Dic Youngs during his early years in radio. Photo courtesy of Brian Allen

A more recent shot of Dic Youngs at KIOA's Iowa State Fair booth with Dr. Jeff Stein, communications professor at Wartburg College. Photo courtesy of Jeff Stein and Brian Allen

Note from Phil Roberts: Following is a guest blog written by my friend, Brian Allen of KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls. He writes recently of the death of Dic Youngs, “the Youngster,” a Des Moines rock radio legend. Although I didn’t know Dic, I feel like I knew him because I listened to him when I could for so many years. That happens in radio. After a while, though you’ve never met, you get to know the announcer whose voice comes through the speaker day after day. I admired Dic for staying in the business so long; that’s no easy task.

It’s sometimes odd what occurs to you in the middle of the night when you cannot sleep. It is tough when your heroes die. To know that their good works have come to an end and their voice has been silenced.

Early this morning, one of my broadcasting heroes lost his life.

His name was Dic Youngs. If you’re old enough, you’ve probably heard of him. He was a legend, spending more than 45 years in broadcasting. Most of that time was spent behind a microphone at KIOA in Des Moines. He WAS rock and rock in the 1960s and 1970s, eventually growing into the role of “radio grandfather” in the ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond. He was a mentor to so many broadcasters, directly and indirectly. Those fortunate enough to work with him benefited from his direct involvement. Those who benefited indirectly were provided with a road map on how to respect yourself, others and the business of broadcasting.

Every year, Youngsy would broadcast live from the Iowa State Fair. His booming voice audible even without the big speakers KIOA would set up. He was like Santa Claus in the Summertime; always quick with a joke or a smile or a pat on the back. I am 36 and have missed only a handful of Iowa State Fairs, so I had many opportunities to sit down and talk with Dic. But I never did it. Not really.

Every once in a while I would approach him and start a conversation but then almost back out of it. He wasn’t intimidating, not in the least. I just think every time I would try I would end up having a “you’re not worthy” moment and not finish what I had tried to start. But I would always admire from afar and be amazed at how well he knew people and how well he knew the music.

That was the thing: Every time Dic Youngs was on the radio you KNEW he loved the music. That he was particular about playing songs with strong lyrics and attention-getting guitar licks and bass lines. It was always a party with Youngsy — at least that’s how he made it appear and that’s why he was so fun to listen to.

For years, Dic hosted a Saturday night oldies show on KIOA. When I lived in Des Moines…and eventually when I moved away but would come back for visits…I would always turn the show on and listen. It always made me smile. What a master of the radio dial!

Which brings us back now to today and the horrible news which greeted me this morning. Dic had been hospitalized for a while now at Mercy in Des Moines. This morning about 1:30, his body apparently had enough and he passed into history. Going forward, it will be odd to think and talk about him in the past tense.

He made the world a better, more tolerable place….one record at a time. His jokes, sometimes corny, could bring a smile to your face and make you temporarily forget about your woes.

He was a big man in size and a big man in heart.

Of all the people I know who have worked with Youngsy, I have never heard one of them gripe about Dic and that is saying something. Broadcasting can be fairly two-faced and has it’s fair share of back stabbers. That being said, Dic Youngs was respected but more than that he was loved. And when someone you love dies, it’s tough to take.

###

Statement from KIOA (more, including audio clips of Dic, at http://kioa.com/Dic-Youngs-1941-2009/5251474):

93.3 KIOA and the Des Moines community have lost an icon. Richard “Dic” Youngs has passed away after a long illness.

Dic will always be remembered for his reverberating baritone, the way he helped entertain and inform Iowa and his quickness with a wink and a smile. Youngsy always wanted to have a good time and take his audience on the same ride.

Youngsy could spin a tale with such style that, even if he only had a few details, you listened closely and begged for more.  From the start he had one desire – give the audience a good time. And whether he was spinning discs at a sock-hop or counting down the top 10 on the radio, people danced and had the time of their lives.

But Dic was also able to help listeners through the tough times as well. If it was a recession, a flood or the 2001 terrorist attacks, people listened to Youngsy because his assured delivery was a comfort in even in the most trying moments.

