When I met Rick Derringer for the first time, it was when we crossed paths back in the summer of 1965 via a terrestrial connection "Hang On Sloopy," when his song went straight to the top of the U.S. charts and my mother was blasting it on the AM radio in that 1963 Chevy Impala. I'm certain there must have been another Mason, whose mom or dad was infecting them with that same great tune when it was hovering at the top five position on the UK charts in that same summer. (I've come to believe that we're all connected anyway).
Rick Derringer began influencing and shaping a little more than his share of the world before I really knew that I loved GREAT southern barbecue, but with all things; I was influenced by my mother who was tuned into Rick's VIBES traversing the planet and the Universe, and a little more than 44 years later, I get a phone call from Rick saying, "Hey Mason, do you like GOOD barbecue?"
Rick Derringer had been tuning into Internet radio stations and suddenly found himself on JST KLSX - http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/ / America's Coast to Coast as he worked on his current album "Knighted by the Blues" in Clearwater / St. Petersburg, Florida - (Yeah we still call them Albums) before it was officially released on May 5th.
So in early April 2009 Rick found us, liked what he heard and sent me the song 'Sometimes' where I immediately began playing it on JST KLSX mixing it with the Classic 'Hang on Sloopy' and 'Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo' and it really was a 'Coo' for http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/.
Not only did I find the song exciting, I played it several times on the show for 'Our' listeners and when Rick's fan base began jumping on board requesting to hear again, not realizing that: this is exactly what is missing from the terrestrial world of Radio ... I gladly obliged their wants. It's called the FREEDOM of programming to a 'Wanting Audience' and it's what caught Rick's attention.
When Rick made the comment over dinner, I love to "Break for a little Brisket at Brady's" I laughed and said, "That's a great line that I can use in an article, when I write about this experience." Especially when the conversation turned to the New WAVE of the Future and I became a bit more impassioned with my statement, "Rick, I've been calling JST KLSX appointment Radio, because people are making it 'a point to be here' for the music and entertainment that they are not getting on terrestrial radio stations here in the present world."
Rick nodded with approval as I found myself beginning to 'Go Off' "and they can hear MORE than the 'Same Eight Great Oldies' as much as the GREAT new stuff that artist like yourself are producing, who are finding it hard to get some airplay in that WORLD where Radio Stations will not play those tunes together: and it's a shame."
It was when we began talking on the phone before the release of 'Knighted by the Blues' when I began working on the 'Rick Derringer Music Special' that Rick gave me the ultimate compliment “I saw the Elvis Presley movie Jailhouse Rock the other night, and it reminded me of your show. And in the movie, the Disc Jockey gets more requests for the tune, after inadvertently talking over the song and listeners wanted to hear it even more ... and it reminded me exactly of when I first heard your show Mason, it was exactly the same thing ... people could call in and tell you exactly how excited they were about the song and your interaction with them, whether it was by an e-mail or the phone and it was like it was in the Old Days, so you're right ...we're part of a new generation of radio and the involvement between the listener, the DJ, the Station and the artists ... all of us."
We 'Aired' the first HOUR of the 'RICK DERRINGER MUSIC SPECIAL' on the 5th of May when the Album first debuted, and now you can hear the whole four hour MUSIC extravaganza that includes music from artist like Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Steely Dan, Weird Al', Elvis Presley, Steve Miller and Jenda Derringer who is also an artist in her own right and a lyricist responsible for some of the great music produced by a very down to Earth Christian (and NOT afraid to admit it) Iconic Superstar Rick Derringer on 'Knighted by the Blues.'
Rick nodded with approval as I found myself beginning to 'Go Off' "and they can hear MORE than the 'Same Eight Great Oldies' as much as the GREAT new stuff that artist like yourself are producing, who are finding it hard to get some airplay in that WORLD where Radio Stations will not play those tunes together: and it's a shame."
It was when we began talking on the phone before the release of 'Knighted by the Blues' when I began working on the 'Rick Derringer Music Special' that Rick gave me the ultimate compliment “I saw the Elvis Presley movie Jailhouse Rock the other night, and it reminded me of your show. And in the movie, the Disc Jockey gets more requests for the tune, after inadvertently talking over the song and listeners wanted to hear it even more ... and it reminded me exactly of when I first heard your show Mason, it was exactly the same thing ... people could call in and tell you exactly how excited they were about the song and your interaction with them, whether it was by an e-mail or the phone and it was like it was in the Old Days, so you're right ...we're part of a new generation of radio and the involvement between the listener, the DJ, the Station and the artists ... all of us."
We 'Aired' the first HOUR of the 'RICK DERRINGER MUSIC SPECIAL' on the 5th of May when the Album first debuted, and now you can hear the whole four hour MUSIC extravaganza that includes music from artist like Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Steely Dan, Weird Al', Elvis Presley, Steve Miller and Jenda Derringer who is also an artist in her own right and a lyricist responsible for some of the great music produced by a very down to Earth Christian (and NOT afraid to admit it) Iconic Superstar Rick Derringer on 'Knighted by the Blues.' The SPECIAL will run on JST KLSX - America's Coast to Coast - http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/ on June 20th and June 21st. I have decided that because of the length of the SPECIAL, as we do on a program like this - we are going to run it back to back, so that listeners will have a chance to hear it at their leisure. Tune in beginning at 12 noon (MTN) till 4PM, 4PM till 8PM & again from 8PM till 12 MIDNIGHT.
I do HOPE you will enjoy the Diversity of a creative artist like Rick Derringer who has INFLUENCED a great MANY lives, from Rock and Rollers to Rollers of ALL kind.
Remember, we're all connected and will affect each other in some manner or another ... Rick Derringer is JST another KLSX example. Thank you Rick for giving me such a great compliment as being able to share a little bit of your LIFE and a GREAT NEW ALBUM (Yeah We Still Call Them ALBUMS), 'Knighted by the Blues' IT IS THAT GOOD!
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