Letters for April 17, 2008

O’Lear mattered
Re “101 Who Mattered” (Feature story, April 10):

I think the article “101 Who Mattered” should have been 102. There was a gentleman who lived and worked in Reno for many years. He was involved with at least three radio stations, and many DJs and musicians. He was the volunteer coordinator and trainer for KUNR-FM for many years. He was an outstanding DJ for KTHX for several years. And he was a founding member of the community radio station which is now KJIV, housed at the media center. He had a profound effect on those who came into contact with him, whether he was training them to be a DJ, or mesmerizing them with music that they just couldn’t get anywhere else. We lost this great gentleman a few years ago, but he will never be forgotten. His widow is attempting to donate his wonderful music collection to the appropriate place. Who is this person I speak most highly of? None other than the great Baba O’Lear.

Roger Slugg
via email

Here’s to you
Re “101 Who Mattered” (Feature story, April 10):

Thank you for the shout out in the latest issue of your paper. I was happy to see many of the people I had the pleasure to work with over the years on the list. Daniel Cook, Bruce Van Dyke, Harry Reynolds, Max Volume and others from my days at KOZZ were on a mission. We truly loved playing music and making radio for Northern Nevada. It was a launching pad for an amazing journey for me personally, and one that I will never take for granted. Just an FYI, it’s Schuon, not Schoen. And, that answers the next question people ask, which is, are you related to Neal Schoen from Journey. Thanks to my first boss and lifelong friend Daniel Cook for sending me the link to the story.

Andy Schuon
Beverly Hills, CA

Overstated X
Re “101 Who Mattered” (Feature story, April 10):

The X is indeed one of (if not THE) great all time Reno radio station. But one of the first in the country to play blues??? I can’t recall when the X started up, early ‘80s? I was listening to blues in 1967-70 on FM from SF, and I seem to recall that I heard it in the early ‘70s on KFAT in Sacto also. I do agree that blues is not easy to find, so maybe if you total the FM stations in the whole country you might get away with that statement, even if it was more than 10 years later.

I didn’t see the Depression Deli on your list. I mean, if you can mention DelMar then there should be room for the Deli. I guess you will agree that the venue was not quite the same, but surely it made an impact. It sure was jam-packed every time I went there.

You were right in the introduction to the article you said lists are always controversial.

Jon Harrison
via email

Eights need love
Re “101 Who Mattered” (Feature story, April 10):

What the heck? Not a mention of the Northern Nevada favorites the Lazy Eights? They were voted best local band by your publication many times. They were signed by a major record label, toured up and down the Northwest, and was invited to play at the renowned North by Northwest festival in Portland. Ben Wilborn, the lead singer and songwriter for the band, also scored the soundtrack for a beautiful independent film. This band is not forgotten by locals who still, after seven years ask, “When are you getting back together?” Come on RN&R, where is the love?

Rachel McKinney
La Quinta, CA

Stick with it
Re “Busta notions” (MusicBeat, April 3):

Good article. You’re on point about rap being so sexual. In my opinion, the emcees who take that route have a lack of vocabulary. I’m specifically talking about the emcees that rap about the B’s and hoes. I think the Kanyes in the world are able to get their point across without doing so. My advice to Audibl, stick with it. If this is what makes you happy at the end of the day, keep doing it. Nowadays emcees and DJs find success in non-traditional ways. Determine what you believe “success” is for you and go for it. I’m sorry that the journey into the business hasn’t been as smooth as others, but if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. I manage an online social website dedicated to rap. Every member is different, some are outstanding, and some are not as much. But I try to encourage each and every one of them to stick with it. If they’re serious! Bottom line: Stick with it. And do what makes you happy. But I’m a little fish in a big pond.

Joseph Tinsley
Atlanta, GA

Corrections
As noted above, we incorrectly spelled Andy Schuon’s name in the April 10 feature story “101 Who Mattered.” Also in the story, we incorrectly credited Todd Warnock with helping to start Daughter Judy’s and the Bottom 40, but it was actually Paul Clark, Chris Green and Noah Khoshbin who deserved the credit. We apologize for any confusion our errors caused, and these errors have been corrected on the online versions of this story.