Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Hurricane Ike...




In the aftermath of this storm, our radio station conducted a fund raiser for those affected in the Gulf Coast area with our partner, Gleaning For the World. I scrambled for almost an hour until I finally made contact with someone at a radio station. The interview was poignant and compelling, so much so, that the Operations Manager for the five stations in our cluster asked that it be aired on all stations. Click the microphone to listen.
Barry

Friday, December 12, 2008

Kenny Loggins..


I wish the audio quality was better on this, but I was in a new studio with no aircheck capabilities. I got the call that Kenny was on line one, so I quickly grabbed a cassette, slammed it into a machine and here is the result. Great interview and he gave me some background on his biggest song. Click the photo..and thanks for listening.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Marlo Thomas..





I was concerned that she was going to be a bit 'dry'. Silly me. She was fun, engaging and very intelligent. Click the photo for Marlo's interview.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Marc Summers..

I did feel as if I grew up with this guy on television. My kids loved Nickelodeon and Marc became a huge Food Network star as well. Click his photo for the interview.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Otis Williams of The Temptations


I apologize that these interviews are not in chronological order. But I post them as I have the time.
Otis still has his 'chops', and between you and I, this was one of my absolute favorites. Click the photo for the interview.
Barry

Friday, December 5, 2008

Larry The Cable Guy..




I had the opportunity to talk with him. Funny guy! Click the photo for the interview.
Barry

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Gleaning For The World..




These people are the very best at what they do. Please...take a look at their site and help if you can.
Thank you.
Barry

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My Dad..

I received some wonderful news about my father last week. As you may know, The D-Day Memorial is in Bedford, Virginia. I approached the director about the possibility of donating some of my Dad's gear to this site, and not only did they accept every piece I offered, they will place it on display with my father's name. The staff called it "A wonderful story of a soldier's life". I was speechless, and honored. I hope you'll visit some day and pay tribute to those who went above and beyond that day. June 6, 1944
I hope you are smiling 'Big A'!
D-Day Memorial Site

Friday, August 29, 2008

Marty Roe Interview




I had the opportunity along with my co-host, Helen Powers, to interview Marty Roe of Diamond Rio. Fun guy. Find out where he parties and what he has planned next.
The audio is here-http://www.thebarrymichaels.com/marty.htm
I'll leave the interview up for a month from this posting.
Thanks for looking and listening!
Barry

Sunday, August 3, 2008

WROV Radio Reunion August 2008


In the late 1970's and 80's, I was a part of radio history. I didn't know it at the time. I was too busy..well..just doing it.
I was lucky enough to have gotten a job with WROV Radio in Roanoke, Virginia. The words that were said at the top of the hour-"More People Listen To WROV Roanoke Than All Other Stations Combined In The Roanoke Valley" sent chills up my spine because not only were they true, but I shared the microphone with talent that was every bit as good at what you would have heard at that time in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. Quite intimidating for a country boy from Martinsville, Virginia.
On August first, we gathered for a reunion. Me? At a reunion? Hell, I don't even attend Christmas parties. But this one was different. I had to see and bond again with the talent that I admired and learned from. To this day, I've had management at other radio stations raise their eyebrows and smile at me when they looked at my resume and learned I worked at WROV. And, rightly so that they should be impressed. Got some time on your hands? Learn more about this radio station here-
http://www.wrovhistory.com
One image will stay with me always. Standing on the porch of this beautiful one hundred year old home, looking over the heads of the photographers, and seeing my wife Sandy, with her head cocked a bit to the side, with tears in her eyes. She, and those WROV staffers, are my heroes.



Friday, July 18, 2008

Kyle Petty




Kyle Petty was traveling through Virginia on his Chick-Fil-A Charity Ride and called in to speak with myself and partner, Helen. I've placed the audio here-http://www.thebarrymichaels.com/kylepetty.htm along with a link to his site for those who might want to get involved.
This ride begins in Traverse City, Mich., ends in Savannah, Ga., and will travel more than 3,000 motorcycle miles to support chronically ill children. WWW.KYLEPETTYCHARITYRIDE.COM

Sunday, July 13, 2008

A Passing..


