In the closing few weeks of George Harrison’s life, John Landecker and I were working at WJMK Radio together. We were alerted to Harrison’s declining health, and the program director of the station (Kevin Robinson) asked me if I would put together a special about his life, because he knew I was a big Beatles fan. I teamed up with our technical producer Vince Argento, and using Landecker’s interview with George and my voluminous Beatles library as a starting point, we did as we were asked. When George died, the special was ready to go, and it aired the day after his death.
It was so well received that it led to a deal with Westwood One to write, voice and create other nationally syndicated specials for them. I don’t have tapes of any of those anymore sadly, but I did keep a copy of the George Harrison special. With the 50th anniversary of the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan happening this weekend, I thought it would be an appropriate time to post that portion of the special. This is Part 2, and it begins the night before the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show…
That didn’t make it on the “Records Truly Is My Middle Name” Soundtrack CD, but the entire George Harrison interview conducted by John Landecker did (a portion of that interview was in a later segment of the special too). Lots of other memorable interviews, bits, and songs from Landecker’s career did too. You can see the track list below…
“Records Truly Is My Middle Name (The Soundtrack)” is available right here at Eckhartz Press. It’s being sold as a fundraiser for The Chicago Lighthouse, which does great work for visually impaired and blind people. John’s father was blind, so it’s a charity he deeply believes in and supports.
And by the way, the CD is a perfect gift for the Landecker fan in your family, and it’s only $11.99.
Leave a Comment