I had the pleasant experience of hiring and working with Johnny at Carroll County Maryland's WTTR in 2011. Even more so than his on-air persona, he was a great conversationalist and in light of his legendary status was always eager and willing to help our station achieve the success we garnered for the period we were all together. He also has nice kids and no small amount of credit for his coming to WTTR goes to his late wife Colleen. Johnny focused on putting himself in the mind of his listeners and always working to deliver content they could relate to. He was one of a kind.
This was the only radio station that played Rock & Roll where the signal reached Smith Island. I first heard The Beatles, Peter Paul & Mary listening to WCAO and Johnny Dark. Wonderful memories.
Remember Johnny's sign off ? "Friends, to keep the trash can covered - the dog tied tightly - and remember Via Con Dios means Go With God - and believe you mean you couldn't be in better company - good night."
Remember winning one of the call in contests (the answer was Little Anthony and the Imperials). They sent me a box with the Top 30 records as the prize. Great station.
I use to listen to WCAO all the time. I remember when they played a dollar bill game and if you match the numbers on your dollar bill that they wanted you would win $60.00. R.I.P. Johnny Dark.
loved it, rock and roll and motown while crus'n essex, middle river, the rootbeer stand on martin blvd, the thunderbird, gino's, toppers, and the circle on hollabird ave
Box of top 30 records??? great prize, I also called in with a correct answer, and I got a small electric mixer (like for making cakes and pancakes.....)
The station never had the leading edge that many other east coast stations had. They sound like Pepper-Tanner cuts. WCAO used PT jingles through the 60's. They typically were trade-outs where the jingle company got a certain amount of airtime inventory which they sold to advertisers in exchange for giving the station a jingle package. I think later Ron Riley brought in PAMS jingles when he arrived as PD after leaving WLS in Chicago. Otherwise, WCAO was a Baltimore staple with some great jocks.
hi mike ....i have the cassette of this SOMEWHERE ,,,no im ondering at the begining of the broadcast ,WHY ,,did they blank out most of Magic carpet ride of steppenwolf ,,,,, i remember john k of steppenwolf ,,either singing of the beggining lyrics ,,flies hard , goes near ,,and there was a version of goes hard flies near ...one is the radio version youll hear all the time and one is the version of wcao ,,,,could you write back and tell me ...if you have the cd or cassette of this ,,,,the begining lyric of magic carpet ride ,,,,,thank you bud
Steppenwolf recorded the single version of "MCR" long before they recorded the album "Steppenwolf The Second" with the 4:25 album version sung with different lyrics. The 2:55 mono hit single version is on this Steppenwolf ABC/Dunhill Singles compilation, most songs in their original mono single mixes (which were often different from the album lengths or mixes): www.amazon.com/ABC-Dunhill-Singles-Collection/dp/B00ZB7Q9XO/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Steppenwolf+compilation&qid=1619901207&s=music&sr=1-8
