RIP Les Crane, radio/TV host, 74

[Wayback]

Les Crane had some interesting career highlights.  In 1964, he landed the first U.S. television interview with the Rolling Stones, was the first rival host up against Carson's "Tonight Show," coined the name of the group The Mamas and the Papas, won a Grammy for his 1971 recording of "Desiderata," and one of his five wives was Tina Louise ("Ginger" from Gilligan's Island).  Casey Kasem credited Crane with helping to develop the Top 40 countdown of most popular songs.

Les Crane, radio host and Carson rival, dies at 74
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/15/state/n174743D38.DTL&hw=Les+Crane&sn=001&sc=1000

[RGMike]

Les Crane had some interesting career highlights.  In 1964, he landed the first U.S. television interview with the Rolling Stones, was the first rival host up against Carson's "Tonight Show," coined the name of the group The Mamas and the Papas, won a Grammy for his 1971 recording of "Desiderata," and one of his five wives was Tina Louise ("Ginger" from Gilligan's Island).  Casey Kasem credited Crane with helping to develop the Top 40 countdown of most popular songs.

Les Crane, radio host and Carson rival, dies at 74
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/15/state/n174743D38.DTL&hw=Les+Crane&sn=001&sc=1000

Clearly, Dave should use the occasion to play the Desiderata/Deteriorata megamix.

Desiderata:

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Deteriorata:

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.

[ggould]

Les Crane had some interesting career highlights.  In 1964, he landed the first U.S. television interview with the Rolling Stones, was the first rival host up against Carson's "Tonight Show," coined the name of the group The Mamas and the Papas, won a Grammy for his 1971 recording of "Desiderata," and one of his five wives was Tina Louise ("Ginger" from Gilligan's Island).  Casey Kasem credited Crane with helping to develop the Top 40 countdown of most popular songs.

Les Crane, radio host and Carson rival, dies at 74
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/15/state/n174743D38.DTL&hw=Les+Crane&sn=001&sc=1000

the image I have in my head is him holding the shotgun microphone.

[Gazoo]

Les Crane had some interesting career highlights.  In 1964, he landed the first U.S. television interview with the Rolling Stones, was the first rival host up against Carson's "Tonight Show," coined the name of the group The Mamas and the Papas, won a Grammy for his 1971 recording of "Desiderata," and one of his five wives was Tina Louise ("Ginger" from Gilligan's Island).  Casey Kasem credited Crane with helping to develop the Top 40 countdown of most popular songs.

Les Crane, radio host and Carson rival, dies at 74
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/15/state/n174743D38.DTL&hw=Les+Crane&sn=001&sc=1000

That is one hell of a life history.  Thanks for the bkgd!