HE WAS ONE WHO CHANGED MY LIFE...FOREVER...

I Choose My Path In Life Because Of Him...

I look back now at the critical moments in my life when I decided this was what I wanted to do 

or how I wanted to act from that point on... 

This man was one of my MAJOR game changers for me...

GARY OWENS

He was a multi talented fellow who primarily worked in the radio business as a DJ for decades...

https://soundcloud.com/la-golden-radio-days/gary-owens-golden-voice-announcers-school

https://soundcloud.com/la-golden-radio-days/gary-owens-iincredible-but-true

In addition he did VO's for thousands of commercials 

(he says 15,000 of 'em), 

promos and other audio projects...

He never stopped working...Up to end end of his life he was 

"THE VOICE" of Antenna TV...

He had great "Pipes" but there was something even better in his physical makeup...he had a "razor sharp" brain...

And it was a humorous one at that...Just listen:

Many recall Gary as Roger Ramjet 

in the funky cartoon series back in the 60's...

Then GO did the voice of Space Ghost...

And most recall what he looks like thanks to "Laugh In"...

I just discovered how he scored that job...He was breaking bread at a restaurant (high class) across from Warner Bros. in Burbank and went into the can...

There was George Schlatter taking a whizz and Gary said something to him and mentioned how the acoustics were so great in the bathroom...

George said to him, "That's it!"...He was looking for that sound...that style for his new show...He hired Gary on the spot and told him that the "old style" announcer guy would be the perfect way to cut between comedy bits on the NBC show...I hoped they both flushed after that meeting...

https://vimeo.com/14120286

From the mid West, Gary ventured out to Cali and worked at KFWB, KROY and KEWB 

prior to hitting MOR "big Time" on the powerful KMPC in Hollywood...

A good friend of mine, Jeff March, was a radio nut just like me as a kid....But he was the smart one...He has heaps of air check material he recorded over the years of great radio talent here and there...One of this top ones is right here...

Listen to Gary Owens on thanksgiving Day, 1973...

Someone pass the gravy! 

https://soundcloud.com/radarjeff/kmpc-gary-owens-11-22-73

Gary talks about his start in the business 

and more plus he pitches his VO book...

Gary and Mr. Winters were great buds...

Garish did so much in his lengthy career...So much...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Owens

I was reading his obit in the LA Times a few days back and wrote this about my memories of Gary:

GO WAS the reason I ventured into the radio business...Back when I was a lad in Northridge I would listen to Gary as I went here and there in my 1960 powder blue Ford Falcon...Gary's resonant pipes would boom out of my tiny speaker on the top of my dash and he took me to other places...and always made me laugh...Gary Owens was the consummate pro...but he had to have been a real good guy because EVERYONE loved listening to him...I know he is cutting up with St. Peter right now...but first he has to read this "LIVE" message for our sponsor...It WAS KMPC...I'll miss ya GO! 

For Gary to make such an impact in the media world one thing has to be a reality...He HAS to be a GOOD guy...Oh and he was...Read this from Ken Levine's blog about his special friend forever...

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/02/rip-gary-owens.html

I thank Gary Owens for showing me how a medium like radio can shine brightly for all to hear...I really did get into the media biz because of him and a few other select folks who showed me the great media path to follow...

Thanks GO for all those memories and never forget one thing:  Stay insegrevious!

https://soundcloud.com/la-golden-radio-days/los-angeles-golden-radio-days-go-holiday-wish