So, thank you Youngsy for all that you have shared with KIOA and Des Moines in over 45 years of broadcasting. We will greatly miss our boisterous, kind, sweet and smiling friend.

-Your KIOA Family

Guest blogger Brian Allen of KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Note from Phil Roberts: Following is a guest blog written by my friend, Brian Allen of KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls. His message is so good I asked him if I could post it.

It’s sometimes odd what occurs to you in the middle of the night when you cannot sleep.

I am a notoriously bad sleeper. There are times when I wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason whatsoever, then I  begin thinking about things….ideas, people, etcetera…which then prevents me from getting back to sleep.

So overnight I had one of these spells, and I began thinking about the idea of thankfulness and stopping to take stock of one’s life. Do you do it? I try to daily…to keep things in perspective.

I think about Mandy and Austin and Cameron and how lucky and fortunate I am to have them in my lives. Some people right now go home to an empty house and have little to no contact with anyone, let alone people who love them.

I think about how thankful I am for my job, especially at a time when so many people are either unemployed or underemployed. I have a job I enjoy, and I make a salary that allows me to support my family.

I think about the freedom I have to practice my religion, knowing people worldwide are persecuted by governments or thugs who can’t stand the thought or a higher power.

I think about how good it is that Austin is excited about school and really wants to do well. I’ll admit, when I was young, school seemed like a chore more than anything else. I was about as excited about it as I was folding socks. Austin has a true intellectual curiosity that I hope he keeps his entire life. I am fortunate that I have my health and that my wife and kids are healthy. I know so many people my age who have serious health issues that they are working to overcome. I do not have that burden, and pray I never will.

Look at the world around you and count your blessings, not your curses. Everyone has a certain level of challenge they must overcome daily. What you have to do is compare your challenges to others in society. Do yours measure up to theirs? Or are you relatively well off but just think you’re not?

Would I like more time off with my kids? Yes. Would I like a bigger home? Sure. Would I like to be filthy rich? You bet. All of that said, the life that I have is good, and I appreciate it. While I strive for things, I don’t build my life around the fact that I don’t have them. I focus on what I do have and how it’s a lot more than some people have and that I am thankful to have it in the first place. But for a simple twist of fate, I could be single, no family, living alone, working at a job I hate. But I am not in that position.

Every once in a while, I will say a prayer, sometimes to myself, sometimes out loud and it goes like this: “I love my life. I love my wife. I love my sons. I love my job. I am thankful for a roof over my head and food on the table. Thank you God for being so good to me.”

This is more than taking time to smell the roses. This is picking the rose, looking at it, appreciating it for what it is and not noticing the rose may have a few missing petals.

Quote Of The Day: “The trick is to make sure you don’t die waiting for prosperity to come.” Lee Iacocca

Something You Should Check Out: Whenever I hear the song “Reign In Me.” I feel amazingly thankful for my life. Whenever this song is performed at our church, I will tear up. It is such a great song. I hope you agree.

— Brian Allen, KSFY

Ric'key Pageot

Sticky & Sweet keys/accordion player Ric’key Pageot will be performing live with the NightCrawlers featuring Dessy Di Lauro on October 12th at 7.15pm at the Mint! (6010 west Pico blvd., Los Angeles, California 90035).

Enjoy 2 sets of original nujazz/funk music! The NightCrawlers consist of Ric’key Pageot on keys/accordion, Dessy Di Lauro on vocals, Leon Silva on sax, Kris Hawkins on guitar, Brian Allen on bass and Stanley Randolph on drums.

Visit Ric’key’s myspace music profile here!

Ric’key Pageot leads his new band of original nujazz/funk music called ‘The NightCrawlers’ with Dessy Di Lauro (Vocals), Leon Silva (Sax), Kris Hawkins (Guitar), Brian Allen (Bass) and Stanley Randolph (Drums).

Ric’key and his band performed in LA a couple of nights ago as we informed you here at ASP! If you wanna see Ric’key mastering his keyboards and take a small taste of the NightCrawlers’ music watch the following video!

