September 11 th, Ten Years Later

 I was on my way to work when the first plane hit. I stopped by mt credit union to make a deposit while in Cincinnati. The security guard got an alert over his pager that a plane crashed into the WTC. 


I got in my car to make the 100 mile trip to Louisville and listened to coverage all the way down. Howard Stern was on and I could feel his anger and remember at that moment how much respect I gained for him as a broadcaster on that day. 


I made phone calls trying to figure out what to do. Once I got in, I stopped the music and went with a network feed for most of that day. When it was time to drive back to Cincinnati, I listened to more coverage and I remember not sleeping that night. 


My ex - wife and I watched the coverage on tv, barely saying anything. My son, William was 2 at the time and I remember thinking how lucky he was not to be affected by all of this. 


We did some form of coverage for almost two weeks. We didn't stop the music per se', but we did go from being the "good times hip - Hop" station to being conduits of information for those who wanted to help but didn't know how. 


One of the hardest things about being in the media at times like this is having to put on a brave face for your audience and I addressed that on the air. I remember saying something to the effect of even though we're passing on all this information, we were feeling what everyone else felt. We just couldn't take the time to give in to those emotions. 


Things came to a point to where we could get back to a sense of normalcy and I remember telling my audience that I was going home, hugging my wife and kids and then going off to a corner by myself and allowing myself, finally, to have a good cry.

Mark Gunn Talks With D.L. Hughley

I had a conversation with Actor/Comedian D.L. Hughley about President Obama's State Of The Union Address, Former RNC Chairman, Micheal Steele and the state of politics in this country today.



 

Lady T - R.I.P.

A couple of hours ago, the world learned of the passing of singer and songwriter, Teena Marie. She was often called "Vanilla Child", "Lady - T" and "One Of Us".

Every fan knows about the awards and the hits. Every fan knows about the love the Black Community has always had for her from day one and the love she constantly gave back. They also know about her relationship with the legendary Rick James.

She often spoke about her being White not being a factor when it came to expressing herself musically. She was a brash, funky, soulful rocker chick whose prowess with a guitar was often underrated...until you saw her LIVE !

Not everyone knows about the beautiful spirit that lived within her, even in the hardest times of her life. I had the honor of meeting her in the early 90's when she staged a major comeback. She'd given birth to two babies; her daughter and her record label, Sarai Records. Lady T was just as gracious and warm as the reputation that preceeded her.

She was excited and filled with the energy of promise, the kind of energy a musician feels when they've they've broken personal ground. The meeting was way too brief and the conversation could've gone on forever. There was quite a bit I could've learned at her feet, given the opportunity. As a musician and a woman, she had my utmost respect.

I hadn't seen Teena since that day in Los Angeles until July of this year at the Macy's Music Festival. She stole the show that night and performed with the same energy of promise that I felt from her all those years ago. The love we gave her was still there and she gave it back in abundance. Who knew that it would be the last time I'd ever see her ? I'm just glad that I did.

I'm honored to have been blessed with her energy, even if it was only for a little while. Those of you that loved her music will miss her and those of us that worked with her and got a chance to know her will miss her much more !!

Blessed Be Lady T !

What I'm Thankful For

We're all thankful for the family and friends that love us and keep us sane (most of the time) We're also thankful for those that serve in our Armed Forces in order to preserve that sanity (or insanity at times). I'm thankful for the chance to peel ten pounds of potatoes  with Tracey while watching a TV show about women that kill. I think about my family members in the military that may well be holding an automatic rifle right now. They're protecting my ability to peel those damned potatoes and to watch that damned show that causes me to look at Tracey kind of sideways.

I'm also thankful for this website and Skype because it gives me the ability to stay in touch with my geographically and sometimes mentally scattered (joke) family. We can keep up with everything from the mundane to the most significant events of our lives and through our postings, see sides of our personalities that we didn't see while growing up.

Finally, I'm thankful for the ability to see America FINALLY reveal her true colors. Some of them aren't very pretty and for the last two years, her ugliest side has surely been on display. Everything from Tea Party protests to racist death threats, America has been forced into conversations she's never felt comfortable about having before. I LOVE that !

