Monday, March 30, 2015

Weights


One day, my then-eight year old niece, Cassie, came to my house with my mom. The kids and I were gone. When she got out of her car, mom noticed J.D.'s ankle weights lying on the ground over by the basketball goal. That boy was constantly leaving something outside. One day he was outside kicking a football when he managed to get not one but TWO balls stuck high up in the tree out near the mailbox. Those were the only footballs he had. He tried for several days to get them down by throwing rocks and other objects at them. Elijah and I even joined in the rescue operation, but none of us had any success. It appeared that J.D.'s footballs were destined to stay up in that tree forever.


And then one day, as J.D. would probably describe it, something miraculous happened....a power outage. It was miraculous because the power outage brought Richie Richardson of South Kentucky RECC to our home. J.D. looked out the door and saw Richie standing beside his ladder truck, which just happened to be parked next to the tree that coincidently held J.D.'s footballs. In a flash, J.D. was out the door. A minute later, I looked outside just in time to see Richie using this long-arm apparatus to remove the footballs from the tree. Then, I saw him turn toward J.D. and point up to the sky in the opposite direction of the tree. I couldn't help but laugh. Later, J.D. said Richie told him to kick the football 'THAT WAY' from now on! I can still see Richie smiling as he drove off down the road waving goodbye to a very happy J.D. Speck.

Mom retrieved J.D.'s ankle weights from the yard and carried them into the house. Cassie saw her lay them down and went over to investigate. She wanted to know what they were. Mom explained how that J.D. uses the ankle weights to strengthen his leg muscles so that he will jump higher when he is playing basketball. A puzzled Cassie replied, "Isn't that illegal?"


"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Have you ever been at that spot in the road where you find yourself in a lull because of something that's weighing you down? And, no matter how hard you try, you're just stuck...like J.D.'s footballs? Even though it may be a hard battle, don't give up. God loves you! J.D. could not get those footballs to move until he asked Richie to help him. God is like that. No matter how far out of reach a solution seems, no matter how difficult the situation is, no matter the size of the weight you are carrying around, just trust in the Lord. He will make a way for you. His strength is perfect.



I need thee, oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh, bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee


Saturday, March 28, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Joe Garagiola


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Joe Garagiola.


Joseph Henry Garagiola, Sr. was born February 12, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up across the street from his childhood friend, Yogi Berra. When Berra and Garagiola were both teenagers, almost all pro scouts rated Garagiola as the better baseball prospect, although Berra had a Hall of Fame career. About growing up living next to Berra, Garagiola once said, "Not only was I not the best catcher in the Major Leagues, I wasn't even the best catcher on my street!"

Garagiola was signed at age 16 by the St. Louis Cardinals organization. As a rookie in 1946, in his only World Series appearance, Garagiola batted a 6-for-19 in five games, including a Game 4 where he went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs. But, Garagiola never quite lived up to the promise of his youth, appearing in only 676 games over 9 seasons for St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and New York Giants. Garagiola observed, "It's not a record, but being traded four times when there are only eight teams in the league tells you something. I thought I was modeling uniforms for the National League."

Garagiola turned to broadcasting following his retirement as a player, first calling Cardinals radio broadcasts on KMOX from 1955 to 1962. He began doing national baseball broadcasts for NBC in 1961. His association with that network lasted almost 30-years. Garagiola called several World Series on NBC Radio in the 1960s. After a stint doing New York Yankees games from 1965 to 1967 that saw him call Mickey Mantle's 500th home run, Garagiola returned to broadcasting NBC baseball, initially as the host of the pre-game show The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola and then as a play-by-play announcer beginning in 1974.

Garagiola alternated play-by-play duties with Curt Gowdy on NBC until 1976, when he assumed the role full-time. He teamed with color commentator Tony Kubek from 1976 to 1982; in 1983, he shifted to color commentary as Vin Scully joined the network as lead play-by-play announcer. Besides working on the Saturday Game of the Week for NBC, the team of Scully and Garagiola would call three All-Star Games (1983, 1985, and 1987), three National League Championship Series (1983, 1985, and 1987) and three World Series (1984, 1986, and 1988). After calling the 1988 World Series with Scully, Garagiola resigned from NBC Sports, which was on the verge of losing the television rights to cover Major League Baseball to CBS.

After leaving NBC Sports, Garagiola spent one season as commentator for the California Angels. From 1998 to 2012, he performed part-time color commentary duties for the Arizona Diamondbacks, where his son, Joe Garagiola, Jr., served as general manager. Garagiola officially announced his retirement from broadcasting on February 22, 2013.

Besides calling baseball games for NBC, Garagiola served as a panelist on The Today Show from 1967 to 1973 and again from 1990 to 1992. He also occasionally guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, including the only live appearances of any members of The Beatles on the program while still a group.



Friday, March 27, 2015

The Rogers Family Has A Big Connection To Clear Fork Baptist Church.

Two of Clear Fork Baptist Church's members are related to not one, not two...but THREE of our church's former pastors!

James M. Fairchild

Mike Rogers, and his sister, Sandi, are the great-grandchildren of James Maston Fairchild, who was our church's 8th pastor. He served from 1927 to 1929. His daughter, Ora, married Hershel Rogers. They were the parents of Ray Rogers, Mike and Sandi's father.


J.C.J. Selvidge

Ray's sister, Winnie, was married to Wendell Selvidge. Wendell's grandfather was John W. Selvidge, the son of John Conway Jefferson Selvidge. John C.J. Selvidge was the 6th pastor of Clear Fork. He served for seven months during 1889.


J.D. Selvidge

Another of John C.J.'s sons, James Daniel Selvidge, was the 12th pastor of Clear Fork. He served from 1934 through 1936. James is a rarity, in that he was born in Clinton County. Most of Clear Fork's pastors were born elsewhere. James pastored at Stony Point Baptist Church for 26 years. He also pastored at Beech Bottom Baptist Church.


How great it is that the Rogers family has such a big connection to our historic church.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

A Spiritual Awakening: From Sandy Creek To Buffalo Ridge To Clear Fork


In the early 1700's the moving of God’s Spirit touched, convicted, and converted thousands of Americans, who found themselves swept along in a mighty outpouring of God’s saving grace. It began in the New England area and quickly spread South.

The man responsible for carrying the fervor of the Great Awakening to the South was Shubal Stearns. Born in Boston in 1706, Stearns was converted to Christ around 1740. In 1754 God called Stearns from his home in Connecticut to fields farther South. He labored for a short time in Virginia, then moved to Sandy Creek, North Carolina.


Backwoods North Carolina was a spiritual as well as a physical wilderness, and into this religiously barren land came Stearns and his family. The small church at Sandy Creek began with sixteen members, half of whom were Stearns’ own family, but when Stearns began preaching, God’s Spirit began to move. In a short time, the Sandy Creek church swelled from sixteen members to over six hundred.

The churches that grew out of Stearns’s ministry banded together in 1758 as the Sandy Creek Baptist Association. This group, under Stearns’ leadership, sought to advance God’s work throughout the southern colonies. Aflame with revival, the churches in the association continued to increase in number and influence.

North Carolina officials regarded Baptists and Quakers as enemies of Anglican order and, because of the success of the evangelism of Stearns and others, a hindrance to the growth of the Episcopal Church, which was the state Church of the colony. Governor William Tryon imposed unjust taxation on the frontier settlers, who confronted the state's militia on May 1, 1771 in The Battle of Alamance. The poorly armed, poorly led frontiersmen were defeated. Seven months after the battle, Shubal Stearns died. The Awakening had ended, but the story did not.


