Stan Foreman remembers Bwana Johnny

I first met Bwana in the summer of 1976.  I was the Capitol Records promo guy for the Northwest

and Bwana was the MD at KISN Portland during the final months of the station being on the air. 

Sam Lee was the PD as I recall but Bwana was the guy who was adding the records every week. 

All the promo people were having a tough time making contact with Bwana as Bwana didn't want

to be bothered with all the calls and visits especially since KISN was a lame duck as the FCC had

pulled their license along with the rest of the Don Burden stations and the station would only be on

the air another 60 days.  But the station still reported to Billboard and R&R so they were important

to the labels.  Finally I showed up at the station one day with a dozen roses for the receptionist and

asked how the hell I could find the mysterious Bwana Johnny.  She whispered that Bwana was across

the street in the bar at the Fish Grotto everyday from 1pm to 3pm watching all his favorite game shows

 such as Wheel Of Fortune, etc.  He then would walk across the street to the station to do his 3pm to 7pm

airshift.  I walked into the Fish Grotto bar and introduced myself.  About 17 gin and tonics later Bwana

and I both wobbled across the street to the station and he started his show that day with a couple of new

Capitol releases.  It was the beginning of a lasting friendship. Even after I retired from Capitol and the

music business in 1998 I continued to see Bwana at least once a year for lunch. 

He was such a fun guy to be around. 

I miss him dearly.

Stan Foreman

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