Promoting Records By Helicopter

Here's one for the record books. That's right, you're reading it correctly. We're talking 'Promoting Records while delivering them to Radio Stations in a Helicopter.' Seriously, no joke. In a business where just about every marketing tatic has already been employed, why not try this idea. No way you say! With fuel cost being so expensive, how pray tell could a hair brain scheme like this gain approval? But never underestimate the inventive ideas exercised from the creative minds of record executives. After all, these are the same guys who brought you the likes of Tiny Tim, Weird Al Yankovic and Barry Manilow. Anyway, here's the deal. All you gotta do to make this plan successful is just land a helicopter at the front door of any radio station and hand deliver a newly released record to the disk jockeys. And presto. Done deal. DJ's will absolutely love the idea. Receiving a record in that manner will make the Jocks feel so special they'll put the record on the air immediately. And half the battle just getting the record on the air in the first place. Right? As you have it, once the airplay obstacle has been accomplished...then you're jobs done. Finished. Over. That's when you can go celibrate with an afternoon cocktail. This story sounds like an ill-concocted pipe dream but believe it or not, it actually took place.

The year was 1978 when I was Regional Promotional & Marketing Manager for Hollywood based 20th Century Fox Records. As the story unfolds, a newly surfaced Pop artist by the name of Bobby David was beginning to create a strong buzz around the Nashville area. Plus this artist had the right ingredients of good looks and great songwriting. 20th Century saw a star when they signed Bobby David to a recording contract. The company was so impressed they signed him upon first listen to his innovative album. His self titled LP was recorded at Boomer Castleman's Creative Workshop in Nashville and chocked-full of potential smash hits. Bobby's base of operations was located in Music City where he had an investor who was a successful broker in the mining business. Financial backing and support were definitely not an issue while Bobby David's investor owned a helicopter and employed a full time pilot. Considering circumstances, the idea came up to fly Bobby around in this helicopter to all the area radio stations and drum-up support for his new album release. That's when you-know-who was commissioned to make it work. Immediately I began to roll-up my sleeves and scheduled an eight city helicopter tour to promote this exceptional songwriter.

At first the plan sounded inconceivable and something directly out of a fantasy playbook. But when you're drafted to organize something of this magnitude, sometimes you fly by the seat of your pants. First, I had to schedule only visits to certain radio stations that could provide proper landing space to accommodate a Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter. By that I mean we couldn't just land in any downtown suburban location. Sliced and diced pigeons were not part of the plan. Hence we were subject to land at stations located at rural transmitter sites or the ones which offered large parking lots to simulate a safe landing pad. Plus, none of the sites could be surrounded with telephone poles that were connected with electrical wires or cables lines that were strung-out holding up radio stations broadcast antennas. Okay, try to schedule a weeks trip through that navigational minefield. However with all things considered, the scariest portion of this plan was...I'd never even been in a helicopter before.

As the details were ironed out, we were ready to go. Upon departure Bobby David's personal charm (L) immediately put us at ease. The cockpit was so loud that we had to wear headsets to communicate. Bobby David had been up before and provided flight attendant and tour guide services. In the key of "Thank you Jesus". He also shared his appreciation of the panoramic view from the bubbled cockpit as there was much to survey. It's one thing to fly in a passenger jet forty thousand feet above ground but it's another to hoover only several hundred feet about surface. My camera lens were snapping away and caught this smoking field of burning crops (double-click to enlarge). The helicopter pilot was a veteran aviator from the Viet Nam war. His no-nonsense personality somehow blended with Bobby David's colorful non-stop chatter. By all accounts I was
starting to relax (L) and recall the actual purpose of our mission. I'd considered myself well prepared for the forthcoming events yet amazed at what I was learning in the meantime. An example was listening to the jargon used by air flight controllers which was far different from any language used by say, Ham Radio or CB Radio operators. These guys in the tower had a dialect of their own. Sounded as if they were talking with marbles in their mouths.


First stop on our tour was WVLK Radio in Lexington, KY where after pulverizing a couple of mockingbirds and mother robins, we landed on the grass lawn in front of the building. Disk Jockeys were pouring out the station to view the helicopter while after flying for over two hours Bobby David was jumping the fence and racing with album producer Boomer Castleman to visit the "head."


Next stop was WVOV Radio in Huntsville, AL. where Program Director Dana Andrews and the lovely Pam Bell interview Bobby David from the control room. So far we were batting a thousand as every radio station we visited put the record on the air immediately.


Upon landing at WJDX-WZZQ Radio in Jackson, MS we were greeted by among others, the station mascot. (L-R) Phillip Rauls, Bobby David, Q Mascot and Program Director Wayne Harrison.


After flying through a very scary thunder storm and praying desperately for safe landing, we eventually plotted down in the parking lot at Kicks 104 in Nashville. In this photo legendary radio legend Programmer Michael St. John shares a smile and interviews Bobby David.


In Memphis, TN the helicopter landed in the parking lot of WHBQ Radio where neighbors living near-by were frightened from the aircraft noise. Locals residents being unaware of the promotion placed an emergency call to the Federal Aviation Authority (the FAA) and complained of circumstances. In an effort to calm the neighborhood, I approached a little old lady who was standing near-by and whispered, "Psst, Please don't tell anyone but that's Elvis landing at the radio station." Problem solved.

After hop, skipping and jumping from city to city for a entire week, I was ready to put my feet firmly on the ground. I was dizzy under the influence of helicopter-lag. Yet from that once in a lifetime experience I had made many new friends. Plus, I took care of some important business while in the process. Bobby David went on to become a very successful song writer with many artists recording his compositions. His solo album still remains as one of my all time favorites. About every month or so, I dust-off the old Dual Turntable and play Bobby's great album. Songs like "Crossfire," "You Are My Fantasy" and bar room rocker, "What A Way To Go." Every time I listen to his album, I'm start to reminisce about this marvelous trip. What an rare experience of traveling a four state area under those extraordinary circumstances. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I will forever cherish those memories.