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South Australia is a sad state tonight (27/3/09) with the passing of radio great John Vincent. "Vinnie" was just a lovely human being who battled poor health for most of his life. I am just so privileged to have worked with him and had him as a friend for 35 years, since we first worked together at 5KA. I last saw John at a music industry lunch here in Adelaide around 2 months ago and we followed up that meeting with some emails I now cherish more than ever. Ironically John started his radio career at 2RE in Taree NSW & I kicked off my journey on-air at 2KM Kempsey, the next station up the coast.
John Vincent the radio talent, the singer, the musician, the man and family man was a good guy and a lot of South Australians are missing him tonight. Rest In Peace "Vinnie", with condolences to the Vincent family.
IAN WRIGHT,
Cruise1323/MIX102.3 Adelaide.
Vale Vinnie what a great bloke I went to Adelaide to learn the ropes of the Zoo format from the master in 1986. I could not have hoped for a more generopus teacher.When we took the Fox brekkie show to number 1 he was as happy as I was. He also took me to lunch and got me pissed and fed me buffalo for the first and last time. Will miss him. Kevin Hillier
May the heavenly turntables will be spinning at full speed as John Vincent enters the big studio in the sky. He'll be stepping up to spin the platters that matter from Thin Vin's Breaky Bin. No doubt among the hits will be a selection of 'thump thump bash bash tuneless flamin' jungle music'...just as he'd like it. What a pleasure to have heard his soothing, laconic tones on AM and FM over the years.
Perhaps you can imagine my thrill - as a teenager - meeting John Vincent and to have him take an interest in me as I tried to break into this crazy business. I know he did that for a lot of people over the years, just like another famous John (Laws) did for him, in Sydney, in the early '60s. Vinnie never forgot that. To those of us fortunate to count him as a mate, we all know the humility of the man and how never quite got used to his legendary status within Adelaide radio. And let's not forget his band work and song writing either. He always played his contribution down and was constantly amazed when people mentioned things he'd said on the radio and how it effected their lives. But isn't that the power of the medium? Of course it is.
However, I believe it's the performers who leave their mark that make the real difference. Vinnie certainly left his mark on me and countless others. I'll shall miss him. And in honour of his life and times I urge you all to "grab the chops and the snags and the onions from the fridge", and chuck 'em on your backyard barbie sometime soon. Then crack a coldie and raise it skywards as you holler, "Owyagoin' Vinnie".
(RIP) Rock in Peace.
I worked with Vinnie at 7HO in the sixties and what great bloke he was, Constantly scoffing BEX powders ( I never worked out why he didnt take Vincents (no confidence perhaps). Great guitarist and songwriter with such notable icons as Owyagoin, Triple fronted brick veneer home, Choko Brandy and Madges Charity Badges, among others. Too early mate.
Nick Weare
Vinnie will be farewelled this friday at 11am, Berry's Funeral Home Norwood followed by a wake at the Arkaba. Over 1,000 friends will be attending. So many that marquees have been set up at the funeral home. His mates Adam Hills and John Pemberton will speak on behalf of all of us. His memory will live on with the John Vincent Memorial Big Quiz Gig, May 19th at the Arkaba and yearly from then on. To show the effect the man had over the years - every single station in town did a tribute. The ABC devoted 2 hrs to him. I was fortunate to hold his hand in the last days. He was very sick, very frail but still cracking jokes. Let's here it one more time for Ken. ForKen! He was my mentor.Life long mate, David Day.
I can't really remember the first time I heard Vinnie's voice. I'm guessing it was when, along with many thousand Adelaideans, I woke up every morning to the SA.FM Morning Zoo somewhere in the mid 80's.
What hit you straight away was the complete warmth in his voice. He had a depth that wasn't a silly deep ballsy cliched radio voice - he sounded more like your Dad, or your Grandpa in later years... (he'd hate me saying that). His was a voice that came through the speakers making you feel like everything was okay, he was here now. His voice gently stroked your hair, in slow gentle motions.
Of course - you shouldn't confuse that with Vinnie being a voice of calm. The mayhem he presided over for years on that breakfast show was anything but relaxed. Being the ringmaster - the man who would orchestrate the fun everyone else, and all of us listening, would get to have - he always sounded in control. Even when he probably wasn't!
The first meeting I had with him was at FIVEaa somewhere around 1999. Vinnie was looking for work. But you could never assume that he was desperate for it. You got the vibe he just was a lost kid looking for a playground. "C'mon, let me in so we can have some fun!" his eyes and smile would say.
It's interesting to finally meet a man that you'd woken up with as a teenager. The impact finally meeting someone who was as familiar as your mothers voice telling you to get out of bed, was, well, weird actually. First of all it doesn't make sense that he was actually talking to you. You're like, are you talking to me? But... why? And that was the thing about Vinnie - whether it be one of his "dear listener" 's or a young 22 year old in a radio station hallway - he never made you feel like he was better than you - even though you knew he was.
