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GEORGE CARLIN DIES AT AGE 71

by newradiostar on 23 June 2008, 02:09   0 comments , 173 views

He was one of a kind.  He was our friend and a friend of radio's.  George Carlin died tonight from heart failure at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica about 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT) after being admitted earlier in the afternoon for chest pains. George had a history of heart problems. He began his career as a disc jockey at KJOE in Shreveport, Louisiana.  I was lucky enough to have known George and to have spent some time with him. He and Brenda, years ago, came over and spent some time at my home...We sat on the couch and did word games all day and talked about the world we lived in.  When I held a conference in Philadelphia many years ago George canceled a gig and got a private plane to be there....Of people like George we say "He will be missed." But, he was one of a kind..speaking out about things that nobody else dared talked about...George will be SORELY missed.....we needed him around a while longer. 

Bob Hamilton

Here is the spotlight story I wrote about George just recently...


GEORGE CARLIN

BORN:  May 12, 1937

George Denis Patrick Carlin was born in New York City and raised in upper Manhattan's Morningside Heights section.  His father died when he was 2 and his mother took a job as an executive secretary to support him and his older brother Pat.  Dropping out of high school in his sophomore year, Carlin joined the Air Force.  He worked as a radar mechanic servicing B-47s and was stationed in Shreveport, Louisiana.  In 1956, Carlin began working as a radio disc jockey at KJOE in Shreveport.  He later teamed up with Fort Worth radio newsman Jack Burns and they performed a comedy routine in Boston coffeehouses.  They headed to L.A. and worked as the "Wright Brothers," a morning disc jockey team on KDAY in Hollywood.  Soon they were working the nightclub circuit and appeared together on the "Tonight Show with Jack Paar."   In 1962, the duo broke up and Carlin continued solo. Carlin appeared on television shows such as The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show and The Roger Miller Show.  He also guested on "That Girl" in 1967 and had a part in the Doris Day film "With Six You Get an Eggroll." Subsequent films appearances by Carlin include Jersey Girl and, Scary Movie 3, (2003), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Dogma (1999), Jay Prince of Tides (1991), Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Carwash and Taxi Driver (both 1976). For his comedy albums, Carlin won 2 of the 10 Grammys nominations he received.  Carlin's books include "Sometimes a Little Brain Damage Can Help" (1984) and "Brain Droppings.".. Carlin was the first host on the debut of "Saturday Night Live" in 1975.  When "Filthy Words," a comedy piece by Carlin on his album "Occupation: Foole" was aired in 1973 on WBAI radio station in New York, it brought a Declaratory Order from the FCC forbidding the broadcast of such language "at times of day when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience."  This was upheld in 1978 by the Supreme Court.  In 1994, "The George Carlin Show" debuted on the FOX television network and lasted 27 episodes.  Carlin continues to perform live and he continues with specials on cable TV channels. His last movie was Jersey Girl in 2004, but he has done numerous animation voices..Tarzan II in 2005, Cars and Happily Ever After in 2006 were his most recent. voices two animations, Tarzan II and Happily N'Ever After. In 2004 he spent 3 months in rehab for alcohol and painkiller addiction...Also, in 2004, George was ranked #2 on Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-ups of all time list, just behind Richard Pryor. Earlier this year George aired his 14th HBO stand up special, "It's Bad For You"....He will be releasing an album on Eardrum/ Atlantic from the concert...His last CD was in 2006, Life is Worth Living... George married Brenda Hosbrook in 1961 and they had one daughter, Kelly, born in 1963...Brenda died of cancer 11 years ago. George continues to tour and perform tirelessly...causing trouble whenever and wherever he can...

On Education...

Politicians are "the owners" of education, and they want us to believe that a
mind is a terrible thing to waste.

"They want more for themselves, and less for everybody else" he continues.
"They don't want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. [They
don't want] Well-informed, well-educated people capable of critical thinking.
[They want] Obedient workers - willing to do paperwork, [and] accept jobs
with low pays and overtime. [They] Want your Social Security Card and
retirement money, [and] give it to their 'criminal friends' on Wall Street.
It's a big club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in the big club."
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