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David Paul is Back
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Before I begin, I must say I'm really disappointed in your lack of opinion on the Don Imus controversy.
David Paul fits the definition of Atlanta Radio Legend better than anyone you can name. In fact, he probably doesn't even have any competitors in the category, seeing as how our radio has always been pretty weak. From the 1980's to sometime in the early 1990's he brought a prototype of shock jockery to the conservative Southern airwaves on WSB-AM. The shows he gave the late-night audience are still talked about fondly to this day.
Having said all of that, I've never actually heard a classic-era David Paul show. Back when I was on the radio in Cartersville my roommate at the time asked me if I had heard of him, and said he would have been way up my alley. Later, when I guested on the Mike Rose show, someone called in and told Mike he couldn't believe he was sitting in the studio with a "crushing bore" like me. In a commercial Mike asked me if I had recognized who that was, and I didn't. It was David Paul.
A little later still I went to the Radio-Info.com board to ask if anyone had any David Paul airchecks, and mentioned my Mike Rose run-in with him. I got an e-mail that said, "I saw on Radio-Info you said David Paul had called you a crushing bore when you were on the Mike Rose show. Why would I do that? -- David Paul." This led to a couple of e-mail exchanges with the mystery man of the airwaves where he said he hadn't had a real job in a couple of years and, though he would like to get back into radio, he didn't even know where to begin. Amazing.
Later still WGST announced they were going to have a series of guest hosts picked from volunteers. David Paul stole the show by not doing a show! He went in the booth for literally two minutes, then said, "Sorry, guys, I can't do this," and walked right back out. This led to a couple of appearances on the Regular Guys show where I got my only samples of David Paul magic. (In our e-mail exchanges I had told him I thought Larry Wachs was looking for a new partner and suggested he offer himself. They did seem to get along.)
So anyhow...that's the David Paul legend to date. So last night I was looking at Radio-Info.com for the first time in awhile and I read that David Paul is back on the air full-time. Where?
When I was in Cartersville I was on WBHF-AM, a 1,000 watt station. There was another station in town, WYXC, that was 250 watts. David Paul is on WYXC.
Yes...something makes me feel good to know even the great David Paul is on WYXC. Here's a guy that people are still talking about 15 years after he left the air, whereas most air personalities are forgotten later the same afternoon. Everytime a talk show opening pops up in Atlanta a faction turns up to say they hope David Paul will materialize and fill the chair. But do the people in Atlanta radio give the Legend a chance? No! He's out there in the cornfields on WYXC! And this proves that I, too, was Atlanta legend material, I was just shut out in exile like the great David Paul! Exiled for being too good!
WYXC has a blog where listeners can comment on their shows (WBHF wouldn't have bothered with this, as most of the listeners are still searching for ribbons for their old Crown-Electrics), and Paul is drawing a buzz in that wide spot in the road. "Make it clear when you're joking or the old folks will think you're serious." "This is a red county in a red state. If you keep up the 'I love Bill and Hillary' stuff you're going to drive a big wedge between yourself and the audience." "You're going to lose the soccer moms if you keep up those rants on women." The Cartersvillians love a edgy, irreverent talk show as long as it is completely middle-of-the-road, supports the president and is easily understood by Alzheimer's patients. Cartersville is still Cartersville, and it's laws of social physics haven't changed upon the arrival of a certified big-market star.
WSB's night signal covers most of the United States, and it appears people who wax nostalgic for their nighttime hero have found Paul and the WYXC stream, so that 250 watt station is even getting listeners in Alabama and probably beyond.
I salute David Paul and his determination to return to the air wherever he can be heard. I would just warn him do not make fun of the Woodland High School football team, or you will wind up in the "Bartow Buzz" every single day. Do not do it! Aww, I told ya... |
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Posted by Art | 9:42 PM EST |
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David was the guy that WSB used to shove the station into the 1990s. Then they cast him aside.