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“When you receive enough money sitting at home instead of working, that ain’t liberalism; that’s socialism.” – George Johns – From Geo’s Life Liners Blog
George died last week – on his birthday (BMM 10/4). Unlike how he lived, George went quietly. Not bothering his outward circle with how he felt or his declining health.
For those unfamiliar with George, he was a larger-than-life programmer who blazed trails and set ratings records, some of which hold today.
Readers were introduced to George in my Barrett Media piece on August 27th, coaching Chuck Riley through a seven-word Legal ID. You’ll be reading plagiarized, often NSFW and free of a politically correct filter though George’s Life Liners in this column.
“You are under no obligation to remain the same.” George was a part-time philosopher.
Geo, as friends affectionately referred to him, cut his entertainment teeth with several Canadian Garage Bands, including The Jury. Their record, “Please Forget Her,” would top the Canadian charts and become one of many of Geo’s firsts.
His flair for being the ‘entertainer’ led him to program CKY in Winnipeg after his rock’ n roll dreams faded. His largest reflection of radio genius was in Indianapolis with WIBC, then WNAP, and KVIL in Dallas with Fairbanks Communications.
“The only thing that can bring a man to his knees without being fearful is a beautiful woman.” George was a lover of the female species.
Geo was a talent-first programmer, a radio magician developing indelible brands while creating larger-than life events and promotions. He would often make his talent – led by his morning team – part of the strategic and tactical programming effort.
As a kid growing up listening to WNAP in Indy, I thought THAT was how radio sounded – everywhere. HUGE personalities like Cris Conner, Buster Bodine, and Fast Freddie Fever set the tone for their insane promotions at The Indy 500 and on The White River with their listener-driven WNAP Raft Race. Imagine getting THAT by the lawyers – today. Their custom art on both sides of the dial was – wow.
“Can’t is also a bad 4 letter word.” Geo never gave up.
Geo created the first Adult Contemporary Format in Canada and then placed it on KVIL in Dallas, Texas, with huge success.
That win would only flourish when he recruited Legendary Morning Master Ron Chapman to KVIL in Dallas. Ron, the brilliant storyteller, would become a record-setting machine while placed in several Halls Of Fame. In fact, nearly all of the morning talent Geo recruited and developed are in The Radio Hall of Fame.
The KVIL “Incredible Prize Catalog” contained hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes over a two-week span. The grand prize often was ONE listener taking away EVERYTHING in the catalog. The Incredible Prize Catalog created a wide amount of industry buzz. Our team in then market #99 – Lansing Michigan – duplicated it over several successful ratings campaigns in the late 80’s.
“Remember when you didn’t know what political party your friends were affiliated with?” George held dual Canadian and United States citizenship and never shied away from a good political discussion.
Moving on to greater things, ‘scientists’ – those who attempt to game the ratings system rather than create fantastic content – destroyed most of Geo’s brilliance.
Geo would continue to invent – ‘firsts.’
He created the first nationally syndicated promotion, “The Magic Ticket,” in which listeners did not know the experience behind winning the Ticket. Only after the win did the winner hear the backstage or on-stage experience they would receive. Phenomenal theatre-of-the-mind.
Geo also developed the hugely successful “Class” format, landing on more than 40 stations nationwide and placing the “Music Of Your Life” on over 100 stations through satellite radio.
He lived his life like he developed content.
Geo chronicled his epic cross-country train trips with great detail, sucking every ounce of adventure along the way and displaying his NEW friends.
“Things are never as bad as they could be.” Geo was the perpetual optimist.
George Johns left us this week. Most likely an elbow’s reach from his favorite adult beverage. Geo blazed a red-hot radio trail, and that deserves a toast from all of us.
Kevin Robinson is a passionate award-winning programmer, consultant and coach – with multi-formats success all over the country. He has advised numerous companies including Audacy (formerly Entercom Communications), Beasley Broadcast Group, Westwood One, Midwest Communications, Townsquare Media, Midwest Family Broadcasting Group, EG Media Group, Federated Media, Kensington Media, mediaBrew Communications, Starved Rock Media, and more. He specializes in strategic radio cluster alignment, building lean-forward tactics and talent coaching – legacy and entry-level – personalities.
Known largely as a trusted talent coach, Kevin is the only personality mentor who’s coached three different morning shows on three different brands in the same major market to the #1 position. His efforts have been recognized by The World Wide Radio Summit, Radio & Records, NAB’s Marconi, and he has coached CMA, ACM and Marconi Award-winning talent. He is also in The Zionsville High School Hall of Fame as part of the 2008 inaugural class. Kevin is an Indiana native – living near Zionsville with his wife of 39 years, Monica and can be reached at kevin@robinsonmedia.fm.
