Farewell Dr D

Subject: Farewell Dr D
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:22 AM

Dr Demento Radio Syndication Ending.
Wichita Eagle 01 July 2010

Changing formats do in Dr. Demento's radio show

Listen closely, that's the sound of demented music dying that you're hearing on your radio.

After nearly 40 years of broadcasting catchy little tunes celebrating everything from dogs getting run over by lawn mowers to cockroaches devouring entire cities, Dr. Demento is discontinuing his syndicated radio show.

By summer's end, the good doctor's hyper-enthusiastic voice will be heard only on the Internet as it introduces oddball classics such as "There's a Fungus Among Us," "Fish Heads" and "Dead Puppies."

For decades Demento has been a Sunday-night fixture on radio stations across the country, keeping alive the music of political satirists like Tom Lehrer ("The Vatican Rag"), while making a star of 'Weird Al" Yankovic, whose first hit, "My Bologna," debuted on the doctor's show.

"He kept my whole career alive by playing Freberg records constantly," says Stan Freberg, the Grammy-winning song satirist who, at 83, continues to write and perform comedy music and make public appearances.

Recently, however, the radio stations carrying Demento's show declined to fewer than a dozen. He had planned to stop syndicating it in June until he learned a college station in Amarillo, Texas, had committed to airing it through the summer.

Over the decades, Demento, who was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame last year, has kept his playlists contemporary. But it was changing radio formats that did in his syndicated show, said Demento, 69, who in a parallel life is Barret Hansen, music writer and ethnomusicologist.

His college master's thesis was on the evolution of rhythm and blues.


See what all that R&B can do to a person. Maybe it ain't all bad.

John

Subject: RE: Farewell Dr D
From: Melissa
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:24 AM

Cheerio, cherry lips

..dagnabbit, his show played a part in me growing up the way I am!

Subject: RE: Farewell Dr D
From: Melissa
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:29 AM

June 6, 2010
A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...
This weekend, the Dr. Demento Show will have its final broadcast on KIYU, KLOO, WLVQ (QFM96), WRKH (The Rocket) and KOZT (The Coast).

This was a very painful decision for the Doctor...he really hates to let it go after almost 40 years...but he has come to agree with his manager and his family that it's necessary. The broadcast has been losing money for some time.

THE GOOD NEWS -- Dr. Demento intends to continue producing new shows every week for www.drdemento.com for the foreseeable future. A new one will be available Saturday morning, June 12, and more new shows will be posted every Saturday thereafter.

Also...if you live in or around Amarillo, TX, you're in luck...by special agreement and due to contractual considerations, a version of the internet show will be heard weekly on KACV-FM there, at least through the summer.

The Doctor wishes to express his grateful appreciation to everyone who's been listening in Alaska, Oregon, Ohio, Alabama and California, and hopes all of you will give the www.drdemento.com broadcast a try.

Stay deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemented!
Dr Demento

Subject: RE: Farewell Dr D
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:40 AM

Two hours a week for 40 years... bravo!

Subject: RE: Farewell Dr D
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 12:20 PM

It's been a long time since you could get Dr D in the Seattle market. Which really pisses me off. But in my Jr High School and High School days he was a huge part of my musical education, and continuing good mental health. I was afraid when I saw the thread title he had passed away! I'm glad he's still around.

And don't forget to stay... de... mented!

Subject: RE: Farewell Dr D
From: LeTenebreux
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 04:54 PM

What? What??!!! I'm outraged.