Description
Hes one of the most iconic characters in Cleveland history. From the mid-1970s to the late 1980s, there was hardly anyone in Northeast Ohio who didnt recognize the Buzzard.
Created in 1974 by artist David Helton as themascot for Clevelands rock radio station WMMS 101 FM, the Buzzard was featured on millions of bumper stickers, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, jackets, halter tops, belt buckles, buttons, posters, sunglasses, coffee cups, beer mugs, records, TV commercials, newspaper ads, billboardsyou name it.
But why a buzzard?
It seemed like a good idea at the time. After years of economic decline and population loss, Cleveland in the 1970s was being calleda dying city. WMMS wasa young radio stationstruggling to find an audience, with the FM band still so new that most cars didnt even have FM receivers.
Pairinga defiant scavengerwitha scrappy, creative teamof on-air talent and promotersit just felt right.
And it worked!
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Buzzard, this book digs intoDavid Heltons personal archiveand shares his hand-picked selection ofmore than 120 fun, vintage advertisements featuring the Buzzard.
Accompanying text providesback story and insider detailsfrom John Gorman, the WMMS program director and operations manager who dreamed up the Buzzard and helped lead the station to market domination in thoseglory days of FM rock and roll radio in Cleveland.
If you ever tuned in to an All Request Weekend (broadcast in quad!) or attended a Coffee Break Concert or wore your Buzzard T-shirt to school or to a show at Blossom (that you barely remembered the next day),just flip open this book to travel back in time
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.