OFF TO FLORIDA ... and COMING BACK?

OH GOD! If this ship, the QE II had wings, I would be cruising to Florida, instead of flying the WILD SKIES of Frontier! But then again, I would be a lot richer, and wouldn't be bumping my ass trying to get off the ground, and most likely ... living near water.

But I am boarding that plane tomorrow for a quick turn around trip, if anything to get out of the wife's beautiful auburn hair, so that she does not want to get out of the radio and publishing business, or the Mason Ramsey Business.

If all goes according to any plan at all, I know that I will be meeting Henry Gross and getting to see him perform, and perhaps seeing a little of Joe Cocker's performance, and then seeing Rick Derringer and his people, so that we can talk about an upcoming special on JST KLSX.

But just having the chance to drive around Florida and go to the beach and take a few pictures for the other unmentionable project is an added plus, that maybe will afford me the luxury of cruising on the QE II with the wife ... if she will still have me. Otherwise, I'll have to go by myself, and I've seen episodes of 'The Love Boat' and it could go either way. But then again ... I guess it was 50 / 50 when I got up this morning.

When the other things in my LIFE start to GEL - I'm really hoping for the best, but I'm growing weary of saying it ... over and over again. If it happens ... it happens. If it doesn't it doesn't.

So far, we have a radio station, and even though we're not making any money ... yet, I'd like to think I'm going cruising one day, while working leisurely. It could happen! I saw the documentary on Trueman Capote who was writing ... while he traveled by train across the country, and by ship ... cruising the sea, or by the seashore in a villa in Spain. It COULD HAPPEN!

And when it comes to the matter of coming back from Florida ... I have to because: I can't even afford to stay much less go.

GOING TO FLORIDA! RADIO IS CHANGING!

Uh Ohh! FLORIDA?

Yeah the birthplace of Mason Ramsey and no it wasn't 'Over the Moon!' I couldn't even tell you we even went to the moon, although I've been repeatedly told that we were there, but: the picture of Neil Armstrong stepping off of the Lunar lander from a photo shot that appears to be taken from several feet away, always left me wondering; 'What's the real story, did Neil run go set up a camera and run back?' It just has NEVER made any sense to me in the first place. I guess I have to believe because, who am I to believe any different?

I know that I was told, "Mason you're going to Florida to see HENRY GROSS and JOE COCKER on April 22nd!" That I do believe! Especially when Judi and Joanne made the arrangements while encouraging me with statements like; 'You can't afford not to go and meet Henry Gross and possibly Joe Cocker. We've got a radio station to promote ... and you've got to take a step here Mason."

Look out! The Eagle is landing April 21st and lifting off on the 25th of April.

Know ... when I get to the Ruth Eckerd Hall on April 22nd, 2009 I am going to be seeing a couple of guys, whom I have known for all of my broadcasting career, from afar and listening to their creative careers as I so haphazardly went strolling along ... never realizing that 'Our' paths would cross and how much it would come to mean to me ... and the changing landscape on the surface of music.

While Joe Cocker is obviously a name more recognizable in the music industry to a mainstream audience, I can not dismiss the artistry of a song writer and lyricist as much as Henry Gross who really does seem to be under appreciated as much as a few other Rock and Roller's of yesteryear, who still have that important Classic lying in wait for a 'Wanting Audience' and no where to go with it.

I have spoken of the 'Same Eight Great Oldies' that Corporate radio has been homogenizing to not only 'America' but the world, and it seems that I may be on the right path, especially when I run across great NEW MUSIC with the same feeling and blend of the Classics that; it makes me feel that ... I am in the right orbit.

Remembering a conversation with a former programmer JJ McKay from the Jones Network (A very Sweet Woman) I know she was amazed that I could even think that I would want to play a new song from Tommy James in 2005 when Tommy redid the song 'Little Latin Lupe Lu' from ... not only Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels and The Righteous Brothers from years gone by ... but JJ was hard pressed in answering phone calls from all across the Nation from LOCAL program directors who: were not mad, but amazed at how many phone calls they were getting when listeners flooded their station offices on a Monday morning asking, "Mason was playing a song called 'Last Night from Chris Anderson and DJ Robbie on an Oldies Station, and OUR listeners want to KNOW 'Where can we get that song?' "

I just happened to be working JJ's shift that Monday morning after previously doing the show JUKEBOX Sunday Night ... and having her come busting through the door on that Monday Morning nearly frantic asking, "Mason ... you are not sticking to the format, but the radio stations are receiving a tremendous amount of calls about a song you played last night more than three times?"

Looking back on it ... it was like stepping off the Lunar Lander for the first step ... never realizing that I was actually traveling to another part of the Universe ... at least consciously ... and I never got to hear her boss (old what's his name) say, "JJ ...We have a problem!"

I only wish I could see the picture of that moment instead of replaying it in my head ... over and over again. Did it really happen? As far as I'm concerned ... Mason Ramsey left a very large footprint, not on the surface of the program, but right up their whazzu! I know the Music race is changing, and people like HENRY GROSS are still in the program coming up with better shuttle devices to get us (Baby Boomers) what we want - and I would like to think that I am having an effect on the program by piloting some of the music to your ears at the expense of blowing a valve before we make it back to the planet with the GOOD NEWS!

In going to Florida my main thrust is to see that concert, but to also work on the agenda for the movie, the sound track (Location Still Shooting and Video Shots) and to take at least ONE DAY for a much needed recovery on Madeira or Clearwater Beach, where the details of Bodies in the Bay began to unravel from a distant MOON called OHIO. You'll have to read the novel in understanding, but it all comes into play when you have a tragic story which tells itself, and sold by great NEW music and a few classics from the past, while we return to the greater days of movie making and the gracious days of entertainment radio ... unafraid to step out on the surface.

For now ... I am excited by the continuing possibilities of 'no true coincidences happening' on this journey. But I do need to get out of the capsule for a while, while drumming up the funding and resources for the projects that will bring us closer and back to the center of the Universe.

We remain humbled by your constant desire in wanting to tune in to http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/ JST KLSX - and can only hope that your continued patience will deliver us from the EVIL empire that may lay some claim in keeping us silent and from the terrestrial airwaves ... only the Internet is taking over anyway (only a little farther away). Are we not as good as they? Can we not be as creative as their programmers? Doth not our desires remain as prevalent as the reality of any man's dreams?

I have to say; Yes, Yes, Yes ... but I've been told by the nay Sayers; 'You're wound a little tight Mason ... you should spend at least a day at the BEACH!"