As I wrote about in an earlier blog, I-40 between Nashville and Memphis has many different types of cool trucks and action on it.  Yesterday’s drive home was no exception, as I saw a HUGE truck carrying this large engine.  It was so large, the state requires them to have a truck with hazards on before and after this 18-wheeler.  What is this engine for?

Brett Michals wins Celebrity Apprentice – and almost died trying! But he’s a ROCKER – and in case we forgt, he somehow manages to ‘Rockify’ everything he does.

‘We ROCKED the board room, we ROCKED Mr. Trump, we’d like to ROCK Ivanka, but not sure how to even spell her name…:-)

Good for Brett…He deserved the win, seems like a really nice guy and all. But, I’m convinced the ‘perpetual / eternal / don’t tread on me’ bandana must’ve put such a squeeze on his brain that caused that hemmorage! Did they even remove it for surgery? I know – some things are sacred…:-)

The fact that I even have a working knowledge of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ is already a major creep out factor…

BTW: Cyndi Lauper can still ‘ROCK IT”…sorry, couldn’t help it…

Speaking of ROCKERs; I have another appointment with KC of Sunshine Band fame this Saturday. I’ve been on the radio long enough to have played all his songs when ‘new’ then ‘recurrent’ then ‘power gold’ to now, ‘Classic Hit’ status. As is the case with a lot of folks from the 70s / 80s era; I keep running into them. And this will be at least my 33rd encounter of the KC and Sunshine Band Kind. From the mid 70s, talking about ‘the hot babes in hot pants’ to now, we can carry on about the advantages of AARP membership. Growing old gracefully? Well, for KC – he’s being ‘graceful’ all the way to the bank…:-)

But just like Brett Micheals, he can still ROCK IT! Although at this age, it’s not as easy to ‘Shake Your Booty’ with an enlarged prostate…just sayin!

See you Saturday!

Last night we attended the graduation ceremony for my nephew, JD Stuart, down in Senatobia, MS.  JD is a really good kid, and we were excited he also was an “honor graduate”.  It was a nice ceremony.  This is my wife Stacy, JD, my son Jake, and myself.

My pre-ceremony anxiety regarding the behavior of my 2-year-old son was luckily, all for not!  Between the toddler Iphone Aps and a special seek and find book Jake actually behaved quite nicely during the ceremony.  By the reactions during announcements, I figure he actually behaved better than many of the adults at the ceremony. 

But hearing the “processional” and “recessional” never gets old to me.  It  always gives me goose bumps.  It was very exciting to see JD with his cap and gown.

We have entered my favorite time of the year for music and events, minus the humidity!  This month, it started with a very wet Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival April 30th-May 2nd.  Luckily, the folks at Memphis in May booked a home run with KC & the Sunshine Band with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.  More info here.  Listen to win tickets from Classic Hits 94.1 KQK.

After that, the following weekend it’s time for me to roll up my pants for Italian Fest (and the grape stomp!).  More here.  Little Feat will be the headliner this year.  Come and see us when I’m on-site in the 94.1 KQK booth on Friday, June 4th, from 6:30-8:30pm with my friend Gary Parrish from 92.9 FM ESPN.

Saturday, June 5th, it’s Diana Ross… Yes, THE DIANA ROSS!  Make sure to sign up here for the   Diana Ross 94.1 KQK Fan Club Ticket Giveaway!  Then listen for your name next week at 8:10 a.m., 1:10 p.m., or 4:10 p.m.  More on the Live at the Garden concert series here.

Live at the Garden also will include a slew of Classic Hits 94.1 KQK Concerts including Blondie, Cheap Trick, Al Green, REO Speedwagon, and Pat Benatar.

Coming to the Orpheum Theatre, July 13th, an unbelievable (and expensive ticket) concert with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy with special guest’s the North Mississippi Allstars.  Don’t expect to hear Stairway at that show.  More on the Plant show here. 

On the contemporary side, I’ve seen the band Train perform over 10 times.  I’ve also been fortunate enough to meet them, and they seem very cool.  I always try and catch them when they’re in town.  Usually known as a chick band for 30-somethings,  Train has proven to me that they are great live performers and often perform all their hits as well as some fun classic hits from bands like Zep and Aerosmith.  More on the Monday, August 30th, Train show at the Orpheum here.

My buddy Jack Kenner is a great photographer specializing in DOGS.   Go to www.jackkenner.com for more.   Great shots of DOGS!!!

Our promo and marketing team did a great job assembling our tent and hosting the Classic Hits 94.1 KQK 2010 BBQ Cooking Competition radio sponsor booth for the radio station. 

My new very good friend, Chuck Averwater from Smackers BBQ @ http://www.smackersbbq.com/ , did a sensational job helping us cook the BBQ, burgers, and kielbasa.  Chuck also hosted a great BBQ lesson on Thursday with Conley and Karen.

I’m very impressed with Chuck’s invention.  It’s the worlds 1st (patented) drawer smoker.  As you can see, it has a drawer “chamber” at the bottom for the coals. Amazing!