I'm thankful for the wealth of information available to anyone as long as they simply go and look for it. It's that information that's allowed me to have intelligent and sometimes, fiery debates.  Note to self: We have a LOT of mindless sheep that are railing against their own best interests. We also have a lot of mindless sheep that just don't give a damn. That apathy is also against their best interests. 

America is  just as dysfunctional as any family, yet has the hope to restore some sense of sanity, provided we get rid of the nuts that want to run the asylum (read Mitch McConnell & The GOP) So while they want to whine about tax breaks for the wealthiest of Americans, all the while continuing to sell the lie that trickle down economics creates jobs, I continue to be thankful to have the ability to be one of many voices hell bent on exposing those lies in whatever way I can.

While you enjoy this holiday with your family and before you bless your meal, please think about the millions of fellow Americans that won't have that opportunity through no fault of their own and think about those fellow Americans that volunteer their time in order to ensure that at least, some do.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !! Happy Thanksgiving.

John Boel, Drunk Driving And The Problems YOU'VE Caused !

* THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REFLECT THOSE OF WGZB-FM, MAINLINE BROADCASTING, OR IT'S ADVERTISERS **

As a member of the Louisville Media, one of the things I love about this community is the support we show each other and that was shown as evidenced by WHAS' Terry Meiners words about John recently. There are a lot of us that hope that John will get the help he so desperately needs if he hopes to have any quality of life.

WLKY had no choice for the actions they took. John represented them no matter if he was working or not just as all of us in Louisville Media represent our respective employers even if we're not working. That's a burden we gladly bear because of the love we have for what we do. In John's case, it's a lose/lose. He lost his job and WLKY lost a damn good reporter and anchorman.

I also speak as the victim of a drunk driver. I should've died back on Halloween Night of 1986, but I'm still here, healthy and whole. The driver that hit me couldn't say the same. The only thing I lost that night was my car because I was able to walk away unharmed. He wasn't. Needless to say that I have ZERO tolerance for drunk driving. 

Instead of piling on like so many have in the Courier Journal and on other websites, I would suggest being constructive with your anger and some cases, ugliness. Afterall, you are part of the problem. You either have a non chalant attitude about drinking and driving or you've done it yourself and dare to pass judgement because you've never been caught.

Kentucky's DUI laws are among the weakest in the country and unless you put your foot in the butts of state legislators and DEMAND stiffer penalties and MANDATORY sentencing, you'll get more repeat offenders like John. So you can continue to hide behind your keyboard or do something meaningful with it.

Talk to anyone who's lost a loved one at the hands of the drunk driver. Talk to anyone who's lost a loved one due to alcoholism. The pain is pretty much the same. I will keep John and his family in my thoughts because the last thing that needs to happen is for another family to be torn apart needlessly. I'll also use my keyboard to work toward getting tougher penalties for DUI.

What are YOU going to do ?

Mark Gunn

Radio Personality

WGZB - FM, B-96.5

Fred Phelps, So - Call Christians & The Gay Community: MASSIVE FAIL !

I think about Fred Phelps and his pack of "in-breds" as radio talk show host, Mark Levin calls them, and I get pissed. The very  thought of these so - called "Christians" raping the dignity from the families of the fallen heroes who've died so that their sorry asses could spread their hatred makes my blood boil.

I hear a lot of talk about the First Amendment and free speech. That's all well and good, but just because you have the right to say what you want doesn't mean you really ought to say it. Why do you think that the word "nigger" has such drama surrounding it ? If you're White, you can say it as long as you're prepared to deal with the consequences that go with its utterance.

What of the consequences for the Phelps klan ? They cowardly hide behind the First Amendment much like a racist hides behind Christianity or the American Flag. The same American flag countless soldiers have died for. The same American flag that's given to those the soldier has left behind and the same American flag that Fred Phelps shits on every time he and his pack of animals stage another hate-fest at a military funeral.

