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it is sad that radio as we KNEW it is dead, but I do think that out there somewhere there are colleges, or pirates, or tech savvy lovers of music and diversity doing it they way we know it should be done.
Congratulations inductee.
Hey Charles,
Beige is not your color, and if Jim weren't on such a tight schedule, but, say, had an hour to kibitz with you, it would make for some interesting TV time. He's a good interviewer and you're a good interviewee and the subject is near and dear to all our hearts.
You deserve to be inducted. A lot.
You'll always be our fearless leader. :)
h
So glad you posted this Chuckles ... I missed the original airing .... Congratulations on your induction .. you deserve this honor .. as I once said .....
Song won’t remain the same
After Laquidara says “Aloha”
From behind his microphone, he could not truly assimilate the breadth of his “Aloha.” For him, we must be happy. He says – with joy and anticipation – that his time has come. After three decades in the public ear, it’s time for Charles Laquidara to relax, renew, and experience life with a normal schedule.
For his long-time radio listeners it means a bittersweet goodbye to someone who has given us so much and owes us nothing.
Monday will come and, sure, we’ll tune in. It will be difficult to lend an honestly open ear. Every little word, joke, bit, inflection, nuance will be judged to the highest scrutiny. What will be the tone of the WZLX morning show? How far will the new guys push the envelope? Will it be enough to keep us from turning the dial?
Whether we are ardent audiophiles, or simply use the medium to provide passive company, radio is an integral part of our lives. Radio renders a continuing saga, a local soap opera that involuntarily envelops its performers into the personal lives of audience members. As an unwitting extension of our family tree, we shared news of the birth of our kids, our frustration with the system, our outrage over local politicians.
What will be missed most as Charles Laquidara retires to Hawaii?
For a majority of listeners, it will be the radio announcer, the performer, the voice. The creative, precise, direct, opinionated and somewhat rigid rebel who inspired us to question authority. Convention, conformity and status quo were not on his play list!
He’s the controlled ego with a natural P.R. instinct and ubiquitous quest for the next photo op.
For some it will be his liberal politics, his righteous enthusiasm in an apathetic world. He has the charismatic ability to herd the masses behind any cause he deemed worthy. Whether it involved boycotting an oil company or assailing cigarette smokers, the impact of his actions proved, at times, surreal. Charles the educator, the motivator, the activist.
For others it could be the persona. The rabble-rousing, somewhat tiresome blabbermouth. “There he goes again” could be heard rolling off the tongues of even his most earnest fans. The zany wake-up calls, the contests like Mishegas, his parting words each morning, the crazy characters he concocted – all helped define him as our entertainer.
For others it could be the local appeal. “Milford boy makes it big.” There was no camouflaging his Boston accent. White collar, blue collar, no collar – he could talk to them all and be heard.
To attract and retain even a handful of female listeners in a predominately male demographic is indeed a tribute. Playing to his audience without sounding like a patronizing misogynist proved to be a challenge.
Let’s not forget the music. Listeners appreciated his stand on freedom in formatting. After 30 years of spinning tunes, fielding requests for “In-A-Gadda-DaVida,” attending festivals, and rubbing elbows with rock legends, he became the music. And to many, he became the legend.
For those who had the fortune to get to know Charles, it will be the human being. The charm, generosity, enthusiasm, and somewhat concocted naiveté of a man who could be misconstrued as another celebrity ego. In recent years, it became clear that his spirit had evolved, his personality mellowed. Add the realization that life could deal some difficult blows, and only a truly enlightened person would recognize when it is time to move on.
Whatever Charles Laquidara meant to whoever listened, he made an impact. There will never be another local radio personality who will educate, enlighten, and entertain like Charles. Like Orr, Havlicek, and Williams, he will be remembered as an unforgettable part of Boston’s heritage.
Thanks for the memories. Aloha!
Carolyn Daly Shedd
Boston Herald, Saturday August 5, 2000
Congratulations!
I love jim braude i listen to him every day, you are similar in your views on politics. we need to get together while your here, so get back to me or Mrs memory man and i will fire up the grill with soy burgers or some filets if you are eating meat these days? lets do it soon I miss you! -B
Congratulations Charles. Great interview also. You are dead on in your opinion about the corporations. FYI. From an etymological standpoint, the word corporation stems from corpus, meaning dead. Now that's MY story...
Charles, Most of my best radio memories have you in them. From the Cat and Dog Report, the LP Dujour, Two Minute Mysteries (I still have the BCN stocking hat I won), Dwayne taking over the station for 4 hours on a Saturday and playing nothing but Free Bird to the final days at WZLX, you are the legend that introduced me to FM free form radio and the best radio ever. This is well deserved. Thanks, congratulations and remember to pick up hitch hikers, they are your brothers.
Comments
Congratulations, Charles. It couldn't go to a nicer guy!
Posted by: Dave | September 16, 2009 1:12 AM
Nice suit Charles - NOT!
Posted by: Bill from Worcester | September 16, 2009 1:46 AM
Congratulations Charles. I miss subversive radio.
Posted by: Danielle | September 16, 2009 11:03 AM
it is sad that radio as we KNEW it is dead, but I do think that out there somewhere there are colleges, or pirates, or tech savvy lovers of music and diversity doing it they way we know it should be done.
