The Stan and Terry Show

Terry Armour Media Arts Award

2009-10-12T17:08:00Z

A scholarship at Columbia College in Terry's honor called the "Terry Armour Media Arts Award" has been established. The award is planned to be given away annually to a student who possesses Terry's passion, spirit, drive, and love of journalism and entertainment. In order to fund this endeavor, $25,000 in seed money must be raise. The Tribune Foundation has generously pledged $10,000, so the remaining $15,000 depends on donations If you wish to make a donation (any amount is greatly appreciated and it is tax deductible!), please make your check to "Terry Armour Media Arts Award" and send it to Harris Bank, 558 W. Diversey Parkway, Chicago, IL 60614. The money is being held in an account at Harris Bank until the entire amount is raised, then it will be transferred to Columbia College. The $25,000 will endow the scholarship in perpetuity, with the goal of continuously raising money so more scholarships can be offered. No 2016 Olympic Games in Chicago. I guess I can stop practicing in an attempt to qualify at a chance to make the golf team. It’s not like I have a chance in hell at making the team, but it is my Cinderella Story dream. But if bowling ever becomes a medal event, I will make the trials! Holler :-0 Stan and Terry

A long overdue posting

2009-04-29T22:58:42Z

I have received a lot of e-mail messages from well wisher who have heard me on WGN 720 AM and asked, “Why haven’t you put something on your web page to let people know you’re back on the air?” I have not posted a new note on the web page because my mom has been gravely ill since mid February, and I have spent all of my free time with her and my sister. She’s been battling cancer for several years, and in February, she came close to the exit. It’s day to day, but considering her doctor gave her 5-days at the most on February 15th, she’s proving to be hard to write off. So here’s my broadcasting update. I’ve done four shows with Dan Deibert on WGN 720 AM, on Saturday mornings from 9-Noon. We were scheduled to be on this past Saturday (24 April 2009), but station management decided to audition someone else in our time slot. I don’t know when Dan and I will be back on again, but as soon as I know, I’ll post it. I will also note it on my Face Book Page. I am extremely grateful to all of you who listened to the shows. Thanks for your support and well wishes. Stan and Terry

Black History Month

2009-01-31T18:15:14Z

It’s February 2009, and Black History Month starts out with a whole new swing. Barack Obama is the President of The United States of America; and not to be out done, republicans have elected Michael Steele chairman of the Republican National Committee. This way, when the gloves come off, it’ll be Black on Black fighting, something unfortunately we’re use to in this Country. Another just in time for BHM is the release of Terry Armour’s 47th Birthday Celebration DVD. On 22 September 2008, family, friends, and folks that dug him, came out to U.S. Cellular Field (The Joan) to celebrate and remember T. Dog. If you were there, you’ll probably see yourself on the DVD, if you weren’t, see what you missed. To order your copy, here’s the link to Take One Video Productions. http://www.take-onevideo.com Stan and Terry

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T14:24:19Z

Instead of the traditional yearly promise to shed some unwanted weight and get in better physical shape, my resolution for 2009, is to not give a hoot. Even Michael Jordan’s got a gut these days. A highlight for me this Holiday was a trip to Rolling Stone Records; across the street from the HIP (Harlem/Irving Plaza) and a stones’ throw from the departed Maurice Lenell cookie factory. It’s been at least 25-years since I’ve been in there. It still smells and feels like a head shop. The only thing missing was the smell of vinyl (the plastic smell of CD jewel cases doesn’t have the same appeal). The next time I go there, I’ll have to remember to wear my Earth Shoes. On Monday, 12 January 2009, L. Wood’s Tap and Pine Lodge celebrates 10-years of serving some of the best ribs in the Chicago area. And on Tuesday, 20 January 2009, Chicago goes to the White House when Barack Obama is sworn in as our nation’s 44th President. If you hear any noise, it’s just me and the boys celebrating the groovy. Stan and Terry

