THE STORIES
Back in 1987 I started my 25 year career in radio, producing The Michael Jackson Show at KABC. No, not the gloved one, this Michael was a giant in the world of talk radio and in those days it was talk not screaming! His program was so popular all the major book publishers made every effort to get their authors on the show. A publicist for Ballantine Books told me that whenever they booked a guest on the show they would all do handstands in the office to celebrate.
Along with my co-producer, Lyle Gregory we’d start the morning with Michael sitting across from us, rulers in hand cutting out stories from the newspaper for the days broadcast. There were no computers, cell phones or internet!
His preparation for the show and the interviews was unmatched. I remember once handing him BB King’s autobiography for the next day’s interview with the blues legend. At the show’s opening with “The Thrill Is Gone” playing in the background, Michael started his intro to BB and you would have thought he was a lifetime blues aficionado. He never failed to amaze me.
Michael was a liberal but he invited guests with all points of views onto the program. Even the most conservative people accepted his calls to discuss a breaking news story. Many came into the studio for the first time when on books tours and Michael had them eating out of his hand. How do you ask? Well as they entered the studio he’d stand up, welcome them and say “Let’s sell some books.” How brilliant is that!
After an interview with a then unknown Governor of Arkansas, who started his campaign for President on the show, Michael remarked to us, “Nice chap, has no shot.’’ At the time George H. Bush had a 90% approval rating with few who would predict he would lose to Bill Clinton.
A-list actors were already in his stable of guests. His wife Alana, whom he adored was the daughter of Alan Ladd so he had some great connections. Along with Lyle we convinced Michael to expand his guest list and include more musicians on the show including Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge and so many more. The day Enya came in the entire FM side of the station came down to the studio wondering how Michael scored such a huge guest.
Speaking of strange bedfellows, Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful Dead made sure that whenever they were in town for a show Michael would have him on the program. I never convinced Michael to attend one of the concerts, but it would have been a trip.
I could keep going on with stories and all the fun we all had working on the show. Michael was a great boss, a faithful husband, a loving father and a treasure that will be sorely missed. He defined what made talk radio great. May he Rest In Peace.
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Hillary Clinton
Wolfman Jack
Bob Seger
Bob Costas
Mickey Hart