I attended a funeral on Saturday for my Aunt Doris. A kind, loving, gentle woman who with her innate sweetness helped form me into what I am today. The world will be a little less 'shiny' because of her absence.
Thanks to my wife Sandy for finding this Irish Proverb:

'Without sorrow, the heart would never learn the meaning of Joy. Without tears, the eyes would never see what we hold inside. Without darkness, we would never have a reason to look to the light of heaven.'

I'll miss your laughter, Doris.
Barry

Friday, July 11, 2008

New Imaging..


John Foster, morning presenter at BBC Radio Tees is one of the most talented performers in our business, so I was incredibly flattered when he asked that I do voice work for his Saturday night show. Thank you, John and best of luck!
Hear the imaging here-http://www.thebarrymichaels.com/barrysairchecks.htm
Radio Tees site-http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/local_radio/

Monday, July 7, 2008

I'm A Lucky Man..

I had the opportunity to really soak up a large slice of Americana July fourth by accepting an invitation to participate in the Nelson County, Virginia parade. Sweet, beautiful people who opened their hearts to this radio personality and his family. I've celebrated this day in many different ways and in cities large and small. This was one of my favorites. Thank you for the warm hospitality, and the gracious Southern manner in which you greeted me. Oh! The peaches are great too. An entire bushel, ripe from the tree!
God Bless America!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Barry Michaels Radio is My Life!

Thirty year broadcast veteran Barry Michaels, ('Michaels In The Morning') has quite a few stories to tell! His early life was an idyllic one, growing up on picturesque farm land in the southeastern United States, with a Mom and Dad to admire and a support group of aunts and uncles that many don’t have today. Barry became interested in radio at an early age, becoming a ‘gopher’ for one local radio personality and quickly learning where the emphasis is placed in the term ’show business’. Barry's career began in earnest after college, when he finally screwed up his courage to apply at a small radio station near his hometown, where he spoke mostly to cows. Little did management know that he would have paid them to be on the air! From having the honor of being recognized by his peers with nominations as Major Market Air Personality of the Year to working as a towel boy in a swanky country club between radio jobs, you’ll share in Barry’s top of the mountain triumphs and bottom of the valley lows. You'll get to meet some of the most talented professionals in the business and you'll cheer the heroes and clinch your teeth at the bad guys! Barry also honors those who entertained and inspired an entire generation of radio personalities-the voices on those fifty thousand watt a.m. radio stations with legendary call letters like WLS, WCFL, WABC and more.

From sleeping in his Volkswagen 'Bug' to traveling across the United States five times in search of the perfect on air radio job, Barry's stories are poignant and laugh out loud funny. Learn how Barry was almost gunned down by a psychotic listener at a radio station in Orlando, Florida before his boss intervened. See radio through his eyes when he begins work at a rock and roll station that employs a Catholic priest as a 'DJ’, and dodges flying beer bottles in one of the many bars he makes appearances in for his radio station.

The 'Radio Road' is littered with many bumps along the way and you may even see yourself as Barry attempts to raise three young sons as a single father and tries a comeback after a bitter divorce and child custody battle. You may not want to enter the thirty five dollar a week almost condemned house Barry was living in while awaiting the court’s ruling. You really don’t want to wake up in his room during a thunderstorm as rats prepare to feast on his toes! Meet his new landlord, who’s down on his luck too, and has a secretive past with the United States Army. Barry's adventures have taken him from the beautiful stillness of his blue Virginia mountains to the golden Pacific ocean--all seen through the window of his beloved Volkswagen Beetle, which he still owns. It's radio, it’s life, and it's real. Come along for the ride, and find out the true stories of those 'masked riders of the hertzian wave.' With photo, audio, and video collection.