Randy Wood was a successful music industry executive who is perhaps best remembered for being the man behind Dot Records. Wood had just returned home after serving in World War II when he opened an appliance store in Gallatin, Texas. When he started music – mostly pop and classical albums – young customers began coming in, but asking for the rhythm & blues records they heard on a powerful station from faraway Nashville, Tennessee. Wood quickly realized there was a need for a mail-order record business, and 78RPM was born. By sponsoring a show on that Nashville station, WLAC-AM, spots for Randy’s Record Shop’s mail-order services could be heard clear across the United States and beyond. With the income he was realizing from orders, Wood soon launched Dot Records out of the store. The label quickly turned a profit as Wood figured out that white performers singing watered-down R&B songs was a recipe for success. His artists like Pat Boone were turning songs by Little Richard and Fats Domino into pop hits while helping to further popularize the R&B singers as well. Others he signed to Dot included Lawrence Welk, Tab Hunter, Debbie Reynolds, and the Mills Brothers. The label was one of the most successful independent record companies of its time. In 1968, Wood partnered with Welk to launch Ranwood Records in order to release records by artists mostly associated with the Lawrence Welk Show. Welk purchased the label from Wood in 1979. Randy Wood passed away on April 9, 2011. He was 94.
Sherman Washington Jr. DOB Unknown – March 14, 2011
Photo by David Grunfeld
Sherman Washington Jr. was a beloved New Orleans Gospel singer, radio host and promoter. As a member of Zion Harmonizers for the better part of 60 years, Washington was there for the birth of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, playing at its first gathering in 1970. Two years later, he took over the Gospel Tent and turned it into one of the most popular venues at the festival ever since. In the early years of Jazz Fest, the Gospel Tent was the place many white visitors experienced Gospel for the first time. Washington was also the host of the popular Sunday morning Gospel program on New Orleans radio station, WYLD-AM. The show became much more than a jukebox of the latest Gospel hits, but rather a community of sorts with Washington serving as its beloved “mayor.” In ailing health in recent years, Sherman Washington Jr. passed away in his home on March 14, 2011. He was 86.
Clay Cole was a pioneering ’60s New York City rock ‘n roll television show host who, outside of perhaps Ed Sullivan, showcased more rising rock stars than anyone of his era. At its peak, The Clay Cole Show aired six nights a week and played host to a who’s who of rock and R&B stars. What was particularly unique about the show, which aired from 1959 to 1968, was that Cole, who was just 21 years old, was as much of the fun as the show’s teenage dancers. It was on The Clay Cole Show that American teens first caught a glimpse of the likes of Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel, Chubby Checker (who debuted “The Twist” – both song AND dance on the program), Dionne Warwick, and the Rolling Stones. Of special note, that pariticular episode featured both the Stones AND the Bealtes, making it the first and only time that has ever happened. The show also featured many future legends of comedy for their television debut. That list includes George Carlin and Richard Pryor. When tastes in popular music began to gravitate toward psychedelic rock in the late ’60s, Cole ended the show, even though it was just peaking in popularity. After the program ended, Cole went on to be a successful producer, writer and director for television. He won two Emmys as a producer. Clay Cole died of a heart atttack on December 18, 2010. He was 72.
Stella Salamone (Born Stella Cultrona) September 20, 1966 – October 27, 2010
Stella Salamone was a popular Cleveland, Ohio metal disc jockey who, for over 20 years was known as the “Thrash Queen” at non-commercial station, WRUW-FM. She was most recently, the co-host of the station’s popular, Domestic Decay program. For many years, Salamone was an integral part of Cleveland’s punk, metal and thrash scenes. She was even credited for being the first area DJ to play grindcore. While still in her teens, Salamone first appeared as a guest DJ on WUJC’s Metal on Metal, and never looked back. Stella Salamone was 44 when she passed away after being taken off life support at an area hospital. Reports indicate that she had been found unconscience in her home a few days prior and that she had suffered a bad reaction to pain medications.
Sam Fields was a popular and longtime Los Angeles area radio disc jockey. For over three decades, he spun records at such influential stations as KMET, KROQ, KLAC, KKGO and KKJZ. But it was his love and knowledge of jazz that made him stand out above all the rest. He hit the L.A. airwaves in 1972 and was most recently heard at Long Beach’s respected KKJZ where he was recognized for bringing blues to the jazz station’s playlist. Sam Fields was 55 when he passed away in his home on September 23, 2005. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Earland Edwards was a San Francisco area radio personality who, as The Doug Of Edwards, hosted a popular jazz program, Ear Tyme, on Pacifica Radio KPFA-FM. It has been reported that Edwards never missed, and was never late for, his Sunday afternoon show since it began back thirty years earlier. Prior to that, Edwards spent ten years on KPOO, another popular San Francisco station, where he played jazz records and hosted live on-air performances. He also set up and broadcasted live from local shows at times. He was also socially active throughout the Bay area, supporting many worthwhile causes. Earland Edwards was 80 when he passed away on September 19, 2010.
