Thursday, July 26, 2007

MY SEVEN "WIRELESS WONDERS"

Two weeks ago, The New Seven Wonders Of The World were named. This got me thinking about just who or what would be The Seven Wonders in the Radio World. Below are some of my lists of seven as they would apply to the broadcast industry. They are just some that come to mind, and are in no particular order: First, seven wonders that have had great impact:

1. The Gramophone ( and all phonograph records)
2. Guglielmo Marconi
3. Computers
4. Audio tape and compact discs
5. Heinrich Hertz (discoverer of Radio waves)
6. Lee DeForest
7. David Sarnoff

Now, seven "Wonders" of modern radio:

1. Martin Block
2. Alan Freed
3. Gordon McLendon
4. Todd Storz
5. (Tie) Bill Drake, Geo. Wilson, & Chuck Blore
6. Arthur Godfrey
7. Howard Stern

Here’s my seven "Wonders" of recorded music:

1. Louis Armstrong
2. Bing Crosby
3. Elvis Presley
4. Frank Sinatra
5. The Beatles
6. Ella Fitzgerald
7. Hank Williams

And just for fun, here are seven "Worst Wonders" of recorded music:

1. Tiny Tim
2. Mrs. Miller
3. "Weird" Al Yankovic
4. William Shatner
5. Yoko Ono
6. Sal Mineo
7. The Singing Dogs

There they are, just some of the "Wireless Wonders" wandering through my brain and onto this page. I’m sure you have your own list in the above categories, many you may think are better. Perhaps you think I’ve left out more deserving entries. If so, I’d really like to see your "Seven Wonders". After all, it’s Baseball’s Hall Of Fame Induction weekend...what an appropriate time to get your nominations in. That’s this week’s RadiOpinion, let’s see yours.
 www.gary.allyn@gmail.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Gary, your "7 Wireless Wonders" lists are well positioned BUT (as you might expect !) I have some "additional" nominations.

Under "Greatest Impact" I would add cart machines/carts and multi track recording.

With the "7 Wonders Of Modern Radio" I'd include Ron Jacobs alongside the already noted Bill Drake. In lieu of Howard Stern I'd nominate Robert W. Morgan, as a multi faceted STAR radio performer, who could be edgy without having to go over the edge !

With "Recorded Music" I'd have Roy Orbison level pegging with The Beatles.

And with the "7 Worst Wonders Of Recorded Music", the alltime No.1 with a bullet would have to go to the 1979 effort by Adrian Munsey & Orchestra performing (?) "The Lost Sheep". It makes your nominations in this BAD category fairly GOOD. If you're not familiar with it, simply GOOGLE "The Lost Sheep On Spicks And Specks" and view the event. It is unique and definitely left of centre.

Regards,
IAN in Oz.