OK – in Memphis, the ’speed limits’ are obviously a mere suggestion. Evidently, everyone on 240 is exempt as they are on their way to a ‘life or death’ crisis – while also causing such on the interstate…

Now, this idea of an ‘extra’ fine for ‘extra’ speeding(?!?)…how do we tell whose going, let’s say, ‘only’ 15 MPH above compared to those cruising by you at light speed? After all, if you’ve ever been silly enough to actually abide by the speed limit (C’mon, it’s MEMPHIS! We don’t need no stinkin’ sped limit!), it really does seem people are traveling light speed when you’re virtually standing still at a lowly 55 MPH!

This brings me to this past weekend; Saturday night the city could not have been in greater splendor. BBQ Cook Off and huge crowds on Beale and Tom Lee Park. A little rain for the ’shiny factor’ and of course, people driving as if they’re immune from death and speeding tickets…

That was Saturday…the following Sunday, my son and I make a quick trip to the Central Library. Few if any cars on the streets, perfect weather, great visibility (etc.) and a recipe for DISASTER!

We counted FOUR major accidents, from the Kirby / NonConnah ramp to Sam Cooper to Poplar and so on. I mean, complete with ambulances and a multitude of police cars…and I kept wondering, HOW did they even manage these scenes of utter destruction – with NOBODY even out driving around today? You would (literally) have to go out of your way to hit another vehicle…and that’s exactly what they did!

So in lieu of ‘extra fines’ and all that jazz, how about we go the other direction and make what we already have, work for us?

Come to Memphis and play the REAL LIFE DEATH RACE 2010! Now available anywhere on Interstate 240! Hope you live to tell about it!

OK – in Memphis, the ’speed limits’ are obviously a mere suggestion. Evidently, everyone on 240 is exempt as they are on their way to a ‘life or death’ crisis – while also causing such on the interstate…

Now, this idea of an ‘extra’ fine for ‘extra’ speeding(?!?)…how do we tell whose going, let’s say, ‘only’ 15 MPH above compared to those cruising by you at light speed? After all, if you’ve ever been silly enough to actually abide by the speed limit (C’mon, it’s MEMPHIS! We don’t need no stinkin’ sped limit!), it really does seem people are traveling light speed when you’re virtually standing still at a lowly 55 MPH!

This brings me to this past weekend; Saturday night the city could not have been in greater splendor. BBQ Cook Off and huge crowds on Beale and Tom Lee Park. A little rain for the ’shiny factor’ and of course, people driving as if they’re immune from death and speeding tickets…

That was Saturday…the following Sunday, my son and I make a quick trip to the Central Library. Few if any cars on the streets, perfect weather, great visibility (etc.) and a recipe for DISASTER!

We counted FOUR major accidents, from the Kirby / NonConnah ramp to Sam Cooper to Poplar and so on. I mean, complete with ambulances and a multitude of police cars…and I kept wondering, HOW did they even manage these scenes of utter destruction – with NOBODY even out driving around today? You would (literally) have to go out of your way to hit another vehicle…and that’s exactly what they did!

So in lieu of ‘extra fines’ and all that jazz, how about we go the other direction and make what we already have, work for us?

Come to Memphis and play the REAL LIFE DEATH RACE 2010! Now available anywhere on Interstate 240! Hope you live to tell about it!

I have the good fortune of seeing George Klein here at the radio station every week.  As you know, Elvis was the best man in George’s wedding and they were best friends!   While Elvis was music history, George is radio AND music history…

The above photo was at WMC radio from 1956.  It’s no wonder we all hang on every word George says. 

But I personallyl love the music that came from that era.  It’s the most pure, entertaining, and realistic style that exists.  It’s funny but before George and I started talking at length about the Million Dollar Quartet yesterday, he had to ask me, “You who that is, right?”

Luckily, my answer was “yes”. 

That historic picture still hangs in that very studio at Sun Studios ”they” were in back on Tuesday, December 4, 1956.  I get chill bumps in that studio, and have been fortunate enough to host several new band there.  They recorded impromptu jam sessions between Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.  In my opinion, THE BEST EVER.

George went on to tell me about the new Broadway play that is receiveing awards and national attention…  You’ll love this video from Letterman, and you can thank me later!

We had a really nice weekend visiting my folks in Illinois for Mother’s Day weekend.  Luckily, I’ve got a great portable studio set up there on the farm so I can do my radio shows during the weekend on the road. 

Some of my best memories are “on the farm” with my grandfather.  I always loved seeing all the cows and going back to the pond to go fishing.  The other cool thing was my grandfather always let me drive the old ATV he used around his place.   The best time was when I was driving with him on the back, and I decided to lunge “hard right”…right into a pond.  Luckily the ATV tires floated long enough to get it out.  Unfortunately, we were both soaked!

This weekend, my son Jake had his first chance at the wheel at “paw paw’s” farm.  He also reeled in his first fish!