Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ~ October 1975

We’re Rockin’ Halloween’s Lyin’ Eyes!   

Before we get into Rocktober, we have some September unfinished 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” 80^th 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 the 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 …   

Ah, yes, well, like a large amount of October 1975’s article, our Radio News & Muse, Song of Note, Featured Radio Survey and much more will soon/eventually post. In the meantime, please enjoy a teaser … then come back in a few days for tons of fun and surprises! 

♪ 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 bee hive! 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 … not so, for WVOK listeners … their birth families and their listener families keep their memories alive, which allowed me to access great history surrounding their family of Rockin’ DJs. 

Thanks to some 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 history for WVOK-AM 690 and FM, in depth. 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. If you follow Radio, you likely know that “the morning guy (or gal)” is the DJ anchor, setting the musical tone and attitude. So October 11, 1975, we begin with …

Ah, but the rest must wait until I can put it all together! As the solo writer for this article, I am subject to the delays of life, so please be patient. It’s a-comin’ soon, my Oldies Rock & Roll friends!

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 

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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 Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (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.com^TM. 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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