I got a nice shoutout at the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers (video)

My friend and former Metromedia FM radio station WMMR colleague T. Morgan -- holding the mike in the photo -- (that's friend and colleague Michael Tearson on the right) had some nice words to say about me at the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers meeting last week.

Morgan tells the story of how I put a brand new radio station on the national map and made a star out of unknown, un-signed Billy Joel.

T. and M.T. spoke about WMMR's 50th Anniversary.

The printed materials Morgan refers to are here.

The "How Dennis Wilen Made Billy Joel A Star" saga was retold recently by Victor Fiorillo in Philadelphia Magazine.

I'm famous for 15 minutes yet again!

Here's the video, all cued up to right before my mention:

Leo Sayer Live at the Trenton War Memorial: COMPLETE

Leo Sayer live at the Trenton (New Jersey) War Memorial March 12, 1975. 

• Original 1975 recording produced for WMMR by me, Dennis Wilen. 
• Recorded by Lance Strickler and John Buffington of Mom's Wholesome Audio. 
• Tape preserved by Ted Cohen (7.5 ips half-track stereo original dub).
• Tape transferred to digital by Erik Flannigan. 
• Digital transfer equalized, compressed and remastered by Leo Sayer June 2015. 
• 2015 release produced by Dennis Wilen.

Here's what Leo wrote about this show:

It was 1975, and I was touring America for the 2nd time, this time without the pierrot costume, and starting to play bigger shows. 

Here we supported the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. 

My band were keyboardist Chris Stainton (already legendary for his work with Joe Coker and The Greaseband and Mad Dogs And Englishmen), Charlie Harrison on bass, Steve Chapman on drums and Les Nicol on guitar. 

We were a pretty tight outfit and 'Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)' was heading up the charts and bringing in a whole new audience to our shows, so I was on a roll when we recorded this. 

SAHB had been around the circuit a year before us so were well established and Alex was a fantastic showman on stage, and it was a thrill to be supporting them and playing to their crowd into the bargain. 

It must've been a great gig to attend 'cos both bands were well known to give more than 100% onstage at the time. 

The energy really comes across here, and though a lot of people wrote me off as MOR, this show belies that - we rocked! 

I'm older and wiser now maybe, but when I heard this tape back it's like yesterday again. 

Hope you all like it too...

TRACK LISTING:

1. Introduction by Michael Tearson of WMMR. 
2. Giving It All Away 
3. Oh What A Life 
4. Tomorrow 
5. In My Life 
6. Train 
7. One Man Band 
8. Telepath 
9. Another Time 
10. Long Tall Glasses 
11. Show Must Go On

Leo Sayer Live at the Trenton War Memorial (intro)

 

WMMR's Michael Tearson introduces Leo Sayer at the Trenton (NJ) War Memorial concert hall on March 12. 1975. The concert was recorded and later broadcast on the station. Radio concert produced for WMMR by Dennis Wilen. Sound by Mom's Wholesome Audio.