Ric’key will be back in Europe this summer with Madonna for the Sticky & Sweet Tour. Don’t forget to check Ric’key’s myspace and also Dessy’s myspace. -IB

Picture shows, from left to right, Cpl Young, CSM Macinnes, Cpl Allen, who all aided the injured man

By Cara Sulieman

A GROUP of hero Scots soldiers just back from serving in Afghanistan helped save a man’s life aboard a ferry after he was left badly injured during a brawl at sea.

They first helped break up a fight, administer life-saving treatment and then co-ordinated a ship to shore helicopter medi-vac of the casualty so he could receive specialist care in hospital.

The passenger was on a P&O ferry sailing from Hull to Rotterdam last weekend when he was involved in a fight with a group of men and left bleeding badly and struggling to breathe.

Ship’s crew who were trying to break up the mob asked the nine soldiers from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, to step in and help calm the situation.

Funeral

They had been travelling back to their base in Fallingbostel after attending the funeral of their comrade Lance Corporal Andrew Young who had died in a road accident near his home in Port Soy.

As security staff and soldiers broke up the fight, two corporals among the troop rushed to the injured man’s aide.

Brian Allen and Douglas Young had served as medics during the battalion’s last tour of Afghanistan and were able to keep the man stable until a helicopter arrived.

Corporal Allen, a Detachment Commander in the Anti Tank Platoon, from Fettercairn, Angus, said: “We made an immediate assessment that the casualty needed hospital attention as he had suffered severe head injuries.

Stabilised his breathing

“I stabilised his breathing and bleeding, placed him in the recovery position and monitored his well-being as we waited for the helicopter”

Corporal Young from Forres, meanwhile, called the coastguard from the Pride of Hull ferry and described the injured man’s injuries to medical staff.

He said: “When I spoke to the coastguard and a doctor from Aberdeen on the satellite phone and radio I mentioned I was army first aid trained and briefed them on the casualty’s injuries.

“He kept slipping in and out of consciousness and clearly needed hospital treatment quickly.

“We just had to use our training to keep him stable until the helicopter arrived.”

Taken to hospital

Doctors took over from the soldiers and evacuated the injured man to hospital where he was receiving further treatment.

Last night both the MoD and ferry company said they were unable to give further details of the injured man’s recovery status because of patient confidentiality

However P&O Ferries were high in their praises for the soldiers and were quick to commend the group for their actions.

A spokesman for the company said: “They didn’t have to come forward but they stepped up to the mark and their calm professionalism shone through.

“You couldn’t ask for better role models.

“We will be writing to them to express our appreciation and invite them to come back as our guests in the future.”

“Very highest standard”

Most of 4 SCOTS had been deployed on Op TELIC 12 in Iraq with 7 Armoured Brigade until last December, where they were mentoring and training the Iraqi Army.

B Company was detached and served in Afghanistan.

The Highlanders were on their way back to their Germany base after attending the funeral of LCpl Andrew Young, a very popular member of their Battalion, who was tragically killed in a road accident at Easter near his home in Port Soy, Scotland only weeks after returning from operations.

Last night an Army spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the incident aboard the ferry and said: “All our personnel are trained to the very highest professional standards and we are delighted they were able to assist on this occasion.”

The big day is just three days away, time to show your significant other how much you truly care for them. But this economy might have you looking for ways to say “I love you” without having to spend a fortune. My story about Valentine’s Day on a budget was printed in Sunday’s Gazette, and I got some unique ideas from Pat Roland of Personal Assistant to You LLC. Because of space restrictions, not all of those ideas made it into the paper. So I’m going to post them for you right here on Channel 25, in the hopes it will help you decide what to get your sweetheart:

No or Low Cost Gift Ideas:

Online Deals:

Since Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday, go to a nice restaurant for lunch (always less expensive than dinner) and spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying the meal. Rent a movie for later that night and splurge on “movie theater” popcorn. Lunch is also a good idea if baby sitters are hard to come by as the evening times fill up quickly.

