On Sunday, August 3rd, Music and More AZ and Radio Free Phoenix invite you to the hip, historic Rhythm Room in Phoenix for the first “Discover Your New Favorite Bands” showcase. It’s a triple treat, featuring three unique Arizona bands: Mrs. Lincoln, the Robby Roberson Quartet and Day Before Plastics. Listen to Radio Free Phoenix for music from these three bands!
Come join RFP and some some cool music at The Rhythm Room this Sunday August 3rd. Doors open at 7 PM, the show starts at 8 PM. Radio Free Phoenix’s Gary Laatsch will be emceeing the show!
It’s a sad day in Arizona. One of the true greats of Phoenix television has died. Bill Thomson, better known as Wallace of The Wallace & Ladmo show has passed the age of 82. He had been in the hospital for the last several days and died Wednesday.
For kids that grew up in Arizona, The Wallace & Ladmo Show was as important as eating. The show was aired live out of KPHO TV 5 every afternoon at 4pm, For a kid, there was nothing more urgent then getting home from school in time to catch the show. The Wallace character first debuted on The Gold Dust Charlie Show in April of 1954. When Gold Dust Charlie retired, Bill Thompson was offered his own show as the TV station had just bought a cartoon package and needed somebody to host the cartoons. In January 1955 “It’s Wallace?” premiered on Phoenix television and aired continuously to December 29th, 1989.
Throughout the years, The Wallace & Ladmo Show remained an important icon for all the kids that grew up with it, and they too continued to watch the show with their own children.
There were the live stage shows at Legend City and all over Arizona and Saturday morning stage shows with a movie at the Bethany, Fox and Christown theaters in Phoenix. There was The Wallace & Ladmo Drive-in’s, the music of Hub Capp & the Wheels, The Ladmo Trio & Commodore Condello’s Salt River Navy Band, and of course all the great characters and comedy the show provided with Wallace, Ladmo & Pat McMahon.
I think the best part for Wallace, was that even though the show ended in 1989, his fans never let him forget how much of a difference he made in their lives!
Join Radio Free Phoenix today at 3am & 10am today (July 24th) for a musical tribute to Wallace by Andy Olson. Also later today, Liz Boyle will have her own tribute to the man who inspired generations of kids!
This Saturday at 5pm & Sunday at 3pm (Arizona Time) on RFP Presents, Join Andy Olson for a Music & Interview Special with Singer-Songwriter, Dylan Gardner. We first discovered Dylan when he played the RFP Picnic back in February 2010. He has just released his first full album on CD & limited edition vinyl. You’ll hear tunes from his new CD “Adventures In Real Time”plus he will be playing a live set in the Radio Free Phoenix studio! Check out Dylans website DyanGardnerMusic.com and buy his new album on CD or 33 1/3 vinyl HERE!
Join us for Radio Freedom this Saturday (June 7th) & Sunday (June 8th) on Radio Free Phoenix with Sharon Kelley!
Sharon has just finished up a 30 year + run as the first female director at KPHO Channel 5 in Phoenix. One of her first duties at Channel 5 was working on the Wallace & Ladmo Show. She went on to direct Wallace & Ladmo until it went off the air in 1989. In 2000 she won an Emmy for producing, writing & editing the Wallace & Ladmo Tribute hosted by Alice Cooper. In addition, she will be inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame on October 16th 2014.
We are excited to have Sharon as a guest DJ on RFP. Join us as she plays 15 songs by artists she has seen in concert!
Every Saturday from 3-6am (Arizona Time) 11 – 2pm (UK Time) join RFP for Cartoon World Live from the UK with Max & Lenise!
