Limelight America

Radio wasn’t always predictable, especially at WTOD, where the personalities were creative, spontaneous, a little crazy, and wonderfully, gloriously human. They were as colorful as the music, and just about anything could happen, and did.

Step back into the early and mid-1960s for an unpredictable mix of outrageous commercials, original airchecks, familiar music, and unscripted moments from the people at WTOD who made it what it was.

You’ll also hear highlights from SiriusXM’s national tribute to WTOD, featuring voices and memories from a remarkable chapter in broadcasting.

It’s not a history lesson. It’s a little bit of everything, just the way we remember it.

An American vice president helped create one of the memorable hits of the 1950s. Charles G. Dawes composed the melody for what would later be known as It’s All in the Game. With lyrics by Carl Sigman, the song reached number one for Tommy Edwards in 1958, making him the first Black performer to top Billboard’s newly established Hot 100 chart. We open this edition of Limelight Music with our own interpretation of It’s All in the Game, featuring US20 Records artist Mick Payne. You’ll also hear our rendition of Over the Rainbow. 

This episode is dedicated to the late Israel K, affectionately known as IZ, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole has been selected as one of the Best 50 voices of all time! Think about that. That's amazing. Coming up  you will hear the the true story of a 3:00 AM recording session, 15 minutes, one take Almost 40 years ago and so far 1.8 BILLION views and counting. It almost never got released. Born on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu, Hawaii, IZ iswidely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of all time from Hawaii and a defining voice of the state's culture. IZ is known for his soulful ukulele playing and fusion of Hawaiian folk, jazz, and reggae genres.  

In this episode we put together another collection of our most popular one-minute Dream Warriors mini-biographies along with some "entrepreneurial suggestions" that hopefully you'll find useful, especially if you're a member in good standing of the "Blue Sky Brigade"

In this episode we put together a collection of our most popular one-minute Dream Warriors mini-biographies along with some "entrepreneurial suggestions" that hopefully you'll find useful, especially if you're a member in good standing of the "Blue Sky Brigade"

LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED A group of my radio and recording studio friends and colleagues were contracted to act out an audio production called "Capone's Chicago" which was the mob perspective of Capone himself. The audio was then installed in a viewing area at the Chicago Mob Museum so visitors could listen to an authentic, historically accurate portrayal of what life was like during prohibition. We had a great and memorable time doing this project which we are now going to share with you.

William Wrigley Jr. was a master of marketing. Long before anyone talked about marketing as we know it today, he understood it's power. Starting with soap and baking powder, he built a chewing gum empire through imagination, ingenuity, and a remarkable understanding of human behavior. In one extraordinary promotion, he mailed free sticks of chewing gum to millions of Americans whose names appeared in telephone directories. It was a bold idea that helped make Wrigley’s a household name.

Next, Tom Feltenstein, whose clients have included McDonald’s and American Airlines. The author of The Ten-Minute Marketer shares his practical insights into attracting customers, building businesses, and discovering opportunities that others might overlook.

Finally, National Teen Radio (NTR) introduces Benjamin and a new generation of young voices with ideas of their own. It’s an opportunity to hear the enthusiasm, imagination, and entrepreneurial spirit of young people who aren’t waiting for adulthood to make their mark.

In this episode a collection of a variety of radio broadcasts from the 60's, music from the 60s and 70s no doubt familiar to many of your ears, some outrageous, classic two-voice comedy radio commercials and a global salute to WTOD Radio AM 1560 by Sirius XM Satellite Radio. If by chance any of you have old recordings of radio stations and/or disc jockey's in your area that you think might be a good fit for Limelight America eMail us at [email protected] 

He led a  Radio Ratpack ... helped shape broadcasting careers and left a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Ours was a remarkable group that included some now-famous names. I was fortunate to be part of that group. As you listen to this 1 hour tribute to Bob on his 50th Anniversary in broadcasting you'll hear his friends and colleagues tell us how Martz impacted their lives and careers as he did mine. Time for some silliness. BOB MARTZ, A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - Enjoy.

Now, some radio mischief. Limelight America is an independent storytelling enterprise dedicated to preserving, producing, and sharing timeless stories that educate, inspire, and entertain while building a lasting library for future generations. We also get a little crazy now and then as you will hear in our Radio Classics episodes. And yes we also get melancholy sometimes as we listen and edit live radio and TV excerpts from the past to share with you.