The majority of the Sandy Creek refugees fled to Washington County, Tennessee, where they established Buffalo Ridge Baptist Church. Its first pastor was Tidence Lane. In his youth, Tidence had been convicted and converted under the ministry of Shubal Stearns. Most exciting stories had been told about the piercing glance of his eye and the melting tones of his voice as he preached the word of God. Tidence once held "the most hateful feelings toward Baptists," but it was curiosity that led him to make a horseback trip of some forty miles to see and hear Shubal Stearns speak.
"When the fame of Mr. Stearns' preaching reached the Yadkin River, where I lived, I felt a curiosity to go and hear him. Upon my arrival I saw a venerable old man sitting under a peach tree with a book in his hand and the people gathering about him. He fixed his eyes upon me immediately, which made me feel in such a manner as I had never felt before. I turned to quit the place, but could not proceed far. I walked about, Sometimes catching his eyes as I walked. My uneasiness increased and became intolerable. I went up to him, thinking that a salutation and shaking of hands would relieve me, but it happened otherwise. I began to think he had an evil eye and ought to be shunned, but shunning him I could no more effect than a bird can shun the rattlesnake when it fixes its eyes upon it. When he began to preach my perturbations increased, so that nature could no longer support them, and I sank to the ground." - Tidence Lane

When Tidence Lane began preaching, one of his converts was 18-year-old Isaac Denton. Isaac's father, Isaac Sr., had been a charter member of the church at Buffalo Ridge in 1779. Another charter member was John Crouch. Most of the Denton and Crouch children were toddlers when the Buffalo Ridge church was established. When the children grew older, James Crouch married Agnes Denton and his sister, Martha, married Agnes' brother, Isaac. Later, those two families migrated West to a new frontier that had opened up in Kentucky.They settled at Stockton's Valley, which later became Albany, and helped organize Clear Fork Baptist Church. Isaac Denton was 26 years old when he helped organize Clear Fork. He was her first pastor, serving for 46 years. 

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Preaching: A Selvidge Legacy


(John C.J. Selvidge)

John Selvidge was our church's 6th pastor. He served seven months, from April to November of 1889. The church had hired Alvin Bertram as its pastor following the death of Joseph Denton. Bertram served for 17 months before stepping down so he might preach at various other churches. Bro. Bertram was back as pastor in January of 1890. John Conway Jefferson Selvidge was born on March 14, 1838 and died on Jan. 21, 1915 at Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Powell Selvidge (1860 - 1945).

(James Selvidge)