Lawrence Brown was a popular Norfolk, Virginia disc jockey. Known as Cool DJ Law, Brown was the longtime morning show host at 103 Jamz where he built a sizable audience along with on-air co-host, Horace “Big B” Belcher. He and Belcher had worked together for almost 20 years. Lawrence Brown was 40 when he passed away on September 19, 2010. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Johnny Duncan was a prolific country singer and guitarist who could count 14 studio albums to his name. Born into a talented family that included cousins Eddie Seals, Dan Seals and Jimmy Seals, Duncan knew early on that he wanted to be a professional singer. He got his chance while working as a disc jockey outside of Nashville when he was signed to Columbia Records. Over the years he charted over 30 singles, included several popular duets with Janie Fricke. As a writer, he had songs covered by Charley Pride, Chet Atkins, Conway Twitty and Marty Robbins. Johnny Duncan suffered a fatal heart attack on August 14, 2006. He was 67.
Barton Lee Hazlewood
July 9, 1929 – August 4, 2007
Lee Hazlewood was a country singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose work with Nancy Sinatra during the ’60s are essential records of the era. Hazlewood settled in Arizona as a disc jockey after being leaving the military in the early ’50s. He soon partnered with Duane Eddy as a songwriter and producer on such hits as “Peter Gunn.” During the mid ’60s, he began working with Nancy Sinatra, writing and producing “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” and many more. Hazelwood all but retired from music during the ’70s, but his songs lived on having been covered by such unlikely artists as Megadeth, Beck, Nick Cave, Lydia Lunch and the Tubes. He died of renal cancer at the age of 78.
Paul “Moon” Mullins
September 24, 1936 – August 3, 2008
Paul “Moon” Mullins was a fiddle player and disc jockey who entertained bluegrass fans through his radio programs in Kentucky and Ohio. Mullins learned to play the fiddle while in the army from 1955 to 1958. When he returned home, he joined Ralph Stanley’sClinch Mountain Boys, playing fiddle. Several years later, he became the announcer for Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom Festival. In 2007, Mullins was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He passed away in a nursing facility on August 3, 2008 at the age of 71.
Randy Wood was a successful music industry executive who is perhaps best remembered for being the man behind Dot Records. Wood had just returned home after serving in World War II when he opened an appliance store in Gallatin, Texas. When he started music – mostly pop and classical albums – young customers began coming in, but asking for the rhythm & blues records they heard on a powerful station from faraway Nashville, Tennessee. Wood quickly realized there was a need for a mail-order record business, and 78RPM was born. By sponsoring a show on that Nashville station, WLAC-AM, spots for Randy’s Record Shop’s mail-order services could be heard clear across the United States and beyond. With the income he was realizing from orders, Wood soon launched Dot Records out of the store. The label quickly turned a profit as Wood figured out that white performers singing watered-down R&B songs was a recipe for success. His artists like Pat Boone were turning songs by Little Richard and Fats Domino into pop hits while helping to further popularize the R&B singers as well. Others he signed to Dot included Lawrence Welk, Tab Hunter, Debbie Reynolds, and the Mills Brothers. The label was one of the most successful independent record companies of its time. In 1968, Wood partnered with Welk to launch Ranwood Records in order to release records by artists mostly associated with the Lawrence Welk Show. Welk purchased the label from Wood in 1979. Randy Wood passed away on April 9, 2011. He was 94.
Clay Cole was a pioneering ’60s New York City rock ‘n roll television show host who, outside of perhaps 
Stella Salamone was a popular Cleveland, Ohio metal disc jockey who, for over 20 years was known as the “Thrash Queen” at non-commercial station, WRUW-FM. She was most recently, the co-host of the station’s popular, Domestic Decay program. For many years, Salamone was an integral part of Cleveland’s punk, metal and thrash scenes. She was even credited for being the first area DJ to play grindcore. While still in her teens, Salamone first appeared as a guest DJ on WUJC’s Metal on Metal, and never looked back. Stella Salamone was 44 when she passed away after being taken off life support at an area hospital. Reports indicate that she had been found unconscience in her home a few days prior and that she had suffered a bad reaction to pain medications.
Sam Fields was a popular and longtime Los Angeles area radio disc jockey. For over three decades, he spun records at such influential stations as KMET, KROQ, KLAC, KKGO and KKJZ. But it was his love and knowledge of jazz that made him stand out above all the rest. He hit the L.A. airwaves in 1972 and was most recently heard at Long Beach’s respected KKJZ where he was recognized for bringing blues to the jazz station’s playlist. Sam Fields was 55 when he passed away in his home on September 23, 2005. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Johnny Duncan was a prolific country singer and guitarist who could count 14 studio albums to his name. Born into a talented family that included cousins Eddie Seals, 
Lee Hazlewood was a country singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose work with Nancy Sinatra during the ’60s are essential records of the era. Hazlewood settled in Arizona as a disc jockey after being leaving the military in the early ’50s. He soon partnered with Duane Eddy as a songwriter and producer on such hits as “Peter Gunn.” During the mid ’60s, he began working with Nancy Sinatra, writing and producing “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” and many more. Hazelwood all but retired from music during the ’70s, but his songs lived on having been covered by such unlikely artists as Megadeth, Beck, Nick Cave, Lydia Lunch and the Tubes. He died of renal cancer at the age of 78.
The Music's Over 