Monday, November 13, 2006

The first Radio Free Phoenix

"Freeform radio is like weaving a tapestry," says Tindle. "You start with a song, it transitions into another song, and then another until ultimately you look back and you've woven a beautiful tapestry. The key is to let the music drive the format and make the decisions."

Danny Zelisko's touching e-mail to all about his friend Dwight Tindle (check your in-boxes) got me thinking of the too-short-lived show the duo hosted on FM 96.9 in the late Nineties, "Radio Free Phoenix." Here's a New Times story from 1998 that documents their attempt to "recapture the spirit of underground radio" with the broadcast and also traces their friendship a bit.

(P.S. - In his e-mail, Danny also makes an excellent point about not judging people based on how they respond to bad news regarding an old friend. Remember McCartney's "It's a drag" comment?)

1 comment:

Mariah Fleming said...

'The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.'
Carl Jung (1875 - 1961)

Below is today's journal entry from Dwight's CaringBridge site. Nearly 100 people have visited already. Ron Wortham was the first person to visit it and to post a message there. It is so beautiful, I hope you will all read it. God Bless Ron, such a rare, incredible human being.

Messages, pictures, tributes can be left at the Caring Bridge site as well. It's easy and private, not a public site. It's www.caringbridgle.org then enter "DwightTindle" in the 'visit' tab.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2006 04:45 PM, CST
Dwight left this world early this afternoon on his way to light up the next one...the grief felt by his friends and coworkers is inestimable. We who were on the outside looking in, too, are heartsick. But we can barely imagine what the rest of you are feeling right now.

One can get an idea of the scope of Dwight's reach by seeing the messages in this guest book. They are so beautiful, a living tribute to Dwight for his family to cherish. I hope everyone will fill it up with personal memories and tributes.

The site will be left active, like Lissa Wale's site, because there are so many people who know Dwight and want to tell their stories and express their love. In the grip of shock and grief, it's so hard for those closest to him to talk about it. But when you are ready, this site will be here as a tribute to Dwight and to all of you who were integral to the dream he helped fulfill.

Be sure to look at KCACLives.blogspot.com. Ron Wortham set up a page for and about Dwight the moment he learned of Dwight's illness. Ron spoke with Dwight several times since Dwight entered the hospital.

Ron's love and respect for Dwight is eloquently and endearingly expressed in the messages and pictures Ron has posted. What Ron has to say about things spiritual and mystical should really be read by everyone whose lives Dwight Tindle touched.

The words below from Dwight himself describe how HE felt the day KDKB went from 'ocean waves' to radio waves. From that first day on, WE were collectively baptized in the vast, magical waters of KDKB's creativity, keen political awareness, community activism and wry humor. It will never be duplicated. Dwight helped start a revolution, the evolution of which is still very much part of the lives of those of us who were there when the original KDKB was broadcasting.


From Fran Bennett today: 'the last paragraph of Dwight's 'Birth Pangs'...'

“At noon on Monday, August 23, 1971, I went into what would become the main production studio of KDKB in the old Safeway building (Jim, the engineer, had not yet completed work on our master control room, the “engine room” as we called it.) This was the day appointed for us to unveil the new station in all of its glory. I shut the door to the studio and placed “On The Way Home” on the turntable. I said a little prayer and turned off the ocean sounds. The Buffalo Springfield sang, “When the dream came, I held my breath with my eyes closed. I went insane like a smoke ring day when the wind blows.” KDKB was born. And I was the luckiest person on the face of the Earth.” 

C. Dwight Tindle