We’re Rockin’ Halloween’s Lyin’ Eyes!
FINALLY!
It’s 10/07/25 and the article is finished. As the Beatles once said, it’s
a long and winding road, but I finally made it. Before we get into ROCKtober,
we have some unfinished September business.
I would be remiss not to
mention the last-minute RAMP news on the final day of
September, which was also“Radio’s Best Friend’s” 80th birthday! The spry Art Vuolo belies his age, thank goodness, as the broadcast industry truly relies
on the guy who has spent a lifetime being the first to video-record so many
pioneering legends behind the Radio mics across the country. And, I am happy to
add, without whose help providing contacts, you may not have ever met Blast from Your Past! [Image:
Art V (l.) and Shotgun Tom Kelly at his Hollywood star 2013.)
That
said, anyone who’s read
50 Years Ago articles for a few years, knows I’m
partial to October, Halloween and Wolfman Jack. Not always in that order! You’ll
also have noticed that my article titles generally reflect the current month’s
Song
of Note on the
Featured Radio Survey. Proof! There is method to my
music madness! But what better month to be slightly mad, than
ROCKtober.
Let’s get Rockin’!
Although
we can’t Rock out over Halloween without mentioning Wolfman Jack in all his spooky
glory, there will be more about him in December, as he kisses the mic on
Portland, Oregon’s, KISN/91 survey cover. For now, just know my book
series, Blast from Your Past, about pioneering Rock
Radio DJs, is dedicated to Wolfie (as he was often affectionately called).
So, with his growling persona in mind, let’s learn how Halloween hides Lyin’
Eyes and more! Explore Rock Radio 50 Years Ago this Month …
º OCTOBER 1975 Radio News & Muse ♪
Who
did what to get their song on the charts or their name in the news?
October 3rd: The Who released The
Who By Numbers album,
making it their seventh studio release. That gives us a peek into the future
with “Squeeze
Box” becoming the
#1 hit from the album. Debuting in November, the tune hit WVOK’s chart
in December at #16 … ♪ Mama's got a squeeze box | Daddy
never sleeps at night … ♪
October 18th: Saturday Night Live has been in the news for scrambling and
suffering the ills of the current societal changes, but 50 Years Ago This
Month, Simon
& Garfunkel made
news on SNL’s 2nd episode, for reuniting on the show after a
three-year hiatus. They were trying to make the reunion work, but their
appearances together remained spotty.
♪ On Your
Tinny Transistor Radio ♪
Where were you bein’ spooky and having fun in October 1975? I
understand Birmingham, Alabama, was a hoppin’ place to be! Here’s a sample of
what and who you were listening to …
It’s a good thing I have only one Rockin’ Radio survey to
report on this month … I feel like I’ve stepped into the honey of a beehive! WVOK/Birmingham,
Alabama, has so much history in the station and their DJs, there’s no
room for anything else! Welcome to the WVOK October 11, 1975
Radio history show …
At the top of
the chart this month, Neil
Sedaka (with buddy
co-songwriter, Phil Cody) tried to warn a guy of the witch in the mask, but he
didn’t listen. With a catchy, danceable melody, “Bad
Blood” reportedly
gave Sedaka the best commercial success of his career. ♪ … Bad (bad) blood (blood) | The
bitch is in her smile | The lie is on her lips | Such an evil
child … ♪
Not
only did WVOK listeners love Neil Sedaka, apparently they are still
extremely loyal to their station … it can be generally tough to research Disc
Jockeys from decades ago who often have either disappeared into other lives
or rose to the highest status in Radio Heaven, with little documentation to
honor them … only partially so, for WVOK listeners … their birth
families and their listener families keep the memories alive, which allowed me
to access some terrific history surrounding their family of Rockin’ DJs.
Thanks to very informative historical websites, like
Tripod.com, Bhamwiki.com (a historical wiki specifically about Birmingham, Alabama) and a couple
of the DJs’ personal sites, I found that DJs Dan Brennan, Joe Rumore
and Johnny Davis had been at WVOK since 1966. Nine years at one
station was ultra-rare for a DJ, but I can’t even imagine the stats on three. Early copies of the station’s surveys on
Tripod prove it!
And that wasn’t even the most
astonishing tidbit. Joe Rumore’s website (not a
secure site) reported that he spent “4 decades, 33 years and 3 months” at WVOK.
To add prestige to longevity, DJ Don Keith may not have stayed at WVOK
or even remained a Radio DJ, but he can be forgiven, becoming a prolific
screenwriter, filmmaker, and author of more than 40 books!
