Posted by Ronnie Allen on August 07, 2008 at 00:37:51:
Before I get to the basic thrust of this post, I would like to express my appreciation to Mike Riccio, who a few days ago sent me a very nice private message. It made me feel really good, so my first thank you goes to Mike!
Today, Thursday August 7, marks the first anniversary of my initial show at that certain radio station in Washington Township, NJ.
Although I severed ties with them not too long ago, it was not before I had recorded interviews with 61 different recording acts.
56 of those interviews are on the "Jersey Girls Sing!" website and four more will be posted over the next few weeks.
That adds up to 60. The remaining interview was one that was previously posted but has been deleted with the mutual consent of myself and the recording artist.
The shows were loads of fun but also loads of work. Each one involved research, recording and extensive editing.
Though I am pleased at what I accomplished, I am also very much enjoying my hiatus from the pressure that was involved. I've also saved a bit of money by not having to go to the station every week.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have publicly and privately commented on my efforts. I've appreciated so much your honest feedback including kudos, criticism and suggestions.
I have learned so much over the past year and a great deal of that has been as a result of communicating directly with many of you.
Although as the host of these shows my name is understandably prominent on my Radio Page and to some extent within the shows, I have never ever considered these shows as being "about me." My goal was always to try to find something special about each recording act and then create a showcase for THEM and their fans. I tried my best to make each show different from all the previous ones and to choose songs that were appropriate and would be appreciated by as many people as possible. Those lofty goals were not always easy and I surely did not please everyone all of the time, but I can tell you that I always tried my best.
Yes I do have my favorite and least favorite shows -- and that's to be expected of course -- but I have sworn myself to secrecy, out of respect to the acts involved!
I wish to extend my public thanks to all of the recording acts who gave of their time to do these shows with me. A few of those acts hardly ever do interviews these days so a little coaxing on my part was in order!
There are also several people in the business who also deserve thank you's for placing me in touch with various recording acts. I would love to mention everyone BY NAME but that would not be fair since I would, I am sure, inadvertently slight somebody. So I will simply say thank you to anyone who is in the above category.
As to whether I have retired from ever doing these shows again, I will respond by asking this question:
Has Brett Favre retired?
Okay, I'm not quite in the same league as he is, but at least I am not under any immediate pressure either!
I hope that you are all enjoying the summer.