Memories of A Sunday Kind Of Love

I love this song by Etta James, "A Sunday Kind of Love." I loved it so much that I gave the title to my Sunday night show on WHCJ at Savannah State University (College in my day) in Savannah, Georgia in the early 90s. I was on-air every Sunday evening from 8:00 p.m. - 12 midnight. It was one of the few commitments that I would keep on a weekly basis for more than 3 years. That's how I knew that it was true love. It lasted longer than any of my campus relationships.


Although I have moved on with life and married, I still think about that commitment now and then; of course, it is usually on Sundays as 8:00 p.m. approaches. Back then, I would jump on my bike with my sack of choice music and glide on over to the station. Once that big hand hit the 8, I'd hit play and on came... "Summer Madness" by Kool and the Gang. I know. Why didn't I use Etta? Well, I thought that it would be too obvious. Plus, "Summer Madness" was a great music bed while I introduced myself and the night's show:


Good evening. You're listening to Savannah State radio, WHCJ-90.3 FM. This is your host, Stephen Bess, and thank you for joining me this evening for another edition of "A Sunday Kind of Love." Please, just sit back and relax and I will take care of the rest...


Man, I loved it! Yes, those were good times. I will never forget those days. I enjoyed some quiet times every Sunday night in that campus studio. I took request and talked to friends of the station over the phone. Once in a while, I even received a visit from a friend on campus. However, most of the time it was just me and the microphone. Well, now that those days are behind me, I just listen to Ms. Etta sing as I reminisce of "A Sunday Kind of Love" at WHCJ radio. Those were good times. Good night everybody.

Monday evening memories: Najee's Theme

I'm sitting at home this evening listening to some CDs from the 80s and 90s. As I am typing, I'm listening to Jazz saxophonist, Najee. I used to play this CD as new and hip music when I was a DJ at my college station, WHCJ - Savannah State University (90-94). Back then, guys would come up to me and ask for me to make a tape - you know - cassette tape. It was the 90s. Anyway, back then, I could put together a very romantic mix of Contemporary Jazz. Today, it offers me some comfort to listen to it. It's as if I am conjuring some memories from that time in my life. It's all good - all good feelings and memories of my youthful days in the late 80s. Anyway, play it Najee!

Joe Sample's Smile

Joseph Leslie "Joe" Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014)

 American pianist, keyboard player, and composer.

In the early 90s, I was a Jazz disc jockey as a student at Savannah State University. I particpated in work study program at the campus radio station, WHCJ 90.3 FM. It was fun and I created a bit of fan base in the four years that I worked there. It was also my first time being exposed to what WHCJ station manager, Theron "Ike" Carter, called "real Jazz" music. I knew little - very little - about Jazz outside of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Adult contemporary music that I thought was Jazz.

One of the groups that I learned about while working at WHCJ was The Jazz Crusaders featuring Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, and Larry Carlton to name a few. I became a huge fan of their music, and I followed Joe Sample's work and would often play it on my radio show, "An Afternoon Rendezvous."

Well, after graduating from college, I continued to follow Jazz music as well as the music of Joe Sample. Fast forwarding to the late 90s, I had the opportunity to sit in on a taping of the Black Entertainment (BET) show, BET on Jazz. In the taping, I was excited to see that they were going to feature  the music of Mr. Joe Sample. I was so excited; I watched him as he spoke to different people involved with the production and I carefully watched him prepare before everything started. R&B legend, Mr. Lou Rawls, was set to host the show. Soon, he noticed that I was looking at him. Once he looked my way, I immediately smiled and said hello by waving. I think that I expressed it with such vigor and familiarity that he thought that we knew each other. His eyes squinted as he seemed to search his memory for the time that we supposedly met. I noticed and I assured him that we have never met. "I just wanted to say hello," I told him. He smiled, gave me a friendly nod, and continued preparing for the taping. I will never forget that moment.

Well, rest well Mr. Sample and thank you for your sincere kindness and your wonderful music.

Photo Source: Joe Sample. Digital image. Smooth Jazz Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web.

Back in the day

This a newspaper clip of me on college radio back in the day (90s). That's me on the microphone. I'm in good company with fellow dee jay Michael Wayne Swanston(left) along with Jazz historian and station manager Theron "Ike" Carter.

By the way, I took some pictures on my trip south. Check them out on Flickr. Peace~