LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Talk - Something New, Something Oldies at WGMD |
by Bill Sievert |
Our local news-talk radio station WGMD (92.7 FM) continues to provide me with lots of news to talk about in this column. In the May 7th issue of Letters, I wrote about the stations airing of the syndicated Laura Schlesinger talk show and urged some balance with regard to her frequent tirades against gay people. In recent weeks, there has been some good news from station management. Although not yet ready to dump "Dr. Laura," WGMD is making a significant change in the way the show is presented. The station also is working with CAMP Rehoboth to provide more coverage of the positive contributions of the gay community in the Rehoboth Beach area. The stations new general manager, Tom Reagan, and its program director, Dan Gaffney, have decided to air disclaimers each hour during the "Dr." Laura show, explaining that her views do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of station management. The disclaimers also state that WGMD supports diversity and the building of community among all the people in its listening area. No, the disclaimer wont go far enough for those who want Lauras anti-gay campaign removed from the airwaves. One administrator with the Indian River School District recently told me that she believes Laura poses a serious threat to public safety. This educator fears that Laura contributes to an attitude that gives license to heterosexual students to bash their gay peers and creates self-loathing among gay students who may be struggling with their identities. The educator notes that, particularly in rural communities, repeated broadcasts of anti-gay attacks can provoke violent behavior. She would like to see a local group come together to file a complaint against the Laura program with the federal Office of Civil Rights. The Indian River administrators idea may well have merit, and it would help us all (broadcasters and the public alike) address the thorny question of when free speech crosses the line from fair comment to a campaign of hatred targeting an entire group of human beings. Meanwhile, the disclaimers being aired by WGMD amount to a significant and very positive move, one of several steps the station is taking to demonstrate that it is supportive of the gay and lesbian community. Station manager Reagan also has pledged $5,000 in free airtime, by way of public service announcements, to promote the LOVE and SUNDANCE benefits this summer. WGMD will be a sponsor of this years SUNDANCE on Labor Day Weekend. The station also has been advertising employment opportunities in this publication. Whats more, program director and morning host Gaffney has been coming up with creative ways to include gay people and issues in his entertaining talk show. A couple weeks ago, he broadcast a segment called "Name the Out-of-the-Closet Celebrities." Using short sound bites of the voices of stars discussing gay rights, listeners were asked to identify the speakers. Callers, gay and straight, scrambled for their phones to identify such stars as Anne Heche, Harvey Fierstein and k. d. Lang. This kind of radio segment demonstrates that it is quite possible to include gay people in lighthearted, entertainment programming without being snide or offensive. Speaking of entertainment programming on WGMD, for some time now Ive wanted to give kudos to Golden Oldies host Jack Shannon. This guy isnt your standard announce-the-songs disc jockey but a true authority on the popular music of the 1950s and 60s. Unlike many Oldies formats, Jacks program does not focus on a short list of number-one hitssongs many of us get tired of hearing over and over. Even the most diehard Oldies fan (gay or straight) can weary of repeated servings of "When A Man Loves a Woman," "My Girl," or "Having My Baby." Jack Shannon plays great songs we dont get to hear on radio very often. Instead of the Righteous Brothers "Youve Lost that Lovin Feeling," hell play the blue-eyed soul duos "Little Latin Lupe Lu" or "Ebb Tide." Instead of Buddy Hollys "Peggy Sue," hell spin "Oh Boy!" or "Rave On." In addition to Del Shannons classic 1961 chart-topper "Runaway," Jack Shannon will play 1964s top ten "Keep Searchin (Well Follow the Sun)" or 1963s "Little Town Flirt." I am particularly pleased that Jack airs a variety of Del Shannons songs. Long-time readers of this publication might recall that writer Glen Pruitt (executive director of the Sussex County AIDS Committee) confessed (shamelessly) in these pages his love for the music of Debby Boone. Well, the musical artist who has most profoundly impacted this columnists life is the late Del Shannon. Del, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, not only had one of the most distinctively haunting rock voices east of Roy Orbisons, but he also was a pioneer of much of what has happened in contemporary music since his heyday in the 1960s. Del was among the first rock artists to write his own material. He was the very first to use a synthesizer as instrumentation; his "Mellotron" created a remarkable wall of sound for much of his work. Del was the first to introduce a Beatles song to the United States. His rendition of the Lennon-McCartney composition "From Me to You" charted months before the Fab Four launched its British invasion. He also wrote songs for other singers, including the beautiful ballad "I Go to Pieces," as popularized by Peter & Gordon. In the later years of his life, Del made memorable music with such modern rock legends as Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and the Traveling Wilburys. His songs were full of plaintiff angst. And, as a closeted teenager, I found it easy to read gay meanings into his lyrics. Outcast lovers were a Del Shannon trademark, as in "Stranger in Town," in which he sang, "Me and my baby have been on the run so very long. Our folks sent a man to get us, they say weve done wrong" Del helped people like myself realize that it was okay to be different and that we must "Keep Searchin " for our dreams. For some great sound bites of his artistry and more on his contributions to popular music, check out the website: www.delshannon.com. Thanks to Jack Shannon for playing so many memorable songs by Del Shannon (and other often-forgotten artists). Jacks show currently airs on WGMD on Saturday mornings and early evening hours during the week. Thanks also to WGMD for reaffirming its commitment to the inclusion of gay people as integral parts of our delightfully diverse Rehoboth Beach community. Bill Sievert is co-owner of Splash on Baltimore Avenue, and CAMPsafe Program Director. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 7, June 18, 1999 |