RIP Jess Cain (for Bostonians)

[gsabc]

From boston.com
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Jess Cain, the legendary Boston radio personality famous for song parodies such as "Fly Me to Metheun" and “The Yaz Song,” died early this morning at his home in Beacon Hill.

The 81-year-old died at 5 a.m. after a long battle with cancer, said his son, Michael Cain.

Cain held court weekday mornings on the defunct WHDH 850-AM (now WEEI) for 33 years before retiring in 1991. He was “funny but classy,” Michael Cain said. “He didn’t have to stoop to innuendos to make people laugh.

“He was like an uncle to his listeners,” Michael Cain said. “I just loved the look on people’s faces when they said, ‘I used to listen to your father.’”

“The Yaz Song,” an ode to Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, experienced a recent surge in popularity after it was featured in the movie “Fever Pitch.” The song was inspired by the Sox' 1967 Impossible Dream season. To listen to “The Yaz Song,” click here.

Born and raised in northeast Philadelphia, Cain took to the airwaves at WHDH in 1958 and eventually broadcast from a studio at the top of the Prudential building. He and his longtime engineer, John "Pudge" Flynn, created limericks and sound effects that made for a kind of radio-vaudeville and songs such as "April in Natick."

For 33 years, Cain awoke at 3 a.m. and had to be alert and funny by 5 a.m. Before his retirement in April 1991, he talked to the Globe about life after radio.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Cain said. "But I fear how I'm going to handle it -- I'm a guy who cries at traffic lights."

He dabbled in acting, a passion he developed in college. Cain performed on Broadway and in plays with the North Shore Theater.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago, but remained in good health until last spring. Cain is survived by his wife, Jean Cain, four children, three grand children, and two sisters.

There will be no wake or funeral, said Michael Cain. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
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gs comment: My early heroes are leaving us. Jess Cain came from the same mold as Bob & Ray, making us laugh in the morning with humor that was always in good taste (unlike the current trend). "The Old Philosopher" and "Charlie Whiskey, Frontier Doctor" were two of his recurrent skits. I missed him when he retired, and I miss him even more now. RIP

[fuzzywuzzy]

From boston.com
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Jess Cain, the legendary Boston radio personality famous for song parodies such as "Fly Me to Metheun" and “The Yaz Song,” died early this morning at his home in Beacon Hill.

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gs comment: My early heroes are leaving us. Jess Cain came from the same mold as Bob & Ray, making us laugh in the morning with humor that was always in good taste (unlike the current trend). "The Old Philosopher" and "Charlie Whiskey, Frontier Doctor" were two of his recurrent skits. I missed him when he retired, and I miss him even more now. RIP

gsabc...I remember Jess pretty well...when I was a tween, I used to listen to Larry Glick every night on the radio! Loved his songs and entertainment connections.

fuzzy

[ghostjmf]

A class act is gone.

[gsabc]

gsabc...I remember Jess pretty well...when I was a tween, I used to listen to Larry Glick every night on the radio! Loved his songs and entertainment connections.

fuzzy

Glick is still with us, at last report being a greeter or some such at the Legal Seafoods in Boca Raton (he's a good friend of the boss). Were you a member of the FOI Scouts (Friend of Irving, Venus Flytrap Supreme, AKA Superplant)? I can still do the password.

Caller: Larry Glick?
Glick: Let me check. (pause) That's me.

[fuzzywuzzy]

gsabc...I remember Jess pretty well...when I was a tween, I used to listen to Larry Glick every night on the radio! Loved his songs and entertainment connections.

fuzzy

Glick is still with us, at last report being a greeter or some such at the Legal Seafoods in Boca Raton (he's a good friend of the boss). Were you a member of the FOI Scouts (Friend of Irving, Venus Flytrap Supreme, AKA Superplant)? I can still do the password.

Caller: Larry Glick?
Glick: Let me check. (pause) That's me.

LMAO!

I was not FOI...however, I did call Larry on several occassions. My favorite song was... The Bagel Song. Bagels, Bagels, are yummy, yummy, yummy... Baked to a golden brown...Bagels, bagels, so good for ya tummy, and taste delicous going down, down, down.

How old is Larry now? He was old when I was a kid.

Do you remember he would talk about his friend that owned the italian restaurant The Hole in the Wall in Vegas? Battista Locatelli?

Oh, man...this really brings me back... I would leave the radio on all night.

Remember Lavell Dyett... "I love you, I love you madly"

fuzzy

[gsabc]

Remember Lavell Dyett... "I love you, I love you madly"

Lovell is still around. He just joined WCRB, the classical station, and has been on WBZ for awhile.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Remember Lavell Dyett... "I love you, I love you madly"

Lovell is still around. He just joined WCRB, the classical station, and has been on WBZ for awhile.

In the 1980s I would listen to Charles Laquidara on BCN in the am. Loved Chuck & the Big Mattress. Chuck loved to call Dave Maynard "on the air" and harass him for his listening audience.

However, I was also a big fan of Robert J. Lurtsema on WCRB. He had the BEST voice on the air!

fuzzy