Some background on our two zany Cartoon World Hosts:
Max was born and raised in Bradford just a few miles outside Bingley (or BingVegas, as it is known locally) and lived in London for 7 years. An accomplished bass player, he was part of the Bradford rock scene at its height in the 80s, playing in bands like Byte The Bullet, White Hot and Blue and has played onstage with Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, former Argent vocalist John Verity and assorted members of Saxon. He traveled to far flung places while a bass tech for Bradford’s own Terrorvision. In London, he joined “She Hit Me First”, and is currently in Ryder, a dynamic Leeds-based original ska/punk/rock band. Max is married to Lenise, who he met in 2007 and their relationship was pretty much cemented with their mutual love of music, an aversion to reality and the fact that they both dig weird.
Lenise is originally from Detroit, and as an impulsive and impetuous teenager decided to relocate to London in 1983. After working in PR over the years for other people, she set up her own small Music PR company, RelentlessPr in 2000. She has NO musical talent whatsoever, but has always been obsessed with music (particularly The Who) and knows a good thing when she hears it. Lenise had the honour of bringing the Fast Camels, Daniel Wiley, Alley Kerr, Golden Hour, Water School, Green Peppers, She Hit Me First and La Fleur Fatale to RFP and to the attention of the world at large.
They now live in Bingley, West Yorkshire, England in Cartoon World with an assortment of crazy, furry kids and giving Radio Free Phoenix the UK slant.
Please welcome Max & Lenise to Radio Free Phoenix!!!
Oh, and don’t forget Otis – The Cartoon World Mascot!
This Christmas Eve on Radio Free Phoenix, join us for the 25th Anniversary edition of “A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas”. From 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve through Christmas day at midnight. (MST). We will be playing an incredible deep and outrageous mix of Rock N Roll Christmas Tunes. Hosted by Andy Olson, this is the only show in the country that gathers together such a smorgasbord of absolutely cool Christmas Rock & Roll — Featuring top flight Christmas Rock mixed with a generous helping of parody & novelty holiday tunes along with great background information on the artists and songs. Since 1988 this show has been gracing the Phoenix Airwaves, first on KSLX, then KDKB, KZON and then back to KSLX and now on Radio Free Phoenix!
Jackson Browne – U2 – Adam Sandler – Greg Lake – Eagles – Pretenders – Dan Hicks – Sting – Jimi Hendrix – Smithereens – Blues Traveler – George Thorogood – Cheech & Chong – John Mellencamp – Old 97’s – Fountains of Wayne – Big Star – Ramones – George Harrison – Dave Edmunds – Billy Squire – Band Aid – Graham Parker – Heart – Payolas – Cheap Trick – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – XTC – John Lennon – Waitresses – Jethro Tull – REM – Ringo Starr – Kinks – DB’s – Paul McCartney – Bruce Springsteen – NRBQ – T Rex – Adrian Belew – Weird Al Yankovic – Squirrel Nut Zippers – Ramones – Bob Rivers – Shawn Phillips – Crash Test Dummies – Slade – Elton Duck – Leon Redbone – Tom Waits – Peter Murphy – Alice Cooper – Bobby Lloyd & The Skeletons – Mojo Nixon – Doug & The Slugs – Bruce Cockburn – Smoking Popes – Talking Meds – Andrew Gold – Keb’ Mo – Riders In The Sky – The Band – Aimee Mann & Michael Penn – Loudon Wainwright III – Smithereens – Andrew Gold – Band Aid – Fab Four – Brian Wilson – Blondie – Joan Jett – Brian Setzer – Chuck Berry – She & Him – Sex Pistols – Donovan – Shins – John Prine – Keith Richards – Billy Squire – Guster – Slade – Yello – Payolas – Roy Wood & Wizzard – Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Graham Parker – Dave Matthews – Flaming Lips – Jorma Kaukonen – and many more!
You will not hear a show like this on any AM/FM station nor anywhere else on the internet. This is a truly unique Christmas experience that has stood the test of time!
The New “Rediscovering the Past Series” will be featuring interviews from RFP artists from the past. To kick off, we are featuring a vintage interview from 1986 with Jerry Riopelle. This was live on-air on KSTM, The Storm with Andy Olson on December 30th, 1986. The New Year’s Eve show at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix that year was his 12th. Last year on December 31st, he returned to the Celebrity Theater. This show marked his 38th Anniversary of ringing in the New Year!.
