St.Louis DJ from Nebraska Received: 05/16/2009 @ 6:35am PST
From: John Rinne
Hello Charlie , native of Kearney, Nebraska. Right? I am Jack , a 30 year vet of St. Louis radio, and I was born in Beatrice, Nebr......moving to KC in 1954. I have great memories of Beatrice to Kearney to Scottsbluff to visit cousins and other releatives. In 1970, my first year in radio, I knew a young Kevin Metheny who gave me Bob Hamilton radio reports, and I think I learned of you through that weekly report. I worked in St. Louis with Ron Elz, the original Johnny Rabbit at KXOK and in 89 worked with Big Ron, who passed on last year. Bruce Vidal, too. One of my friends is John Carney of KMOX and son of the late Jack Carney. I love the streaming on the internet...how did I get along without years ago. I record a daily music program for a friends station in Hannibal, Mo. on my computer. Well, Charlie, I always enjoy you and Shotgun on K-Earth. I hope you can write back. I am in my hometown near KC, Marshall, Mo., hometown of jazz artist Bob James.
take care...Jack Rinne
Nebraska Visit Received: 05/12/2009 @ 6:30pm PST
From: Mark Jensen
Charlie,
We are looking forward to hearing from you at the 2009 Nebraska Broadcasters Convention. Marty Reimenschnieder (NBA President) said you would be the host of the awards banquet and I about flipped. I'm on the board of directors for the NBA and can't wait to meet you. I hope you wont mind if I ask you for an autograph. I would like to put your picture up in my radio station along with many other top notch DJ's of the 70's.
I own two radio stations in York Nebraska just about 2 hours from your old stomping grounds in Kearney. I've always been a big fan of yours and have several cassettes of your air shows.
Again Thank you for agreeing to host our awards banquet.
CHARLIE TUNA CLAUSE Received: 05/12/2009 @ 8:17am PST
From: Kevin Fennessy
Hi Charlie:
You've been immortalized in yet another way; I'm negotiating to interim manage a distressed radio station in Ocean City, Maryland. In the proposed deal, and in writing, is The Charlie Tuna Clause.
If during the life of this agreement and or my tenure, in the event any missed payroll on the prescribed date, the agreement is immediately canceled.
You should be very proud.
Kevin Fennessy
hello,congrats, and a humble request Received: 05/10/2009 @ 1:59pm PST
From: Rick Heath
Greetings, Charlie. I have written before seeking an old orchestral background tune that Bill Loose gave to me in the 1970's. I lost my tape of it, on reel to reel of course given those days. I would like to enjoy it again, strictly for personal use. You told me once on the phone that it was on what you said was "an old Capitol records production music record" meaning an LP. Bill has been gone a long time, was an old librarian for Capitol for a while and wrote/produced/conducted that snappy piece of march music you used (sounded like Souza). I even recall Bill's internal catalog for it which was 5 OK 1404 and he told me he recorded it with the Berlin symphony. KNBC even used it to close their local nightly news when Brokaw was the local anchor, so must have been like 1972, a couple years after I discovered you and rock and roll music in general. (Age 55 now, just sold the funeral home and retired, loving a lower stress life now).
I would be happy to pay you for it, you name the price, or if you're worried about copyright I could just buy the old set. I've searched eBay monthly for years and nothing ever comes up "capitol records production music" or anything like that. I think it was probably only sold to professionals or radio station jocks and talent, or TV stations. I have been unable to locate that piece of music from those early years ANYWHERE. Capitol records talks like they've never heard of it.
It was just a great orchestral music piece and I regret not having carefully preserved the copy the author gave to me. You used it to provide a snappy background for some great commentary and comedy remarks. At about that time I had gone to his old office in a house off Sunset and he thought it was interesting anybody would bother to track him down over an old piece of throwaway music he'd done years earlier, and gave me the 1/4" tape at no charge saying he was glad somebody remembered his old music.
I miss that music, just a little 3 minute or so piece. I'm an old classical music fan (what would you expect from a funeral home owner who only gets to hear classical and such music for most of my career). I loved music so much in my time that I offered a free live organist to EVERY family I served so they could have the real thing and not just taped/recorded stuff. I had fabulous flexible organists and a nice library of sheet music so we could usually satisfy any family last minute request for special music. That free organist thing and low prices made me successful and a comfortably well off man, and I never regretted employing a real musician.
