Rick Derringer "Knighted by the Blues!"

I realize that Rock and Roll has been changing as most of you have already heard me preaching on many occasions. So I will keep it short in JST KLSX form and say it like this; Thank you Rick Derringer for sending us the single on your new album "Knighted by the Blues!" that is set for release in late April.

As Rick Derringer already knows, and what listeners who are turning to the freedom of Internet Radio programmers are finding out ... is that; even the most talented artist with the most extraordinary abilities are finding it really hard to get some 'Air Play' on radio stations across the country.

With the comments I've received from playing the NEW Henry Gross material ... they are virtually the same type of comments I have been receiving from a throng of new listeners who are already familiar with Rick's new single 'Sometimes' and those comments are; 'This Music Sounds like the Rockin' tunes in the old days of radio!"

This is the truest of statements from the works of not only Henry Gross, but from Rick Derringer - and I already know: there are so many other Rock and Roller's who still have the WANT and DESIRE in CREATING some of the "Jamminest" TUNES that ... can make up for the incompetence of Radio Programmers and slothful Record Executives who are NOT giving IT their ALL, when it comes to resting on THEIR LAZY laurels and not pushing the 'GOOD STUFF!'

While talking with people in various trades and watching the world as it goes spinning by, it does have a simple solution: Get some real programmers willing to take a risk in playing some new material and blending it with the feel good stuff from the past. It can be done ... I know it, and I feel it. It's ONE of the very reasons that I keep preaching - and hoping that we can expand our audience, not only through the Internet, but back into 'Mainstream Radio and the Entertainment Industry.'

The WORLD is beginning to know we're here ... and now so do people like Rick Derringer, Henry Gross, Wayne Fontana, The Buckinghams, Bobby Hart, Barry Whitwam & Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), Clarence Collins (Little Anthony & the Imperials), Vance Brescia, Rich Spina and others who are just as important to today's music scene as they were yesterday.

I for one, am still very excited in being 'On the Radio,' and have the same DESIRE and PASSION in being able to "Gift" the music to a 'Wanting Audience' but know that we still have a long way to go. And I do feel like people like Henry Gross have given me a gift, as much as Rick Derringer allowing me to at least preview "Sometimes' for http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/ and it does make for 'The Old Days of Radio' coming around again.

For those of you, who are just now becoming familiar with us ... you may not realize we have been here for the last couple of years ... doing shows mainly on the weekends, Saturday Night at the Oldies and Juke Box Sunday Night, and feel as if we are making the strides that we've been planning on, and seeing them come to fruition, especially when we talk with very talented musicians like Rick Derringer.

If you've missed our other interviews ... they will be on JST KLSX again, when we get a bit more sophisticated in our Web Site, and people can download or listen to them at their convenience.

I am planning on the upcoming special with Wayne Fontana and Rick Derringer, not to mention (Too Late) Felix Cavaliere. I just pray for your patience while we move forward in a World intent on keeping you tuned into the same "EIGHT GREAT OLDIES!" We're fighting them for you ... so please keep us in mind ... while we keep working on getting it done.

WAYNE FONTANA - A MINDBENDER!

I wanted to take a few minutes to set the stage for another upcoming special on America's Coast to Coast / JST KLSX with Wayne Fontana who is currently on tour in the United Kingdom.

After more than a few corresponding e-mails from Wayne and a few of his fans, I know we're going to be in for a GREAT special just coming off of the Henry Gross Special whose NEW music is still permeating through our library, and will likely be for years to come.

But now that I have become a little more familiar with Wayne Fontana, I do also have a tremendous respect not only for the man, but his music as well, knowing that he as much as Henry Gross, or even Rick Derringer, (who we will also be speaking with) who is also another stylish Rock and Roller ... are all faced with the same problems plaguing radio and entertainment these days; which is a 'Real lack of honest AIR PLAY for the Real TALENTED Professionals' in a world dominated by 'Music and Movie Sculptor's' who want to promote 'Rhianna' through people like Chris Brown who has demonstrated that: "He can drive a Lamborghini with his left hand while punching with his Right."

Wayne Fontana has had his hand involved in music for decades, but I already know Wayne is going to want to speak his mind on Politics, as much as Henry did, and I do not mind a bit ... since there is a need to enlighten the audience of fans who are not as aware that: their music is being taken away from them.

One of the reasons we find ourselves here at http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/ is to do JST KLSX and to do just that. I am looking forward in speaking to Wayne Fontana and also Rick Derringer --- and I know that Stevie Cre is setting up The Velons for a Sunday Night Show. I hope to keep up with the growing interest in such wonderful music and talented people like these guys who are giving US their precious time.

ROCK, ROCK & ROLL with HENRY GROSS

Radio and entertainment has definitely changed through the years, but nothing has really changed about radio or entertainment; except the business about the business.

After falling ... seemingly into 'the business': I have to wonder, if it were not really a part of the WHOLE plan from the beginning.

It was October 9, 1974 when my first full day of radio began to unfold at the Okaloosa County Shrine Fair, and where I met my first star Dolly Parton and her sister Stella, knowing all too well --- they would never remember me from the hundreds of thousands, but ... it didn't matter - I was hooked. Most likely I was already 'Hooked on Radio' from the years of listening to the little transistor and hearing Tommy James' 'Crimson & Clover' or from the sound of Ray Charles' 'Crying Time' or Johnny Wright's 'Hello Vietnam' not to mention a few thousand other tunes! I can still feel the excitement of that night, and how great it made me feel, even though the small AM radio station WFSH I worked for: was so country and 'NOT COOL!'

