A memory from Summer 1996: "I hope you all won't be playing any more of that swing music this morning," said a listener who called WEW. "It's just ridiculous!" "I'm sorry to hear that," I replied. "One of the challenges of any radio station is that not everyone will like every song."
After I hung up, I thought, "If that lady is still listening, she sure won't like this next break." To stay true to the station and the music I'd chosen, though, I went on the air and said, "Be sure to stay tuned for 'Swingtime,' which comes your way at 10:00 every Saturday morning. It's nothing but swing from the likes of..." As I plugged "Swingtime," I thought, "She must be running away from the radio screaming right now, and what I'm about to say might be the last straw for her." "In fact, let's hear a taste of swing right now," I said. "This is Benny Goodman..."
Was the caller's timing fortuitous or unfortunate? It depends on your perspective. Swing music's appeal is in the ears of the beholder, after all.