So, help out an old guy, I know you have zillions of hours on the air and are an icon of the airwaves, but I know you'd know exactly the sweet Souza march style cut you used to voice over for your "This Day In History" feature in the 1970's and 80's, I think on KRTH in those days.
Even if you can't or won't help or respond, my thanks anyway for being a mainstay of radio music and entertainment. I'm not kissing up to you when I say that you're a comfortable and familiar mainstay of broadcast, deserved National Radio Hall of Fame status a LONG time ago not just 2008, and that is coming from a guy who grew up a block and a half from La Brea, been around a bit (who else do you know who rented hearses to studios for music videos?) and who remembers from Dick Whittington to Joe Pyne (received on a crystal set) and when Hal Goodwyn opened the first mic as all news at KFWB, a sad day for us back then. It's been great to live in So. Calif and enjoy a great life here. You were/are a part of that for countless fans, as comments on your website demonstrate. You deserve all the success you achieved.
Thanks for considering my request, and in any event, for your decades of energy at broadcast entertainment.
Rick Heath
(NOTE TO RICK: I'll have to dig around in the archives for that one. I know what you're looking for, but give me some time and I'll try to find it for you!)
CT bobble head Received: 05/07/2009 @ 6:58am PST
From: Victor Blouch
Charlie,
My wife and I took a vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota for our 34th anniversary. We could not find a CT bobble head so we took a substitute. I listened to you while I was in the service on AFRTS and my wife is a Southern Cal. Native. Enjoy the pictures, my favorite is the “Tuna Can” Thanks for all the great music and look forward to taking you on our Cruise next year for our 35th anniversary.
Vic and Pam Blouch
melodyland Received: 05/06/2009 @ 1:52pm PST
From: Alan Schwarz
I went to my first concert at Melodyland.I think the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band headlined and I remember being real impressed by the opening act who all wore black leather and all wore one black glove.They played the theme from THE WILD ANGELS with loud fuzz guitar riff. Cool stuff to see for a 9-year old.I still have a sweatshirt from the gig with 93/KHJ BOSS RADIO in front and Humble Harve with him in shades on the back. Do you remember this concert or any more info about it?
(NOTE TO ALAN: I emceed a lot of concerts for 93/KHJ in the first five years I was there, but that concert wasn't one of them, so I can't be that much help unfortunately.)
Bill Wade Received: 04/30/2009 @ 1:25pm PST
From: Dan Thorall
Hi Charlie,
I think you worked with Bill Wade at KHJ 93 in 1971. I knew him when he worked at KACY 1520 in Oxnard. I believe that was in 1961 or 1962. I posted a comment on Classic Radio and DJ Scrap Book and found out he is retired, not surprising as he must be around 70. Do you have any idea where he is living at this time? I would just like to say hi to him and have a few laughs about the "old days".
Thanks for your time,
Dan Thorall
(NOTE TO DAN & READERS: Unfortunately I haven't had any contact with Bill since I left 93/KHJ in 1972. I do know he ran a chain of radio schools for years after that, but haven't heard what he's been doing or where he's even at, for the last few decades.)
Just curious Received: 04/29/2009 @ 9:49am PST
From: Jamie Franco
Where in Nebraska are you from? I have an uncle in North Platte, who used to live in Paxton (population 400, between N.P. & Ogallala), and my mother was born in Fairbury. I love Nebraska! I spent many summers there visiting during the '50s & '60s… Have you ever been to Ole's Big Game Bar in Paxton? It's a hoot!
Thanks,
(Mrs.) Jamie Franco
NOTE TO JAMIE: Kearney, Nebraska is my hometown where I grew up and started my career in radio when I was 16 on KGFW in Kearney. North Platte was one of our big sports rivals in high school sports, but I never was in Paxton, or Fairbury, but know them both very well. I'm going back to Nebraska this August to host the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame Awards in Omaha.
masks Received: 04/29/2009 @ 6:35am PST
From: Benjamin Budzak
just to let you know if you use a medical grade mask you will be protected from airborne contaminants...if you use a dust mask (for painting and what not) it provides no protection...just in case you'd like to know :)
~Benjamin
Color test Received: 04/29/2009 @ 5:12am PST
From: Kenneth Martin
Hey Charlie!