A Special Note From LaNell

2008-12-27T21:19:53Z

On December 28, 2007, Chicago lost its self-proclaimed "local treasure," Terry Armour; and I lost my treasured husband. In the year since his death, I have witnessed an outpouring of emotion that I could never have imagined. To the thousands who attended his wake and funeral service, I thank you with all my heart. I may not remember shaking your hand, but please know I appreciate your presence there. To the family, friends, and fans who wrote online condolences, I sincerely thank you. My broken heart is still warmed by your beautiful tributes. To Terry's colleagues at the Tribune and the former WCKG radio station, thank you for being there in force to do whatever you could to help and support me. To my colleagues at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and former colleagues at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Ravinia Festival, I appreciate your kindness more than you will ever know. To the hundreds who joined me on a perfect afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field to celebrate Terry's birthday on September 22, thank you; it meant the world to me. To our closest friends and neighbors, I am still awestruck at how you have made it a priority to take care of me. I love you all. To my mother-in-law, Elaine Armour, thank you for sharing your eldest son with me. You trusted me to be good to him and make him happy. I did my very best. To my parents, Ernie and Nellie Essary, I have no words to express my gratitude. You drop everything at any minute when I need you. And I need you a lot. Many people still tell me that even though they never met Terry, they feel as if they knew him personally. If you ever read one of his columns, listened to him on the radio, or saw him on television, you did know him. He was exactly the same at home, at work, and at play: a razor-sharp, quick-witted, passionate, hysterically funny, glorious man-child with a heart of pure gold. I love him more than life, and I send my deepest gratitude to everyone who loved him too. LaNell Essary Armour

Stan, Terry & Barack Obama

2008-11-07T11:27:14Z

Count me in as one of those people who never thought a Black man would be elected President of the USA in their life time. You can also count me in as one of the millions that got weepy during Barack Obama’s acceptance speech. To quote The Funk Master General, George Clinton “To each his reach and if I don’t cop, it wasn’t mine to have”. I think that sums up this entire election campaign. Chocolate City and Paint The White House Black have been in heavy rotation in my car these past couple of days. While I was watching the election returns Tuesday evening, I saw a commercial featuring Tony Curtis in a red Cadillac convertible, surrounded by a handful of fabulous babes. After seeing it, I knew Terry’s spirit was in a groovy place, and Obama was going to win the election. Terry was a huge Tony Curtis fan, and last year, Terry and I had a blast hanging with Tony in the studio, and later that evening at Hollywood Boulevard, in Woodridge, IL. Tony was on the mend and told us his doctor had all but written him off. But there he was; honeys all around him and a big cheese eating grin on his face. If it’s possible, that’s how Terry’s spending his time in the sweet bye and bye. Pick-up games and HORSE instead of wars to settle disputes at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! Stan and Terry

A Celebration of Terry Armour

2008-10-06T14:02:52Z

Monday afternoon, 22 September 2008, was a beautiful day at U.S. Cellular Field (a.k.a. The Joan). White Sox organist Nancy Faust played the fanfare, and Chicago Tribune writer Rick Kogan welcomed the crowd before emceed the event. Words of remembrance/celebration of Terry’s life were given by Terry’s friends and colleagues Mitchell May, Paul Sullivan, Stan Lawrence, K.C. Johnson, Chris Kuc, Gary Burns, Rich Moskal, Grant Deporter, and Steve Dahl. The City of Chicago sent a Proclamation in honor of Terry and Brooks Boyer presented a memorial brick that will be installed in the White Sox Walk of Fame. Dean Richards, Robin Baumgarten, Leeann Trotter, Marion Brooks, Bob Sirott, Bill Zwecker, Roseanne Tellez, Joanie Lum, Ryan Baker, Darrin Jackson, Scott Reifert, Kenny Williams, Don Lemon, Robin Meade, Tavis Smiley, and Russell Crowe sent video remembrances; and Jeff Garlin, Chi McBride, Jeremy Piven, and Freddy Rodriquez send words of remembrance. Terry’s widow LaNell presented the closing remembrance with style and poise that would have prompted a “Hell yeah, that’s how she rolls.” from Terry. Behind the scenes, The Chicago White Sox, Levy Restaurants, Alliance Bakery, Axiz Group and Take One Video Productions did huge solids for the event. And Anastasia Black, Sarah Generes, Brad Piper, and Bonnie Sporn did all of the heavy lifting. If I missed shaking your hand and thanking you for taking the time to hang with us for a few, I’ll catch you somewhere else down the road. Memorial contributions in honor of Terry can still be made to The Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago. Holler :-0 Stan and Terry

It's Been A While...