Cedar Rapids Services/Gifts
Personal Assistant to You (319) 981-7289

Awaken Vitality (319) 480-5259

Designs of the 5 Domains (319) 378-1581

Purse-N-Ality, Marion

Get Organized (319) 395-7477

Susan Moore, Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist (319) 310-7196

A bit more expensive, but nice for a couple to do together:

So there you have it, a lot of ideas courtesy of Pat Roland from Personal Assistant to You. And if you have some ideas, I’d like to hear them. I’m also looking for questions to ask Miss Iowa Olivia Myers for Saturday’s interview, not because I don’t want to come up with my own questions, but because as Interactive Features Reporter, I want to give you the opportunity to ask what you want to know.

Finally, today is the birthday of my former colleague Brian Allen. In reality, he’s only 36, but the running joke between us is that I’ve always called him an “old man.” Today I congratulated him on being born the day before Abraham Lincoln.

I got some things taken care of this morning, still have more to do. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday.

BGS

Το τρομπόνι ήταν πρωταγωνιστικό όργανο και στις μπάντες παρελάσεων της Νέας Ορλεάνης και στις μεγάλες ορχήστρες σε ολόκληρη την περίοδο του swing. Είναι χαρακτηριστικό ότι η πρώτη μαύρη ορχήστρα της Νέας Ορλεάνης που ηχογράφησε δίσκο ήταν αυτή του τρομπονίστα Kid Ory το 1922, αλλά και το ότι μερικές από τις πιο δημοφιλείς big band του swing, όπως του Tommy Dorsey και του Glenn Miller, είχαν για leader τρομπονίστες. Με το τέλος της εποχής εκείνης, την έλευση του bebop, το οποίο παιζόταν από μικρά σχήματα και την για διάφορους λόγους (με κυριότερο τον οικονομικό) παρακμή των μεγάλων συνόλων, άρχισε να περιορίζεται και ο ρόλος του τρομπονιού.

Ο J.J. Johnson ενέταξε γρήγορα στο παίξιμο του τρομπονιού την επανάσταση που έφερε το bebop και τον ακολούθησαν πολύ μεγάλοι σολίστες όπως ο Curtis Fuller, ο Frank Rosolino, o Jimmy Knepper, αλλά και μουσικοί όπως ο Bob Brookmeyer και ο Slide Hampton, που εκτός από βιρτουόζοι ήταν σπουδαίοι συνθέτες και bandleaders. Αργότερα η δημιουργική σκηνή της δεκαετίας του ’60 ανέδειξε αυτοσχεδιαστές σαν τον Grachan Moncur, τον Roswell Rudd, τον Albert Mangelsdorff, αλλά και σήμερα έχουμε εξαιρετικούς τρομπονίστες όπως ο Ray Anderson, o Gary Valente, o George Lewis, o Frank Lacy, ο Robin Eubanks. Παρόλα αυτά είτε εξαιτίας της εμφάνισής του, είτε λόγω του ότι είναι ιδιαίτερα δύσκολο να το κατακτήσεις, το τρομπόνι δεν είναι πρώτη επιλογή ούτε για το κοινό, ούτε για τους ίδιους τους μουσικούς. «Οι σαξοφωνίστες παίρνουν τα κορίτσια και οι τρομπετίστες τα λεφτά» είχε πει ο Bob Brookmeyer, για να συμπληρώσει ο Ray Anderson «για μένα έχει μεγάλη σημασία να ξεπερνώ το θέμα της τεχνικής. Είναι αδύνατον να παίζεις τρομπόνι και να μη σου έχει γίνει ψύχωση η τεχνική, γιατί είναι ένα πολύ δύσκολο όργανο».
Η ύπαρξη νέων ταλαντούχων παιδιών όπως o Ryan Keberle, ο Brian Allen και ο Joe Fiedler, που φέρνουν το τρομπόνι στην πρώτη γραμμή, είναι ένδειξη όχι μόνο για τις δυνατότητες αυτού του οργάνου, αλλά και για το ότι έχει πολλά ακόμη να συνεισφέρει στην εξέλιξη της τζαζ.