I panelled (pushed the buttons) and produced Vinnie's 1 hour FIVEaa Radio show for the 6 months or so it lasted. Just to say it was great fun wouldn't do it justice. It was on from 7-8pm a couple of nights a week, so being at the end of a long day it was tough to ooze out that last bit of energy. But with Vinnie, it was kinda like when you're totally stuffed and your best mate, the one who always knows how to cheer you up, comes knocking at your door. You manage to find enough energy to play along because they make you feel good about yourself.
I don't remember much of what happened on that show - I think we played a few tracks, interviewed some interesting people - and oh yeah - we played Chickenman - but it doesn't matter. The individual things we did didn't matter squat because there I was - sitting in the same studio as Adelaide's legendary, nicest guy.
Vinnie passed away a week ago now, aged 67. Too young. Way too young. It was always the great irony to me that the man with the biggest heart I knew, also had a heart problem. It never took the smile off his face though. Publicly that is, privately I'm not so sure. I'm positive Vinnie had down days, but he never let anyone in his beloved wireless business see them.
The last time I saw Vinnie was by accident. I'd called into see my Nanna, who is an interior decorator, at her showroom. I was out the back, just collecting something from her. Probably a cake she'd generously baked for me as she does. I'd sent her a text to say I was out the back in the car waiting for her. She came running out and excitedly said 'John Vincent's inside!'. He was still a celebrity and this was Adelaide, so her excitement at having him there wasn't an overreaction.
I hopped out of the car, and made my way inside to the showroom and there he was. At first I wasn't sure he recognised me. But a quick adjustment of the round rimmed lenses and with a beaming face he said "Wade! How ya been?".
Turns out he was there to offer to record voiceovers for the business, one that was gratefully taken up. He was happy to see me, but he was more interested in making sure my Nanna was happy with the demo tape of voiceovers he'd done for them. Of course she was. How could she not?
In fact, if you want a dose of Vinnie's voice - just call Mardaw Soft Furnishers at Norwood and ask to be put on hold. There he'll be. Telling you about Austrian Blinds or Dutch overlays, with all the warmth and professionalism that came with decades on the airwaves. See if you can resist having your whole house re-decorated after hearing him sell it to ya.
After some small talk and 'what's so and so doing now?' type chat, we agreed to catch up for dinner soon. We didn't have that dinner as it turns out. After I heard about his death, on the radio, I looked down at his mobile number sitting in my phone and wonder why we didn't catch up.
John Vincent - not that anyone ever called him John - will be farewelled tomorrow at both a memorial service, then a wake where over 1,000 people are expected. Colleagues, fans, family, friends, and lovers of a good old decent bloke alike.
Enjoy the new playground up there Vinnie. The equipment's new, and the playmates are different - but I'm sure your warmth, love and passion for what you do - will make waking up in heaven all the richer for those lucky dear listeners.
From http://wadekingsley.blogspot.com
The AFA are nucking futs to be honest. What I find more offensive is the "improve your sexual performance" ads that are invading young people's radio programs like Hamish and Andy, the Breakfast programs et al.
These ads should be banned full stop. But wait, if that happened, how would 2GB and 2CH raise revenue? All I hear on those 2 stations is "improve your sexual performance" ads....
Re Melbourne Mid 60s Radio
The Melbourne Radio survey guy, Mark Newstead of MediaMARK comments.
Dave Rogerson, is right except that McNair and The Anderson Analysis were two separate companies competing for sdubscribers into the early 70s. About 1974 was the combining date of the two companies.
Both had their followers, arguably The Anderson Analysis had a stronger following amongst the stations wheras the agencies might nominate that they were assesing a buy using McNair.
As is their want though, stations would soon find themselves buying both if they had had a particulalry good book.
As a fanatical listener then and now, it is interesting to see the complete demise/evolution of once great brand leaders. What stands out is how influential 3DB was compared to the other adult station 3AW (and then musically, 3XY) But the greater 3UZ "owned" this town, especially as Top 40 competitor 3AK only operated during daylight hours. They closed down at 5pm in winter, 6pm in spring and autumn and stayed on until 7pm in summer (this before daylight saving was introduced - how has that elided into daylight savings now?) It was October 1964 that 3UZ became a 24 hour radio station, then joining 3XY as the only 24 hour operations. 3AW and 3DB followed by about 1966.
3UZ became Sport 927, its current incarnation, and 3AK became SEN at 1116.
Some years ago Nielsen Media research issued a 10+ share of audience ratings covering nearly 40 years. Bob Cornish may have a copy he may wish to post on this.
Staying with Radio, I'm writing this whilst sampling DMG's new Digital + Koffee, and am always pleased to hear radio striving to serve its audiences as innovatively as possible. Radio since TV has never looked back then and now.