John's son, James David Selvidge, was the 12th pastor of Clear Fork. He served from February of 1934 to December of 1936, for a total of two years and ten months. He is a rarity, in that he was born in Clinton County. Most of our church's pastors were born elsewhere. James Selvidge was pastor at Stony Point Baptist Church for 26 years. He also pastored at Beech Bottom Baptist Church. James was born on May 22, 1876 and died on June 12, 1959. He was married to Usley Sounders Selvidge (1877 - 1944) and is buried at Elk Spring Cemetery in Monticello.


~~~

James Selvidge's brother, John W. Selvidge, was also a preacher. John W.'s grandson, Wendell Selvidge, was the uncle of Clear Fork members Mike and Sandi Rogers.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Curt Gowdy


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Curt Gowdy.


Curt Gowdy made his broadcasting debut in 1943 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, calling a 'six-man' high school football game from atop a wooden grocery crate in subzero weather with 15 people present. He later worked at the radio station and newspaper there. In 1946, he accepted an offer from KOMA radio in Oklahoma City to broadcast Oklahoma college football and Oklahoma State college basketball games.

Gowdy's distinctive play-by-play style earned him a national audition and then an opportunity with the New York Yankees in 1949, working with (and learning from) the legendary Mel Allen for two seasons.

Gowdy began his Major League Baseball broadcasting career working as the No. 2 announcer to Mel Allen for New York Yankees games on radio and television in 1949–50. In 1951, he became the voice of the Boston Red Sox for 15 seasons. It was there that he became America's premier sportscaster. He spent most of his career at NBC, but also broadcast for ABC and CBS Radio. The winner of 13 Emmy Awards, Gowdy was the first sportscaster to win a Peabody Award, a prestigious honor in broadcasting. He broadcast 16 World Series, nine Super Bowls, eight Olympics, 12 Rose Bowls and 24 NCAA Final Fours. He hosted ''The American Sportsman" on ABC for two decades.

Gowdy was present for some of American sports' storied moments, including Ted Williams' home run in his final at-bat in 1960, Super Bowl I and Hank Aaron's 715th home run in 1974.

Curt Gowdy died on February 20, 2006 at the age of aged 86.



Sunday, March 22, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Wes Strader


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Wes Strader.


Known as the 'Voice of the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers,' Wes Strader spent 36 years, from 1964-2000, calling play-by-play for Hilltopper football and men's basketball, and he was behind the microphone for some of the most memorable moments in WKU history, including men's basketball's appearances in the 1971 Final Four and the 1993 Sweet 16 and football’s trips to the 1973 and 1975 national championship games. Strader still works for the Big Red Radio Network. He hosts a radio show, and has been doing pre and post-game shows for football and men's basketball games.

In 2010, I was sitting beside Sid Scott in the front row behind the broadcast tables at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green waiting to do a broadcast in the boys regional tournament. On the opposite side of the arena, up at the very top was the Big Red Radio Network press box. I had been a visitor there a few times in recent years and on one occasion, a couple years prior, had actually met Wes Strader.

Previously, I had spoken on the phone with Wes maybe twice in my life. He is familiar with radio folks here in the Lake Cumberland area, specifically my dad, Sid Scott, Welby Hoover, Steve Staples, Stephen Staples and Ray Mullinix. As we sat there at court side awaiting our turn to broadcast, I looked to my left and noticed that Wes was making his way toward our area. I figured he had spotted Sid from the press box was coming to chat with him.

I was surprised when he stopped directly in front of me and said, "Randy? I thought that was you!" Well, I sat up a little straighter as he continued, "I was up in the press box, looked down here and thought it was you." At that point I was sitting up a whole lot straighter and I am pretty sure my head started to swell. After all, I was sitting beside one legend and had another legend standing in front of me saying he had spotted me from across the arena and had made his way down and across to where we were sitting, and instead of going straight to Sid, he first spoke to ME! My first thought, after the initial shockwave had passed, was that I had officially arrived!

And then he said, smiling, "Wait, is this THE Sid Scott sitting beside you? And then, he began a conversation with Sid, whom he had not seen in a while. As they 'caught up' with each other, I wondered if anyone had noticed Wes Strader standing there speaking to me, or even better, had anyone heard what he had said? I actually looked around. No doubt, he had noticed Sid beside me and that is the main reason he made his way from the press box to us, but I was happy with the attention Wes Strader had given me. Yes, I had arrived, lol! Wes Strader is a class act.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

When God Has Another Plan


A friend, with health issues similar to mine, died yesterday. I had been hoping and praying that he would make it through his darkest hour, but I guess God had something else in mind.

Ever since I heard about Brian's passing, I have been thinking a lot about what God wants for our lives, mine in particular. There have been times in my life when things didn't go as I wished: the loss of my brother and my dad, for instance.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8
Of the health issues I deal with, if God thinks I can serve him better in this role, then I absolutely do not have a problem with it. I have never questioned Him about where I am in life, and despite any trial I may be confronted with, I pray that my faith and my service to God will bring praise, honor, and glory to Him.
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 1:6-7
Even if my current situation is not where I hoped I would be, help me, Lord, to reflect your image.

When God has another plan
Walk on and just say yes
When God has another plan
Be assured that he knows best

When all your dreams are shattered
Rest in his sufficient grace
We don't have to understand
When God has another plan
(Amy Keffer Shellem and Daryl Williams)

~

In the past two years, every time I saw Brian, he had his grandchildren with him; carrying one and holding the other's hand. I am going to miss seeing that. R.I.P. Brian Thompson, you will be missed.


*(Photo by Amy Cross)

Friday, March 20, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Jim McKay


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Jim McKay.


Growing up, one of my favorite things to watch on Saturday afternoon was ABC's Wide World of Sports. Jim McKay was the host of that program for 37 years, from 1961 until 1998. ABC's Wide World of Sports had other hosts but no one ever matched McKay's long tenure. Several well-known play by play announcers worked on the program, including Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, Curt Gowdy, Keith Jackson and Brent Musburger, as well as McKay. Reporters included David Letterman and O. J. Simpson. Analysts included Mickey Mantle and Bill Russell. In 2007, ABC's Wide World of Sports was named by Time Magazine on its list of the 100 best television programs of all-time.

"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition... This is ABC's Wide World of Sports! ” (Jim McKay)
ABC's Wide World of Sports'melodramatic introduction, voiced by McKay, became a national catchphrase that is often heard to this day. While "the thrill of victory" had several symbols over the decades, ski jumper Vinko Bogataj, whose dreadful misjump and crash during a competition on March 21, 1970 was featured from the early 1970s onward heard over the sentence "...and the agony of defeat", became a hard-luck hero of sorts, and an affectionate icon for stunning failure. Previously, the footage played with that phrase was that of another ski jumper who made a long, almost successful jump, but whose skis lost vertical alignment shortly before landing, leading to a crash.

The Munich Massacre

McKay did other things for ABC outside of Wide World of Sports, including the Kentucky Derby, the British Open and the Indianapolis 500. Who can forget his memorable reporting on the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics? While covering the 1972 Summer Olympics for ABC, McKay took on the job of reporting the events leading up to the massacre live on his only scheduled day off. He was on air for fourteen hours without a break, during a sixteen hour broadcast. When the rescue of the athletes held hostage failed, McKay came on the air with this statement:

