Over two years ago retired teacher Lee Douglas began to translate his love for the music of the 50's and 60's lovingly called Oldies, into a new medium, the podcast. Just retired from teaching after 35 years, he decided to turn in his chalk for a microphone.
His new show, which he called "Old Time Rock n Roll, would be different in the way it was presented. The usual play lists that are the hallmark of the Oldies AM radio stations were out the window. His own collection of 80,000 songs would be digitized onto his computer to lay the groundwork for the show. Instead of playing those songs which the oldies lovers had grown tired of, he opened his collection and played the songs that haven't been heard for many years. Then he would have a theme for each show, Novelties on one, doo wops on another, rockabilly on yet another. Each show replete with a dose of rock history and reminiscences
He researches each singer and each song to provide background for each show. On November 2006, he went on the air. By January 2007 he had garnered a listener ship of 250,000 world-wide , with an incredible 25% of his fans in the UK and Australia. Now in approaching his third year, Lee continues with the dedication and exuberance of a man half his age he continues to plan for the celebration in October of his third year. He has recently been picked up on syndication in Auckland, NZ, and is preparing to market his show world-wide.
With the addition of interviews with some of the old time rock n roll greats he has added a second weekly show, He asks his listeners to challenge him with songs from the 50's and 60's as well as sending out dedications as the dee jays did in the 50's. Listeners gain entrance to the world of doo wop, rockabilly, blues and rock n roll by logging in to www.oldtimernr.com , or directly to his podcast site at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/2668 or his RSS and itunes feeds at http://recordings.talkshoe.com/rss2668.xml
His archived show lists grow larger with each ensuing week and no charge is ever made, He does ask his listeners to donate to keeping the show on the air while actively seeking sponsors.
No matter how you look at it ,this senior citizen has captured the imagination not only of his own age group but a whole new audience of younger kids. He gets hundreds of e mails asking him questions and for special requests. He is even an on-line resource for students taking American 20th Century music at Alvernia University in Pennsylvania and he holds a special live phone chat with the students each semester.
What does the future for this new pied piper of oldies music? As Lee says, " No one can predict the future but as long as I am breathing, I'll keep producing the show." "Hail, Hail Rock n Roll".
For further information call 321-277-1053 or e mail oldtimernr@hotmail.com
