MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY,

 JANUARY 8th 2:00 PM

HOMEWOOD LIBRARY

Next Meeting - February 12th - 2nd Sunday 

SPECIAL GUESTS THIS MONTH

Be sure to be in attendance at the January meeting as we have as our special guests, members of the 1960's local band, The Ramblers.  The band was formed in 1961 and was well-known around the Birmingham area playing for high school functions and for fraternities and sororities.  They recorded their first record at Boutwell Studios in 1962.  They soon began playing in cities all across Alabama, mostly doing college parties.  In 1967 they recorded another record at Boutwell.  They also worked as session musicians for Ed Boutwell at the studio.  Like so many other local bands The Ramblers worked with Duke Rumore of WYDE and Dave Roddy performing at their sock-hops.  They backed performers such as Bobby Goldsboro and Billy Joe Royal.

But unlike so many of the 60's bands The Ramblers kept performing at local functions through the 80's - 90's and are still entertaining at parties and dances today calling themselves The Rambler Reunion Band.

Be sure to drop by and give the guys a big BRC welcome.

BAER-LY SPEAKING

Howard Baer

I was very saddened to read in the November 2011 newsletter the editor's note that Ben McKinnon had passed away.  Ben visited us at a BRC meeting in March, 2004 (didn't think it had been that long ago) and I was so impressed that day that the following column was written for the next month's newsletter.  I have asked that the 2004 article be re-printed in this newsletter as a tribute to a very talented, sincere, and humble man.  

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Over the years we have had many interesting and important guests from the world of music/records/radio at BRC meetings.  We have had blues legend Jerry 'Boogie' McCain and songwriter extraordinaire Baker Knight among others.  But at our March meeting we had a guest who probably was as influential and important as anyone in this area in making us record collectors and in the music we buy and sell.  Ironically, it's a name few people would recognize at first glance.

Ben McKinnon came to Birmingham in Dec. 1955 to become general Manager of a 5,000 watt station at 610 on the dial, WSGN.  When WSGN finally signed off the air forever some 30 years later, it had become more than the top radio station in Birmingham for nearly all of those years - it had become an institution.  And the man responsible for this was Ben McKinnon, who was GM at WSGN for twenty-five years.

Mr. McKinnon brought a new idea to radio in this area.  He was going to combine the music of the day including rhythm & blues and yes, even the controversial new music called rock & roll, with news and talented personalities to bring it to you 24 hours a day.  The years 1955 to 1970 became the golden age for both this format and the type music that became dominant - rock and roll.  And nowhere was it more golden than at WSGN under the leadership of Mr. McKinnon.

This format became widely known as Top Forty, but Mr. McKinnon used a slightly different name for it - the more accurate Music and News Programming.  This subtle distinction is important because it shows just how smart Mr. McKinnon was in understanding the radio audience.  Need to know the weather??  You were never more than a few minutes away from it at WSGN - and it only took them 30 seconds, not five minutes.  Then it was time for another song.  Chances are you'd like it, but if you didn't you'd like the one right after it.  Want to know what's going on in the city, state, nation, and world??  You were never more than 20 minutes away from the news - delivered crisply in five minutes, not an hour.  Then time for more music - what's # 1 this week??

The personalities, jingles, contests, promotions (remember the antenna ball) etc. were a big part of it, too, and nowhere were they better than at WSGN especially in the years 1955-1970.  It was fast paced, lively entertainment, just a good companion for the day.  I've always thought WSGN's appeal to adults during that time was greatly under-rated.  It was the station of choice for the teenager, but also for most of the housewives and mechanics, too.

Mr. McKinnon was the man behind the scenes putting all this together.  For sheer enjoyment nothing in Birmingham radio will ever come close to the Music and News format of WSGN under Ben McKinnon.  It was great having him as our guest.  HB

UPCOMING RECORD SHOWS

Experience Hendrix Tribute Tour - Atlanta, GA.  Fox Theatre.  Saturday, March 10th.  8:00 PM (EST).  Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Billy Cox, Keb Mo, and many more performers will be on hand.  For more info go to foxtheatre.org

See ya,

Charlie