"When I was a kid my father used to say "Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized." Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They have now said there were 11 hostages; two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They're all gone."
- Jim McKay, 1972.

~0~

McKay was born into an Irish American Roman Catholic family in Philadelphia in 1921. When he was 14, his family moved to Baltimore. Later, he received a bachelor's degree from Loyola College. During World War II, McKay served in the United States Navy as the captain of a minesweeper.

In 1947, McKay gave up his job as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun newspapers to join that same organization's new TV station. He joined CBS in New York in 1950 as host of a variety show, called The Real McKay. Through the 1950s, sports commentary became more and more his primary assignment. He moved on to ABC and in 1961, became host of ABC's influential Wide World of Sports for 37 years.

Jim McKay died in 2008 at the age of 86.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The Metropolitan Quartet - I Will Sing Of My Redeemer


Roll Over Beethoven: Walking In My Sleep

I walked in my sleep a few times as a child. On one occasion, I was about eight years old when I sat down at the piano and started playing "Roll Over Beethoven" at like two in the morning.


Right then and there, my parents should have taken me straight to Nashville. Instead, they sent me back to bed. :/ smh....

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Jim Nantz


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Jim Nantz.


You could say Jim Nantz and I have grown up together. He is my age. Nantz joined CBS in 1985 and has been an announcer for college football, NFL football and, since 1989, the Masters golf tournament. He began calling the NCAA Final Four men's basketball finals in 1991, working the first 17 years with Billy Packer. He has been the NFL announcer on CBS's top play-by-play since 2004. He has done NBA games, the US Open, Winter Olympics and even the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Nantz, Curt Gowdy, Kevin Harlan and Dick Enberg are the only play-by-play announcers to ever call both a Super Bowl and an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game. Nantz is also one of two men to host a Super Bowl, announce an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game and host coverage of The Masters, with Brent Musburger being the other.

Nantz has twice won an Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play. He has been honored with the NSSA's National Sportscaster of the Year award five times. In 2011, he was named as a recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also is one of the youngest recipients of the Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy award for broadcasting.

Nantz, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery will call the 2015 Final Four with Jim Nantz, CBS and Turner Sports announced on Tuesday. Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson will return from last season's broadcast team. Hill and Raftery replace last year's duo of Steve Kerr and Greg Anthony. The 2015 Final Four will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4, and Monday, April 6.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

I Was Raised On The Radio


I was asked the other day when did I begin working in radio. I was raised on the radio. I started hanging out at the station when I was in diapers. I was breastfeed by a Gates microphone. My babysitter was an AM transmitter. My first words were Conway and Loretta. At age nine, I was infected by vinyl. It crept into my bloodstream from 45 to 78 to 33 1/3. I started learning about life when Roger Miller sang "You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd.' I had a radio license before I had a driver's license. My first ID was a station ID. I mainly chose radio because I was too ugly for Television. Plus, it beat working.

(Summer of 1976 - age 16)


Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennaman


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennaman.


One of the nice things about growing up in the 1970's was Cincinnati Reds baseball. Most boys I knew wanted to be either Pete Rose or Johnny Bench. I wanted to be either Joe Nuxhall or Marty Brennaman, the now-legendary radio announcers for the Reds' games. It didn't matter which one, because both were equally as great.

Joe Nuxhall became a radio broadcaster for the Reds in 1967. His career lasted through 2004, and continued part-time up until his death in 2007. In addition to his 40 years of broadcasting Reds games, Nuxhall is most remembered for having been the youngest player ever to appear in a major league game, pitching 2/3 of an inning for the Reds on June 10, 1944 at the age of 15. Called upon for that one game due to player shortages during World War II, Nuxhall would eventually find his way back to the Reds in 1952.


Marty Brennaman joined Nuxhall on the Reds radio team in 1974. "Marty and Joe" became an institution. Brennaman's trademark call of a Reds victory ("And this one belongs to the Reds!") was coined during his second game with the team. Nuxhall's trademark was "...Rounding third and heading for home." Highlights of Brennaman's broadcasting career include these calls: Hank Aaron's record-tying 714th career home run in 1974, Pete Rose's record-breaking 4,192nd career hit in 1985, Ken Griffey, Jr.'s 500th and 600th career home runs, and the Reds' back to back World Series victories in 1975 and 1976. In 2005, he was inducted into both the NSSA Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame.




"Play ball..."

Monday, March 16, 2015

My 78 r.p.m. Record Collection


(1902 to 1951)

4 Star
T Texas Tyler - Deck of Cards (1709) 1948
T Texas Tyler - Ida Red (1535) 1948

Abbott
Jim Reeves - I Could Cry (116a) 1953
Jim Reeves - Mexican Joe (116b) 1953

Aeolian Vocalion
Beautiful Ohio (A-12081)
Hindustan (B-12081)

American Bible Society
"The Talking Bible" (KJV)
Alexander Scourby 16 2/3 rpm 1950
1. St. Matthew Ch. 1-15 10135-36
2. St. Matthew Ch. 16-28 10137-38
3. St. Mark Ch. 1-16 10139-40
4. St. Luke Ch. 1-13 10141-42
5. St. Luke Ch. 14-24 10143-44
6. St. John Ch. 1-10 v.21 10145-46
7. St. John Ch. 10 v.22-Ch. 21 10147-48
8. Acts Ch. 1-17 v.12 10149-50
9. Acts Ch. 17 v.13-Ch. 28 10151-52
10. Romans, I and II Corinthians Thru I Cor. Ch. 6 v.11 10153-54
11. Romans, I and II Corinthians
I Cor. Ch. 6 v.12, II Cor. Ch. 13 10155-56
12. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thess., I and II Tim., Titus, Philemon, Hebrews
Through II Thess. Chap. 2 10157-58
13. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thess., I and II Tim., Titus, Philemon, Hebrews II Thess. 3 through I Heb. 10159-60
14. James, I and II Peter, I, II and III John, Jude 10161-62
15. Revelation Ch. 1-22 10163-64

ARA
Bob Crosby - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (RM129A) 1946
Bob Crosby - In The Valley (RM129B) 1946

BAMA
John Daniel Quartet - Land Across The Sea (BAMA 43) 1950
John Daniel Quartet - If You Gain The Whole World (BAMA 44) 1950

Brunswick
Ernest Hare - I Want My Mammy (2172-B) 1921
James Craven - Georgia Rose (2172-A) 1921

Capitol
Ella Mae Morse - Get Off It And Go (424) 1946
Ella Mae Morse - Goodnight, Sweetheart Goodnight (12556) 1954
Ella Mae Morse - Happy Habit (12553) 1954
Ella Mae Morse - Old Shanks' Mare (424) 1946
Foy Willing and His Riders Of The Purple Sage - Brush Those Tears From Your Eyes (3429) 1948
Foy Willing and His Riders Of The Purple Sage - Rose Of Old Pawnee (3445) 1948
Jack Guthrie and his Oklahomans - Chained To A Memory (1042) 1946
Jack Guthrie and his Oklahomans - I'm Telling You (1038) 1946
Jack Smith - Lavender Blue (2697) 1949
Jack Smith - The Matador (2713) 1949
Jean Sheppard - A Dear John Letter (recitation by Ferlin Husky (11461) 1953
Jean Sheppard - Forgive Me John (recitation by Ferlin Husky) (11707) 1953
Jean Sheppard - I'd Rather Die Young (11460) 1953
Jean Sheppard - My Wedding Ring (11546) 1953
Jimmy Wakely - I Don't Want Your Sympathy (3489) 1948
Jimmy Wakely - I Love You So Much It Hurts (3490) 1948
Jo Stafford - Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend (5339-Y) 1950
Jo Stafford - Open Door, Open Arms (5340-Z) 1950
Jo Stafford - The Gentleman Is A Dope (2286) 1947
Jo Stafford - Serenade Of The Bells (2285) 1947
Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie - Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own (6169-Y) 1950
Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie - I'll Never Be Free (6168-Z) 1950
Les Paul and Mary Ford - Johnny (Is The Boy For Me) (11545) June 1953
Les Paul and Mary Ford - Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You) (11544) June 1953
Margaret Whiting - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Capital 901) 1946
Margaret Whiting - Come Rain Or Come Shine (Capital 912) 1946
Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely - Christmas Candy (6628-Y) 1950
Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely - Silver Bells (6623-Z) 1950
Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely - Slipping Around (4672) 1949
Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely - Wedding Bells (4671) 1949
Nat "King" Cole - You Can't Lose A Broken Heart (Capital 57-749) 1949
Nat "King" Cole - (Here Is My Heart_ Nalani (Capital 57-749) 1949
Pied Pipers - Highway To Love (2779) 1948
Pied Pipers - My Happiness (3280) 1948
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan - Hot Rod Race (6834-Y) 1950
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan - Walkin' With The Blues (6835-Z) 1950
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra - Bamboo (Capital 4335Y) 1950
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra - Count Every Star (Capital 4334Z) 1950
Roy Hogsed - It's More Fun That Way (246B) 1953
Roy Hogsed - Red Wing (246B) 1953
Skitch Henderson - You'll See What A Kiss Can Do (1210) 1946
Skitch Henderson - Five Minutes More (1208) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Come Back To Sorento (Capital 20086 1137) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Artistry In Bolero (Capital 20086 1197) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Willow Weep For Me (Capital 20087 1217) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Fantasy (Capital 20087 1218) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Opus In Pastels (Capital 20088 1311) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Safranski (Capital 20088 1196) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Ain't No Misery In Me (Capital 20089 1194) 1946
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra - Artistry In Percussion (Capital 20089 1195) 1946
Starlighters w/Paul Weston Orchestra - Down By The Station (15389) 1949
Starlighters w/Paul Weston Orchestra - Sixty-Two Ladies In Sea Green Pajamas (15389) 1949
Tennessee Ernie - I Ain't Gonna Let It Happen No More (6457-Z) 1950
Tennessee Ernie - The Shot Gun Boogie (6458-Y) 1950

Capitol "Americana"
Tex Williams - Roundup (1512) 1947
Tex Williams - Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) (1799) 1947

Capitol "Criterion Series"
Bob Hope Broadcasts to the U. S. Army Pt. 1-8 (10047 - 10054) 1946

Champion Electrograph
Carolina Ladies Quartette - Don't Put Off Salvation Too Long (15879A) 1929
Carolina Ladies Quartette - My Loved Ones Are Waiting For Me (15879B) 1929
Cliff Carlisle - High Steppin' Mama (16239A) 1931
Cliff Carlisle - Alone And Lonesome (16239B) 1931
Cliff Carlisle/Wilbur Ball - Birmingham Jail (45029A) 1932
Cliff Carlisle/Wilbur Ball - True And Trembling Brakeman (45029B) 1932
Dan Hughey - Angels In Heaven Know I Love You (15771A) 1929
Dan Hughey - Will The Angels Play Their Harps For Me (15771B) 1929
Dan Hughey - Cindy (15851A) 1929
Dan Hughey - My Little Home In Tennessee (15851B) 1929
Goodman Sacred Singers - Working For The Master (15330B) 1927
Goodman Sacred Singers - I Am Redeemed At Last (15547A) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - Rocking On The Waves (15547B) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - Give The World A Smile (15612A) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - He'll Tell Us All About It (15612B) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - Keep Holding On (15773A) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - Where We'll Never Grow Old (15773B) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - That Glory Land Way (16100A) 1928
Goodman Sacred Singers - Singing On The Journey Home (16100B) 1928
Hamlin Quartette - When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (15330A) 1927
Hutchens Brothers - Praise The Lord It's So (15464A) 1928
Hutchens Brothers - Meet Me There (15464B) 1928
Hutchens Family Trio - I Will Praise Him Hallelujah (16013A) 1930
Hutchens Family Trio - Sweeping Through The Gates (16013B) 1930
Jackson County Barn Owls - I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home (16031A) 1930
Jackson County Barn Owls - Bake That Chicken Pie (16031B) 1930
Jim Taylor/Bill Shelby - It Won't Be Long Till My Grave Is Made (15730A) 1929
Jim Taylor & Bill Shelby It's Sad To Leave You Sweetheart (15730B) 1929
John Hutchens - The Sinking Of The Submarine (15427A) 1927
John Hutchens - The Marian Parker Murder (15427B) 1927
Saul Meyer - Cohen On The Telephone (15506A) 1928
Saul Meyer - Cohen's New Auto (15506B) 1928
Tex Ritter - Nobody's Darling But Mine (45153A) 1935
Tex Ritter - My Brown Eyed Texas Rose (45153B) 1935
Welling Trio - Just Inside The Eastern Gate (16035A) 1930
Welling Trio - Will The Circle Be Unbroken (16035B) 1930

Columbia
Arthur Godfrey - What Is A Boy (39487) 1951
Arthur Godfrey - What Is A Girl (39487) 1951
Benny Goodman - A Kiss In The Night (37149) 1946
Benny Goodman - For You, For Me, Forever More (37149) 1946
Benny Goodman w/Peggy Lee - Somebody Else Is Taking My Place (38198) 1948
Benny Goodman w/Peggy Lee - Why Don't You Do Right (38198) 1948
Bob Crosby - Need You (38450) 1949
Bob Crosby - Three Wishes (38450) 1949
Billy Murray - And He'd Say Oo-La La! Wee-Wee (78536) 1919
Columbia Quartette - War Song Hits - Part I (It's A Long Way To Berlin, Keep The Home Fires Burning, Where Do We Go From Here, Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag) (A2428) 1918
Columbia Quartette - War Song Hits - Part II (For Your Country And My Country, Goodbye Broadway Hello France, I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm On My Way, Over There) (A2428) 1918
Dinah Shore - How Soon (37952) 1947
Dinah Shore - Fool That I Am (37952) 1947
Doris Day - A Purple Cow (10502) 1953
Doris Day - Bewitched (38698) 1949
Doris Day - Imagination (37698) 1947
Doris Day - I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful) (38727) 1950
Doris Day - Kiss Me Again Stranger (10503) 1953
Dorothy Shay - Feudin' and Fightin' (37189) 1946
Dorothy Shay - Say That We're Sweethearts Again (37189) 1946
Frank Sinatra - Adeste Fideles (37145) 1945
Frank Sinatra - You Go To My Head (36918) 1945
Frank Sinatra - I Don't Know Why (36918) 1945
Frank Sinatra - Why Shouldn't I (36920) 1945
Frank Sinatra - Try A Little Tenderness (36920) 1945
Frank Sinatra - Someone To Watch Over Me (36921) 1945
Frank Sinatra - Paradise (36921) 1945
Frank Sinatra - I Only Have Eyes For You (36921) 1945
Frank Sinatra - It All Depends On You (36921) 1945
Frank Sinatra - Lost In The Stars (38650) 1946
Frank Sinatra - Silent Night, Holy Night (37145) 1945
Frank Sinatra - The Old Master Painter (38650) 1946
Frank Yankovic - Oh, Marie (12376-F) 1948
Frank Yankovic - On The Beach (12376-F) 1948
Gene Autry - An Old Fashioned Tree (37942) 1947
Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus (37942) 1947
Gene Krupa & his Orchestra - You May Not Love Me (37049) 1946
Gene Krupa & his Orchestra - Chiquita Banana (37049) 1946
George Morgan - Put All Your Love In A Cookie Jar (20594) 1949
George Morgan - Room Full Of Roses (20594) 1949
Guy Mitchell - My Heart Cries For You (39067) 1950
Guy Mitchell - The Roving Kind (39067) 1950
Happy Six - I'm Nobody's Baby (79798) 1921
Happy Six - Cherie (79802) 1921
Harry James and his Orchestra - I Tipped My Hat (37305) 1947
Harry James and his Orchestra - Heartaches (37305) 1947
Harry James and his Orchestra - Get Happy (38727) 1950
Irving Kaufman - Oh! Oh! Oh! Those Landlords (78445) 1919
Jo Stafford - Early Autumn (39838) 1952
Jo Stafford - Jambalaya (39838) 1952
Joe Hayman - Cohen Telephones The Health Department (29685) 1915
Johnny Bond - Fat Girl (37856) 1947
Johnny Bond - Too Many Years Too Late (37856) 1947
Kay Kyser - Horses Don't Bet On People (36824) 1945
Kay Kyser - In The Marketplace Of Old Monterey (38301) 1948
Kay Kyser - On A Slow Boat To China (38301) 1948
Kay Kyser - Rosemary (36824) 1945
Liberace - I Don't Care (39895) 1952
Liberace - I Miss You So (39895) 1952
Louise, Ferera and Greenus - Hawaiian Breezes (77884) 1918
Louise, Ferera and Greenus - Kawaihau Waltz (77798) 1918
Prince's Orchestra - Serenade (46167) 1915
Reed Miller and Frederick Wheeler - Keep The Home Fires Burning (46135) 1915
Sam Ash - On The Road To Happiness (46130) 1915
Sammy Kaye - Harbor Lights (44235) 1950
Sammy Kaye - Sugar Sweet (44236) 1950
Tiny Hill and his Orchestra - Angry (37987) 1939
Tiny Hill and his Orchestra - Mickey (37987) 1939
