Saturday Morning Function - An Excellent Radio Show on WBGO Lives On After its Host Bob Porter Passed Away

 

Some of the best and unique radio programming are heard on not-for-profit stations.  The Saturday Morning Function is heard from 8 AM - 10 AM  on WBGO at 88.3 FM in the New York-New Jersey area or on its website.  It provides a mix of classic soul and rhythm and blues.  Its host Bob Porter who passed away in April 2021 received many awards for his professional achievements.  I thank the management of WBGO for keeping this program alive after the host's passing.

My Vaccines for 2021

 

I have never received a flu shot until today.  I guess I was persuaded by Dr. Dave Choksi, NYC Health Commissioner, to get the shot this year.  In all the years I didn't get the flu shot, I never contracted the disease.  This year I received:

• Moderna #1 for COVID-19 -  March 3
• Moderna #2 for COVID-19 - March 31
• Shingles Shot #1 - August 16

In all three cases, I developed a fever within a day of the vaccination.  I am hoping I won't develop side effects for today's or future shots.

Within the next few weeks I will get:

• Moderna Booster
• Shingles Shot #2

I should also get the Prevnar vaccine to fight pnemonia.

Eddie's Sweet Shop in Forest Hills

 

There was a good article recently in the New York Times about Eddie's Sweet Shop in Forest Hills.  I must say that it was one of a kind in selling homemade ice cream.  I remember in the early 1980s during my Queens B'nai Brith Singles days I went there regularly with, Herb, Gary, Lenny, and Howie.  The article states that apparently there was no Eddie, but I distinctively remember an elderly man named Eddie there.  In later years Karen, Lee, and I went there after seeing movies at the Cinemart Theater just across the street on Metropolitan Avenue.

Cara Mia by Jay and The Americans - 1965 and 2011 Performances

 We heard the sad news yesterday that Jay Black passed away at age 82.  I know that his Cara Mia was always a favorite of my friend Cara Sieden.  I found two versions of this song on Youtube from 1965 on Shindig and 2011 from PBS.  Which version do you prefer?

1965 on Shindig


2011 on PBS

Goodbye Country Music - Hello Classic Hip Hop on 94.7 FM in NYC

 

It has been a long time since there was a major format change in New York radio, but today 94.7 FM flipped from country music to classic hip hop.  The ratings for country music were not good in NYC and apparently, the advertising dollars coming in did not satisfy Audacy, the owner of 94.7 FM, and other radio stations in NYC and other markets.  Historically, country music appeals more to listeners in the suburbs than in the city.  94.7 FM adopted country music in January 2013 when it was owned by Cumulus and branded as Nash-FM.  It was sold to Audacy and was branded as New York's Country as seen in the logo above.

Classic Hip Hop is heard on radio stations in other cities.  It remains to be seen if it will succeed in the Big Apple. It will be branded as 94.7 The Block and adopt the calls WXBK. Country music can still be heard at 94.7 HD2 and on the Audacy app.

Random thoughts of the Day

 

Working with banks can be a real pain.  I had several joint accounts at my local bank with Karen.  Now I have to close those accounts and open up new ones.  It can be a tedious procedure.  Also, I can't access my safe deposit box until I get an order from the Surrogate Court.  I sent them the required paperwork, but it will take weeks before I hear from them.

Jonathan Fisher has now won $193,800 in 8 appearances after dethroning Matt Amodio after 38 victories.  he is an excellent player, but I don't think he will finish among the elite.  There is a website comparing the performance of Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, and Matt Amodio.  I would love to see a match among the three, but I don't think that will happen since Ken now works as Consulting Producer for Jeopardy,

I asked Don Tandler to play I Only Have Eyes for You by The Flamingoes on Pop Gold Radio at about 12 noon today.  In the early 1980s I dedicated it to Karen on Jack Spector's Sock Hop heard on Saturday Night on WCBS-FM.

Deep Track of the Day - As You Said by Cream

 

When I can't think of anything to say, I usually post a song in my journal.  One of my favorite stations on SiriusXM is Deep Tracks which obviously plays cuts not usually heard on terrestrial classic rock stations.  This morning I hear As You Said by Cream.  I remember buying the album Wheels of Fire with its shiny silver cover back in 1968