Marlin’s Story

When one looks at the radio pictured on the dust cover of my memoir, some likely think that the contents are about radio in its early years or someone involved in the industry back in those “prehistoric” times. I recognized that possibility when I chose to use the photo of it, but that particular Philco receiver was my “textbook” for learning and understanding the radio business.

The photo above better displays visually the extent of my radio industry journey, one that spanned 60 years … beginning in AM radio, then my becoming a pioneer in the growth and success of FM radio, and finally spending 15 years as a pioneer programmer in satellite radio!

Usually, these Musings are an extension or expansion of what I write about in the book … or simply subjects I find of interest that I believe others will find interesting and/or informative … this one wanders around in more personal territory.

First, the actual radio that appears on the book’s cover, which I had in my growing-up days, disappeared long ago. While I had a couple of photographs of this particular Philco model, they were not in the best of shape. However, to my rescue comes Ken Mellgren, whom I’ve known since we were both part of the start-up team that launched WJIB FM97 in Boston 51 years ago. Ken found this picture, and my webmaster Trishah did a little enhancing of it. Then, just a few weeks ago, Ken delivered to me the actual radio you see in the photo above. What a friend! While the two of us had no real contact for many years, we now live no more than five miles from each other in suburban Washington, D.C.

Back in those days when I still listened to that original radio, I was offered my first paying job in the industry … at WTNJ in Trenton, New Jersey … I grew up just a few miles across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. In one of those incidents in life which most of us seem to have — recently, in the middle of the night, I woke up thinking about an experience from that same time period, the mid-1950s — which occurred not at WTNJ, but at the major station in Trenton … the one where Ernie Kovacs got his start, WTTM.

Being very shy, I didn’t do much dating in my post-high school years. So, I’d do such things as “hang out” with Jack Allen Potts, who was the program director of WCTC in New Brunswick, New Jersey, but also held down the Saturday evening air shift on WTTM. In those days, like most stations of the era, WTTM would sign off at midnight, playing the Star Spangled Banner. Being a well-run locally-focused station, the station aired a 33-1/3 RPM transcription of the Trenton Symphony Orchestra performing our national anthem. Unfortunately, their performance on this recording did not offer a lot of spirited “oomph.” Being the innovative professional broadcaster that he was, on Saturday nights, the Trenton Symphony delivered a much more sparkly rendition of it … as Jack played the disc at 45 RPM!

Speaking of the Trenton Symphony, in spite of the recording discussed above … some 20 years later, it had a very professional sound, performing under music director William Smith, who was the associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. For its concerts, it would regularly bring in nationally known instrumental and vocal soloists. However, in the fall of 1975, my dear Alicia was chosen to be a guest vocal soloist. As we had only been married a few weeks and were known in music circles in the Trenton and central New Jersey area by her maiden name, she appeared as Alicia Blood. The next day, Don Delany, the Trenton Times music critic, wrote, “I can recall at least two famous high-priced sopranos engaged by the Symphony in recent seasons whose singing was not as satisfying or as exciting as Alicia Blood’s was last night.” Yes, I am proud of my dear wife … we just celebrated our 43rd anniversary of marriage — which came from a rekindling of a relationship that had its beginnings 60 years ago!

To wrap this up and tie the radio picture together, I jump 40 years to 2015, my official retirement from the industry, and my years in satellite radio.

I think this line from Chapter 13 of my memoir says what I see as the legacy I left for those who have enjoyed and been touched by my programming, what most “…warms my heart is that I now have an unblemished record, having the honor of creating three different musical formats which continue to live on, in spite of each being targeted for destruction!”

The Company’s senior management had no real interest, or love for, any of the three genres … music from the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, Beautiful Music/Easy Listening, and Southern Gospel … so sought to kill them so their space in satellite radio’s limited transmission bandwidth could be used for musical styles and shows they personally preferred. In all three cases, they had totally underestimated the number of subscribers whose love for one or more of these formats was the major reason they paid their monthly subscription fee … usually for multiple radios!

I am not a genius, I am not a trained musician … my God simply blessed me with an intuitive sense as to what sounds, what melodies, what messages would effectively “connect” with those on the listening end. For that, I am most thankful, and if that is my legacy, what more could I ever wish to leave behind?

Sadly, I must report that, not long after this original posting, my beloved wife, Alicia, departed this planet for her “heavenly home.”

Also, my longtime friend, Ken Mellgren, passed away exactly one year ago this week. Both were hit with an aggressive form of cancer and were taken from us within a few months of diagnosis.

Finally, I will make this offer: If you have not yet read my radio life memoir and would like to … to the first 10 persons who email me at marlin@marlintaylor.radio and provide a complete, accurate mailing address, I will send you a copy absolutely free of charge!

May you and yours have a happy, healthy, upbeat 2026!

Image Credits: Trenton Makes Bridge Sign – Wikipedia Author: Bobjagendorf

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