Procrastination has always been a bad habit of mine, as it is with many people these days. We become so caught up in our own daily dramas that we sometimes put off the very things that should be a priority. In my case, that overlooked item was a simple ‘Thank You’ to a special person. That special person was, Bennie Barresi.
Bennie & Me
It was 1973 when we first met. Having been a tom-boy during my childhood in Colorado, when I arrived at Washington H.S. freshman year, I had a bit of difficulty finding my place with the schoolgirls. Bennie noticed me wondering around aimlessly at Sam’s—Coke in one hand and cigarette in the other—and he offered to show me around WHS. He was the first classmate who took the time to introduce himself and make me feel welcomed at my new school. He was truly my first real friend in Arizona.
My family loved Bennie and his family was quite fond of me, and we spent almost every day together.
I remember that Ms. Barresi made the most delicious spaghetti sauce in the world. And I’ll never forget the time when Bennie stashed a piece of lemon pie in his room and took a huge bite of it, but had to spit it out because his cat had urinated on it. Ah, those were the days.
With Guitar
Our common bond was music. Bennie played the guitar— I sang. We were indeed the next: Sonny and Cher, Ike and Tina, Carpenters (okay, maybe not the Carpenters). J Our signature songs were: Bobby McGee (Joplin), Something (Beatles), Country Roads (John Denver), Stairway to Heaven (Zeppelin), and Leaving on a Jet Plane (Peter, Paul & Mary). As well as a few original pieces: Sunrise and Throwbacks. I’ve included the lyrics to the chorus of each song at the end of this story.
Even though Bennie left school in 1975 we maintained our contact and friendship. It was difficult enough to juggle my job at the Indian Drive-In Theater, WHS musical’s rehearsal, WHS choir practice and a college-boyfriend during Junior/Senior years, but somehow there was always time to hang out with Bennie and make music. We would jam at least twice per week, and as the world of technology advanced, so did our recordings.
Bennie was an absolute genius when it came to improvising. After the release of one of Queen’s most famous albums, Bennie was so impressed with Freddy Mercury harmonizing with himself that Bennie rigged up a way for us to dub, over-dub and over-over-dub our voices. I remember that Bennie once made a reel-to-reel recording of himself singing all of the parts of ‘Happiness is a Warm Gun’ (Beatles).
working on a tune…
On the subject of Bennie’s musical genius, the thought comes to mind of a portable amplifier he made out of some old stereo parts and an empty cracker box. It was a sight to behold, but, it worked! He would plug his electric guitar and my microphone into that thing and we were wired for sound!
We made a recording in his bedroom studio one time of ‘Dreamboat Annie’ (Heart). It was the first time I had ever sung harmony, but the results were amazing! And that was all because of Bennie’s coaching and editing of the tape. We had such dreams back then of becoming famous singers.
I realized near the end of my senior year, that although I had a decent enough voice, I didn’t have ‘star’ quality. I sang with a few bar-bands until 1983 and then with the exception of singing at spiritual gatherings or church choirs and coaching youth step-dance groups, my performing days were over. From what I now have learned from his good friend Andy Olson, Bennie continued with music until the end.
Bennie was a major part of my life until 1979 when I moved back to Colorado. He had always been my, “Johnny Come Lately” and was without doubt my best friend throughout my high school years. When I returned to Phoenix in 1981, unfortunately, I was involved in an abusive relationship. I felt trapped and doomed and confided my situation in Bennie. Naturally, he rescued me. He took me to his home, his mom fed me, we went into hiding for a few weeks — then I got myself back on track.
My buddies…
We both got busy with our lives and unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy to make music a priority any more. I had to work, pay bills, go to night school and think about my future. Somewhere along the way, Bennie and I lost touch. We never officially said good-bye, we just lost touch.
