Bobby Rich remembers Bwana Johnny
Actually Bwana's (then known as "Dick Johnson and Company") first gig
after Portland was in Corvallis, Oregon. That is where and when I met him.
He did 6 to midnight on KLOO and I did 7pm to 1am on KFLY. He would
come meet me during my last hour and we would drive to Albany's T&R
Truck Stop and talk for hours about radio stuff. I knew he was a much better
jock and belonged on the bigger station. He would tell me how KFLY management
had approached him but he turned them down. I kept encouraging him to follow
up until he finally said the words I still treasure:
"But Bobby, don't you realize? If they hire me they will fire you!"
So I said it was more important for him to be in the right place and I would be
fine
(yeah, I was 18 just like him!). He took the job ... but only after KFLY management
agreed with Dick's one demand: "Only if you keep my buddy
on staff."
Four months later we were both fired. That's show biz.
And that is just one of the many, many reasons
I always loved my little round buddy.
Rest in peace Dick/Rick/Bwana.
Bobby Rich
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