This video helped me learn about entrepreneurship it was very educational and entertaining. I loved the history it felt like I was right there with you guys. Thank you for telling us a part of your story. :)
SKY WALKER worked at KIIS FM in Los Angeles with Rick Dees, so he knew the impact of HINEY WINE from first-hand experience. So, it was great that SKY WALKER not only had experience with Hiney at KIIS but was also the creator and host of this video documentary.
Its crazy how you can start from somewhere small and end up being history. I would love to visit dallas texas one day. Love hearing the details of Hiney Wine
So many fun memories! I remember hearing Hiney Wine on the radio when I would ride to school in the mornings in my moms car, and seeing the T-shirt’s! Completely legendary radio history!
Loved hearing the details of how Hiney Wine came about. TJ is one of the most creative geniuses I've had the pleasure of working with. (WNDE Indianapolis and KLIF Dallas TX
I remember this "gag" from the Peter baby Collins morning show on WGLD when it was the FM arm of WOPA when it was on the top floor (next to the elevetor motors) of the Oak Park arms in Oak Park IL. "The wine that made Alsip, Alsip" An obscure south west suburb of Chicago best known for (at the time) for having multiple countryclubs.
TJ is one of most articulate intelligent individuals that I have ever met! He never stops thinking. The story of "Hiney Wine is amazing. I hope TJ finds a way to bring it back for todays listeners!! Sky Walker you did a GREAT JOB!!!!!
Great job on this video, you explained thoroughly how Hiney wine expanded and the educational background. Thanks TJ and Sky for sharing your memories with us.
So, look! The interview was awesome. I spent time in radio in Dallas (at KMGC “Magic 102.9 FM) and watched the success of Hiney Wine from er, behind the scenes. I was greatly amused about the segment where TJ kinda glossed over the salary issues he endured during those days when small market owner/operators in York, NY couldn’t see beyond their own signals and thought that morning talent on Large markets should be paid near the same as Medium markets. Maybe that’s one reason they remained a little company? Anyway, Star did a nice job and I really liked the various “B” videos inserted in the interview. TJ clearly has a fix on how radio worked in those glorious and fun years and explained it quite well. I’m thinking it’s time to expose more Hiney Wine!
Wow, this segment really opened my eyes on how advertising and the power of the radio can be. It helps promote and raise awareness effectively and fast. Really enjoyed getting to hear how Hiney wine grew.
Thanks for the comment. HINEY WINE was great at showing what one advertiser can do on one radio station. When used properly, radio advertising can create brand name awareness, top-of-mind awareness, demand for a product and give it lots of "street talk" in the market and in the media as well.
Lots of good inside information here on how radio station managers think and how they do their research when finding a great radio personality. It makes it harder when the company you work for will only pay salaries that are not enough to compete with the big-time operators at other stations in your market. Dorsey jumped ship to KSCS simply because ABC was willing to pay him what he was worth and the end result was a great ratings success for KSCS and ABC and a tremendous loss of ratings and revenue for KPLX.
I was breaking into radio when Hiney Wine was making people laugh coast-to-coast. I remember watching and listening to the Morning Show make listeners laugh day after day! Perhaps the best radio hoax ever ... Sorry Orson Wells. Better luck next time ...
I was very fortunate that Dick French hired me to be the Sales Manager at legendary WHBQ in Memphis. Under Dick's enlightened leadership, those years were the most phenomenal of my radio career and I look fondly upon that time and working for Dick and RKO. During that time, Dick was given the highest award possible for an RKO employee as he was honored as RKO Radio General Manager of the Year. Dick was also responsible for hiring Rick Dees to do the morning show at WHBQ. That decision took WHBQ from #7 to #1 in the Arbitron ratings. RKO GMs were well aware of how critical their Morning Show decisions were to the success of their stations. Had Susquehanna opened up their wallet and allowed me to hire Rick and Julie Dees, it would have opened up the option of adding Terry Dorsey to afternoon drive on KPLX. Those two changes would have quickly moved KPLX to a dominant ratings position in Dallas.
Thank you for this interview. Hiney Wine was a big part of my college years. We hosted Honey Wine parties and watching this brought back some great memories. Interesting history that i never knew.
TJ Donnelly and Terry Dorsey was maybe the greatest creators of a comedy radio syndicated program ever aired nationwide . this video explains the history of Hiney Wine from the inside out. In my opinion it will never be duplicated and will go down in history as the best comedy feature ever aired
Thanks for your comments. I think SKY WALKER's goal here was to tell the entire story of the success of HINEY WINE as a documentary of sorts. Most people knew that Terry Dorsey created it but were not aware of what was going on for 10-plus years at the syndication company that was doing the diligent work of signing up stations, negotiating and signing product licensing agreements, creating and distributing merchandise, and designing graphics, issuing press releases and handling media interviews, staffing, recruiting, handling station, and media relations, contacting wineries, while Terry was working full time at the radio station. There was, even more, going on behind the scenes that the video does not cover. We started with a comedy feature on the #4 country station in Dallas and it grew from there.
Hey TJ!!! So much fun info and history. I’m going to have to try this Hiney Wine!! And you’re correct Radio Advertising WORKS! When radio ads run, phones ring & website traffic lights up!!!
Back in the day, shall I say, I worked as a PD at an FM station south of Savannah, GA, competing with the Savannah market and I remember doing a remote at some shopping center and the listeners wanting the wine.....lol....and we were running the Hiney Wine bit....lol... Funniest sh#t I've ever seen. Beats "Wormgear Mall"....lol....
Thanks for the comment. We had a lot of fun working at the HINEY WINERY. Every day brought us new stories and laughs from radio stations that had put the winery on the air.
It was just announced today, October 3, 2023, that Terry Dorsey, creator of HINEY WINE, has been inducted into the RADIO HALL OF FAME. This is a tremendous national honor that few DJs ever get to receive. He is in the same prestigious group as Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and Rick Dees.