What pisses me off even more is the seemingly deafening silence from the Religious Community and from the Gay Community. Where are the voices of outrage that yelled so loudly when it came to the proposed New York City Muslim Community Center and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ? Where are the voices that in no uncertain terms, denounce what Fred Phelps and his so - called "church" are doing in the name of their God ? Where are the "We're Queer ! We're Here" voices that were so loud in the streets of San Francisco ? Answer ? I haven't heard them. I haven't seen any covert action by way of a direct confrontation with Phelps and his homophobic perversions of Christianity ?

I'm neither Gay nor a Christian, so the only dog I have in this fight is the fact that someone who died protecting my right to write this can't be buried with the honor and dignity that is most certainly called for. If I'm wrong, please let me know because I'm in the media and even I haven't seen the kind of outrage that needs to be displayed.

I thank groups like the Patriot Guard, a motorcycle club made up of mostly veterans, that take an active role in countering the Westboro Insane Asylum. I can't even call it a church. Now if only "Queer Nation", "Act Up", "GLAAD" and those that run some of this country's largest mega-churches would get involved at the same level. I don't give a rat's ass about your view of homosexuality, but I do care about the right that a soldier has more than earned to be buried in peace and with dignity.

Mark Gunn

Radio Personality

American Citizen

Human Being

Who'd A Thunk It ? A Politician That Actually Does The People's Business !

Republican Representative Ahn "Joseph" Gao did the unthinkable when instead of voting in the interests of the GOP, he voted in the interests of the people who actually elected him when he chose to support the healthcare measure going through Congress.

Micheal Steele, that glorified "hall monitor" and other party members, in the most blatant display of hypocrisy, actually threatened any Republican who didn't vote along party lines. Steele's words ? "We will come after you." And do what Mike ? Give Ahn a swirly in the boys bathroom ? Maybe an atomic wedgie ? Someone really needs to tell "Mr. Steppinfetchit" to sit his punk ass down. Is there no end to the embarrassment he continues to cause the party ?

Gao's "maverick" move further illustrates the problems that the GOP continues to have and his explanation for doing so was simple and to the point. "I have to vote for what's best for my people" to paraphrase. He represents one of the poorest districts in Louisiana with at least 25% of it's populace with no insurance. Put that with the fact that they're still recovering from Katrina and the situation is even more dire.

This is simply a case of an elected official who actually gets it. Chances are that Steele and his masters will try to drive him out of the party, and that's fine. The district is majority Democrat and I'm sure he'd be a welcomed addition.

It also has to be noted that another Republican, Dick Young I believe, had Gao's back as he actually stood guard with his 6'4" frame while Gao, at 5'5" went to cast his vote. Seeing something like this should serve as a reminder to all Americans, no matter your political affiliation, that at the end of the day, party lines are bullshit and doing the right thing is the only thing that matters.

Well done gentlemen.

The Ass Hats Have Gone Too Far !!

As of this posting, I have severed all ties to the Republican Party. During the course of the last year and a half, the GOP has shown itself to a group of petty, whiny, racist, bigoted, out of touch, petulant children with the sole aim of revenge for having its ass handed to them over the last 6 years.


The shamelessly dishonorable way in which they continue to conduct themselves is a disgrace to the very ideal of a democracy. These bastards have sunk to all new low with Michele Bachman's "Emergency Town Hall Meeting" earlier today. Not only do they continue to spread lies and disinformation about the proposed healthcare plan, they continue to use racist imagery to get the point across.

                            

There was a prominently displayed sign that read "National Socialist Health Care, Dachau, Germany 1945" ! That was all this FORMER Republican could stand. To exploit something as brutal and vicious as the Holocaust in such a disgusting manner is an all new low.


Never mind the fact that Senator John Dumbass, I mean Boehner with his "this is my copy of the Constitution", proceeded to read the Preamble to the Declaration Of Independence. Never mind the fact that when asked, he couldn't tell you what the Republican Healthcare "plan" would cost and never mind that he and the rest of the GOP are in such disarray that they're stabbing each other in the back when it comes to support of Republican candidates !


