Toys For Tots shows

[bruiser]

These shows were always one of the biggest rock shows of the year. I remember both shows being reviewed in the features section. I always thought it was a hoot when the local bands would show up the national acts. It could get pretty wild down on the floor. I'm surprised there weren't some people seriously hurt by the lack of order.

[David Darling]

My father, Lee Gray, was very involved with Toys for Tots and was still involved for many years after he left KLO. At one time we had a LOT of Toys for Tots T-shirts from many of the concerts... BUT my mother cleaned house one day in the 80's and they were all sent to charity. As a matter of fact, I have a photo of him with the cast of Happy Days in LA and he's wearing one of the T-shirts.

Although I was a tot myself and can't remember, I was told that one of Barry Manilow's first concerts was a Toys for Tots concert in Louisville in the early 70's, and before the show he was backstage having a panic attack. My father told him that everything would be OK, that Louisville loved him, and he would do fine. After he said this, Barry went to the restroom and was very sick. But he managed to go on stage and perform just fine.

[Max]

Your father was indeed one of a kind...a great jock. And according to his site, well traveled! My mind is playing tricks on me in relation to his passing. A few years back I saw a concert at the old Cardinal Stadium and I was thinking he introduced the band...could have been Lee Masters.

[David Darling]

I think it was probably Lee Masters. I think the last time that he was in Louisville was around 1988. He met my mother while working at KLO in the early 70's (she walked in front of the studio window and caught his attention). Her family still lives in Louisville, but she would usually visit and he would stay to work in whatever city we were living in at the time... I'll just leave it at that

[Max]

I think this would be a great place to start if today's so called radio stations wanted to capture the listeners' ears again. Get involved with the community, get OFF the voice-track rollercoaster, and hire jocks who have winning personalities of their own, not mimicking.

But then again, would a Toys for Tots type thing be as successful? I guess in order to appeal to the same target age group now, you'd have to have a rap or hip-hop format...and I guess that could get ugly.

[Max]

Now, was this Toys for Tots concerts mainly a WKLO thing or were other stations involved? I know it's not just a Louisville thing, but rather a national thing.

[GilHerbig]

Hey Max...In Louisville it was just WKLO and the Marine Corp doing Toys for Tots. I went in 72 or 73 when Brownsville Station performed...They were Great...I forget now who else was there. They always had great bands there each year, that they were involved with it.

[lfplfilmwindera]

MY first concert ever was a Toys for Tots show that featured the Lemon Pipers and Sam the Sham. Can anyone tell me what year that was and who else was on the show? Any other details about the show would be greatly appreciated.

[firefall2007]

Maybe 1963???

[lfplfilmwindera]

Hey, I really thought no one was ever going to respond to my question, but I know it was not 1963 because I had barely started grade school then. Also, the Lemon Pipers had the hit Green Tambourine in December of 1967. The other big act at the show, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs had the hit Little Red Riding Hood in July of 1966. Seems like I've kind of answered my own question, but thanks for responding.

[Travis]

I had to smile as I read your reply to Firefall2007 because it sure did appear as if you were answering your own question. Still, if Terrell Metheny (Mighty Mitch Michael) ever sees this thread, he may be able to give you the exact year.

By the way, aren't you glad you no longer rewind films at the good old LFPL? You'd be out of a job unless there was a need to somehow rewind DVDs. ;D

Oh, and my favorite Firefall tune is "Headed for a Fall" which I last heard on Hi95 way back when. Nobody plays it today.

[bruiser]

Speaking of rewinding a dvd:

gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/dvd-rewinder-yes-its-real-205286.php

[Travis]

I'd be tempted to buy one if they could make it into a model car. Then I'd have a match for the one I use to rewind my old VHS cassettes.