I'd like to feel that an advertiser gets something extra when they advertise with us - a certain humanity that comes from upbeat and positive human interest letters and success stories.

Songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they're getting shorter. But otherwise, music is about a beat and a message. If the beat gets to the audience, and the message touches them, you've got a hit.

That something extra, I believe, is a certain humanity that comes from upbeat and positive human interest letters and success stories. Advertisers like to be associated with those qualities.

The first syndicating I tried was when two partners and I created a production company in 1952. We wanted to syndicate famous Bible stories and sell them for $25 a show.

We gave the show away and in return, we received a certain number of minutes per hour for the three-hour show that we could sell to Madison Avenue. One of the first sponsors was MGM Records.

For the most part, that message hasn't changed a lot over the years - love is still love, and heartbreak is still heartbreak.

We tell stories. We talk about statistics. And in 1978, we added an element of the show that gave it its heartbeat: the long distance dedication.

Always be consistent.

Anytime in radio that you can reach somebody on an emotional level, you're really connecting.

Basically, radio hasn't changed over the years.

Because of my background in theater and radio acting, I knew that I could make a living as an actor.

Before that, they thought talking movies might eliminate radio as well. But radio just keeps getting stronger.

But otherwise, music is about a beat and a message.

I had also done a little disc jockeying.

I like the storytelling and reading the letters, the long-distance dedications.

I must have done about 25,000 promos.

If the beat gets to the audience, and the message touches them, you've got a hit.

Interestingly, songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they're getting shorter.

It's been amazing, the number of commercials that I've done, starting back in 1968. It must be 8,000.

My agent said that I was one of the top three busiest people in the country.