Modernaires w/Paula Key - Juke Box Saturday Night (36992) 1946
Modernaires w/Paula Key - Salute To Glenn Miller (`36992) 1946
Xavier Cugat Orchestra - South America Take It Away (37051) 1946
Xavier Cugat Orchestra - Chiquita Banana (The Banana Song) (37051) 1946

Coral
Jimmy Wakely - I Stopped Livin' (L7503) 1951
Jimmy Wakely with Lawrence Welk - I Love You (L7543) 1951
Teresa Brewer - Baby Baby Baby (84935) 1953
Teresa Brewer - I Guess It Was You All The Time (84933) 1953

Decca
Bing Crosby - Lets Start The New Year Right (18429B) 1945
Bing Crosby - Now Is The Hour (Maori Farewell Song) (Decca 24279A) 1948
Bing Crosby - Silver Threads Among The Gold (Decca 24279B) 1948
Bing Crosby - White Christmas (18429A) 1945
Dick Haymes and the Song Spinners - Put Your Arms Around Me Honey (71433) 1943
Dick Haymes and the Song Spinners - For The First Time (I've Fallen In Love) (71434) 1943
Dick Robertson - I'd Like To Give My Dog To Uncle Sam (71975) 1944
Dick Robertson - One Face Missing From The Picture (71978) 1944
Ernest Tubb - White Christmas (75219) 1949
Ernest Tubb - Blue Christmas (75220) 1949
Evelyn Knight - One Sunday Afternoon (74624) 1948
Evelyn Knight - Powder Your Face With Sunshine (74623) 1948
Goldie Hill - Why Talk To My Heart (83121) 1952
Goldie Hill - Don't Send Me No More Roses (83122) 1952
Goldie Hill - Justin Tubb - Looking Back To See (86235) 1954
Jimmie and Leon Short - No Forgiveness (73424) 1946
Jimmie and Leon Short - Old Indians Never Die (L4385) 1947
Jimmie Davis - I Heard You Talking In Your Sleep (82769) 1952
Jimmie Davis - I'll Be True To The One I Love (Decca 5955A) 1941
Jimmie Davis - Like The Waves Upon The River (82767) 1952
Jimmie Davis - My Mary (Decca 5955B) 1941
Justin Tubb - Goldie Hill - I Miss You So (86236) 1954
Lonzo and Oscar - Jezebel (81205) 1951
Lonzo and Oscar - It Must Have Been Something I Et (81206) 1951
Lucky Millinder - Shipyard Social Function (71453) 1944
Lucky Millinder - Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well (72180) 1943
Mills Brothers - You Always Hurt The One You Love (Decca 23930A) 1938
Mills Brothers - Till Then (Decca 23930B) 1938
Song Spinners - Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer (71338) 1943
Song Spinners - Johnny Zero (71340) 1943
Ted Weems and his Orchestra - Moonlight (3044 A) 1939
Ted Weems and his Orchestra - There'll Be Some Changes Made (3044 B) 1939

Duodisc
Cowboy Jack - Heartaches and Tears
Cowboy Jack - I'm Counting The Days You Are Gone

Edison Records
American Symphony Orchestra - Wedding Of The Winds Waltzes (50065-R) 1912
Andre Benoist - Valse In E Flat (50292-R) 1915
Andre Benoist - Old Black Joe (50292-L) 1915
Anna Case - Annie Laurie (83059-R) 1916
Anna Case - Old Folks At Home (83059-L) 1916
Betsy Lane Shepherd - I'll Remember You, Love In My Prayers (80484-R) 1917
Billy Murray - Are You From Dixie ('Cause I'm From Dixie Too) (50357-R) 1916
Charles Hart & Elliot Shaw - Is My Name Written There? (80529-R) 1919
Charles Hart, Elliot Shaw and The Calvary Choir - Shall You? Shall I? (80529-L) 1919
Chester Gaylord - Love's Old Sweet Song (80613-L) 1920
Collins and Harlan - On The Hoko Moko Isle (50348-R) 1916
Edison Band - Medley Of American War Songs (50212-R) 1914
Edison Band - Medley Of American Patriotic Airs (50212-L) 1914
Edison Quartet - Let The Lower Lights Be Burning (80204-R) 1914
Edison Quartet - He Lifted Me (80204-L) 1914
Edna White - Recollections of 1861-65 (80613-R) 1920
Elizabeth Spencer - Call Me Your Darling Again (80098-L) 1916
Elizabeth Spencer & Thomas Chalmers - Abide With Me (80276-L) 1915
Elizabeth Spencer & Frederick Wheeler - Dreams Of Galilee (50002-R) 1915
Elizabeth Spencer/Vernon Archibald - Ever Of Thee I'm Fondly Dreaming (80010-R) 1920
Ernest L. Stevens Trio - Red Mon Waltz (51026-R) 1922
Ernest L. Stevens Trio - If I Had My Way Pretty Baby (51026-L) 1922
Ford Hawaiians - Ellis March (50455-R) 1916
Fred Bacon - Massa's In De Cold, Cold Ground (50351-R) 1915
Fred Bacon - Old Black Joe (50351-L) 1916
Fred East & Lewis James - Only A Step To Jesus (80549-R) 1920
Fred Van Eps - Darkey's Dream and Darkey's Awakening (51145-R) 1922
Fred Van Eps - Medley Of Southern Melodies (51145-L) April 1923
Helen Clark and George Wilton Ballard - I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (50534-R) 1919
Helen Clark & George Wilton Ballard - In The Old Sweet Way (50534-L) 1919
Jaudas' Society Orchestra - Poor Butterfly (50428-R) 1917
Jaudas' Society Orchestra - The Missouri Waltz (50428-L) 1916
John Young & Frederick Wheeler - When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (80276-R) 1915
Maggie Teyte & The Lyric Male Quartet - I'se Gwine Back To Dixie (82159-R) 1919
Maggie Teyte - Ma Curly-Headed Babby (82159-L) 1919
Metropolitan Quartet - America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee) (80172-R) 1914
Metropolitan Quartet - Darling Nellie Gray (80010-L) 1914
Metropolitan Quartet - Annie Laurie (80098-R) 1914
Metropolitan Quartet - I Love To Tell The Story (80300-R) 1914
Metropolitan Quartet - I Will Sing Of My Redeemer (80300-L) 1914
Metropolitan Quartet - Come Where The Lillie's Bloom (80321-L) 1915
Metropolitan Quartet - The Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane (80484-L) 1918
Orpheus Male Chorus - Dixieland
No. 1 (80395-R) 1917
Orpheus Male Chorus - Dixieland Memories No. 2 (80395-L) 1917
Rae Eleanor Ball; Jessie L. Deppen - Wonderland Of Dreams (50857-R) 1921
Rae Eleanor Ball; Jessie L. Deppen - Havana Moon (Edison 50857-L) 1921
S.W. Smith, U.S.N. And Bugle Squad - U.S. Army Bugle Calls Pt. 1 (50452-R) 1917
S.W. Smith, U.S.N. And Bugle Squad - U.S. Army Bugle Calls Pt. 2 (50452-L) 1917
Sibyl Sanderson, Fred Hager and Harvey Wilson - Sundown In Birdland (80453-R) 1918
Sibyl Sanderson Fagan - L'Ardita-Magnetic Waltz (80453-L) 1918
Thomas Chalmers - Nearer My God To Thee (50002-L) July 21, 1913
Thomas Chalmers - My Old Kentucky Home (80321-R) 1914
Thomas Chalmers - Beulah Land (80549-L) 1920
Thomas Chalmers - O Holy Night (82055-R) 1914
Thomas Chalmers - The Palms (82055-L) 1914
Thomas Chalmers - The Star Spangled Banner (80172-L) 1914
Thomas Chalmers - Battle Hymn Of The Republic (82133-R) 1917
Thomas Chalmers - Recessional (82133-L) 1916
Vasa Prihoda - (a) Songs My Mother Taught Me (b) Poem (82236-R) 1921
Vasa Prihoda - On Wings Of Song (82236-L) 1921
Venetian Instrumental Quartet - On The High Alps (50065-L) 1914
Waikiki Hawaiian Orchestra - One, Two, Three, Four Medley (50455-L) 1917
Walter Van Brunt - Hickey Dula (50348-L) 1916
Walter Van Brunt - Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You (50357-L) 1916
Walter Van Brunt - I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen (80160-R) 1914
Walter Van Brunt & Elizabeth Spencer - On The Banks Of The Brandywine (80160-L) 1914

Emerson
Charles Hart & Elliot Shaw - Let The Rest Of The World Go By (4726) 1919
Edward Hamilton - Just Like The Rose (4725) 1919
Toots Paka Hawaiian Company - Hilo March (4798) 1919
Toots Paka Hawaiian Company - Kilima Waltz (4795) 1919

Imperial
Charlie "Boogie Woogie" Davis - I Know What It's All About (5021A) 1947
Charlie "Boogie Woogie" Davis - How I Miss Old Memphis Tennessee (5021B) 1947

King
Homer and Jethro - All Night Long (2644) 1947
Homer and Jethro - Blue Tail Fly (2424) 1947
Wayne Raney - Pardon My Whiskers (910-A) 1949
Wayne Raney - Old Fashioned Matrimony In Mind (910-AA) 1949

Madison
Frisco Players - Love (5043) 1929
Oceanic Dance Orchestra - Waiting For Someone Like You (3407) 1929

Majestic Records
Danny O'Neil - That's My Home (7198A) 1946
Danny O'Neil - And Then It's Heaven (7198B) 1946
Jack Leonard - A-N-G-E-L Spells Mary (T-1240) 1947
Jack Leonard - Naughty Angeline (T-1241) 1947

Melotone
Gene Autry - The Answer To Nobody's Darling (LA1108) 1935
Gene Autry & Jimmy Long - Answer To Red River Valley (16576) 1936

Mercury
Frankie Laine - Carry Me Back To Old Virginney (5345) 1949
Frankie Laine - Don't Do Something To Someone Else (5332) 1949
Frankie Laine - Mule Train (5345) 1949
Frankie Laine - Waiting At The End Of The Road (5332) 1949
Patti Page - Changing Partners (70260) 1953
Patti Page - Cross Over The Bridge (70302) 1954
Patti Page - My Restless Lover (70302) 1954
Patti Page - Where DId My Snowman Go (70260) 1953
Starlighters - Across The Alley From The Alamo (3060-A) 1947
Starlighters - Why Did It Have To End So Soon (3060-B) 1947
Vic Damone - Angela Mia (795) 1947
Vic Damone - You Do (796) 1947

Okeh Records
Al Dexter and his Troopers - Pistol Packin' Mama (6708) 1942
Al Dexter and his Troopers - Rosalita (6708) 1942
Andrew Jenkins & Frank Hicks - The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago (45443) 1930
Andrew Jenkins & Frank Hicks - Don't Stop Praying (45443) 1930
Billy Beard & Al Bernard - Henry Jones (Your Honeymoon Is Over) (41388) 1928
