One person, and I have no idea who it is or was, recently used a Google search looking for the theme song for former WBNS radio host Irwin Johnson and landed on this page. I could respond personally if I knew who he or she was, but I don't.
But I do know the answer to the reason for the Google search.
Irwin Johnson, known better locally as the Early Worm because of his morning wake up show used Tommy Dorsey's "Song of India" as his theme song.
For many years, Johnson as the "Early Worm" ruled morning radio Columbus. I don't know when he began that reign, but it continued through the 50's and possibly into the 60's. I don't remember listening to Johnson, but everytime someone mentioned great radio announcers in Columbus, the either the name "The Early Worm" or Irwin Johnson would be among the first to be rattled off.
Tommy Dorsey was the leader of a Big Band when Big Band's were all the rage in the 30's and 40's. Tommy brought to the forefront the talents of Jo Stafford and a scrappy young male vocalist from Hoboken, New Jersey Frank Sinatra.
Like The Early Worm, Dorsey's theme song for openning and closing his national radio programs was "Song of India".
Who knows. Whoever initiated that search may search once again and find their answer.
Update: In reading some old archives of the Columbus Citizen Journal, Irwin Johnson worked for WBNS from 1940 to 1969. When he retired, Bill Hamilton filled the morning show slot.
14 comments:
irwin did indeed go into the '60s...i was the producer on his early morning program for about 3 years as i recall. it was chet long on news,russ cantor on announce and chappy on the engineering board....quite a show always from irwin,especially while reading the live commercials for lazarus....even today, it would not be possible to put this on video! i guess it will just have to remain in my memory as i am sure i'm the only one still alive out of the above trio. those indeed were the days!
Our family always started the day with Irwin Johnson, aka "The Early Worm" on WBNS radio in Columbus. He had such a smoothe soothing voice. The format was a mixture of advertising, news, and some old standards. He also was the color man for a few years with announcer Bill Corley at Ohio State football games on radio. A really classy guy. I have good memories of those broadcasts.
I was a child during the 1950's in Columbus, German Village, and would awaken to the smell of fresh coffee brewing, cold, frosted windows, and Song of India playing on our Emerson radio. I have never forgotten that melody, and yes, it also reminds me of the milkman, breadman, and our postal carrier, Mr. Twiddy.
for anyone that interested, i have about a dozen cd's of erwins shows from 1942 to 1969. these were going to be thrown out by my neighbor , but something told me to take them and pass them along davecraycraft@hotmail.com
for anyone that's interested, i have a cd history of irwins shows from 1942 to 1969. they were given to me by my neighbor that was going to throw them out. something told me to take them and pass them along. davecraycraft@hotmail.com
Johnson always used "Song of India" to open each segment of his show, except in December, when he used "Jingle Bells". He also read the story "The Littlest Angel" on Christmas Day. My mother, a nurse at Mt. Carmel, recalled him broadcasting from his hospital room when he had a heart attack. I also heard that he broadcast his show from his home, at least on Saturday mornings in the 60s.
I too remember the Early Worm with fond memories. As a young teen in the mid-sixties I delivered morning papers and would listened to Mr. Johnson through a single ear bud connected to a transistor radio.
One event I remember as if it was just a few days ago. It was a cold winter morning, just before sunrise. The stars were still visible as the sky slowly turned to orange as the sun moved closer to the horizon. With each step, my boots broke through the crust over the previous day’s snow, all to the drum beat and clarinet swing of the Song of India as the Early Worm began the broadcast day at WBNS radio. Amazing how something so long ago still clings in my mind.
Also remember listening to Bill Hamilton and Fritz Peerenboom in "living color" on WBNS radio, but that is another story.
I'm probably not the person you referred to, but i did indeed search for Irwin Johnson 'The Early Worm's theme song. I remember that it was one of my favorite melodies, and would love hearing it on my car radio while growing up in Columbus. I now live in Florida, but my heart's still in Ohio. My wife knew Irwin's wife, and would point out their house in Upper Arlington when we would pass. Irwin's voice was very recognizable which probably helped landing a job in radio announcing. I have many good memories of listening to his shows.
I'm probably not the person you referred to, but i did indeed search for Irwin Johnson 'The Early Worm's theme song. I remember that it was one of my favorite melodies, and would love hearing it on my car radio while growing up in Columbus. I now live in Florida, but my heart's still in Ohio. My wife knew Irwin's wife, and would point out their house in Upper Arlington when we would pass. Irwin's voice was very recognizable which probably helped landing a job in radio announcing. I have many good memories of listening to his shows.
I'm probably not the person you referred to, but i did indeed search for Irwin Johnson 'The Early Worm's theme song. I remember that it was one of my favorite melodies, and would love hearing it on my car radio while growing up in Columbus. I now live in Florida, but my heart's still in Ohio. My wife knew Irwin's wife, and would point out their house in Upper Arlington when we would pass. Irwin's voice was very recognizable which probably helped landing a job in radio announcing. I have many good memories of listening to his shows.
Big John: Thank you for your comments. Irwin was indeed a great talent. And beloved in Columbus. Do you know what became of his son Eric who for a short time worked in radio including a brief stint as afternoon host on WBNS. He went into the military and I lost the trail after that.
We always listened to The Early Worm every day while getting ready for school. Later in life I worked for WBNS for about 10 years. I have a history page of Columbus that people seem to enjoy reading.
http://www.ohio.edu/people/cookt/
Wow! Here it is 2016 and here I am reading these posts from 2009 about the Early Worm back in the 50's and 60's. Ditto what everyone said above about Irwin Johnson while we were growing up. Loved him. I got to meet him at the old radio studio downtown on E. Broad St. My older brother worked at the Ohio State Journal and one day I "shadowed" him and we went up to Irwin's studio and I remember him tapping me on the top of the head with a stack of 78's. What a great time to be growing up!
Thanks to Four Corners for this blog that rekindled a great memory.
kvaughn@columbus.rr.com
Like many other commenters, I too have formative memories of The Early Worm and its Song of India theme. From 1957 to 1962 it was my steady companion, getting me up in the morning for my daily bike ride to Eastmoor Junior-Senior High School (later home to Archie Griffin, subsequently revamped and repurposed as a high school "Academy").
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