John Morthlands The Rise of The Top Forty is a fascinating chronicle of the birth of Rock and Roll Radio and the advent of its master of ceremonies: the DJ. I had always assumed that the birth of Television was the death knell for radio, but it only signified the beginning of the end of radio serials, dramatic soaps, and action shows which shifted to television. The empty space was then filled by Disc Jockeys, who became the outlet for those interested in the "Music" above all else. The idea of independent radio stations using disc jockeys to "explore what music their local audiences liked" and letting them freely expose their listeners to it, makes radio that much more personal. And that's the idea that resonates with myself, the personal aspect of radio, listening to it in the confines of your private room, not in the communal living room where the TV resides, and your parents but in your own space. Its no wonder to me that the personal aspect of radio thus created a personality suitable to expose it. I understand now especially after seeing the documentary on Allen Freed, why he became so popular. I liken it to having a friend whose speaking directly to you and who secretly knows what you are felling and wanting, regardless of the color of the skin of the person whose singing the songs you want to hear. How progressive were the teenagers in the fifties who accepted the racial equality of music unlike many of their parents or gatekeepers of their time. For the advent of Rock and Roll radio to have not just one but many different disc jockeys speaking directly to you and exposing you to new and wonderful sounds must have been a magical experience.
I loved reading about Wolfman Jack, who my parents grew up listening to on the radio. I was only exposed to him through the film American Graffiti and the soundtrack which kept his interludes on it which was great. Reading about Wolfman Jack and how he "worked for a pirate radio station across the Mexican border from Del Rio Texas" created the perfect image for me of him howling through the midnight hour blasting music through the suburban void of America, on the fringes of society unafraid to express himself. That's what is so disheartening for me is then learning about the corporatization of radio. The introduction of chain radio stations operating from a specific business model, where music is now ordered, and packaged. How sad that the dick jokey essentially had his power stripped away. Eye opening for me is how "heavily researched popularity charts" now determined what songs where to be played and how often. So my question is, whoever is researching the popularity charts to determine and decide what gets played? And how is that notion any less transparent and honest than payola? Is it more ethical for large music companies to determine the market than mere individuals? And on top of that how sad that the disc jokey was then relegated to endeavor embarrassing theatrics of show, like broadcasting atop a flag pole, or going down a river, when their profession centered around them not being seen.
For me growing up I loved listening to the radio, stations like KOOL 105 back when they played actual Rock and Roll from the 50 and 60's, and every Sunday night they would play Doo-Wop which was nostalgic fun. And they still had DJ's on the air who I felt remembered a time before they just introduced the play list, and maybe it wasn't like it used to be for them but it was still nice hearing a live human voice on the radio.
