"The 1960s Pop-Rock Music and TV Shows Net" Monthly   Roundup for June 2009

Welcome to "The 1960s Pop-Rock Music and TV Shows Net" Roundup report for the month of June. Calendar-wise and in terms of the temperature, we are definitely in summer and in monsoon with daily temps over 100* and increasing humidy. Though we have a long haul of hot weather ahead of us, I am already looking forward to the cooler weather of fall.

The Net aired each week during June with moderate participation. A total of 13 different stations checked in at least once or more during the month. Two Net members either have been or are still on vacation. It was great to hear KB4VYM (Clarke) on the air for the June 24 Net following a three week vacation in Florida; sorry to hear it rained nearly every day, Clarke during your stay in the "Sunshine State" (?). N7CLG (Doug) is still visiting in Salt Lake City, Utah and undoubtedly enjoying the much cooler weather of the "Beehive State". It was good to have KB8YYA rejoin the Net after having recently moved into his new home in north Phoenix. Dreux, like K7SLS (Shel) and KE7FQL (John), is using a ground plane antenna on the 220 Mhz. band, mounted only 20-25 feet off the ground. The antenna transmits a great signal into the Mt. Lemmon Repeater, located some 140 miles from the north Phoenix area; this is a real tribute to an incredible antenna made by Centerfire Antennas of South Bend, Indiana, and of course a terrific repeater and high-elevation repeater site.

In May I reported KC7Y (Bob) in Mesa was looking to purchase a new radio for use on the 220 band. Bob did indeed purchase a new handheld that includes the 1 1/4 meter band and it was good to hear his voice once again on the Net. Speaking of the 1.25 meter band, it was very good news to learn that there is now a second choice in 220 mobile radios.The Jetstream company of Hamilton, Ohio, an amateur radio company that sells antennas, coax, coaxial switches, power supplies, etc., has now introduced it's first ham radio, the JT 220M. This 50 watt mobile radio with 99 memory channels, was introduced to compete "head-to-head" with the Alinco DR-235T, heretofore the ONLY 220 mobile radio available on the market. Though the JT 220M  does not have a proven track record to date, I have not found any negative comments concerning this new mobile unit. Like any other piece of electronics equipment, time will be the true judge of the radio; for now, however,  it does hold promise of being a good radio. The JT 220M currently can be purchased for some $60.00 less than the Alinco DR-235T.
 
Two stations deserve a lot of kudos for participating every week on the Net. The two hams making the "PA (Perfect Attendance) List" this month are:

K7DMF (Dave in Vail)
KE7GRV (Terry in Tempe)

As always, there were a lot of great trivia questions covering both '60s pop-rock music and TV shows. The three featured segments of the Net each week, "This Week In 1960s Rock and Roll History", "#1 Hits For The Week Of.....", and "This Week In 1960s Television History", continued to be an integral part of the Net. A new featured segment was added in June to reflect some members interest in film during the 1960s. Now each week "'60s Flicks" will air, providing a forum to discuss and relive the many great movies we loved to see in the 1960s and the actors/actresses featured in these Hollywood classics.

The day after the final Net of the month (June 25), the world was absolutely shocked, stunned and saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. The iconic and dominant figure in pop-rock music for over four decades, died of sudden cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles. The greatest entertainer in the world, known on every continent and admired for his incredible music and dance talent, began his career at age six as a member of The Jackson Five, a quintet of brothers from Gary, Indiana. Michael quickly became the lead singer of the group and helped propel them in the late '60s/early '70s to stardom with such high-charting hits as "ABC", "The Love You Save", "I'll Be There", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Dancing Machine", etc. Michael emerged with a superstar solo career in the 1980s that continued well into the 1990s. The monthly Net Roundup report is not the proper place to chronicle this once-in-a-lifetime performer, but here are some key achievements of Michael Jackson, the likes of which may never be seen again.

* Between 1971 and 1995, Jackson scored with thirty five Top 40 hits, including 7 Gold Singles and 9 Platinum Singles

* Jackson has sold more than 61 million albums in the U.S. alone

* The "moonwalking" pop star drove the growth of music videos, vaulting cable channel MTV into the popular mainstream after its launch in 1981

* His 1982 super smash hit record album, "Thriller", remains the second-best selling album of all time

* In 1987, Jackson's album "Bad" sold 22 million copies

*Michael Jackson the singer was also Michael Jackson the billion-dollar business     

                 
Please don't forget that your comments, suggestions and questions for the website, "CQ Hams Still Groovin' In The 60s" are always welcome!

If you live in southcentral Arizona, are visiting, or just passing through, please join us on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm for the Net on the 224.500 Repeater (N7EOJ) located at 9,100' above Tucson in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Everyone "into the '60s" is welcome!

73',
John  N7LQR
Maricopa, Arizona