The WIDB 50th Anniversary Artifactural Dig Contest rolls on! Here are highlights of entries so far:
1. ROGER (RAMJET) Davis had a 6 hour shift every Sunday in 1971. He played 120 songs every shift. See his playlist below.
2. JOE ROWE found WIDB in a dream! Read his 1987 story below.
3. Production Director, DAN GOLDBERG made a 2008 produ8ction compilation. Click icon below to listen.
4. CHARLIE STEWART’S very nervous 1972 freshman audition led to 44 years in radio. Read his story below.
Send us your stories and stuff! How to do that and contest details here. Deadline extended to December 15, 2019.
ROGER (RAMJET) Davis Playlists
Roger Ramjet playlist part I Fall 1971
Roger Ranjet playlist part II Fall 1971
JOE ROWE
“How did Joe Rowe find his way to WIDB? In a dream!
“Someone who was kinda Gothy in the dorms my first year told me there
was a radio station where I could hear the cure and other indy music.
One day in Boomer III, 1987 I heard music. It was Brian Eno and I
thought I was awake in my own dream because I only heard Brian Eno on
one tape from a friend and that tape was not in my cassette player.
“But I was in my dorm room. I had forgotten that I had set WIDB on my alarm
clock to wake up every day for class. The WIDB DJ that day on the
radio asked me in my dream to come to a meeting if they wanted to be a night DJ.
I soon woke up. Both literally and figuratively. I went to the
meeting. Dale Gardner was leading that first meeting and gave me my first shift
I got a late night spot, and in a short time I had the noon shift.
“I had grown up in Chicago and went to the Metro often. I was so shocked that everyone liked the music I liked. XTC, the Cure, Smiths, Eno etc . And after a few night shifts of being forced to play a rotation had me hooked. Then I learned about Main Street East and stopped going to the Lewis Park Parties! I found my people in a dream!”
Signed, Joe Rowe, Class of 1989
DAN GOLDBERG MONTAGE
CHARLIE STEWART
“As a snot nosed freshman in the fall of 1972, I entered SIU to major in one thing – R/TV. My passion was to be a radio star.
“I lived in 1531 Schneider, just a short walk to the radio station in Wright. I knew of WIDB once I moved into Schneider Tower. There were signs on the message board promoting the station. We could pick it up in the dorm and on cable FM. My first audition freshman year was a flop. However, Tom Cooper was News Director and made us feel comfortable despite our nervousness auditioning for the first time.
“A year later I auditioned again and was one of four who passed. Adrien Kaplan, Gene Fritz, Joey Helleny and me. From there I would do news and sports, was the sports director I think my junior year, originated the program “The Jazz Message” The Jazz Message was the first formal WIDB program dedicated to just Jazz. We started it around 1974 or 75 so I’m not sure where it went after that. I also worked with Todd Cave , Walt Leisering , Joe Halpin and Luke Banks, and I’m sure they helped encourage the show. Those are great names from the past and I hope they are in attendance next June. It was a fun time, and a great group! I would stay in radio another 44 years. WIDB was one of the many great memories of SIU! I will be at the reunion next year!”
Charlie Stewart
What’s your WIDB story? Send it to mailto:contest@widbnetwork.org.
WIDB 50th Anniversary Reunion Committee
