On this day in Rock ‘n Roll…
The Offbeat Almanac started as a ‘daysheet’ for an oldies station, Oldies 104.3, in Chicago. It was a daily “On This Date in Rock & Roll” listing that would give the disc jockeys some trivia or ‘on this day’ trivia to play with. They used the information to introduce songs or conduct a contest.
In addition to rock & roll history, we added similar information about some of the entertainers and personalities who preceeded the rock era, including singers, actors, authors, politicians, athletes, newsmakers and some unusual characters for our sister station WJJD, which played all the old time standards by artists like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Barbra Stresand, Pat Boone, Anne Murray, Neil Sedaka, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday and a few Big Band favorites.
When I moved to Satellite Music Network’s Country Coast-To-Coast channel, we began adding more information and trivia about artists from Hank Jr to Dolly, Randy Travis to the Judds, Garth Brooks to Loretta Lynn, June Carter Cash to Johnny Cash, Reba to Don Williams, Willie Nelson to Patsy Cline.
Oh! And more Elvis!
I realized the information might someday make a good book, not only for air talent, but also for teachers or public speakers or fans of nostalgia or trivia.
Eveerything from the Golden Age of Radio..
Birthday-perisher