THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605010079
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
Larry Eberhardt will be like a kid in a candy store Sunday.
``Or more like a bull in a china shop,'' Eberhardt said sarcastically about his duty this weekend hosting a remote radio broadcast in front of Portsmouth's Willett Hall before the Hall of Fame rock 'n' roll oldies concert.
Eberhardt hosts ``The Return of Doo-Wop'' with Jason Campen. The program airs the fourth Sunday of each month on the weekly music specialty program ``The Music Goes Round and Round'' on WFOS-FM 88.7, the radio station of the Chesapeake public schools.
In spite of Eberhardt's self-deprecating comment, he's the man for the job. He's the perfect one to host a remote radio program before a concert that will find the likes of The Platters, The Coasters, The Drifters and The Marvelettes on the same Portsmouth stage.
The West Ocean View resident is an expert on doo-wop, early pop, vintage rock 'n' roll and pioneering R&B from the '50s. His knowledge on the subject is so wide-ranging that WFOS program director Dennis McCurdy tapped him to host the once-a-month show featuring the best of close-knit street corner harmony.
``There isn't anything he doesn't know,'' McCurdy said about Eberhardt's knowledge. ``My guess is that he'll ask these guys about the smudges on the original masters of their hit songs. But seriously, he extensively researches each and every show he hosts from his own record collection and library. He likes to play the unfamiliar songs along with the familiar hits.''
Eberhardt will be joined by McCurdy during the remote show. But make no mistake, this is Larry's show, McCurdy said.
``I'm just here, along for the ride and to help Larry out,'' he said. ``Larry's the man in charge on Sunday.''
``He (McCurdy) called me and told me, `I was gonna do it, but you're the one for the job,' '' Eberhardt said. ``This should be a great opportunity. I'm excited, like a kid on Christmas Day.''
During Sunday's broadcast, Eberhardt said he'll mix taped music with live comments. He said he and McCurdy will work from a two-way hook-up with station engineer David Desler who will be operating tape machines from the WFOS studios on Cedar Road.
And when it comes to playing the songs, Eberhardt's got 'em. Expect all their classic hits and then enjoy many obscure and little known songs.
``I've been collecting these records for close to 40 years,'' he said. ``For every Platters hit, I've got 200 other songs they recorded. And that goes for all the other groups. I've got the songs. I have just about everything they all did.''
He said he'll refer to the many books in his library to research each group's history.
``On the air we'll talk about their histories, genesis, hits and personnel,'' he said. ``I have a lot of documentation on these guys. I know all kinds of things about these groups. I was a teen at the time they were big.''
Besides talking about the groups, Eberhardt said he hopes to talk to them, too.
He said he's contacted the managers of the four ensembles and hopes to be able to lure group members into the remote studio for comments, group updates and reminiscences about touring, recording the hits and the good old days.
``This will be a golden opportunity with these groups,'' he said. ``I wish I could have done this years ago. But you take it when you can. Nevertheless, they'll still have a lot to tell me. With the new members, I'll ask them why they chose to join the particular group, what connection do they have to any group, are they related in any way, how do they like it and many more questions like that.''
So how did a telecommunications expert at the Norfolk Naval Base get into doo-wop and vintage rock 'n' roll?
He said he grew up on the streets of Philadelphia at the time the music was developing right before his eyes and ears.
``I grew up with an ear on the radio,'' he said. ``During that time, there were several low-power black radio stations operating in Philadelphia. I listened to them all.''
Eberhardt said the defining moment, when he knew he was enamored of this music, came when he was about 12 or 13.
``What opened my eyes to doo-wop was when I first heard Sonny Till and the Orioles singing their classic hit `Crying in the Chapel,' '' he said. ``It was a classic track, and I was hooked. When I first heard that I said, `Wow! What is this?' I've been a fan since then.''
After graduating from high school, Eberhardt joined the service and traveled all over. But his record collection always went with him and it grew and grew over the years, as did his enthusiasm for the music. Later, he thought it would be fun to let others in on all the musical riches he's acquired.
``It's my hobby,'' he said. ``I love to share it with fans and provide them some trivia about the groups, the singers, the sounds and the times. That's what makes it important to me. Since we're on a high school station, my mission is to be educational, to share my knowledge. That's the name of game: to give them (fans) some memories, introduce music to newcomers and to educate. You gotta do that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
The Marvelettes' first record, ``Please Mr. Postman,'' sold 3
million copies.
Over 10 years, The Drifters recorded 30 best-selling songs.
by CNB