geoffrey Smith
geoffrey.smith@sac.on.ca