I got 100% in 3 trys.
What's the problem with the females?????
Ken Martin
Hello from England Received: 04/25/2009 @ 8:57am PST
From: Raymond Stone
Good Morning Charlie.
Just an e-mail to let you know currently listening to your show on the Internet. Last visited your shores during Dec 1997.During which time i purchased a set of C.Ds` about The British Invasion 1964-7. Broadcast thru` Westwood 1 on Labor Day Weekend 1994. You co-hosted. Only cost $52, good value.
Have a good day, Ray
Great Memories Received: 04/25/2009 @ 4:07am PST
From: Greg Wolf
First off I must say thank you for years of great memories well I was growing up in southern California. KHJ Boss radio the best station and had the best DJ's, I would listen every day before and after school and when I got a job I would listen to you every day no matter what station you where working for. Then in the early nineties I had to move out of state and the DJ's on the stations in NJ had a high standard of broadcasting to live up to, but they never could quite reach the level of on air magic as you did. When I would come back to LA on vacation I would scan the radio dial in the AM to see if I could locate the station you were broadcasting on, sometimes successful some time no luck. What a surprise when I found K-Earth's webcast and Charlie Tuna at 9:00 AM on the weekend, then found your website. It will be great to be able to listen to your show again after all these years. I currently live in Minnesota and our oldies station is KOOL 101 FM, but it's still not as good as K-EARTH 101.
Thanks Again from a long time fan
Greg
HOPE YOU CAN HELP Received: 04/24/2009 @ 7:02am PST
From: Ron Martin
CHARLIE , I LISTENED to you for yrs, on L.A. radio , from your beginning at khj , to the country station at universal in the morning ,I came to see you just to say hello , I am looking for a radio DJ that was on air back in the 80s , at a station called knob, then I found her again in Maui of all places in the 90s, I tried to e-mail the station and have not gotten any reply, her name was Madaline Vlasic is their a site on the net I can go to that might help me find her and hear her if she might still be on the air ,
thanxs,Charlie
Ron Martin , Las Vegas, NV P.S , i DO CATCH YOUR SHOW OUT OF VANCOUVER ,BC OVER THE NET . THANXS AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Received: 04/20/2009 @ 6:31pm PST
From: Marie Masson
I am writing to you about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I am writing to the Foundation to ask them to induct you. Long Live Rock and Roll...You see it all started with this t-shirt. (See attached.) Under INDUCTEES 1986 I saw ALAN FREED. I checked the full list of Inductees on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum website for your name ......I saw DICK CLARK. I did not see CHARLIE TUNA!
That's when my life changed and I decided to nominate you, CHARLIE TUNA! They will let me know what the induction process is. Maybe, you know someone who would be better at this than me! Please start it without me! I don't have the time!!!Let's get the ball rolling though! I'll give the nominee suggestion (you) and somebody else can do the legwork take all the credit. Sure would love to see you get a "Lifetime Achievement" at this for all the work you do to promote the cause of rock and roll. It's right up your alley CHARLIE TUNA!!!!! Let's do it!!!
Gosh I am smart! I glow in the dark, Your friend;
Marie Masson
"ZOO" Received: 04/20/2009 @ 12:44pm PST
From: Paul Anderson
Hey Charlie,
Just wanted to say it was GREAT to see you Saturday. One would never Guess that you are that AGE (SMILE).
How time flies when you are HAVING FUN, and doing what YOU LIKE to do, and as far as I am concerned, NOBODY DOES IT BETTER. It has been GREAT knowing you and listening to you for what 40 years. We both were youngsters then. It's been a great ride, and I know it will continue.
Take care Charlie
Just ME, Paul
Tommy's on air krth jingle at the zoo Received: 04/19/2009 @ 7:47pm PST
From: Donald Cresse
Hi Charlie
It was really nice to meet you today (Sunday April 19th). My son Tommy was the one who did the KRTH jingle live on the air for you and I was hoping I could get a copy of it via e mail.
