During the Golden Age of Top 40 a red transistor radio was my constant companion. John 'Records' Landecker and 'Super Jock' Larry Lujack amused and informed me between the hits on WCFL and/or WLS. Rock music exposed me the immoral nature of the Vietnam War and the unjust treatment of many of my fellow Americans.

 

My WLS Fantastic Plastic Card
WLS - The Rock of Chicago

 

News and alternative views heard on international short-wave stations influenced my worldview long before the internet. The '68 DNC police riot, Chicago Eight Trial, and Days of Rage bombings proved too much for my Mom. She moved us from Chicago to her hometown in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, away from everything that I knew and loved.

 

Your tax dollars at work!
Your tax dollars at work

 

But, after sunset, those 50,000-watt blowtorches back in Chicago would fire up, replacing the static on my transistor radio with Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Pink Floyd, along with ads for Mr. Norm's Grand-Spaulding Dodge and the US 30 Drag Strip. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Lonely, alone, and chilled to the bone, radio saved my life in those God-forsaken hinterlands.

My radio ad sales adventures began on a dare from the Promotion Director at a Milwaukee rock station, after sales training from Chris Lytle. Success at 93QFM led to an agency gig where I produced and sold comedy bits to stations nationwide, along with radio ads to local businesses. Mastering radio ad sales gave me the confidence to open my own shop on a dare from Broadway Bob; Great Lake Dragaway became my biggest client. Hired for radio sales at a rock station in Key West, I stumbled up to replace the General Manager six weeks later. As cohost of The Lethal Breakfast Morning Program, shenanigans included a week of broadcasts from the Comedy Central office in NYC. 

 

Rebranding went so well, they sold the station!
Dreams do come true

With over 100,000 hours in sales and counting, my adventures in radio remain the most memorable. You can take the boy outta radio but you can't take radio outta the boy. Let’s talk radio. Broadcasters and/or businesses planning shenanigans in radio advertising, promotion, streaming, and/or sales training are encouraged to call. The request lines are open

--
Roger Leeper, Chief Conversation Officer
WROG.info - 954-864-6736

 

 

 

Celebrate the Lombardi Era!

 

Stream music from the Lombardi Era to Today

 

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