I have had ENOUGH of these morons and am disgusted with what the party has become. The party of racist, ignorant ill informed neanderthals who wouldn't know the difference between an elephant's trunk or it's ass. The biggest source of disgust with me is otherwise level - headed moderates who've stood by and let all of this happen. No one wanted to be the gate keeper in order to curb a lot of the racist and bigoted behavior displayed over the past year.


As far as I'm concerned, RACISTS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE PARTY and those that do nothing about it ARE JUST AS BAD !! I thought that my being an African - American, fairly moderate in my political leanings, could convince other like - minded African - Americans to join the party, but there's NO WAY IN HELL I'd try to convince anyone to join the GOKKK !!

Angels Come when You Need Them Most !!

This past Tuesday, I received an email on our station's website. It was rather critical about some of the aspects of our programming and how it affected our Afternoon Personality, D.J. E-Feezy. It was especially critical of me. I checked it out Yesterday when I came in to work. Here's part of it:

"Is it because he was stealing Mark Gunn's shine...what little he did have?!? Mark Gunn is by far the worst radio personality to EVER be on radio, and he is even worse in person! He should of been silenced a long time ago. Handcuffing the best personality B96 has had in a long time is doing a disservice to the station and the city of Louisville. Somebody is trippin!"

xburrell@...

I withheld the email address out of common decency.

Radio is something I have a real passion for and it's been that passion that's kept me in the game for all of these years. It's also that passion that makes me somewhat vulnerable to these types of emails. I guess that's because that everyday I go on the air, I share a lot of who I am as a person. What I do is not an act and so what you hear with me is who I really am.

I can admit that this email pissed me off because I take attacks on my professionalism very personally, although I know it comes with the territory.

I've taken great pride in every accomplishment I've made, large or small over the last 31 years and regard my career as a reflection of those that came before me. I remained somewhat annoyed until about 11:30 last night when for some random reason, I checked my email again and got this:

"After reading your profile on the B 96.5 website. I just wanted to let you know that I am truly inspired.

I am louisville native who grew up listening to b96.5, and always dreamed of growing up and being on the station. I must say that B 96 has truly evolved in a good way.

I recently left Louisville about six months ago and enrolled in a broadcast school called Specs Howard located about 15 minutes outside of Detroit. The program is truly remarkable and is very hands on. In the four months that I have been in the program I have learned how to run a board, write and edit my own commercials through adobe, and also land an internship with cbs radio.

I am so excited about getting into the radio industry, not just because of the fame that comes with it, but because I want to eventually come back to Louisville and help my community by starting a non profit organization for young minority girls.

Being a young woman that grew up in the west end I have witnessed that there are so many young kids with out adequate roll models now, and I just want to show our young women what they are really worth, or what they really can do or be if they are placed around the right people and in the right enviroment.

Well, I just wanted to tell you that you are doing a wonderful job, and that I am very inspired. If you have any words of wisdom, or advice as to how I can advance in the business please email me back if it isn't too much trouble. it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and keep up the good work!"

Jordan H.

It was at that moment that I realized that Jordan was an angel whose words I needed to read at that very moment and I remembered why I do this in the first place. People like Jordan make my work worthwhile and so do the many of you I happen to meet on the streets. Being able to actually see you, shake your hand or give you a hug is more exciting for me than it probably is for you. That's a mindset I learned from Michael Jackson, who was always more fascinated by what other people did for a living than his own career.

At any rate, I wanted to use this as a chance to thank you all for the positive feedback. Everything from "you guys do a great job in the community" to "thank you for what you do. don't stop doing it." justifies the passion and the hard work that I and everyone else at Mainline Broadcasting put in. I've often said that it's always been about more than just the music and luckily, I work with people that feel the same way. We try to make a difference in our small way.

I know that there are people in this community that don't like me for one reason or another, and that's fine. I'm sure emails like xburell's will continue to piss me off and I'll continue to get over it.

I'll also continue to give you a little bit of myself every time I crack the mic and live by the professional standards I set for my career. You would expect nothing less from me.

Blessed Be and thank you for all of my success !!

Mark Gunn
WGZB - FM
B-96.5
Louisville, Ky.

Mr. Obama Goes To School Or The Scary Black Man Talks To My Kids !