I’ve been living in Europe for the past decade. I work as an ELL-teacher at our local high school and one day with colleagues, we were sitting around talking about our own high-school days. Our discussion was focused on the importance of friendships when you are a teenager. I told stories about my talented friend, Bennie. I told them how Bennie was such an important part of my life when I was in high-school and how I truly believe that without his intervention I might have become a domestic violence statistic.
I realized that night that the life I’ve created for myself is partly due to the help I received from Bennie. If he had not helped me out of that relationship nightmare, who knows where or how things would have turned out. I told my fellow teachers, that one of the first things I would do when I went to America for a visit in 2008 would be to call Bennie and say a seventeen-year belated, Thank You!
When I was contacted by Andy Olson in response to my search for Bennie, I was shocked and deeply saddened to have heard that Bennie had been killed in a car accident on Halloween night, 2005.
Needless to say, I’ve learned a powerful lesson—never hesitate to let people know how much you care.
To the family and friends of Bennie, I extend my belated condolences.
To the heavens, I say—Bennie, thank you for everything and for always being a dependable friend; I only wish I could have told you in person. Thinking back on a conversation we once had with each other, I can imagine you are having a great jam session right now with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix! J So I end this with a quote from Jimi: “You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven.” So, B-B-B-Bennie, I’ll go on being the crazy jet and you go on enjoying your gigs in Heaven. Until we meet again…
Rest in Peace.
Love, Kathy
Bye, Bye Bennie, May the sun always shine on you..
Listen to the some of Bennie’s music below and you will hear why he touched so many people in his lifetime..
I’ll Have-To-Say-Goodbye
When The River Runs Dry
Prayer For The World
Misguided
Editors Note: Bennie Barresi was my best friend and died tragically on Halloween night, 2005 when he was hit by an SUV near 43th Avenue & Northern in Phoenix. The last song he played was an acoustic version of “Leaving On A Jet Plane” for a couple girls he met, before he jumped on his bike (with guitar on his back for the ride home).
Bennie Barresi was an explosion of musical ideas from the day he picked up his first guitar. In the early days, I watched him struggle to get through a song without messing it up, but then, he took a giant step forward and became a master at his craft. His sound was a mixture of Cat Stevens and Jethro Tull and so many other influences.
In my home studio, we recorded a lot of material over the years. Some of those songs are featured above. The track “Prayer for the World” was recorded live in my parent’s back yard at Arizona Country Club in Phoenix. That’s where I had my wedding to Cheryl and Bennie was the photographer for the event. He also brought his guitar and various tape machines (with his backing tracks for songs that he was going to sing) and I had it set up for audio. Around 1 am, as the wedding reception was getting smaller, Bennie grapped his guitar, cranked up the PA and out came “Prayer For the World” (echoing throughout the golf course). We were ready to settle in and listen to this one man show for as long as it lasted, but after a couple of songs, we woke my mom up and she yelled “Andy, turn it down!”
This Saturday at 11am on Deep Oldies and Sunday at 1pm on Radio Free Phoenix, join Miss Holly King for 2 brand new hours of Rockabilly & Beyond. Here’s Holly with more…….
Howdy RFP and Deep Oldies.com listeners…
It’s been a while since I have done a show and I wanted the first ones to be about dear friends and fond memories. The first two in the series are about my favorite records stores. Hour 1 is for brothers Dennis and Don Chiesa of “Tracks In Wax.” Hour 2 is about Brad Singer “The Sun God” and Zia Records.
Dennis was the owner and operator of Trax In Wax and passed away in May 2011. His brother, Don, passed away several years prior to this. Dennis was a big fan of Radio Free Phoenix and Deep Oldies.
Dennis Chiesa
RFP could be heard playing on a regular basis in the store. Trax In Wax on Central Avenue in Phoenix is still open and operating with the same vision that Dennis left us with.
Hour 2 will be in tribute to Brad Singer, the founder of Zia Records. Brad died on May 3rd 1998 and himself left quite a legacy…..
