A couple months back, I wrote a post that connected with a lot of radio fans of a certain age: “Rekindling Our Fading Romance With AM Radio.” Oddly enough, a line that resonated with many of you revolved around sneaking a radio under a pillow to listen to AM radio and the amazing jocks who made the music come alive – while you were supposed to be sleeping.
Whether you lived in New York City, Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis, or a much smaller city or town, those great Top 40 stations of the day traveled and bounced hundreds and often, thousands of miles to a small radio concealed from parents.
That’s where many of us grew an appreciation for great radio, incredible DJs, and the music of our generation. And as we’ve learned in more recent years as teenage music discovery has been diluted by Spotify, YouTube, and any number of options, those formative nighttime listening experiences impacted many of us and the music tastes and radio experiences we carry around today . Back in the day, we listened to the tight playlists on WABC, KHJ, or CKLW. Now, everyone is a DJ, building playlists to suit any mood – wherever, whenever they like.
Dynamic, unforgettable personalities were all over the radio during those years, especially during the nighttime hours. And thanks to the long-distance reach of AM radio when the atmosphere was just right, great radio filled our pillows with memorable sounds, whether you were listnening to Dan Ingram, Wolfman Jack, Robert W. Morgan, or Dick Biondi.
Dick Biondi
If you grew up in Chicago – or any burb where WLS came blasting in at night – Biondi was one of those unforgettable jocks. At 86, he’s still alive and kicking, only recently off the air in the Windy City. He’s a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame, and there’s even a street named after him in Chicago.
Biondi is the subject of a new documentary, “The Voice That Rocked America,” produced by one of his fans who grew up listening to him on Chicago radio back in the ’60s. Pam Enzweiler-Pulice was just another Midwest kid loving Top 40 AM radio, but now she’s had the pleasure and honor of bringing Biondi’s story to the screen to enjoyed by millions around the U.S. and the world.
Pam told Chicago Tribune reporter, Rick Kogan, how she would listen to Biondi with a radio tucked under her pillow – yet another fan of a unique medium that accompanied her youth.
But it wasn’t just music radio stations. If you lived east of the Mississippi and your favorite sports team traveled to the West Coast, their games didn’t begin until at least 10pm. And that’s where the radio underneath the pillow trick came in very handy.
But innovation never sleeps, and when I read about a new device called the HUMU, it brought back memories of those memorable AM radio nights, turbocharged by modern technology.
The HUMU is a pillow with embedded speakers that allow the user to listen to any audio source – including AM or FM radio – without disturbing others in the room – or bed.
A review in The Next Web by Napier Lopez is mostly positive – a thumbs-up report for this nocturnal listening device that Bluetooth connects to any audio source.
This short video walks you through what it’s like to have a pillow – with sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChuyFV61f4Q
But beyond clandestinly listening to Tiger games or Screamin’ Scott without mom finding out, the HUMU delivers amazing resonance and low-end vibration while watching videos and films or playing games.
At under $300, the reviews I scoured all concluded it’s a deal. The HUMU is not available at stores – yes – but online at Indiegogo.com.
Pam Enzweiger-Pulice was one of millions of “under the covers” radio listeners who could have used this audio pillow. But these days, kids better realize that mom or dad may end up borrowing their HUMU.
Pleasant radio dreams.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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In New York, it was WABC’s “Cousin Brucie” Morrow who held this young lad’s attention late at night in the mid-1960s.
In 1983, a dream came true when Bruce interviewed me in-person to be his new morning host at WHMP-FM Northampton (Springfield) Mass. When the interview came around to, “Is there anything you want to ask?”, all I said was, “Do you know how many 9-volt batteries you owe me?”
I got the job.
Great story, Alan – perfect!
Haha! AWESOME question! (Wish I could think that fast!!) Congrats on the job! What a thrill!
Hmmm… a bit pricey. There are far less expensive “sound pillows” available through Amazon.com. Also, the link you listed to Indiegogo.com is a dead link.
Rick, I’m sure the price will come down. Link fixed – thanks.