I have LOVED MUSIC since I had my first phonograph that played Disney music! My Mom even took me with her other lady friends to the Jacksonville Florida Symphony by the time I was probably ten. Then as a teenager I got one of those cool GE swing out stereo speakers phonographs. I had a wide collection of both 45s and LPs with Elvis, Leonard Bernstein, Julie London, Dave Brubeck, The Kingston Trio, etc.

At sixteen I had a dream job working at Hoyt’s High Fidelity selling records. I also learned about high end stereo equipment and reel to reel tape recorders.

My DJ career came in the mid 1960s in Gainesville, Florida at WUWU radio. Granted it was short as another Gainesville station WGGG wanted my voice for news. However there I got the opportunity to attend a Jimi Hendrix concert in Tampa BACKSTAGE and meet this very nice young man. Next it was James Brown, whom I was sent to pickup at the airport; however he wanted to drive my new Pontiac newscar! Of course I let him!

Then my broadcasting career took me back home to Jacksonville, where I first interned at Post Newsweek TV Group WJXT and later became an investigative reporter. They also allowed me to be their first Entertainment reporter. I had a blast doing a series on the legendary Beach Boys, met Diana Ross, Van Cliburn, Peter Duchin, etc.

During my public relations consulting business career I spent time with Maurice Williams, Isak Pearlman, Mother’s Finest, Peebo Bryson, The Tams, The Drifters, Glenn Campbell, etc.

Of course I no longer have a phonograph but instead a premium membership to Pandora, where I have close to one thousand America’s Golden Music performers stored!