Billy Beard & Al Bernard - Cindy (It Am Wedding Time (41388) 1928
Bob Atcher - Crying Myself To Sleep (WC2863) 1940
Bob Atcher and Bonnie Blue Eyes - You Are My Sunshine (WC2862) 1940
Charles Richardson & O.S. Gabehart - God Is Still On The Throne (45371) 1929
Charles Richardson & O.S. Gabehart - The Unclouded Day (45371) 1929
Gene Autry - You're The Only Star (03097) 1935
Gene Autry - Mexicali Rose (03097) 1935
Louise Massey & The Westerners - Gals Don't Mean A Thing (6687) 1942
Louise Massey & The Westerners - The Honey Song (6687) 1942
Roy Acuff - Freight Train Blues (04466) 1936
Roy Acuff - Wabash Cannon Ball (04466) 1936
Spade Cooley - A Pair Of Broken Hearts (H1161) 1945
Spade Cooley - Shame On You (H1158) 1945
W.T. Narmour and S.W. Smith - Charlestown No. 1 (45317) 1929
W.T. Narmour and S.W. Smith - Carroll County Blues (45317) March 1929
W.T. Narmour and S.W. Smith - Charleston No. 2 (45377) 1929
W.T. Narmour and S.W. Smith - Carroll County Blues No. 2 (45377) 1929

Oriole
Larry Holton - Carolina Moon (2014) 1929
Larry Holton - When Summer Is Gone (2015) 1928

Orthacoustic Radio Recording - NBC
Alameda Coast Guard Band - Armed Guard Fighting Song

Palex
Paul Villard - When I Was A Boy (501A)
Paul Villard - Foggy Foggy Dew (501B)
Paul Villard - My Hometown (502A)
Paul Villard - Venezuela (502B)
Paul Villard - Trade Winds - Sea Fever (503A)
Paul Villard - September Song (503B)

Perfect Records
Callahan Brothers - She's My Curly Headed Baby No. 2 (17273 35-10-28A) 1935
Callahan Brothers - I'll Be Thinking Of Days Gone By (35-10-28B) 1934
Carter Family - The Fate Of Dewey Lee (13153A) 1935
Carter Family - East Virginia Blues No. 2 (131353B) 1935

RCA Victor
Ames Brothers - Man, Man, Is For The Woman Made (20-5644) 1955
Ames Brothers - The Man With The Banjo (20-5644) 1955
Aristo-Kats - It Makes Me Blue (20-2066-A) 1947
Aristo-Kats - Oh, Lady Be Good (20-2066-B) 1947
Cecil Campbell's Tennessee Ramblers - Steel Guitar Wiggle (21-0445-A) 1951
Cecil Campbell's Tennessee Ramblers - Coconut Island (21-0445-B) 1951
Dinah Shore and Tony Martin - In Your Arms (20-4019-A) 1951
Dinah Shore and Tony Martin - A Penny A Kiss (20-4019-B) 1951
Eddy Arnold - Bouquet of Roses (20-2806-B) 1948
Eddy Arnold - I Talk To Myself About You (20-1801A) 1946
Eddy Arnold - If I Never Get To Heaven (20-5415) 1953
Eddy Arnold - (I'll Have To) Live And Learn (20-1801B) 1946
Eddy Arnold - Mama Come Get Your Baby Boy (20-5415) 1953
Eddy Arnold - Texarkana Baby (20-2806-A) 1948
Eddie Fisher - Lady Of Spain (20-4953) 1952
Eddie Fisher - Outside Of Heaven (20-4953) 1952
Elton Britt - Detour (20-1817-B) 1946
Elton Britt - Make Room In Your Heart For A Friend (20-1817-A) 1946
Gene Krupa - Bonaparte's Retreat (20-3766) 1950
Gene Krupa - My Scandinavian Baby (20-3766) 1950
Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra - Blue Tango (20-4518) 1952
Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra - The Gypsy Trail (20-4518) 1952
Johnny and Jack - Cheated Out Of Love (20-5581) 1954
Johnny and Jack - Love Trap (20-5581) 1954
Perry Como - A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (20-3607A) 1949
Perry Como - Bibbidi Bobbidi-Boo (20-3607B) 1949
Phil Harris - Goofus (20-3968-A) 1950
Phil Harris - The Thing (20-3968-B) 1950
Roy Rogers - Dusty (20-3154-A) 1948
Roy Rogers - I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine (20-1815-B) 1946
Roy Rogers - Rock Me To Sleep In My Saddle (20-1815-A) 1946
Roy Rogers - The Kid With The Rip In His Pants (20-3154-B) 1948
Sammy Kaye - I Used To Work In Chicago (20-2037B) 1946
Sammy Kaye - It's A Lie (20-2037A) 1946
Sammy Kaye - It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight (20-20-2558-B) 1947
Sammy Kaye - Oh! What I Know About You (20-2558-A) 1947
Tony Martin - There's No Tomorrow (20-3582B) 1949
Tony Martin - A Thousand Violins (20-3582B) 1949
Vaughn Monroe - How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You) (20-2523A) 1948
Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra - True (20-2523B) 1948

Regal
Dixie Marimba Players - When The Harvest Moon Is Shining (8577-B) 1928
Hollywood Dance Orchestra - Lou'siana Lullaby (8577-A) 1928

Sacred Records
Alan McGill - He Lives (300A)
Alan McGill - No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus (300B)

Standard Talking Machine Company
Albert Campbell - Dreaming (3701) 1907
Cal Stewart - Uncle Josh Joins The Grangers (3706) 1907
Chatauqua Preachers Quartette - Let The Lower Lights Be Burning (39477) 1914
Chatauqua Preachers Quartette - Softly Now The Light Of Day (39476) 1914
Collins and Harlan - Just Help Yourself (3695) 1907
Collins and Harlan - Ruff Johnson's Harmony Band (39698) 1915
Contralto Solo - 'Tis But A Little Faded Flower (3402) 1910
Henry Burr - Throw Out The Life Line (3205) 1905
Henry Burr - Savior Lead me Lest I Stray (A239) 1905
Herbert Stuart - When The Lusitania Went Down (45660) 1915
Stanley and Burr - What A Friend We Have In Jesus (3756) 1907
S.C. (Steve) Porter [Chimes] - Safe In The Arms Of Jesus (A239) 1902
Sam Ash - When I Leave The World Behind (45647) 1915
Steve Porter - Flanagan At The Vocal Teacher's (3705) 1907
Tenor Solo - Then You'll Remember Me (414) 1910

Superior Records
Charleston Sacred Quartette - The Saviour Said (2615A) 1930
Charleston Sacred Quartet - Turn Away (2615B) 1930
Clyde Ashley - Got Them Drunken Blues (2636A) 1930
Clyde Ashley - The Hand Car Yodel (2636B) 1930
Gene Autry - T.D. Blues (2710A) 1930
Gene Autry - Blue Days (2710B) 1930
Joe Lester & Dick Moss - That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine (2632A) 1930
Joe Lester & Dick Moss - I'm Always Dreaming Of You (2632B) 1930
Mitchell Family Trio - Picture On The Wall (2641A) 1929
Mitchell Family Trio - A Flower From My Angel Mother's Grave (2641B) 1929
Murphy Brothers - When Katie Comes Down To The Gate (2716A) 1931
Murphy Brothers - A Little White Rose (2716B) 1931
William Harper & Nelson Hall - Going Down In The Valley (2602A) 1931
William Harper & Nelson Hall - Nailed To The Cross (2602B) 1931

United Talking Machine Company
Collins and Harlan - On The 5:15 (39697) 1915
Henry Burr - Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight (A236) 1908
Henry Burr - Abide With Me (A236) 1908

Victor
All Star Trio (George Green, Wheeler Wadsworth and Victor Arden)- Fluffy Ruffles(18641-B) 1919
All Star Trio - Poor Little Butterfly Is A Fly Gal Now (18641-A) 1919
American Quartet - When You Wore A Tulip (17652A) 1914
Arthur Fields - Good Morning Mr. Zip-Zip-Zip! (18510-B) 1918
Billy Murray - He Went In Like A Lion And Came Out Like A Lamb (18657-B) Jan. 2, 1920
Billy Murray - When Tony Goes Over The Top (18510-A) 1918
Binkley Brothers Dixie Clodhoppers - I'll Rise When The Rooster Crows (V40048A) 1928
Binkley Brothers Dixie Clodhoppers - Give Me Back My Fifteen Cents (V40048B) 1928
Carter Family - When Roses Bloom In Dixieland (V40229A) 1927
Carter Family - No Telephone In Heaven (V40229B) 1927
Carter Family - The Poor Orphan Child (20877A) 1927
Carter Family - The Wandering Boy (20877B) 1927
Carter Family - Single Girl, Married Girl (20937A) 1927
Carter Family - The Storms Are On The Ocean (20937B) 1927
Charles Anthony/Lewis James - Salvation Lassie Of Mine (18524-B) 1919
Esther Walker - How Sorry You'll Be (Wait'll You See) (18657-A) November 18, 1919
Elizabeth Spencer and Henry Burr - You're Still An Old Sweetheart Of Mine (18590-A) 1919
Frank Ferera/Anthony Franchini - Bright Moon (19088-A) 1920
Frank Ferera/Anthony Franchini - Hawaiian Nights (19088-B) 1920
Freddy Martin and his Orchestra - I Get The Neck Of The Chicken (20-1515-A) 1942
Freddy Martin and his Orchestra - Can't Get Out Of This Mood (20-1515-B) 1942
Geoffrey O'Hara - Send Me A Curl(18441-A) 1918
Henry Burr - Are You From Heaven (18435-A) 1917
Henry Burr and Peerless Quartet - Broadway Rose (18710-A) 1920
Henry Burr - Just A Baby's Prayer At Twilight (18439-A) 1918
Henry Burr - That Wonderful Mother Of Mine (18524-A) 1919
John Steel - Tell Me Little Gypsy (18687-A) 1920
John Steel - The Girl Of My Dreams (18687-B) 1920
Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra - Alice Blue Gown (18700-A) 1921
Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra - Tripoli (18700-B) 1921
Kelly Harrell - Hand Me Down My Walking Cane (20103A) 1914
Kelly Harrell - My Horses Ain't Hungry (20103B) 1914
Lewis James and Peerless Quartet - Smile And The World Smiles With You (18545-A) 1919
Lewis James and Shannon Four - All Aboard For Home Sweet Home (18441-B) 1918
Lewis James and Shannon Four - The Gates Of Gladness (18590-B) 1919
Pale K. Lua and David Kaili (Irene West Royal Hawaiians) - Cunha Medley (17774-A) 1915
Pale K. Lua and David Kaili (Irene West Royal Hawaiians) - Hula Medley (17774-B) 1915
Peerless Quartet - The Red, White and Blue (17652-B) 1914
Percy Hemus - On The Road To Home Sweet Home (18439-B) 1918
Selvin's Novelty Orchestra - Dardanella (18633-A) 1919
Selvin's Novelty Orchestra - My Isle Of Golden Dreams (1863-B) 1919
Sousa's Band - Liberty Loan March (18430-B) Dec. 21, 1917
Sousa's Band - U.S. Field Artillery March (18430-A) Dec. 21, 1917
Stanley and Burr - I Am Praying For You (16372-B) 1912
Sterling Trio - Give Me The Right To Love You (18435-B) 1917
Sterling Trio - Mother's Lullaby (18710-B) 1920
Sterling Trio - That Tumble Down Shack In Athlone (18545-B) 1919
Vaughn Monroe w/The Norton Sisters - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (20-1759-A) 1945
Vaughn Monroe w/The Norton Sisters - When The Sandman Rides The Trail (20-1759-B) 1945
Vaughn Quartet - Sunlight and Shadows (V40097A) 1928
Vaughn Quartet - In Steps Of Light (V40097B) 1928
Wayne King and his Orchestra - Star Dust (24509A) 1933
Wayne King and his Orchestra - Speak Easy - Bolero (24509B) 1933
Whitney Brothers Quartet - Home Of The Soul (16372-A) 1912

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Tom Hammond


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Tom Hammond.


Kentucky native Tom Hammond has had a nice career working as a sportscaster for NBC Sports television and is one of the network's staple on-air presenters. He has served as play-by-play announcer for NBC's coverage of Track and Field at every Summer Olympics since 1992. Hammond's tenure at NBC began in 1984, when he was named as a co-host of the Breeders' Cup alongside Dick Enberg. It was supposed to be a one-shot deal for Hammond, but network execs were so impressed, he ended up getting a long-term contract. He is the main host of the network's thoroughbred racing coverage. He has also done play-by-play commentary for NBA and NFL games, gymnastics, figure skating, WNBA, Orange Bowl and college basketball. Hammond began his career with WVLK Radio. He lives in Lexington.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Howard Cosell


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Howard Cosell.


Howard Cosell was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. He called himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff." But, he was more than that. As an attorney, one of Cosell's clients was the Little League of New York. In 1953, he was asked to host a show on WABC featuring Little League participants. Three years later, he left the law field to become a full-time broadcaster.

Howard Cosell's style of hard news-like reporting transformed sports broadcasting. His distinctive voice, accent, cadence, etc. were a form of color commentary all their own.


Cosell covered some of boxing's biggest matches during the 1970s and early 80s. His most famous call came in the 1973 championship bout between Joe Frazier and George Foreman. When Foreman knocked Frazier to the mat in the first round, Cosell yelled out “Down Goes Frazier! Down Goes Frazier! Down Goes Frazier!" It became one of the most quoted phrases in sports broadcasting history. Cosell rose to prominence covering Muhammad Ali, who loved to tease Cosell about his toupee and threatened to remove it from Cosell's head. Of course, Cosell never let him do it.


In 1970, ABC hired Cosell as commentator for its new program, Monday Night Football. His inimitable style ushered in an era of more colorful broadcasters. For the decade of the 1970s, no television personalities were more in the spotlight than the ABC broadcast team for Monday Night Football. In the photo above, left to right, is Don Meredith, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.


Cosell also worked the Olympics for ABC. He covered the Palestinian terror group Black September's mass murder of Israeli athletes in Munich at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

The way Cosell introduced himself on the air was in itself, an epic event. If you never heard him it's hard to really desbribe it. His accent, his cadence, his serious style of delivery...all were right there in his opening line at the beginning of his broadcast. Four simple words, yet profound and now legendary...

"This is Howard Cosell."

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Cawood Ledford


There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Cawood Ledford.


Cawood Ledford's style of doing play by play endeared himself to all sports fans in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He remains among the most popular sports figures in the state. I started listening to "Cawood" at a young age. I can remember my dad lying in bed listening to the Voice of the University of Kentucky Wildcats as I sat listening from the steps that led upstairs to my bedroom. "Hello everybody, this is Cawood Ledford..."


Ledford began broadcasting high school basketball and football games for WHLN radio in Harlan in 1951 and began broadcasting Kentucky Wildcats games in 1953 after moving to Lexington. He remained play-by-play announcer for UK for 39 years. His last game as an announcer for a Kentucky basketball game was in 1992, when Kentucky fell to Duke 104-103 in overtime in the NCAA East Regional Final, a game widely considered to be the greatest college basketball game ever played. He also worked as the play-by-play announcer for national radio broadcasts of the NCAA Men's Final Four on the CBS Radio Network and called many runnings of the Kentucky Derby for CBS Radio. Ledford also did play-by-play of the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association. Nobody ever could or ever will do play by play as good as Cawood Ledford.


One of my favorite photographs is this one featuring the Voice of the Clinton County Bulldogs, Sid Scott, and the Voice of the Kentucky Wildcats, Cawood Ledford.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Sports Announcers I Grew Up With: Lance Russell and Dave Brown




There is a special place in my heart for the radio and TV sports announcers I grew up with. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to roller derby and wrestling, and everything in between, sports was a big part of my life growing up. At my house, we watched on TV whatever sport was 'in season,' especially on Saturday's. If there was a sports event on radio, we listened to it. I was very blessed to grow up with many now- legendary voices and characters. Today, I want to pay tribute to Lance Russell and Dave Brown.


Lance Russell was the announcer for the Saturday morning wrestling programs that aired on TV throughout my childhood. It was my favorite program to watch. Russell announced matches in the Memphis region from 1959 to 1997, for the NWA Mid-America and the Continental Wrestling Associations. He was best known for his relaxed announcing style, as well as the much-used phrases, "By golly" and "Son of a gun." His co-host for more than two decades was Dave Brown, a college student and disc jockey, and later, TV meteorologist. While he was definitely a star, Lance Russell never found himself in the position of being a bigger than the wrestlers he worked with. That list runs long: Lou Thesz, Jackie Fargo, Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Hart and Randy Savage, to name a few. Russell would get up from his chair to conduct interviews, walking around to the front of the desk. It was common to see one or more of the heel wrestlers demolish the set or even run roughhouse over Russell. Be sure to watch the video below. These interviews were often the highlight of the Saturday morning television broadcast. Russell also literally rang a bell to begin matches, in addition to pounding it loudly in futile attempts to halt out-of-control melees in the ring. Russell used the mic to chastise and exhort wrestlers during their match. He often encouraged other wrestlers to run in from the locker room and offer assistance. His famous one-liners were "Don't start with that smart stuff" and "Will you guys just stop and get out of here?"


Dave Brown, began his broadcasting career in 1962 at age 16 as a disc jockey at WKBJ Radio in Milan, Tennessee. For 38 years, he has been chief meteorologist for WMC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Memphis. Dave Brown spent 35 years as an announcer for the Memphis Wrestling television program (later Championship Wrestling). 25 of those years was spent alongside Lance Russell. Russell and Brown have been described by wrestling insiders and fans as the greatest television announcing team in the history of wrestling. Heel wrestlers and managers like Jimmy Hart nicknamed him "Dave Brown the Weather Clown" as well as "Howdy Doody."






Long may our Land be Bright with Freedom's Holy Light

Officially, the Continental Congress declared its freedom from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, but after voting to approve it, a draft do...