2008-06-30T03:45:46Z

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a new note on our site. With the arrival of summer, I’ve been doing the things Terry and I had planned to do together this summer. After seeing Iron Man, I started to hit Terry on the cellular as I left the theater. It will certainly be the same after I see the new Bat Man movie, and this Christmas when the Bob Teitel, George Tillman flick “Humboldt Park” starring Freddie Rodriguez comes out. FYI-Look for Dave Dastmalchian, the “Jimmy Crack Corn” dude from the Cingular Commercials as one of the Joker’s henchmen. Last year, Terry and I interviewed Dario Franchitti, Bobby Allison, and Jeff Gordon. We closed out the summer by going to the IRL race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. As much as Terry liked racing and cars, to my surprise, he had never been out to race tracks in Joliet. We had a great time, and made plans to spend a lot of time in Joliet this summer. Even with the two hour rain delay, I know Terry would have enjoyed this year’s NHRA Powerade Event. In case you missed Rick Kogan’s piece in the Tribune Magazine about LaNell (Terry’s widow) coping with his passing, a memorial service for Terry is in the works. Plans are to have it at US Cellular Field, on 22 September 2008, Terry’s 47th birthday. Stan and Terry

First Sox Game

2008-04-26T23:33:02Z

April showers brings May flowers, so the saying goes. As a Chicagoan I always say, “at least it ain’t snow.” For my first Sox game of the season I had hoped to see the O-Birds get spanked at the Joan. Instead, I sat in the wet until the announcement was made that the game would be postponed until Noon the following day. Driving home I wondered if sitting through rain delays makes you a die-hard fan? Or does it take the additional step of canceling your plans for the following day and going to the park to cheer for your team? Quickly I came to realize that what ever it is that makes a die-hard fan, I’m not one. Even if I had free season tickets, there’s no way I would block-out that much time to drive down to the ball yard, 2-4 times a week over a 7-month period. And the only reason I had sat there was because I was prepared for the weather (wore my foul weather gear, reflective safety stripes and all) and had a mean hankering for an Italian Sausage with peppers, onions and mustard. This season they've bags of hot roasted in shell peanuts for sale at the Joan. A bag in each pocket is an excellent way to keep your hands warm. GO SOX!! A huge thanks to the White Sox organization for remembering Terry and recognizing him as a member of their family during the Opening Day Ceremony. Holler :-0 Stan and Terry

Checking In

2008-03-24T00:56:52Z

I had a great time at McGowan’s (aka L. Woods’ Tap & Pine Lodge) for this years’ St. Patrick’s Day Festivities. Thanks again to everyone who expressed their condolences, and fond memories of our show. Driving through Algonquin on my way to Randy Salerno’s Memorial Service, I saw a sign. The sign read “Snow Boarding”. And as the light snow that fell turned into a blizzard, I decided to take up snow boarding. Since I was the only member of my household that didn’t snow board, my epiphany was welcomed. A family getaway to Wisconsin for a couple of days on the slopes seemed like a perfect thing to do for Spring Break. But I couldn’t get the lodging I wanted for the days we planned, so instead of bindings, it was board shorts at Gurnee’s newest indoor water park. The madness of March college basketball tournament play beamed from the TV, as we ate in the beach themed restaurant. As I urged Kansas State to play better D, I remembered being at a water park around this time last year. Terry and I had traveled to Utica, IL to do our show from the water parks’ arcade. Terry was the defending champ of Steve’s annual bracket pool, and we were the CBS Channel 2 defending champs. If memory serves me correct, I was pulling for KS that day too. I’m not in any bracket pool this year, but I’m pulling for the Tar Heels to win it all. Did I forget to mention I won Steve’s pool last year? Stan and Terry

