One of the real joys of producing this website over the years has been receiving airchecks like this one from small stations that were so huge sounding, yet were so small and not really known outside their own market. Our contributor, Mike Green, who today is is a pilot for American Airlines, proudly sent this in remembering that he worked in Top 40 radio back when it was alive and well. Says he wouldn’t trade his experience for anything. Given the level of talent on this tape, we’re wondering why Mike decided to fly in the sky instead of head to 99X or some other major station.. he sounds HUGE here!
No logos, graphics or any historical information is available anywhere for WFLI – it seems this stations history has simply been wiped away except for perhaps a few listeners who remember… for today, the FCC database says this is a religious station (aren’t most small southern AM stations these days?). Hey, they gotta make a profit somehow, right?
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As a teen back in 1969- me and some of my friends visited “Jet Fly WFLI” studios. We used to pick up the station on ground wave in the winter from Atlanta. I remember the jock on duty was Ringo Vann.
Would anyone know if this is the same Mike Greene, (with an e at the end), who was on WAYS Charlotte in the mid 60s and WPOP Hartford in the late 60s? It sure sounds like him.
Mousesyear!…Good to hear your voice man. MMMMMMmade my day. Shoot me an e-mail. MMMMMMMevis every third record…Evis.
Hi guys,
No, I’m not the same MG as in Hartford and Charlotte (although I do spend quite a bit of time in both locations, now).
To Ron R : I don’t have your email!! Ask Webmaster Steve to forward. I’d love talk with ya!
Ron Richardson,
Send me an email at mgreen3545 at aol dot com.
MachineGun
Hey guys,
Currently based out of Detroit but living in Seoul, Korea. Email me at jim.kuhns@ieee.org.
Jim kuhns
Hey guys,
Sorry, jumped the gun on the original post. I heard that Pirkle passed but I haven’t seen anyone from the old FLI days other than Bryan Page since I saw Big Ron at Marietta-Cobb Tech back in the mid 80s. I believe you were working for Lockheed at the time. I’ll have to make a trip to the safe deposit box and see if I still have any checks from my time at Jet FLI. Remember the Dam Jam? That got us on the national news! What memories.
Mike, I have close to 2 million miles on your airline so I’m doing my part to keep ya working.
I’m currently based out of Detroit (for the last 20 years) but living in Seoul, Korea right now. I’m back in the country this week for Thanksgiving. I work for BigBand Networks as a project engineer and also run a small consulting business (www.apogee-tech.net). All my family still lives in the Cleveland/Chattanooga area so I get back there usually a couple of times a year. Email me at jim.kuhns@ieee.org. It would be greta to catch up.
Jim (James) Kuhns
My dad, Wm Stanley Hall, was the news director of Jet Fly starting in 1962. I remember as a child going to the WFLI Spectaculars. My dad also played a character called Rodney Ripoff and showed up in character for stuff like the Harlem Globetrotter events in Chattanooga. He passed away last week (Dec. 9, 2008). He has tons of history on WFLI (Jet Fly). It was owned at that time by Billy Bens. It was “the” station back in the day. My dad’s been gone from the station for years, but he was one of the ones who made it the hot station it was back in the 60’s. Paulette (Hall) Theobald
Paulette,
I had the opportunity to work with your dad at FLI in the 76-78 timeframe. I remember when I went to work there I was amazed that this very proper (in dress & in manner) gentleman was “the” Ridney Ripoff. Busy as he was he would always make time to show or explain to me how he’d done a particular effect or spot. He was a class guy & I learned a ton about how to do successful production from him.
Jim (James) Kuhns
So sorry to hear about your lost…I just did a search for Rodney Ripoff after asking some of my old friends on facebook if they remembered him? I use to listen to him everynight…He always started the 11:00 shift with a Led Zeppelin song…I just can’t remember which one…Your dad is part of my best years back in the 70’s when I was a teen…(class of 78)
I think with the direction that radio is going and the pay not being good enough. Maybe that’s why Mike Green decided to fly in the sky instead of moving to a bigger station. Because Pilots make big bucks!