You know the years that your children are young and need you 24/7. When there is little time taken just for you and your mental health, that time I took out for myself was listening to Steve.
I started listening on the day after Disco Demolition. Steve blew up disco records at the old Comiskey Park, and the wild aftermath of that explosion made the White Sox forfeit a major league baseball game.
The next morning, curious, I tuned in, and continued listening until Steve stopped broadcasting on the radio.
This weekend Steve and Garry were inducted into the Broadcast Hall of Fame here in Chicago. Steve choose not to attend. It's been all over local media why... I have my own problems with Steve's former partner. When Steve and Garry broke up, it was the closest I've ever personally felt to a divorce, anyway, to choosing sides. I did choose, Steve. I cannot and will not listen to Garry.
I have in my 58 years had influential people in my life. Steve is up there on my list. From the outside, when people knew that I loved Steve, I would get comments like, "That's so out of character for you, Penny." In fact, those comments came from people only knowing him from things they heard or read, not because they listened. Before there was social media, Steve talked about what was happening...or when something happened, I couldn't wait to hear Steve's take on it.
He turned me on to so much great music...Not what you'd expect...Hawaiian music, slack key guitar music, Jimmy Webb, Joe Walsh... I saw HD TV for the first time at one of his shows, heard Jimmy Webb sing Galveston live on the air, sigh... Brian Wilson, brought back to life... Steve actually helped my relationship with my oldest brother. Tony would call me to talk Steve...Did you hear?...Can you believe?
There were times I couldn't believe what Steve said, turned off the radio when the kids were in the room.
He said what he thought, so different from the way I was taught in Catholic school. Even thinking of some things were a sin... Steve talked about everything, good and bad, happy and sad. Personal, private...I heard Steve and Janet's first child born, and it was a beautiful moment.
I have so many happy, wet your pants funny memories, but he also shared things that were hard, loses. I was listening when John Belushi died, a close friend of Steve's and an icon for so many of our age... or when Marcus, a young man who worked for Steve died after a tonsillectomy...When Garry lost his Dad. I cried a few times when Steve played If You See Me Getting Smaller...or Adios. Steve's is one of the first web sites I ever bookmarked back in the day. It was how he stayed in touch between radio jobs.
Chicago radio to me is Steve Dahl. I will not wear a rain hat while driving and listen to WGN. ;-)
*Steve hosts a daily podcast, and I still follow him on the web. Thank you Steve!
Penny