Note From Stan and Terry

2008-02-04T03:28:22Z

Saturday morning (02 February 2008), I was watching my recordings of The Late Show with David Letterman for the past week. During the commercial break before the start of Friday’s show, Steve Baskerville did a Black History Month segment featuring Soul Brother No. 1, James Brown. I sat up from my reclined position because over the past seven years, Terry and I spent a lot of time from late January through late February, writing and recording our version of Black History Month Segments. Our segment was titled The Black Pages of American History, and was created in 2001, to air as a Black History Month Segment for The Steve Dahl Show. I thought about the way every year Terry and I swore “next year we’re not going to wait until the last minute to start writing.” But I really got lost in the memories of how much fun we had recording them. I wish I had the audio of the recording session out takes. As you might imagine, they were peppered with language guaranteed to lose the stations’ FCC License. I also wish I had saved the hard copies of the scripts we used during the recording sessions. Again as you might imagine, we didn’t always stick to the script, hand-writing improvements in the margins. For those who have asked the name of the song we used as a music bed for the segment, the song is “Baby, I Love You” by the group Cold Blood. I have to give a huge thanks to Joe Kraslen, Pete Zimmerman, Mike Pentz, and Chris Cwiak, who each engineered and produced at least a months worth of segment over its’ seven year life span. This year, Terry and I had planned to add photographs, re-work the script, and re-frame the featured song, so the segment could be used on the WGN Morning News (thanks to Jeff Hoover). Here’s the script from our 2005 James Brown segment, the second of three James Brown Black Pages segments. Holler :-0 Stan Lawrence Stan: He’s Terry Armour Terry: He’s Stan Lawrence Stan & Terry: Join us as we look at the Black pages of American history. Stan: “Mr. Dynamite” “The Hardest Working Man In Show Business” “Soul Brother No. 1” “The Godfather of Soul” You have to be a legend in music when you’ve referred to by 4-titles. Terry: James Brown is nothing short of a legend. If you can sit still while a James Brown song is playing, you don’t have a pulse! James Brown is the definition of funky music. Stan: James Brown was born on May 3rd, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. He grew up in poverty about 40 miles away in Augusta, Georgia. In 1953, after completing a four-year stretch in prison for robbery, he joined the Gospel Starlighters. Soon, the group changes its focus from gospel to R&B, and changes its name to the Famous Flames. James Brown becomes the focal point of their act. Terry: On January 23rd, 1956, producer and talent scout Ralph Bass signs James Brown to the King/Federal record label in Macon, Georgia (beating Leonard Chess of Chess Records to the punch). On February 4th, 1956, James Brown and the Famous Flames record "Please Please Please" at King/Federal studios in Cincinnati. After Little Richard abruptly quits rock and roll for religion in October 1957, James Brown honors Little Richard’s pending tour dates. On October 1st, 1958, James Brown's first #1 hit, "Try Me," is released, becoming the best-selling R&B single of 1958. Stan: James Brown's boyhood dream of escaping poverty was not immediate. Although he and the Flames continued to make records for Federal, it would be nearly three years before they hit the national charts again. "Try Me" hit big during the winter of 1958-59. Through grueling rehearsals and one nighter gigs, Brown developed the band into the hottest R&B act. The bands precision timing accented every holler, and trademark move. Terry: During the early 1960's, James Brown continued putting out hit singles. Recording on the King record label, he put up his own money, to record his live performance at New York’s Apollo Theater, on October 24th, 1962. When the album was released, “Live At The Apollo” went to Number 2 on Billboard's album chart. Stan On February 1st, 1965, James Brown records "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag". The song marked a new era for soul music. Released that summer, it tops the R&B chart for eight weeks and even cracks the pop Top 10. And for the next 10-years, the hit keep on coming. Terry: We’d be here all afternoon listing The Godfather’s string of hits, and it’s tough to pick one song to use as an example of the origin of funk and soul music. So, I flipped a coin and decided to play “I Can’t Stand Myself (When You Touch Me) Part-1. Stan: James Brown gradually phased out the Flames, and the gospel and blues structure of his early records gave way to open-ended vamps and complex funk syncopations. His innovations during this period had a major influence on popular music styles around the world, including funk, rock, Afro-pop, disco and eventually rap. Terry: On June 1st, 1980, James Brown cameo role as a Baptist preacher in the Blues Brother movie revives his popularity. On January 11th, 1986, "Living in America," the theme song from the movie Rocky IV, hits number 4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, becoming his biggest pop hit since "I Got You (I Feel Good)" went to number 3 in 1965. And on January 23rd, 1986, The Godfather is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner, held in New York City. Stan & Terry: Bottom line, Black history is America’s history]]>

