Something to consider for the night owls and music lovers.

All right, so I'm not one of those people who tries to shamelessly promote the activities of individuals who could really use a fan base of some sort. But I do like to suggest people, places, and things that might be of interest to a certain audience. Or in fact, become one of the biggest impacts to a person's life. Take for example, my friend and hero Jim Ladd. I first was introduced to him when he did an interview with Stevie Nicks around '93 or '94. It goes about as a generally typical interview, inquiring about her recent album and upcoming show at the Greek. That is, until he decides to ask her if she was excited and moist. Yes, you read that right. It became awkward, and I'm sure you can guess what happened next. But this was the turning point that if anything, sort of changed my life. This dude had personality. Bootlegged interviews, some reading, and a trip to Los Angeles later made me realize that this guy had something. Something very special that I had never before found. He interviewed John Lennon right before his assassination, he was the inspiration for Tom Petty's album The Last DJ, and had one of the most eclectic collections of music that I had ever heard. This guy had no boundaries on what he could say or play. He could play The Eagles, Marty Robbins, Bruce Springsteen, and Linda Ronstadt in a set and make it flow perfectly. You weren't going to turn on his show and hear him play Stairway To Heaven and Layla ad nauseum. He'd play the deepest of cuts from The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young and still pull off playing the Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam. So I started seeing if I could follow his show. A Myspace page, streaming online, and a meet and greet later, I discovered that this man provided the soundtrack to people's lives all over the place, including mine. He encourages listeners to question authority, think for themselves, and take notice in the beautiful place we live in. Politics, the music industry, and current events are not things he's afraid to go after. That's not something you get from a station you hear in the dentist's office that plays Michael Bolton. He is the true definition of free form radio, where playing music is an art form that few can accomplish. And I have never been more proud to call this man a true friend.

Find him on 95.5 KLOS, Monday thru Thursdays from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM, and Sundays from 9 PM to 12 AM.

http://www.myspace.com/jimladd

With the Lonesome LA Cowboy: