A little known fact to start the blog this morning:
From 1993 to 2001, I worked at Radio Wave 96.5FM. Music became my daily fix. A constant that I was more than happy to let wash over me.
It was an exciting time at the radio station. It had only launched the year before and was rapidly gaining a great reputation for great music and fun outside broadcasts. I had many opportunities to go out on these and be a "roadie" or "runner", assisting with setting up and promoting the event in my snazzy T-Shirt and Cap.
I started at the bottom of the ladder by doing a non-stop music show, simply playing tunes back to back, no chat required. Quickly learning how to use the equipment in the studio enabled me to be a technical operator (the person pushing the buttons in the studio) when outside broadcasts went out on the road, moving on to becoming a Presenter on my own show, albeit the "Graveyard Shift" through the night. It's not as glamorous as it sounds. It was hard graft at times (I once worked 24 hours straight), but it was a tremendous amount of fun!
Everyone I worked with were an amazing team (a handful of those people are still there to this day), and I can honestly say that it was the BEST job I have ever had. I truly miss it. But times change, as do owners and tech. I became surplus to requirements and was laid off.
I stopped listening to music for a long time after that. Grieving for something that had given me so much joy.
♬♪♩♫ Living In Symphony ♫♪♩♬
Music the life blood feeding my soul,
Melodies course through my brain.
Beats keeping time with my heart,
Rhythm pulsing through my veins.
Lost in the flow, hypnotic sounds,
In a world of my own, I dance.
Singing along, caught up in the vibe,
Ignoring all else, entranced.
Joy permeates through the smile on my face,
Body feeling light, communicates fun.
But take the music away, you crush me,
My spirit destroyed when all is said and done.
These days, there's only one thing that makes my heart soar in the same way. That's when my son sings "You are my Sunshine". I sang the first verse to him all the time when he was a baby and he now sings it to me.
Thanks for reading. x ;-)
♬ ♪ ♩ ♫ ♪ ♩ ♬ ♬ ♪ ♩ ♫ ♪ ♩ ♬
6 comments:
This made me smile.
Thank you so much for sharing.
As we are told Michael Caine says often "Not A Lot Of People Know That", and it's interesting that you too followed the radio Yellow Brick Road.
As I was involved in winning the Preston and Around commercial contract for Red Rose Radio back at the start of commercial radio stations throughout the UK, I can see how much fun you must have had.
Let's have many more of your memories, Louise, and the You Are My Sunshine clincher makes me re-visualise the scene I like most in the movie DAVE where the fake President and his wife (played by gorgeous Sigourney Weaver) have to pretend to be lookalikes and strain to sing You Are My Sunshine for the assembled cops and passers-by:
ACE,
What a memory for detail you have Christo. As I was reading this post I was reminded of how when I was unhappy with my lot, I stopped singing around the house, stopped playing music and stopped dancing. I have rediscovered all three now. What a joy to be really alive again.
I sang You Are My Sunshine to Raven when she was a baby :) Top baby song.
My sister Liz worked at Radio Wave from 1995 for a few years I think. She was only 15 when she started and cut her teeth volunteering in the studio. They helped launch her career and were so good in letting her learn the ropes. Small world :)
I remember Liz, but I didn't realise she was your sister! My Lord, it is a small world! :O
Well, I didn't know that you'd had a hand in the industry too Christo! It was immensely fun, even through the night shifts.
As for the film "Dave" ...... I enjoyed that too. I haven't watched it in years though. I think I'll have to find it and watch it again. ;-)
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