... passed away peacefully at about 1:40 AM on November 28. (1939-2009). He was surrounded by children and his 3 wives, sobbing and laughing while telling stories about Dad. He was incredibly loved, and his memory and spirit will live on in all of us. -- Will TrachmanHe came into my life in 1975, back when he was just starting "Fruitbowl" and remained an influential mentor and confidant for all of the years since.
I was in Bakersfield and he was in Fresno. I worked for him as Country Editor of "One To One" and he worked for me at KEEN, San Jose.
To say that we were friends and I loved him would be an understatement.
He, his ideas, his values and so much more that he gave to me, live on in all of us who knew him.
Jay touched thousands of personalities around the world for more than three decades.
The same ethic Bill and Janet Gavin brought to music, Jay Trachman brought to the art and science of personality radio.
His concepts are heard all around the world even now!
7 comments:
Thank you Jaye. So beautiful.
So sorry to hear of the passing of Jay Trachman. I was a regular subscriber to Fruitbowl and enjoyed each issue.
I forget how he wound up reviewing an aircheck of mine, but I'll never forget that I felt that he "got it" when he wrote the review.
God Bless you Jay Trachtman
The Real Scott Miller
Chattanooga, TN
Jay was a tremendous talent coach, teacher and author of “The Handbook for Radio Personalities.” A book that didn’t look like much on the outside, but once opened, it would transform any mediocre personality into a true communicator that understands what makes personalities great.
Here are a few of my favorite tips from the book:
➢ Be Yourself.
➢ Know your audience.
➢ Talk to ONE person.
➢ Understand the nature of entertainment. Entertainment means helping people to experience emotions in a safe environment.
➢ Have something to say.
➢ Respect your listener.
➢ Don’t lie to your listener.
➢ Assume your listener is as intelligent as you.
➢ Time Matters. Brevity is essential.
➢ Be unique.
➢ Make your listener feel.
➢ People bond with people.
➢ Get a life (one of my favorites). You’ve got to be an interesting person before you can be an interesting performer.
The book has much more, but those are some of the basic principles. I’m not sure how many of his books are left, but his son Will may be able to find you a copy.
I was lucky to become an acquaintance of Jay’s. A few years ago as a Christmas gift to my entire air staff at KUPL, I bought everyone a copy of Jay’s book.
I could tell talking to him how proud he was that after all these years his message of being one on one, yourself and real was still being taught. Like I posted on his Facebook page, radio needs more people like Jay Trachman.
Jaye,
I am deeply saddened to hear the news about Jay Trachman. Jay first came into my life when I was on the air in 1980 or 81 at KOA in Denver. One night while hosting the overnight talk show, this guy from FRESNO, who could hear the 50 thousand watt AM clearly on his radio - called my talk show. We became friends. He was generous and kind and completely "got it" about powerful radio and what radio can mean to people. Jaye, I appreciate your kind words about him. Jay Trachman will be missed.
Jay and I worked together at KFRE. He was fairly new to the station when I arrived and afer hearing about my love of foods ( like Lox and Bagels) He and his lovely wife knowing that my family hadn't arrived yet from the east coast made sure that I had a number of excellent meals. Jay, was always up-beat and a great air personality with some of the best pipes ( a great voice) in the business.
I'll always remember My pal Jay!!!!
Chuck Carson
In 1989, the control room at CFNO-FM was state-of-the-art equipped with ash trays and rotary pots. I usually arrived early for my show, and leafed through the stash of reading material the mid-day jock had brought in. One day, between Billboard and the previous month's copy of Playboy was a tattered plain brown newsletter called "One to One".
I opened it, and started reading. Inside were jokes, one-liners, ideas for song intros, and an incredible column called "Talent Tips". I was amazed that someone actually published a guide for what we do. This guy's opinions about radio - making it personal and intimate and unique and special - were like nothing I had been taught before. He didn't just advocate being "tight and bright" and hitting the post. He actually talked about communicating.
I ordered my own subscription right away, and quickly learned that unless I wrote my name on it, in ink, each new issue would soon mysteriously go missing.
Month after month, I faithfully read each issue from front to back. And I wrote my name, in ink, on every one of them. I saved them, and used them as my professional Bible.
Jay's advice changed my life. That's not overstating it at all. He gave me the courage to see what I do in an entirely new light. I walked out of that seminar with a sense of purpose I had never before sensed.
I came back from the seminar energized and confident, determined to forge a career in radio and escape from the late-night shift and the PD who didn't give me any guidance.
Those "One to One" issues were relegated to a box in the basement, and every few years I would dig them out and be astounded by how salient the advice from several decades previous still was. On many occasions I've made copies of the articles and shared them with others willing to absorb the advice. And a few years ago, after seeing Jay's name in print somewhere, I called him to let him know that the pimply-faced kid he mentored in Toronto actually had a fancy title on his business card and was making a living doing this. I could sense his pride, even though he only ever met me in person for that one day.
Tonight I went downstairs and dusted off a box that has followed me from Thunder Bay to Kitchener, to Sudbury, to Thunder Bay again, to Moncton, to Edmonton, to Boston, to Grand Cayman, and to Halifax. I needed to dig out some of those "One to One" issues and see if what Jay Trachman preached 20 years ago still mattered. I needed to say hello, and goodbye, to my friend Jay.
I'm devastated at this news.
Jay was such an original, intelligent man. We became friends when my wife and two children travelled from Australia to the US and stayed at his home, with Lindi and William, back in the mid-80s.
I'd been a long-time subscriber to his newsletter and we arranged to meet at the annual radio conference, held that year in Anaheim. Jay and his family totally embraced us. Took us out on the town and then to his beloved Yosemite where we stayed in a cabin overnight and hiked and talked for hours.
Jay's approach to Radio had a huge influence on me and countless other Radio guys and girls.
Words can't express how sad I am at his passing.
Rest in Peace, Jay, dear friend.
Bob Stuart
Noosa, Queensland
Australia.
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