I work with legends at The Drive....both longtime and ones in the making (dont look at me) Evening mainstay Phil Manicki and I have wished each other Merry Christmas for something like 14 years now....in the rough and tumble jungle of Chicago radio, thats quite a run. Weve weathered a few changes here but not a lot because our listeners consistently keep us #1 among Chicago stations that play rock music...classic, contemporary or a combo of the two. Phil is off until Jan. 2 so we gave each other a hug on his way out last night. We both went to the U of I (not the same time...Im slightly older...ok, thats a lie...considerably older) and learned our early radio lessons at WPGU, the 24 hour commercial student run station that taught us how to be pros. At the Drive, Ive followed Phil most nights Monday thru Thursday for the last ten and a half years. Hes seen me high...after a thrilling music or sports event...and hes seen me low... after some personal situation cut me to pieces. If I had any sense, Id bring every date here to be screened. The onetime that occurred, Phil engaged the subject in conversation about a subject they both knew well with plenty of smiles and laughter all around. But in a personal aside later, his evaluation boiled down to one word, Trouble. And you know what? My man Phil turned out to be a genius....and the sort of good friend who always has your back. Merry Xmas man...see you in the new year.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 09:29:26 +0000