Phil Collins, Elton John, and Gloria Estefan dominated Adult Contemporary radio back in the 1980s and '90s, yet have disappeared from modern radio. Seemingly, the only time you ever hear them is at the grocery store or your local CVS. This blog remembers the music, the stories and the quirky characters from my days working in Adult Contemporary radio.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
George Benson "Breezin'"
Yacht Rock fans now can sport t-shirts and earrings while sipping Bartles & Jaymes from their nautical-themed mugs thanks to the revival of the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock music. The genre that features soft rock of the late-'70s and early-'80s enjoyed a renaissance during the mid-2000s thanks to the web-based Yacht Rock series from J.D. Ryznar. Even today, the format continues to ride the wave throughout the country. Sirius/XM, Pandora, Spotify, and even traditional radio stations now feature the nautical sounds of Yacht Rock music on their respective channels and playlists. The first episode of the web-series featured the strangely-addictive "Breezin'" from George Benson in an episode all about the birth of The Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes"--the song, according to the show's founders, is the purest form of smooth music ever created. Sail on...