Bugging Butterfield with Turner on the Turntable

I liked playing on the turntables. Sometimes, you’d hear backwards music over the air. That’s okay. I was just cuing up a song and forgot to turn the volume down to where you could only hear it in the studio. One time, I sang “I want my MTV” during Dire Straits song, and it went right out over the air. I made lots of mistakes. I broke three needles the first day I was on the air at KHCA, Harding University’s station, and I’m sure Professor of Communication Lou Butterfield was always a little bugged about me.

Luckily, my first day was NOT my last. No, I was blessed with MANY days on the air, and I have now broadcast for seven stations in the five states of Arkansas, Texas, Indiana, Alabama and California, although I broadcast to Oroville, CA via phone on a show called “Talking Television With Dave White” on an internet only broadcast on KSAV.ORG. Tune in sometime live on Tuesday nights from 7:30-9 p.m. CA time, or listen to the shows on the web page under Archives. It’s a lot of fun, and I feel I’ve progressed in what is now a non-profit career.

“Turner’s Turn” was my creative achievement. I had my own show on Wednesday nights from 11 till midnight for a whole semester. I did it all. I played classic songs like “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” and “Eye of the Tiger.” I played corny songs like “Amadoggus” by the Muppets. I presented Karen Carpenter’s eulogy with seriousness and sincerity. I played music. I recited poetry. I sang. I even mocked the public service announcements where “bad guys” like Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood and Lou Gossett Jr. talked about abusing the public lands. Don’t abuse the public lands, and don’t mess with “Turner’s Turn!”

In my final show, I even had lovely Debbie Lee break up with me over the air. It was a stroke of genius! I was able to feature the wonderful songs “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” by the Carpenters and the understanding, sympathetic, downright empathetic song “Why Worry” by the magnificent Dire Straits. That may have been the best way to describe the show bout abusing the public lands. Don’t abuse the public lands, and don’t mess with “Turner’s Turn!”

Other features of the show included my spontaneous and often impromptu voiceovers to popular songs. These included the Jaws theme as background action for “It’s Ron Turner, “ a scary warning about what it might be like to see me coming down the sidewalk toward you. The Walton’s theme playfully brought to life “The Wal-Marts,” a parody of Daddy Sam Walton. “Who mows the grass on Walton’s mountain,” I asked. “Lawn Boy.” My radio career is only beginning. I’ve worked for six stations including country music in Searcy, Arkansas, the National Public Radio station at Abilene Christian University in Texas, an oldies station in Columbus, Indiana, and now a broadcast based near Sacramento, CA.

Turn on your Internet soon, and keep searching for the mellow voice of Ron Turner, your friendly DJ.