A Young Man’s Dream

For those of you who do not know my friend, Pat Michaels, I want to tell you a story about a young boy who had a dream… and pursued it.

Back in the early 1980’s, I was the Program Director of two radio stations in Palm Springs, California.  I was also half of the “morning team” on the FM station which, back then, was called FM-101.  Bob & I did an unscripted show each morning but we were such good friends that we just tried to make each other laugh every morning and, as it turned out, four out of every ten radio listeners each morning joined in with our laughter.

One day I received a letter from a 14-year-old boy who asked if there were any job openings.  While some may have just tossed the letter, I thought it showed great initiative for the boy and, though I couldn’t hire a minor, I didn’t want to discourage him.

I do not remember what I wrote to him, but I explained that our policy forbade hiring someone under he age of 18, but that he should not let go of his “dream” to work in radio.  The more than two decades since this occurred, and my advancing age, is inhibiting my ability to remember the exact sequence of events which followed.  But, young Pat, asked if he could come in and meet me to propose an idea.

I recalled the only response I received to my first attempt at sending out audition tapes.  The program director, Stan Layne, told me that, even though he had no openings, he was building up a file of “potential” people he would consider for future openings.  He’d asked me if I wanted to come and meet with him “now” or wait until something opened up before driving from LA County down to the desert.

I thought that it would be better to meet with him immediately, figuring that, if we hit it off, I could stay in touch and be one of the first on his mind when an opening occurred.  And that was the beginning of how I got my first job in radio.

Now, some four years later, I was the boss and this boy was demonstrating some powerful initiative to respond to what was basically a rejection letter, by requesting a meeting to discuss another option.  How could I not be intrigued?  Or, at the very least, admire his initiative?  I doubt that I would have had the courage, at that age, do the same.

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So I set up an after school appointment with him and his father drove him to meet me.  His father sat, politely, in my office while young Pat outlined his idea for a report on the happenings at his middle school.  A weekly report about the happenings at a middle school?  On the most-listened-to radio show in the desert?  Actually, the idea had merit!

My partner, Bob, and I were always doing off the wall stuff.  We had a guy who flew around in a Cessna a few mornings a week, doing “traffic reports.”  In those days, a traffic congestion in the desert was three cars slowing down for a stray dog.  But we used it as another opportunity to screw around and make people laugh.  We called it Air Farce One-Oh-One.

We had a female news reporter, who knew nothing about sports, making weekly football picks based on what she thought of the uniform colors or how form-fitting were the quarterback’s pants.  She was hilarious.

Passing the Test

So, I liked young Pat’s idea, but I had one more test for him.  I told him that he needed to go home and get a tape recorder and create a demo for me of his vision of what the report would sound like.  Truthfully, I thought this might be where he lost momentum.  I knew that 99 kids out of 100 would decide it was too much to be bothered with.

Actually, I think that ratio applies to most people.  Countless people talk about some grandiose dream, but when it comes down to actually making an effort to follow their dream, it proves to be more effort than they want to exert.  In my own life, sometimes getting off the couch was more effort than I’ve been willing to put forth.

Well, within a week, Pat was back with a cassette tape of a “report” on what was coming up at this middle school.  Pat will confirm that I mean no harm in telling you that the tape was what you would expect from a 14-year-old.  But, I gotta tell you, I was impressed by his initiative.  I went and talked with my morning show partner, Bob, who agreed that it was a great idea.

So, one morning each week, Pat would call in to the studio and, from a pay phone at his bus stop, inform the Coachella Valley about what was happening at his middle school!  I can’t remember how many weeks or months this went on, but, rain or shine, Pat was ready with his report each week and it was well accepted by our audience.  Plus, they thought Bob and I were “good guys” for having a middle school kid on the air.  Everybody wins!

But the story doesn’t end here.  On weekends we would have what, in radio, are known as “remotes.”  We’d bring the crew out and broadcast live from some client who paid for this dog-and-pony-show at their store.  There was always hot dogs and sodas and balloons and prizes and… if you haven’t been at one, I’m sure you must have heard one on your favorite radio station.  Pat would show up to these events and offer to help out as a go-fer for us.

So Many Years Ago

Years passed and I left that station and found myself at others and eventually moved into television.  Out of the blue one day, I received a letter from Pat, saying that he was working nights at a small-market radio station.  He commented that it could sure get boring and sometimes radio wasn’t as glamorous as he’d envisioned.

Well, many times in my career, I’d had the same thought!  It was so nice of Pat to write to me he’d gotten a “professional” job.  I wanted to write back and let him know that, though there were times when you were sitting in a little room, thinking that no one was listening, this was the “paying your dues” time, the time when you learn by doing and by repetition.   Eventually this time pays off when you can walk into an interview or studio and know you have the ability to handle what that opportunity throws at you.  I sent off the letter to him and hoped that it would offer some encouragement.

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Sometime during the mid-1990’s, I was producing a weekly TV show about our desert.  Each week it would originate from a different location.  This particular week, we were taping at my former radio station, interviewing their hilarious morning team called “Barry & Andy,” and even my former morning show partner, Bob, who was then the General Manager.

During a break in taping, Bob waved me into his office and said, Who’s this?”  He clicked on a cassette tape and I heard an air-check tape from a professional announcer.  He was a pro and had a huge voice.  I can often times pick out famous actors on TV or radio commercials.   The same goes for professional announcers.   When you’re in the biz, you get used to recognizing them.  But I had no idea who this man was.

Bob smiled and said, “That’s Pat Michaels…”  My jaw dropped.  “That’s Pat Michaels?!!?”  He said, “Yep!”

That’s a Professional!

Gone was the adolescent voice of the boy who began each report on our morning show with his high-pitched, “Good morning Bob and Bill!”  His was now a voice for which I could only dream.  Over the years, I have told this story of Pat to others.  It is my contention that he created his “announce voice” by working on it through puberty.  I have no doubt that, as he grew and his voice changed, he wanted to be an announcer so much that he forced his voice into that low, resonant register.

Out with his fans.

It is not the result of luck or being blessed with that voice or anything like that.  I have no problem with thanking God for His gifts.  One day I heard someone say that:  Your talents and abilities are your gift from God.  Your use of those talents and abilities is your gift to God.  I continue to believe that.   But I believe this was also the result of a young man knowing what he wanted in his life and doing everything he could to pursue that dream, including creating one of the most professional voices I’ve ever heard.

Martina McBride can’t keep her hands off him!

Over the years, when I’ve had a client who needed a professional, booming voice on his commercial or infomercial, I’d contact young Pat (yes, Pat, you’re still young!).  And he always did what I needed with prompt professionalism, and charged me a minimum fee.  I’ve always been grateful to him for that.

Bob eventually hired him back at the radio station where we’d given him his first shot.  He went on to work for many years for another group in the high desert and can now be heard weekday mornings on 92.9, KAFF Country in Flagstaff, Arizona.  He’s got the “voice” to be able to work anywhere and I know he’ll keep climbing the ladder of radio success.

To me, his story is truly inspirational.  I feel honored to have had the opportunity to whet his radio whistle and get him started in his career.  And I also know that he’d have found a way with or without my modicum of assistance.