Today Is One Of The Most Important Days In History

I cannot stress the importance of this day enough. I also think it's important that we give thanks to some of the most important people in our lives.

Yes, it's "National D.J. Day". Yeah us!  This day is set aside for both the radio d.j.s and the mixers, basically, anyone that "plays recorded music for an audience", but to me, it's so much more. If you have the patience, I'd like to take a minute to list some of the people who inspired me.

I didn't move to Texas until I was 17. I lived in Southern California, in Orange County (home of the Offspring and others). I was able to listen to the radio greats on KMET, KLOS, KHJ and KROQ.  I doubt you've heard many of the names, but I learned story-telling from the great Jim Ladd (he's the topic of the Tom Petty song "The Last D.J." and was featured on Roger Waters of Pink Floyd's "Radio Kaos" album). I learned nuttiiness and pure exuberance from Jeff Gonzer and that anybody could do it from Rodney Bingenheimer.

Along the way, I worked with the father of rock radio, and co-founder of XM radio,  Lee Abrams. I still find my former morning partner and KLBJ Austin morning host Dale Dudley inspirational.  No one does a better meat and potatoes job of bringing it every day and being just straight up likeable than our own Frank Pain.  Lastly, a big shout-out to a guy who I thought was the best radio guy I ever met, Jim Arnold, formerly of KKZX Spokane, Washington.

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to read this. Everybody has their heroes and these guys were some of mine.