Appropriately enough, yesterday quietly marked the 15th anniversary of the passing of George Harrison, a key player in perhaps the world’s most successful rock band of all time. Chances are good you didn’t hear much about it on the radio, nor did you see more than a handful of posts on social media.
George would have wanted it that way.
While each member of the Fab Four had his own distinct nickname and persona, Harrison was always known as “The Quiet Beatle.” Part of that was due to his personality, of course, but the larger explanation had to do with the reality of playing alongside two of the most iconic rock personalities of all time, Lennon and McCartney. Oddly, the Beatles’ lead guitarist – the “quiet one” – often made the least amount of noise.
The Daily Beast recently highlighted George, and the many contributions he made to the Beatles legacy, not to mention his place in rock n’ roll history. George wrote classics like “Here Comes The Sun,” introduced the sitar and spirituality to the Beatles (and us), and playing a truly memorable guitar.
As journalist Stereo Williams pointed out, Harrison was always the overlooked, overshadowed, and unheralded contributor to a band that is still a mainstay on the radio more than 50 years after the British Invasion hit the shore of America.
George was the force behind the rock’s first benefit concert in 1972, the iconic “Concert for Bangladesh” that mashed up musical stars with an important cause. How many similar benefit and tribute concerts have taken place in the years since?
But much of that is forgotten today. In fact, you were hard-pressed to see much about George yesterday on Facebook, a social site that is obsessed with death, nostalgia, and rock n’ roll memories.
Harrison’s mostly unheralded career reminded me that inside many organizations – especially radio stations – it’s the stars who get the juice. At most stations, it’s the big morning show or the sales hot shot who are on center station, often functioning as time and attention vampires, while many of the people truly quietly making key contributions to the brand are behind the scenes, often going unnoticed.
And yet their efforts are what truly power the station along in the good times and during the challenging chapters. The morning show producer, the night guy, the production maven, the sales assistant, the traffic director, the APD – often thought of as cogs or “parts” – are the ones who quietly facilitate greatness, on the air and off. As in sports, you often can’t quantify their contributions, but everyone knows just how important they are to our brands.
There are many quiet professionals in our organizations that go rarely recognized for their skills and their support. On the anniversary of the passing of one of the truly great rockers of our generation – George Harrison – let’s take a moment to think of them and thank them.
They may be quiet by nature, but their contributions are often seismic.
Thanks, Steve Goldstein.
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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Love it Fred and Steve! I call these people “Off-Air Talent”. Driven, creative and caring for the love of the work and the brand, not ego or fame. Thanks for this.
Chuck, thanks for the note. And can I point out that you are very much “that guy” in your building. I’m glad the post resonated for you.
Thank Chuck for that comment!
What is Life? All Things Must Pass. I’d have You Anytime. In My Life. Teamwork makes the (Radio) World go ’round. http://www.broadcastideas.com
Many thanks, Clark.