Let’s start with the station
itself, and then I’ll introduce you to the five dynamic Rock Radio DJs who kept
the same line-up at WVOK from 1972 to around 1980.
Bhamwiki
certainly has the in depth history for WVOK-AM 690 and FM. For
us, it’s the AM station we’re most interested in, which stretched from 1947 to
1992. It was a family affair … As a joint venture, members of the Brennan and Benns
families established the station in Birmingham, eventually giving voice to
stations in Montgomery (WBAM-AM) and WAPE-AM in Jacksonville, Florida. Yep, DJ
Dan Brennan worked his way up the ladder in the family business.
WVOK was proud of their 50,000 watts that covered a huge swath of Alabama,
from Huntsville down to Montgomery, and even across the line to eastern
Mississippi. Along with their DJs the station also lauded local high school
sports team standouts, like students for Hayden and Tarrant.
If
you were there and WVOK was your go-to for local news and current
Rockin’ music, you’ll also likely know that like most Radio stations, the
“morning guy (or gal)” is the DJ anchor, setting the musical tone and attitude.
So, let’s take it from the top for October 11, 1975, as we wake up with
…
♪ DJ DON KEITH started your day from “sign-on”* ‘til 9:00a.m. … *it wasn’t until early 1980s that WVOK
got its “big boy” broadcast pants, to delight listeners 24/7.
Not only was Don a popular DJ,
but he co-owned WZEW in Mobile,
Alabama, in the mid-eighties and
still keeps a hand on the mic in Radio today; that is, when he isn’t
writing.
As an outstanding author in historical fiction
and non-fiction, to military thrillers, to biography, Don has moved well beyond
the station microphone. However, I caught up with him recently and he commented
on writing and broadcasting similarities …
People often remark that writing is so very different from being
a radio personality that they’re surprised I’ve found some success in both ways
of communicating. But the truth is they are quite similar. In both, I sit all
alone in a room, talking with people I cannot see or hear, attempting to create
something on the fly that will affect them emotionally. And once I send that
creation out to listeners or readers, I can’t take it back. It better be as
powerful as it can be the first time! Sound advice!
Don’s still proud of his Radio DJ escapades,
sandwiching this broadcast tidbit in-between writing awards, on his website: “As
an on-the-air broadcaster, Don was twice named Billboard Magazine
"Radio Personality of the Year."
I was thrilled to catch up with one of the DJs from Rock Radio’s
glory days 50 Years Ago, and thanked Don for his comments. He
also imparted news of the other 1975 WVOK DJs, “Shocking thing is that I
am the only one of those five deejays pictured who remains alive.” He
was also, however, one of the younger ones.
While
we contemplate the length and breadth of these monthly articles, let’s meet the
rest of WVOK’s October 1975 DJs …
DJ JOE RUMORE (1920-1993) took over the airwaves after Don and played your requests
up to the noon hour.
A veteran broadcaster, it is still
felt that Joe’s experience and innovations reverberate over the airwaves
today. I found a tribute website for Joe (link above), but be aware, it
is not a secure site. That said, it’s quite an accolade by family and
friends who report, January 29, 1982, “… Joe Rumore makes his final broadcast,
closing a radio career that spanned 40 years covering 4 decades, 33 years and 3
months at WVOK.” He spent practically his whole radio life at WVOK and
many of the station’s listeners likely grew up listening to Joe.
At age seven Joe made his
radio debut on “Station WJOE,” as Master Rumore. How cute! The site reported
that he, “… rigged up a make-believe microphone by nailing a tea strainer to a
cigar box.” But it was the part about a pair of earmuffs as headphones that
cracked me up.
Joe began his official gig
behind the mic in 1941 and segued to WVOK in October 1948,
exactly 77 years ago. He headed up to Radio DJ Heaven December 20, 1993, at age
73.
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Unfortunately, Johnny was one for
whom I couldn’t locate much information. It is interesting, though, that he
found a way to meld raucous Rock & Roll music with his community life as “Minister of Music with several churches” and even sang with a local quartet. Johnny’s
broadcast career likely began in the US Navy where he served as a radio
operator. Alabama listeners may also remember him at WZZK. Radio DJ Heaven has
had the pleasure of Jim’s singing, since October 18, 2014.
DJ DAN BRENNAN (1930-2020) was not just another pretty face as he drove you home from
work, 3:00p.m. to sign-off.
