In the late 1960s many Top 40 stations aired a fascinating
weekly public affairs program called Silhouette. It was produced by the American Lutheran
Church and helped music stations meet ascertainment requirements without going
out of the format.
Silhouette was
created by host John Rydren, a seminary student in St. Paul. The show mixed
short clips of young folks chatting about current issues with the hottest songs
of the day. Sometimes Rydren crafted sound
assays – messages read over instrumental versions of popular songs, sort of
like Joe Frank or Rod McKuen.
Most of Rydgren’s sound
assays are laughable now because they are so hippy-dippy and over the top. But today’s clip features what I believe is
John’s best work: Groovin’ on a Saturday
Night from 1968. This sound assay resonated with me because at
the time I was of draft age and I wondered if soon I’d be in Vietnam…
John Rydgren became “Brother John” when ABC Radio hired him
to be the voice of its national automated “Love” FM network. That concept sank in a year or so and Rydren
moved to K-EARTH, an oldies station in LA.
He worked at K-EARTH until his death on the air (no kidding!) in 1988.
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