Location : Cleveland, OH
December 2006 is leaving quite a mark.
James Brown, Gerald Ford, and now, Len "Boom Boom" Goldberg.
If you lived in Cleveland, especially during the 70's and 80's, one of the most recognizable voices on the air, and an icon of the rock station WMMS, Len "Boom Boom" Goldberg has passed away at the age of 74.
During its heyday, WMMS was number one in Cleveland and a much copied station across the country. One of the pioneers at that station, Len was easily one of the more unique voices (the other being Kid Leo). Growing up in Cleveland, this was THE station. Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Roxy Music, New York Dolls, and The Tubes, all were heavily promoted by the station, before any airplay on other US airwaves. They would get an album, days or weeks before release, and play the whole thing, uninterrupted (before the "cease and desist" orders made it to the station). This was all before radio became big business, controlled by a few. It was a great time to live in Cleveland, to have access to this radio station.
It has been years since I last listened to the station. Now, I only listen to satellite radio, which is much closer to how radio used to be (but with no commercial interruptions). The death of "Boom Boom" has made me stop and remember a time when traditional radio mattered. Remember high school and college (walking across the campus with a WMMS shirt would be enough of a conversation starter). Remember specific bands, songs of the 70's and early 80's (Kansas, Boston, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, etc.). Bands that defined Cleveland, like Artful Dodger, Wild Horses, Michael Stanley, Alex Bevan, American Noise. Coffee Break Concerts. Rolling Stone Magazine Reader's Survey Number One Station in the Nation (before it was discovered that WMMS was stuffing the ballot box). WMMS rocked! There was nothing else like it. And Len was a cornerstone of that station and one of the main reasons to listen.
Len, God Bless You and Rock On!
Link: Len Goldberg: Plain Dealer Obituary
Technorati tag: WMMS Len Goldberg
If you lived in Cleveland, especially during the 70's and 80's, one of the most recognizable voices on the air, and an icon of the rock station WMMS, Len "Boom Boom" Goldberg has passed away at the age of 74.
During its heyday, WMMS was number one in Cleveland and a much copied station across the country. One of the pioneers at that station, Len was easily one of the more unique voices (the other being Kid Leo). Growing up in Cleveland, this was THE station. Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Roxy Music, New York Dolls, and The Tubes, all were heavily promoted by the station, before any airplay on other US airwaves. They would get an album, days or weeks before release, and play the whole thing, uninterrupted (before the "cease and desist" orders made it to the station). This was all before radio became big business, controlled by a few. It was a great time to live in Cleveland, to have access to this radio station.
It has been years since I last listened to the station. Now, I only listen to satellite radio, which is much closer to how radio used to be (but with no commercial interruptions). The death of "Boom Boom" has made me stop and remember a time when traditional radio mattered. Remember high school and college (walking across the campus with a WMMS shirt would be enough of a conversation starter). Remember specific bands, songs of the 70's and early 80's (Kansas, Boston, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, etc.). Bands that defined Cleveland, like Artful Dodger, Wild Horses, Michael Stanley, Alex Bevan, American Noise. Coffee Break Concerts. Rolling Stone Magazine Reader's Survey Number One Station in the Nation (before it was discovered that WMMS was stuffing the ballot box). WMMS rocked! There was nothing else like it. And Len was a cornerstone of that station and one of the main reasons to listen.
Len, God Bless You and Rock On!
Link: Len Goldberg: Plain Dealer Obituary
Technorati tag: WMMS Len Goldberg
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