This cassette has been packed away for year, but I pulled it out, because it contains my debut as a radio DJ, 20 years ago today.
I've written plenty about how I ended up with a job in radio, and told a few stories about being a DJ on a Pop Station.
This first gig, at WABN in Abingdon, Virginia, was as the host of a nightly, call in Request Radio show. And I've written about at before, here and here.
And I've even written about my very first time on the air.
But here it is. Warts and all. On a cassette. (And in a stream, below)
All things considered, it's not too bad. The mishap that happened off air is not heard on this tape. And I very consciously was careful to say as little as possible on my first day, exercising great caution so as not of make a fool of myself.
I recall that after this first shift, Rita, one of the station owners taught me a very important lesson.
She drew on a piece of paper. "What's this letter?"
"Dubya?"
"You pronounce it 'Double U.' Not 'Dubya' or "Double-ya.' The letter is two U's."
So on this tape, you can hear the one and only day that I went on the air and pronounced the "W" in "WABN" as "Dubya." I have strictly adhered to Rita's correction for following 19 years and 364 days.
To this day, if I hear another DJ on the radio say "Dubya-MVY" it makes me crazy.
I'm grateful to her, and her husband Craig, for the early guidance and shepherding. I honestly had no idea that a little detour into a part-time radio gig would result in a 20-years-and-going career.
And certainly nothing on this tape would suggest a bright future.
So, if you can bear it, it's all here. My first hour on the radio ever. It's an hour of requests and dedications on a Pop radio station, with Dionne Warwick and Ace Of Base (and surprisingly, some Grateful Dead!), and yes, the hit of 1994-ish, Beavis & Butthead with Cher.
Enjoy.
Click here to open a stream of my radio station debut, 20 years ago.
Hear the song on Youtube.
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