Posted by Heath Kaplan on October 30, 2005 at 22:34:49:
Hi all.
I have posted on this board and the NYRMB very infrequently but, at this time, I feel it necessary to say a few words as the board prepares to close.
First, I think over the past five months I have slowly come to accept what has happened with the loss of our beloved CBS-FM. I was a boy all of 13 when I first heard Cousin Brucie around holiday time in 1989 and a true friendship developed between CBS-FM and myself. Gradually, over the next year, I began to appreciate and embrace the music of the 50's, 60's and 70's. I then began listening to CBS-FM as much as possible, Harry in the morning, Ron on a day off from school, Bobby and Don K. in the evenings and Bob in the car when I started to drive, and Big Dan on the weekends. CBS-FM saw me through many highs and lows in my life, because they were always there and always comforting when I needed them. I also want to share something I wrote on the CBS-FM AOL Board, (which is still up and running by the way) on June 4, 2005- I think this summed up a lot of feelings that I had and maybe it will help someone else:
On this terribly sad day in NY Radio History, I just want to put 2 more cents in on the subject, but in a different way. As opposed to complaining and whining and lamenting, I want to say thank you.
To Harry Harrison who woke me up for 15 years. To Ron Lundy who made staying home from school even better. To Dan Daniel and Randy Davis who helped put my mind in rewind. To Bill Brown for the Brown Bags and for reminding me to take a break, it's lunch. To Bob Shannon who made the drive home the best part of the day. To Cousin Brucie who took me back to a simpler time on Monday (remember Crusin' America) Wednesday and Saturday nights. To Bobby Jay for his dulcet tones to drift me off to sleep. To Don K. Reed and Max Kinkel for making those sleepless nights great. To Norm N. Nite who kept the heart of oldies radio beating while it was on life support. To Holly Levis, Steve O'Brien and Dan Taylor for their seamless transitions on an off day. TO Mike Fitzgerald, Mickey Dolenz, Mr G, and Brucer the Producer who got the past several mornings off to a smooth start. To Phil Pepe for that much needed Pep Talk. To Dan Ingram who made weekend fun. To Mike McCann for all the accounting work. To all the people behind the scenes who are not in the spotlight and just as important. To Bob VanDerheyden and Joe McCoy for some of the BEST decisions made during CBS-FM's tenure as an oldies radio station and for making it the mark to which all oldies radio stations ever hoped to become. Thank you and in the immortal words of Harry Harrison, "I wish you the BEST, because that is exaxtly what YOU deserve."
In closing, as previously mentioned, I think I have slowly come to accept what has happened to our beloved CBS-FM. The WAY in which it was accomplished left much to be desired. If anybody wishes to comment, please feel free to do so, either as a reply to this message or email me at Hkaplan313@optonline.net after the board closes.
Heath