13 December 2006
Don't look back. You can never look back!
Today marked the final broadcast of Bob Reitman, Milwaukee DJ and morning show personality. For the last several decades, he's helmed the morning show (with partner/contributors Gene Mueller, Amy Taylor, and Gino Salomone) on WKTI. Today he starts his retirement.
That's the only capacity in which I've known him, since I only moved to the area in 2002. But I soon caught on to the entertainment of the morning show and the wit and style of Reitman. I'm not a constant listener, but when I do turn on the radio in the morning, more often than not, it's to listen to KTI and "Reitman and Mueller (and Amy Taylor, too)".
Today, during his final broadcast, we listened in to several personal calls from well wishers and some clips of a send-off party that was held last night. One friend called it "the funeral", but it really sounded like a good time. Reitman's farewell speech was heartfelt and raw and inspiring.
At the end of the broadcast (just concluded), Reitman played two songs (a rarity for the morning show). The first was Don Henley's "Boys of Summer". I'm sure he's told the tale of his affection for this song (one of the few regularly heard when the show does play a music break), but listeners hear Reitman speak the lines "Don't look back, you can never look back" along with Henley each time. Today, those words seem even more poignant.
The final song was Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man". A true rarity for the Top 40 station. Reitman spoke briefly before the song about it being a song about a journey, one that reflected his coming journey and wishes for his friends and family as he moves onto his next chapter.
It was a very moving send-off. Rare in the industry, as Reitman was rare himself - a Rock DJ, of the first generation of teenagers (as he said this morning), and one who had said he fought for radio for the way it ought to be. Most DJs disappear in format changes, takeovers, or staffing changes (or even sensational guffaws). It was refreshing to have this closure.
Best wishes to Bob Reitman in his retirement. Thanks for the entertainment!
That's the only capacity in which I've known him, since I only moved to the area in 2002. But I soon caught on to the entertainment of the morning show and the wit and style of Reitman. I'm not a constant listener, but when I do turn on the radio in the morning, more often than not, it's to listen to KTI and "Reitman and Mueller (and Amy Taylor, too)".
Today, during his final broadcast, we listened in to several personal calls from well wishers and some clips of a send-off party that was held last night. One friend called it "the funeral", but it really sounded like a good time. Reitman's farewell speech was heartfelt and raw and inspiring.
At the end of the broadcast (just concluded), Reitman played two songs (a rarity for the morning show). The first was Don Henley's "Boys of Summer". I'm sure he's told the tale of his affection for this song (one of the few regularly heard when the show does play a music break), but listeners hear Reitman speak the lines "Don't look back, you can never look back" along with Henley each time. Today, those words seem even more poignant.
The final song was Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man". A true rarity for the Top 40 station. Reitman spoke briefly before the song about it being a song about a journey, one that reflected his coming journey and wishes for his friends and family as he moves onto his next chapter.
It was a very moving send-off. Rare in the industry, as Reitman was rare himself - a Rock DJ, of the first generation of teenagers (as he said this morning), and one who had said he fought for radio for the way it ought to be. Most DJs disappear in format changes, takeovers, or staffing changes (or even sensational guffaws). It was refreshing to have this closure.
Best wishes to Bob Reitman in his retirement. Thanks for the entertainment!
Labels: bob dylan, bob reitman, don henley, milwaukee, radio