Ryan Keberle: “Double Quartet” (Alternate Side Records)
Στα εικοσιέξι του ο Ryan Keberle έχει καθιερωθεί ως session μουσικός στη Νέα Υόρκη, ιδίως από τη δουλειά του με δυο από τις πιο διάσημες μεγάλες ορχήστρες, τη Maria Schneider Orchestra και τη Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra υπό τον Wynton Marsalis. Στο προσωπικό του ντεμπούτο διακρίνουμε δύο βασικά χαρακτηριστικά. Το πρώτο είναι το πόσο έχει επηρεαστεί από τον ήχο των μεγάλων συνόλων και την αδυναμία του για τα χάλκινα. Αυτό τον οδήγησε στην επιλογή να χρησιμοποιήσει ένα διπλό κουαρτέτο που αποτελείται από το τρομπόνι του και ένα κλασικό rhythm section (πιάνο, μπάσο, τύμπανα) και μια τετράδα χάλκινων (τρομπέτα, 2ο τρομπόνι, γαλλικό κόρνο και τούμπα). Τα πέντε πνευστά χάρη στην ενορχηστρωτική ικανότητα του Keberle, δημιουργούν μεγάλη πολυφωνία, πολύ μεγάλο πλούτο συνδυασμών και ηχοχρωμάτων που αρκετά συχνά ακούγονται σαν να προέρχονται από ένα μεγαλύτερο σύνολο. Το δεύτερο χαρακτηριστικό του CD είναι ο σφαιρικός τρόπος με τον οποίο αντιμετωπίζει ο Keberle το τζαζ ρεπερτόριο. Αυτή την εντύπωση δίνουν τα τέσσερα κομμάτια που επέλεξε να διασκευάσει, δηλαδή το “Norwegian wood’ και το “Blackbird” των Beatles, το “Children of the night” του Wayne Shorter (από το “Mosaic” του Art Blakey) και το “29 Palms”, που ήταν ένα σόλο πιάνο κομμάτι του Brad Mehldau από το “Places”. Οι διασκευές αυτές μαζί με πέντε συνθέσεις του τρομπονίστα γίνονται ένα ομοιογενές και βατό σύνολο, αλλά γεμάτο λεπτομέρειες και κρυμμένες ομορφιές που χρειάζονται χρόνο και προσοχή από τον ακροατή για να τις ανακαλύψει. Όσο για την ποιότητα του Keberle ως σολίστα, ανήκει στην παλιά σχολή με τον καθαρό, μελωδικό και έντεχνο ήχο του J.J. Johnson και των μεταγενέστερών του, όπως ο Steve Turre και ο Wycliffe Gordon, που ήταν και δάσκαλοί του.
www.ryankeberle.com

Brian Allen, Tony Malaby, Tom Rainey: “Synapse” (Braintone Records)
Πέμπτο άλμπουμ στη δική του ανεξάρτητη εταιρία για τον τεξανό Brian Allen που φαίνεται ότι έχει κόλλημα με τους γρίφους και τους αναγραμματισμούς. Το όνομα της εταιρίας έχει προκύψει από αναγραμματισμό του ονόματός του (Brain – Brian). Από κάποιο αναγραμματισμό, που αδυνατούμε να προσδιορίσουμε, φαίνεται να προέκυψαν και οι τίτλοι όλων των κομματιών του CD. Όσο για τον τίτλο του άλμπουμ (Synapse – σύναψη), προέρχεται από τον όρο που χρησιμοποιείται στη βιολογία για τα σημεία επαφής των νευρικών κυττάρων μεταξύ τους και με τα άλλα είδη κυττάρων, μέσω των οποίων εξασφαλίζεται η ανταλλαγή των πληροφοριών. Στον εγκέφαλο (brain) υπάρχει ένας τεράστιος αριθμός συνάψεων. Μέσα από αυτό το περίγραμμα γεννήθηκαν οι αυτοσχέδιες συνθέσεις αυτού του χωρίς μπάσο τρίο με τον Allen στο τρομπόνι, τον Tony Malaby στο σαξόφωνο και τον Tom Rainey στα τύμπανα. Οκτώ ομαδικοί αυτοσχεδιασμοί χωρίς χειροπιαστό θέμα, χωρίς σταθερό ρυθμό, χωρίς συγκεκριμένη δομή, αλλά που με τη λογική του call and response ανοίγονται ελεύθερα σε πολλαπλές κατευθύνσεις. Κάποια ιδέα που δηλώνει ένας από τους τρεις μέσω των σημείων επαφής και της ανταλλαγής των πληροφοριών, αποκωδικοποιείται και γίνεται αντικείμενο επεξεργασίας και αδιάκοπων παραλλαγών από τους υπόλοιπους και με αυτό τον τρόπο η μουσική οδηγείται διαρκώς σε νέους χώρους.
www.braintone.com

