8 Ball Corner Pocket. Episode 4

Friends,

Welcome Back to 8 Ball Corner Pocket with Dr. Rodeo!

Remember, if you’re feeling blue, you just need a good distraction. Reading this might help. It’s a good start. When you’re finished with that, I recommend spinning anything Don Williams ever recorded. He always seems to help put me in a better frame... 

The Great Gonzo Time Machine -

Did you know there was another Jelly Roll in the 1930’s already laying it down? Jelly Roll Morton. Good Louisiana Creole boy.

Here’s another cool little factoid from music memories.

When billboard launched the initial country music chart, they were calling it something like “most played jukebox, folk records chart.” They did not start calling it country and western until around 1949. Al Dexter, with “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” claimed the first “country” number one ever. Now he was a Texas boy from Troop. That was only a few miles from where my dad was born. So I heard many times growing up that Al Dexter was the first person to professionally record a mention of the phrase honky-tonk in a song when he recorded a version of “Honky Tonk Blues” in 1936. Another cool thing that I found somewhere along the great Gonzo rabbit hole, was that the second billboard country music number one of all time was Bob Wills’ “Smoke on the Water” in 1945. That one interested me on a couple of fronts. Mostly because of the name “Smoke on the Water.” I only ever knew that as a great rock anthem. The devil’s riff.

Influencers and the Spirit of DJ’s of Old – Sometimes I think back on and mis hearing Wolfman Jack's voice on the radio and television. His booming voice was the king of raspy or gravelly. I remember hearing it a lot when I was a kid, and even watching him on the big screen, in the George Lucas classic (no, not Star Wars - He was NOT Chewbacca! That was Peter Mayhew, of course), ... we are talking about the perfect time capsule of a movie, "American Graffiti."

Incidentally, future Han Solo AND Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford did star in it. Along with Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfus, Suzanne Somers, a very young McKenzie Phillips, and several other Hollywood A-listers. But you have to think back to my childhood frame for this. I score it a little like this…

The movie had lots of cool old cars. (A+)

They were drag racing in the streets. (A+)

Han Solo and Indiana Jones were in the movie – (sort of) - you get my drift. (A+) 

Then there was the Wolfman Jack.

He came howling from across the Rio Grande, with 250,000 Watts of outlaw radio waves that could be heard across multiple continents.

What always came through the most was his love, knowledge and passion for music.I have known other DJ's, and later the MTV era VJ's, who could ignite similar levels of excitement... and then hold onto it... keep us eagerly tuning in.Kidd Kraddick, was mesmerizing on KEGL in Dallas/Ft. Worth.WBAP brought us the Midnight Cowboy, Bill Mack, who many music lovers will know as the songwriter who penned classics like "Blue," and "Drinking Champaign." Lee Ann Rhymes, and George Strait, respectively, released memorable covers of these tunes. Then there was another idea I can get behind. He also spearheaded the Bill Mack Million Mile Club for over the road truckers with one million miles of accident-free driving. I say the man was a visionary, and I salute him. 

But then. Well…

What happened? 

Who is the modern day equivalent of a Wolfman Jack, a Kidd Kraddick, or Midnight Cowboy? Personally, I thought it was dead or dying until Bobby Bones came along.I think that guy has something. Looks like real staying power to me. Maybe a genuine passing of the torch?

What about you?

Who were the big, memorable and noteworthy DJ's living out loud on your radio growing up? Or maybe it is other, modern “influencers” turning you onto whatever you like to stream or spin? Enjoy discussing this around the work break rooms. I would love to hear all about it.

Mailbag and Rodeo Pearls– A special thank you to the commentors on the blog. Thank you for educating me about the more than 50 years of World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Offs in Brady, TX. You guys really know how to party! As for how I came by the name “Dr. Rodeo,” I attended Gary Leffew’s professional bull riding school out in California several years ago, and rode a few of “Stinkweed’s” bulls along the way. Gary is a great teacher, and natural motivational speaker. Bull riding legends Don Gay, Larry Mahan, Tuff Hedeman, Ty Murray, Jim “Razor” Sharp, Charles Sampson and Harry Tompkins all shared their bull riding philosophies and tips with me before I ever straddled my first bull. With the help of rodeo clown Cody Sosebee, Tuff once even helped sneak me and my travel trailer into the bull rider’s contestant lot at Cheyenne Frontier Days, when I hit town and could not find a place for me and my family to stay. A little-known fact about Tuff, he once told me that before he had his last big growth spurt, his dream was actually to become a professional jockey, and not a bull rider. True story. The nickname Dr. Rodeo was hung on me back around 2009 by country music columnist Ramblin’ Don Rhodes of the Augusta Chronicle. His column ran for over 60 years until he passed away in 2023. He interviewed everyone from the Beatles and Johnny Cash, to Soul Brother #1 James Brown and Elvis. I met him while conducting research on the rodeo, and he was amused to know a crazy college professor was riding bulls. He was a truly interesting character. I appreciate the questions and comments. 

Hot Tip – Hey Harvard, let Taylor Swift show you how it’s done! Some of you may have noticed that Harvard’s reputation has taken a few hard hits in the past couple of years. Apparently, it’s an image problem that needed a boost from T-Swizzle. First, I heard their English department added a Taylor Swift class to the course catalog a couple of years ago (“Taylor Swift and Her World”). Then I came across a new book published by the Harvard Business Review on “The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift.” RD and Taylor go way back. He shared a few key takeaways about Taylor and her successful approach to business and life: 1) Start Young; 2) Be Sweet and Sincere; 3) Deliver a Good Product; 4) Cultivate the Talent You Already Have; 4) Work Hard; 5) Know Your Demographic; 6) Don’t Talk Down to People; 7) Expect to Get Back What You Put in. I hope you’re taking notes, Harvard. Maybe T-Swizzle should be your image consultant – or even the next University President?  

8 Ball Corner Pocket! 

Please join us next time for more…

      8 Ball Corner Pocket!

               With Dr. Rodeo

I promise you’ll get your money’s worth