The Great Gig In The Sky

2007-12-29T04:41:16Z

It is with great sadness that I tell you, Terry Armour has gone to the Great Gig In The Sky. Terry passed away on Friday, 28 December 2007. The only details I have at this time are, he feel ill at work in The Tribune Tower, and did not survive a heart attack. I will post more information when it’s available. I’ve been trying to write this note for about two hours. What do I say about the most fun to be around guy I’ve ever met? Even when he was in a bad mood, he could make me laugh. He was larger than life, with an infectious laugh. Whether he was yelling at the home plate ump at a Sox game, or holding court at 437 Rush, Terry lived in the moment and life to the fullest. So if you’re going to have a drink this New Year’s Eve, hoist a Ketel One Martini – Dirty, with a Blue Cheese Olive, for the brother that can’t be here. My home slice Terry Armour. Terry’s family is planning a remembrance gathering some time in the upcoming weeks. In lieu of sending flowers, Terry’s family asks that you please consider making a donation to The Anti Cruelty Society. www.anticruelty.org Terry and LaNell added a dog (Kramer) to their family in early December. Stan Lawrence

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2007-12-23T16:07:22Z

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Then it warned up and rained. Now, it just looks like mud. But there’s a cold wind off the lake and the possibility of snow in the weekend forecast. And let’s be honest, snow on Christmas morning is the one thing we all find enjoyable about Mid-West weather. Nobody wants to hear the runners on Santa’s sleigh scraping on the pavement. The Twelve Days of Christmas begin on Tuesday, 25 December 2007. Most of us blow our gift giving load on the first day, and never give gifts in the amount of the day’s number. Since your Christmas tree will probably be up until Saturday, 05 January 2008, the Twelfth Day of Christmas, why not do something different this year. Give your true love seventy-eight gifts over a twelve day period. In the original Carroll, somebody’s true love received a heck of a lot of fowl over the twelve days. For the bird items, may we suggest making a run to Harold’s, Popeye’s, and Church’s. Have a very merry Christmas, and a safe and prosperous New Year. And as always, thanks for the e-mail messages supporting our show. Stan and Terry

Ike Turner

2007-12-13T11:55:24Z

December is a bad month for the legends of R&B and Soul Music. Last year Soul Brother No. 1 checked out. This year, Ike Turner transitioned in to the sweet bye and bye. Ike “…I said eat some cake” Turner died on Wednesday, 12 December 2007. Ike was our first celebrity interview back in 2002; hell, it might have even been 2001. Terry and I were auditioning for the night slot at WCKG, after Pete McMurry bolted to do mornings at WLUP. Ike called to promote something he was doing, and we spent a good twenty-five minutes with him on the air. He was a blast to talk to, and candid about all the drama that seemed to be part of his everyday life. It was funny listening to him talk about shooting the paperboy for being on his lawn. In a style that only Ike Turner has, he kept pointing out that the paperboy was a grown-ass man that should have known better. That was one hell of an audition show. Ike Turner on the phone, followed by Sonia Da Da playing live in the studio, and Carl LaBove in the studio to close out the show. Just a small digression, thinking about Sonia Da Da brings to mind our good friend Doc Simpson. So if you think about it, pour a little out of the bottle before you raise it to your lips, for the brother that can’t be here-Ike Turner. Ike and Doc are probably smokin’ a drink right now. Holler :-0 Stan and Terry

The Holiday's Are Here...

2007-11-29T11:56:01Z

T’is the season to bid one and all a Happy-Nappy HO-HO-HO. No, not as a shout-out to Don Imus – it’s Christmas Time. It seems strange that Thanksgiving has come and gone, but there’s still another full week of November. Global Warming’s probably to blame. Although as cold as it was Thanksgiving and the day after, Al Gore’s got some explaining to do. In the past, did stores always open at 04:30 AM on the day after Thanksgiving? And are you saving that much shopping that early in the morning? That’s why we endorse Kwanzaa. No shopping, and you can wear the same kente outfit year after year. Senorita Caliente’ has a smokin’ kente bikini you’ve just gotta’ see. We’ve received a lot of e-mail messages from listeners asking when our show’s going to be back on the air. So far, we haven’t been able to find a new radio home. Just to let you all know, we’re doing everything we can to get back on the air as soon as possible. Holler :-D Stan and Terry