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When I was starting in radio well over thirty years ago, I was often the only female on-air personality at a station and often the first female air personality they ever hired.
They didn't know what to do with me. They couldn't really offer me any guidance and I so wanted to grow and learn as an air personality. I started reading the trades for some helpful guidance and started getting free samples of several different publications.
One of those publications was called Fruitbowl and I really enjoyed not just the comedy liners, which were incredible easy to use on the air in my own style. Plus the publication included articles about radio, and I learned so much from the first issue I received. And I got a month free and it came out every week! I was immediately hooked and sent in very precious limited dollars for a year’s subscription.
Less than a week later someone by the name of Jay Trachman was on the phone to me. He called to tell me I was his first female subscriber and he was pleased to know that I felt his publication was a good fit for me.
We talked for a long time and by the end of the conversation, he had asked me to write an article about being a woman in radio. I didn't know much about radio but I knew about being a woman in radio. So I wrote an article, MAILED it to him and told him to feel free to edit me and make me sound brilliant! He laughed and said he would do so…
I was so proud when that publication arrived and here was an article I had written! Jay did indeed make me sound brilliant! I was thrilled. He called me again: “Got another idea for an article? Would love to have another one.” Okay, I readily agreed. I loved being able to write about my new experiences in my new career! Eventually, Jay asked if I would write articles for him twice a month. I would have a column -- a column! We would call it "Female Perspective." A woman's view of a mostly male dominated business!
There were a lot of challenges for women in the early days of my career. Jay became a mentor to me in so many ways. Eventually I became a rater for his liners -- he would call me every week, read through the liners, I would rate them on usability. The best part of all that was that we got to talk to each other every week! He was a wealth of knowledge having worked in the radio business for many years. He was so successful at being funny that he had opened his own business utilizing his humor.
We would meet up at Gavin Conventions, Radio and Records and NABs. I got to meet Jaye Albright through Jay Trachman (what a pleasure.). I remember being so proud to be hanging with Jay Trachman at these events. I automatically counted to people in the radio business because Jay Trachman knew me and spoke highly of me!
A few times Jay put together some small seminars in markets and I would attend those. He knew about personality radio, he taught me how to be me. I subscribed to his air-checking services and for quite a awhile would spend every Saturday morning on the phone being critiqued.
He taught me lessons in radio that I teach beginning broadcasters to this day -- shed the inhibitions, bring the personality out, the listeners will love it. He taught me how to say things that mattered!
I grew and grew as an air personality. When a job offer would come along for me, my first call was to Jay. He would offer guidance and suggestions. He’d give me questions to ask of that company, do some research, get me in contact with someone who knew more than he did about that particular company (years before there was an INTERNET.).
I was with him through a marriage, a child being born, a divorce, a re-marriage. We even got together one time in Florida when we were both visiting the mothers!
I remember a lengthy discussion one time over a liner that had to do about a kid. I didn't get it. He told me I would someday when I had children. He would always use the word "delightful" when talking about his son. Really? Kids were mostly a pain to me at that time. Until I had my own. and delightful is a word I use often when talking about my kids. He shared my job with each baby and allowed me to write about them often.
For those of you who have read my articles through the years, thank you. It has meant so much to me that was I was able to write from a perspective that touched you a time or two through the years. People I meet at conventions know my name because of writing for One to One. Thank you. It's been such a honor.
I leave you with these words -- don't lose your enthusiasm for radio! It's a wonderful business! Love it!
I have a very good friend in life and his name is Jay Trachman. This is my chance to say to him publicly, (because I've told him many times privately, ) there is so much of what I am today because of the time he spent with me, giving me words of encouragement, helping me through tough times, to be a safety net in this business, and knowing he was my cheerleader, always there for me.
There is a song the Back Street Boys did about their mom being their biggest fan. How she was always there in the stands during all the games. That's my Jay. He has been such a fan of me, for me. He was always there in the stands of my life. And I hope he knows that I am his biggest fan.
Jay, I have gone through many stages in life with you. And as you make a change to another stage, you are not rid of me. I will always be there for you, Jay. And I know you will be there for me. I am so proud to call you my dear close friend. Thank you for the thirty-plus wonderful years of inspiration, of laughs, of entertainment.
PS. Any need a good writer? I still have things I need to share.
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