By 1992, in it’s third year run on radio syndication and under sponsorship of the Chrysler Corporation, The Americans was broadcast on over 1,000 American radio stations and was heard across the Armed Forces Radio Network in 80 countries around the world.
A special thank you to Lee Alan for having shared with Motor City Radio Flashbacks this special featured audio presentation.
This program was conceived, created, produced, and is narrated by Lee Alan. Property of Lee Alan and leealancreative.com.
Audio was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
From Lee Alan, July 4, 2022:
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks. Thank you for keeping this program and America alive. And you have our permission and hope that you’ll post this each year as a reminder of AMERICA.
I absolutely believe that this production was divinely inspired and led. I am not opt talented enough to write and produce this on my own. The people in it came to my studios and did their parts with great feeling and emotion. Some of the music just found its way into the script. In fact Tom Ryan (CKLW’s producer Tom Ryan) brought music I’d never heard before that was perfect. My late best friend and radio journalist Tom Mcintyre, gave totally adlibed comments about Freedom and led me to Bob Lutz, president of Chrysler which became a sponsor on 540 radio stations. Byron MacGregor’s “The Americans” is in it, General Norman Schwartzkoph gave us his “Portrait of Lincoln”, Erik Smith recalled memories of his father and the flag. Announcer Joe Placido spoke of his grandparents arriving from the old country and coming to Ellis Island. Christian Rank told is in his own words what it the flag meant to him. Randy Stephenson speaks of how he felt seeing the flag at Ballgames. My then wife Sharon spoke of swimming pools, her brother blowing off fireworks.
And the music. That music. Oh my! After months of trying to write and failing, it was produced in just three days. All the parts were recorded at different times so when it was done, everyone who was in it came to my studios and listened to it together for the first time. There were tears and some laughter. It was on the air for about 5 different 4th of Julys and The Armed Forces Radio Network. Long after I am gone it will be playing somewhere. So as one of the song titles says: “Hats Off to America”. Blessings and Happy 4th of July. Of all the music in the program this is my personal favorite. AMERICA . . . . AND THE DREAM GOES ON . . . . .
LEE ALAN
(commenting today – July 4 – on Motor City Radio Flashbacks Facebook page)