It was obvious that as a teenager, I wanted to be a part of the 'In Crowd' but ... this was my beginning, and lessons to be learned about the 'Real Freedom of Radio' were still nine years away. Something called 'Payola' was just another lesson to be learned on my second night of being taught 'The Ropes' by 'Earl the Pearl Simpson Junior' (Receiving free sandwiches from Mama Rosa's is another story) ... outside of playing the songs people wanted to hear, because 'they' were the ones 'TUNED IN!'

In not having a 'Real Mentor' I have sort of have been drifting along haphazardly like the feather in Forrest Gump, endlessly bumping into LIFE as I have been moving through it ... but, in those days of radio even in 1974 there was still something called 'Playing the Songs' people wanted to hear, albeit it country.

Having the chance to be connected through many concerts over the years and meeting a few of the stars along the way, I have never had a chance to really begin connecting with the musicians until we began JST KLSX and http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/. It seems this venture of becoming a radio station and tying together the multi-media aspects like the writing, or the scripting of a movie is heading somewhere ... especially with the way things are changing in the world, and the wonderful listeners who are dedicating themselves to a thought of 'Wanting Something Different.'

It has become even more so prevalent with the recent turn of events with Henry Gross, who has lifted the 'Spirits and Freedoms' of an era that seems to be returning, knowing that: Henry was already a few years ahead of Mason, and it may be those years which make even more of a difference in the passions that still lay instilled deep inside of a man who has so much more to say, than to be remembered for 'One Major Song.' It may be why I personally feel connected, than just interviewing 'A Star' or meeting them on a tour junket.

Here's where people like Henry Gross are making a difference ... at least in my LIFE! Henry is giving me, a disc jockey ... not with the power of a Howard Stern or the Young Ryan Seacrest or other BIG market radio personalities ... but Mason Ramsey something that those Corporate Ridden Ponies do not have: A Chance to play something BRAND NEW! I dare not say it's from 'A Rocker whose under appreciated' but it seems to be so true, that so many of the Iconic artist of YESTERDAY: that we've been dealing with ... are in the same boat. These artist have BRAND NEW music with the FLAVOR of those days in Radio that would BLEND so well with THE GREATEST MUSIC ever produced, that it seems to be such a shame ... Corporate America can not take advantage of something so obvious and staring them in the face.

Another song from Henry's upcoming album called 'Rockin' All Night Long' will be the second time in as many a few weeks, Henry has honored me with being 'First' in debuting a song that has all of the qualities of a song that feels as strong as anything ever produced from the GREAT DAYS of radio gone by. I firmly believe Henry Gross and his friends like Felix Cavaliere are as talented today as they have been in their careers, and deserve to be a part of the NEW Genre' of Radio Entertainment in this day and age. I know that 'The Buckinghams' or Tommy James and a few others like Jonathan Edwards, or Henry Paul or Peter Cetera are every bit as strong in their writing and musical abilities, but are so being relegated to the past, instead of a world that should be keeping up with them.

Has anyone ever thought that we could develop a show called 'American Geezer' since you can not compete on Idol if you're over twenty eight (28)? These people are 'PUSHING CRAP' down your throats and most of the NEW stuff; has no substance to it: it more or less is homogenized. Henry has assured me that there are some really great new tunes that are out there, and 'We' can produce them into a new Genre' --- I've heard them ... and I know with the right backing, we can bring it back around ... "There is a SHIFT in the PARADIGM" and I want to think we're onto something wonderful.

The 'Baby Boomers' who are flocking to casinos, or vacation resorts and other venues are slowly being introduced to some newer stuff from their favorite artist, but NOT through Radio airplay - because the Corporate Radio Execs are afraid of 'Mixing it Up!'

Be listening for the re-airing of THE HENRY GROSS SPECIAL on March 18, 2009 because people here in the U.S. wanted to hear it, but people in the United Kingdom have asked that we also play it so they could hear it in a time more convenient for then as well. Like Joe Brown from England singing with Henry (in this photo). It was Joe who wrote 'Mrs Brown You've got a Lovely Daughter' and 'I'm Henry the Eight I Am' that Peter Noone became famous for singing. We're here to inform, educate and entertain the audience in a fun and positive way.

People have been drafting along with the 'Status Quo' for years, and don't realize they have been slowly segmented into categories and are really missing the wonderful NEW Stuff by accepting what is being FORCE FED to them. I still don't have even the smallest inkling of where it 'THIS' is going to lead ... but it does make me feel like I am being given a wonderful gift, not only through Henry's Generosity ... but those listeners who constantly come here to support JST KLSX ... and to my associates who know: "Something better break soon ... or Mason is gonna crack up!" I love you all for your constant support ... because you know what we are up against. To me ... it would seem so simple to have a conglomerate who believed in our ideas, and would support us to run with them ... for I would believe WE would do so much more for the industry, and that industry is supported by its audience ... and that's what it really is all about.

We're going to eventually be talking to other stars like Wayne Fontana, but be listening also for another special of NEW songs that BRING back that OLD Flavor of Radio --- and Henry and his Friends will be leading the pack ... at least "HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!"