Throwback Thursday; 1994

Why 1994 you ask? October 4, 1994 is the day Steve Summers started doing mornings on Q98.5. He told me he started the show with the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Not because he was gonna suck it up, but because he came to mornings to "clean up" in the ratings. Something he has been doing ever since.

I took a few moments this morning to learn some things about the history of Steve Summers, mornings, and Q98.5, and I realized some eery similarities.

• Steve was 21 years old when he started doing radio. So was I.
• Steve was 34 years old when he started doing mornings. I am 34 now.
• Steve has worked with 12 previous personalities in the morning show. That makes me number 13?!? Good thing 13 is my lucky number.

Yikes! Maybe we were destined to be partners? Ok...that is too cheesy. Let's get back to business. Let's see how much of this you remember...Steve didn't remember much...

In the year 1994:

• South African President Nelson Mandela visits the U.S.
• Gary Larson announces he is retiring from doing the "Far Side" cartoon.
• Keith Moore is charged with stealing $5,000,000 from Sting.
• Faith Hill was the new hot thing in county radio.
• Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw" causes quite the controversy, and is banned from airplay at some radio stations. (not at Q98.5)
• Country Weekly hits stores for the first time with Garth Brooks on the cover.
• Reba is the ACM Entertainer of the Year
• Vince Gill is the CMA Entertainer of the Year
• "I Swear" by John Michael Montgomery is the ACM and CMA Single of the Year
• I just started my sophomore year at Jefferson High School, and was still a closeted country fan. I never listened to Steve Summers.

Thank goodness I wised up and began to listen to Steve Summers. Thank goodness you do too. Come join in a toast to 20 years of hot messes, laughs, and great country music tomorrow night at the District Bar and Grill in downtown Rockford with headliner Josh Thompson. Better join the party now, because in just a few years Steve may not remember it. Hee Hee Hee.