Joe Fiedler Trio: “The Crab” (Clean Feed Records)
Ο Joe Fiedler δεν είναι απλά ένας χαρισματικός τρομπονίστας, που μπορεί να γεφυρώσει το χάσμα που χωρίζει τον Wynton Marsalis από τον Anthony Braxton και τη σάλσα της Celia Cruz από τη big band της Satoko Fujii (έχει παίξει με όλους τους). Είναι και ένας μάστερ στα multiphonics, την περίπλοκη δηλαδή τεχνική που ανέπτυξαν ο Albert Mangelsdorff και ο Paul Rutherford, με την οποία τη στιγμή φυσούσαν μια νότα στο τρομπόνι, τραγουδούσαν και μια άλλη, προσπερνώντας με αυτό τον τρόπο το θέμα της μονοφωνίας και δίνοντας νέες δυνατότητες και διευρυμένο ρόλο στο όργανό τους.
Αν και το προηγούμενο CD του Fiedler ήταν αφιερωμένο αποκλειστικά στη μουσική του Mangelsdorff, ενώ το καινούριο “The Crab” περιλαμβάνει μόνο δικές του συνθέσεις, τα δύο άλμπουμ κινούνται στο ίδιο μήκος κύματος με ένα ανάλογο τρίο που έχει τον ίδιο μπασίστα – τον John Hebert – και τον έξοχο ντράμερ Michael Sarin (Thomas Chapin, Ben Allison) στη θέση του Mark Ferber. Άλλωστε δεν παραλείπει να αναφερθεί και πάλι στο μεγάλο γερμανό τρομπονίστα σε δύο κομμάτια (“For Albert”, “A Frankfurter In Caracas”). Οι μεγάλες ταχύτητες, το φάνκι μπητ και το χαλαρό τέμπο εναλλάσσονται με την ίδια συχνότητα με την οποία περνά η σκυτάλη του αυτοσχεδιασμού στα χέρια κάθε μέλους του τρίο. Ένα χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα αυτής της διαρκούς περιστροφικής κίνησης είναι το τρίλεπτο “Don’t impede the stream”, ένα ιλιγγιώδες φρη-μποπ όπου μετά το θέμα κάθε μουσικός παίζει μόνος του μερικά τετράμετρα για να συνεχίσουν όλοι μαζί σε ένα κρεσέντο ομαδικού αυτοσχεδιασμού, καθώς παρεμβάλλονται κάποιες στιγμές χαλαρού φανκ με συγχορδίες από το τρομπόνι, που αφήνουν τη μουσική (και τον ακροατή) να πάρει μερικές ανάσες. Στο “Trout Stream” τα σκουπάκια του Sarin και οι δυνατές οστινάτο γραμμές του Hebert δημιουργούν μια γκρούβι ρυθμική βάση πάνω στην οποία ο Fiedler δείχνει την ικανότητά του στο παίξιμο με σουρντίνα, θυμίζοντας τον τρόπο με τον οποίο μιμείται την ομιλία ο Ray Anderson, ενώ στο “For Albert” ο Fiedler, πάνω σε ένα ρυθμό που στήνεται από τα πιατίνια και τις βαριές μακρόσυρτες νότες του κοντραμπάσου, αποτίνει φόρο τιμής στον Mangelsdorff με μια εντυπωσιακή επίδειξη πολυφωνίας.
www.joefiedler.com

Jazz & Tzaz, Μάρτιος 2008