Dave Shakes remembers Bwana Johnny
Thanks to Bwana Johnny....
 

One of the greatest Top 40 Jocks ever passed away yesterday. It was my privilege to

learn from Bwana when I was the PD and he was the Morning Star at KSND-FM

Eugene in 86-87. A few of the things Bwana taught me:

Smile, laugh, giggle. It's 5:30am, 45 degrees and Pacific Northwest raw outside.

But we get to play radio. This isn't working for a living, really now.

A Pith Helmet and a Hawaiian shirt can make you look like a celebrity. Even if

they don't know who you are at first, the crowd will ask and they will pay attention.

A willingness to play the clown can really pay off for a radio dj.

Get in the parade. Any parade. Be there. You call this a job?

Don't play ballads in the morning unless the thing is the #1 song in the country this week.

What are you trying to do, put us back to sleep?

Crack the mic, forget your troubles, and have some fun.

And now a story that radio-guys will appreciate. It was Thanksgiving 1986 and

I the workaholic PD realized only the day before that I had made no plans and

had no prospects for a holiday dinner. On a hunch that he too might be looking

at dining alone, I sought out Bwana. "Are you having some turkey tomorrow?" I inquired.
"Sure, sure, c'mon over and join me".
"What can I bring?" I asked.
"Bring over some bird, we'll cook it up"
"Oh" I said not understanding, "I thought you said you had some turkey already"
Bwana almost exasperated with the rookie: "Shakes, I've got the Wild Turkey,

you bring some bird and we'll have a meal!"
 

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