Bill Randle is credited with helping to launch Elvis Presley’s career plus many other hitmakers of his era like The Four Lads, Patti Page, Johnny Ray, Bobby Darin to name a few. After becoming a major force in Radio, Randle went on to teach Radio - to wannabes like me.
Bill Randle was my professor for several classes at Kent State University. His teaching style was straight-forward and real. Out of all the teachers I ever had, I probably learned more about the business from him because he painted it the way it was.
If you want to be in Radio, you have to accept two things: it’s exciting and it can eat you alive.
Randle was gritty enough to let that come through in his lectures and assignments. No matter what your chosen profession, you’ll have a better chance of succeeding if you know some of the pitfalls before they know you. I appreciate the fact that he didn’t sugar-coat things.
There’s an expression: “Those who can’t do... teach”. Well, that wasn’t the case here. Anyone who had the pleasure of being taught by Bill Randle, got more than the standard professor for their tuition.
People often ask me how to get into Radio. Some go to specialized broadcast schools for hands-on training. Others walk into radio stations and volunteer to work for nothing, waiting for that one big break to come. Still others go to college and run the route of books and exams.
Which one is best?
They all have advantages but if you find someone like Bill Randle in any of those situations...shut up, sit down and listen.
It will be worth it.