Congratulations inductee.
Posted by: Ten 44 | September 16, 2009 12:02 PM
What was that I Phone app?
Posted by: Peter | September 16, 2009 12:27 PM
Hey Charles,
Beige is not your color, and if Jim weren't on such a tight schedule, but, say, had an hour to kibitz with you, it would make for some interesting TV time. He's a good interviewer and you're a good interviewee and the subject is near and dear to all our hearts.
You deserve to be inducted. A lot.
You'll always be our fearless leader. :)
h
Posted by: h | September 16, 2009 3:08 PM
So glad you posted this Chuckles ... I missed the original airing .... Congratulations on your induction .. you deserve this honor .. as I once said .....
Song won’t remain the same
After Laquidara says “Aloha”
From behind his microphone, he could not truly assimilate the breadth of his “Aloha.” For him, we must be happy. He says – with joy and anticipation – that his time has come. After three decades in the public ear, it’s time for Charles Laquidara to relax, renew, and experience life with a normal schedule.
For his long-time radio listeners it means a bittersweet goodbye to someone who has given us so much and owes us nothing.
Monday will come and, sure, we’ll tune in. It will be difficult to lend an honestly open ear. Every little word, joke, bit, inflection, nuance will be judged to the highest scrutiny. What will be the tone of the WZLX morning show? How far will the new guys push the envelope? Will it be enough to keep us from turning the dial?
Whether we are ardent audiophiles, or simply use the medium to provide passive company, radio is an integral part of our lives. Radio renders a continuing saga, a local soap opera that involuntarily envelops its performers into the personal lives of audience members. As an unwitting extension of our family tree, we shared news of the birth of our kids, our frustration with the system, our outrage over local politicians.
What will be missed most as Charles Laquidara retires to Hawaii?
For a majority of listeners, it will be the radio announcer, the performer, the voice. The creative, precise, direct, opinionated and somewhat rigid rebel who inspired us to question authority. Convention, conformity and status quo were not on his play list!
He’s the controlled ego with a natural P.R. instinct and ubiquitous quest for the next photo op.
For some it will be his liberal politics, his righteous enthusiasm in an apathetic world. He has the charismatic ability to herd the masses behind any cause he deemed worthy. Whether it involved boycotting an oil company or assailing cigarette smokers, the impact of his actions proved, at times, surreal. Charles the educator, the motivator, the activist.
For others it could be the persona. The rabble-rousing, somewhat tiresome blabbermouth. “There he goes again” could be heard rolling off the tongues of even his most earnest fans. The zany wake-up calls, the contests like Mishegas, his parting words each morning, the crazy characters he concocted – all helped define him as our entertainer.
For others it could be the local appeal. “Milford boy makes it big.” There was no camouflaging his Boston accent. White collar, blue collar, no collar – he could talk to them all and be heard.
To attract and retain even a handful of female listeners in a predominately male demographic is indeed a tribute. Playing to his audience without sounding like a patronizing misogynist proved to be a challenge.
Let’s not forget the music. Listeners appreciated his stand on freedom in formatting. After 30 years of spinning tunes, fielding requests for “In-A-Gadda-DaVida,” attending festivals, and rubbing elbows with rock legends, he became the music. And to many, he became the legend.
For those who had the fortune to get to know Charles, it will be the human being. The charm, generosity, enthusiasm, and somewhat concocted naiveté of a man who could be misconstrued as another celebrity ego. In recent years, it became clear that his spirit had evolved, his personality mellowed. Add the realization that life could deal some difficult blows, and only a truly enlightened person would recognize when it is time to move on.
Whatever Charles Laquidara meant to whoever listened, he made an impact. There will never be another local radio personality who will educate, enlighten, and entertain like Charles. Like Orr, Havlicek, and Williams, he will be remembered as an unforgettable part of Boston’s heritage.
Thanks for the memories. Aloha!
Carolyn Daly Shedd
Boston Herald, Saturday August 5, 2000
Posted by: Carolyn | September 16, 2009 5:09 PM
Walk 3 and swim 1?....Every day?
Congratulations Chas. Well deserved.
F
Posted by: F | September 17, 2009 6:42 AM
Charles:
Congratulations!
I love jim braude i listen to him every day, you are similar in your views on politics. we need to get together while your here, so get back to me or Mrs memory man and i will fire up the grill with soy burgers or some filets if you are eating meat these days? lets do it soon I miss you! -B
Posted by: memory man | September 19, 2009 4:09 AM
Congratulations Charles. Great interview also. You are dead on in your opinion about the corporations. FYI. From an etymological standpoint, the word corporation stems from corpus, meaning dead. Now that's MY story...
Posted by: Bill | September 19, 2009 6:59 AM
Charles, Most of my best radio memories have you in them. From the Cat and Dog Report, the LP Dujour, Two Minute Mysteries (I still have the BCN stocking hat I won), Dwayne taking over the station for 4 hours on a Saturday and playing nothing but Free Bird to the final days at WZLX, you are the legend that introduced me to FM free form radio and the best radio ever. This is well deserved. Thanks, congratulations and remember to pick up hitch hikers, they are your brothers.
Posted by: LR | September 20, 2009 5:27 PM