"When I was young I'd listen to the radio, waiting for my favorite song ...."
Can anyone else relate?
There exists a snapshot in my head --
Sitting cross-legged in front of my folk's console radio. Finger poised above my brand-new cassette recorder, anxiously waiting to hear the Cascades' opening sound effects: "Listen to the Music of the Falling Rain."
I recently learned of the demise of that little station with a bit of surprise (that) it had even existed so long.
Sad? Not so much.
No, my heart belonged to another.
KOMA
... an Oklahoma City super-station with a strong signal that played all the latest hits. The soundtrack to my teen years.
After dark, that is. I don't believe they were allowed to broadcast that strong during the day. Quoting from their website: Often teens in New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and other western states would eagerly await sunset when the mighty 1520 would come booming through with the newest hits of the day. They would sit in their cars on hilltops, turn it up at parties, or fall asleep with the radio next to their beds as they listened to Chuck Berry, the Supremes, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and the Beatles. Soldiers in Viet Nam even reported tuning in KOMA to give them a little feeling of being back home.
I can visualize g'daughters' incredulous faces, hear their giggles.
Oh well. The power was real.
* * *
It doesn't seem that long ago, I was similarly infatuated by a station in Phoenix that played an eclectic mix. Everything from Nat King Cole ..... to Jagger ... Pat Boone ... to Soul City Symphony ("Do the Hustle!")
Then without warning, Corporate suits pulled the plug on that little station. Myself and most of Sun City residents (*smile*) were heartbroken.
Imagine my surprise when their former morning host -- a Facebook acquaintance -- announced he has a new gig.
I sent "Congratulations! Wish I could listen, but ..."
Danny responded, "Just ask Alexa: Play the WOW Factor 95.1 in Phoenix, AZ."
I did, and before you know it, I was doing a poorly-choreographed routine to the Stones, "Get off-a my cloud!"
(It wasn't pretty. But ask me if I care. LOL)
Who plays the music of your life?
Hugs, Myra