I really have enjoyed your bits and shows going back to 1967. Listening to you and other D Js like Shotgun Kelly is like being in a time machine, Im so glad there is a station tha I can listen to with my two young sons and get the same experience for them as i enjoyed growing up.
BTW I signed up for the krth all access, and selected the weekend events so you will probably run into my family at one of your weekend events again.
Take care
Don Cresse, Chino, Tommy and Billy, Northridge CA
PS I ride a Bridgstone MB zip (1991 vintave mountain bike) in the mountains around the valley, maybe i'll "bump" into you sometime
(NOTE TO DON: Your son's jingle singing debut will be on the way shortly)
Happy Birthday, if it's not too late! Received: 04/18/2009 @ 8:34pm PST
From: Mike Sakellarides
He has 28 minutes to say happy birthday to Charlie Tuna and Kay Noble! Will he make it?
Mike Sakellarides
Happy Birthday Received: 04/18/2009 @ 7:27pm PST
From: Denise Martin
Charlie,
Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear Charlie Happy birthday to you!
Love listening to you every day you are on.
Denise Martin
April 18 Received: 04/18/2009 @ 10:52am PST
From: Rita Hahn
Happy Birthday: I knew this was a special day; now I know why. Thank you for sharing your Mother's letter to you. It was truly inspiring.
Thanks for great music and great positive talk.
Rita Hahn
April 10th, 2009 video, Visual Home Burglary Video Received: 04/15/2009 @ 6:33pm PST
From: Christina Hernandez
Hi, this video is amazing! Thank you for sharing it with the public. I am very interested in knowing what type of video camera was used. This is so terrific. Are you able provide this information? My husband and I would enjoy our time away from home knowing that it is well protected. By the way, you are the best.
Thank you again,
Christina Hernandez
(NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: In case you missed it, You can see the video on the "NEWS" link of my website. It's posted under the April 9th-10 Weekend "NEWS" for 2009.)
song title or singer??? Received: 04/12/2009 @ 11:37am PST
From: Mark Addison
Hi,
There was a song on your show about a man lamenting to his mother "Mamma".He says he killed a man, was caught and is going to be executed for the crime. The mamma theme comes up all through the song. Felt that I knew the song but just cannot remember.
Can you help
Thanks
Mark
(NOTE TO MARK: That's the Queen classic featuring that distinctive voice of Freddie Mercury "Bohemian Rhapsody". Enjoy the video below!)
Home Burglary Video Received: 04/12/2009 @ 9:54am PST
From: Chuck Geletko
Hello Charlie, I just called you regarding the home invasion video. I found the video and loved it. Thank you for your help.
Chuck
Downloaded feb 69 show after history of RR-khj Received: 04/03/2009 @ 8:50pm PST
From: Andrew Machlis
Hi Charlie,
I was listening to you in 1968 when you started at khj la. I recorded your “Charlie tuna” khj theme on my old tape recorder(unfortunately the tapes are lost). I always loved your great sense of humor and ability with words. I have heard you on fm stations thru the years, lastly with kbig, the station I used to love. You were mornings there for years. I downloaded and recorded exerpts of feb 69 khj show from reelradio. I attached my edited copy I play on Ipod. I have been listening to it for days on my ipod. Just wanted to let you know you have some very long time fans,
Sincerely,
Andrew Machlis
(NOTE TO ANDREW: Actually I started at 93/KHJ on Thanksgiving Day-1967, and I'm sending you an email with an mp3 attachment of the original Charlie Tuna-93/KHJ jingle, since you lost your original tape. Enjoy!)
Charlie Tuna coming to Game Show Network Received: 04/03/2009 @ 2:17pm PST
From: David Schwartz
The 1985 edition of Charlie Tuna will be the announcer on the $25,000 Pyramid airing May 14-19th on GSN.
Celebrities on the show were Dick Cavett and Elaine Joyce
Theory Received: 04/02/2009 @ 2:06pm PST
From: Jack Berkus
Charlie:
Try listening to the Murmaids "Popsicles & Icicles" from 1963 and the I think you'll see where Ray Stevens got the idea for his 1969 "Gitarzan."
Jack
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: See if you figure out what Jack is talking about!