Often known as “Dan the Music
Man,” he came up through the ranks of the family who created and owned WVOK. His whole life was with Brennan
Broadcasting and he and brother, Cyril, reveled in life behind the mic. As a
member of Birmingham’s Radio royalty, Dan was a community icon who apparently
enjoyed a rollicking 80th birthday party in 2010.
Interestingly, I could find no
further personal details about his life. Which, as I’ve said, is the norm when
writing about 50 Years Ago This Month. With such a well-known, and by
all appearances, beloved family history, though, you’d think there would be
more online accounts. Dan’s broadcasting in Radio DJ Heaven began December 19,
2020.
DJ BOB GORDON (1945-2013) otherwise known as Gordon E. Lackey, kept you listening and
Rocking to WVOK all
weekend long!
And all I could learn about Bob is
he apparently spent time behind the mic at WSGN and WYAM, too, and he served in
the U.S. Army. If anyone knows more about him, feel free to contact me!
It’s just for this lack of information about
some of the men and women who entertained us in a unique era, that I write these
articles. I often stumble on details that may only be available in one obscure
place and enjoy sharing them with you. I believe people—more than just the
prominent and famous—should be remembered for the happiness they shared.
So, WVOK made memories for some of you,
and I hope they give you a pleasant reverie into your own history. The rest of
us can slip back in time to October 1975, wherever we were, to enjoy our Rockin’
memories, too. For what else are we now, if not the sum of our lives?
The 1960s and ‘70s were WVOK’s Top 40
years as “The Mighty 690.” It brought you fun concerts known as their “Shower
of Stars,” to make memories of performances by iconic musicians such as the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and Neil Diamond.
By 1976, their competition, WSGN,
wore them down and they switched to Country, which worked until 1985. After
that it continued to search for a comfortable niche in a changing Radio world. Today
on 690 you’ll find Sports channel WJOX.
And life goes on …
But before you move on today, and while you’re
wallowing in nostalgia, let’s have some Halloween fun with the
rollicking music of October 1975!
♪ October ’75 Song of Note ♪
For
the second month in a row, our Featured Radio Survey’s #1 hot hit is our
Song of Note! It’s dress-up party time, do you have your mask on? Go
look in the mirror … what do
you see? Remember, your eyes are the most expressive part of your body … windows
to your soul.
Glenn Frey and Don Henley of The Eagles knew it in October 1975
when their chat about cheatin’ women turned into a hit tune on WVOK’s
chart. Something about those “Lyin’ Eyes” … and Halloween is a great testing
ground as we don masks for fun, or … ♪ Your smile
is a thin disguise | I thought by now you'd realize | There ain't
no way to hide your lyin' eyes … ♪
♪ October 2025 Music Events
& More ♪
There
isn’t much this month for applicable celebrations or special days. It is,
however,
Country Music Month and as I’ve said before, Rock & Roll is
full of Country, Blue Grass, and Folk Music! So celebrate Country and enjoy
the
crossover tunes.
Friday ~ October
10th: And
today celebrates an instrument that transcends all genres of music … it’s Hug A Drummer Day! Yes,
it’s a real day. Just ask the folks at the World Drumming Association. They’re
serious about those skins and sticks. Though they’re the sponsor, it hasn’t
been updated lately. The site does, however, have lots of info you might want
to check out it you’re interested in becoming a drummer. Or here, for 20
Rock Drum Beats and Patterns.
♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪
October 11, 1975 ~ WVOK/Birmingham, Alabama. By now you
know what Rockin’ Radio station is on the FRS page. If you listened to WVOK
back in the day, you’ll be familiar with their “Tough Twenty” chart. Their
local pride showed not only in high school mentions, but in their survey
quality with three-color printing and featured DJ drawings. In 1975 that was a
pricey extravagance. Take your nostalgia, grab a libation, and head back to … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock &
Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played …
If you’ve stuck with me all
the way through to the end of this long and winding road, thank you! I hope you
enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Rock OCTOBER
1975 and … howl at the Halloween moon!
Winsome Witch of the
West
BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959)
on Amazon
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging
‘60s) on Amazon
Blast from Your Past Gifts
Share your Golden Oldies
R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
LinDee
Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock &
Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast
from Your PastTM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959TM
(eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll
Radio DJs: The Swinging SixtiesTM
(eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!TM
Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally
visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed
sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or
singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything
cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned
by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.comTM.
No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other
commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site.
Enjoy!
01/01/25: The Blast from Your Past site has
never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial
Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy
writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that
indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!
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