Clevelanders are very loyal, but we get disappointed. Like, I don’t hate the Browns. … I just get angry with them. I mean, ya gotta get mad. And that’s because ya love ’em. Other things don’t make you that mad. We care enough to get mad.
I was out of high school and worked in the foundry and was the only white guy on the night shift, and all we listened to was “Moondog,” Alan Freed. That’s where I learned to love that music. That’s all we played on Ghoulardi. Those were all my records. Ernie was into big bands. But it was a late-night show, and I thought we needed something bluesy.
I was waiting at a light and was looking at this big TV transmitter, and I thought it must be really cool to work in TV. Because back then, TV people were sort of revered. It was like a doctor or lawyer. Things have changed now. You have teenyboppers doing the news.
Check back Dec. 1 for full story and an excerpt from Big Chuck’s new book.
