Charlie Van Dyke’s Bicentennial Salute to the American Flag in 1976

… Is it possible to wave the flag too much … provided of course, that you wave it with integrity….

Charles Leo Steinle aka Charlie Van Dyke, first launched his career in radio broadcasting in 1966, as a nineteen-year old with the legendary KLIF 1190 in Dallas, Texas. By the early 1970s, and rapidly-rising in the industry known for his baritone pipes, his distinct voice behind the radio microphone would eventually carry him to major markets around the country.

Harnessed by Bill Drake for his RKO radio stable, stops would include morning drives at KFRC in San Francisco, KHJ in Los Angeles, a short stint at CKLW in Windsor/Detroit and then it was on to WRKO in Boston.

But it’s the Bicentennial Year. 1976.

Seemingly what was lacking was a narrative to commemorate the country’s bicentennial celebration for that year. And that’s when Van Dyke decided to step in.

According to Charlie Van Dyke, he had retained a particular speech his uncle had written and prepared for an oratory-speech contest while in high school. His mother, in adding to the Van Dyke story, had saved a copy of that award-winning speech. That narrative saved would become The Flag.

With minor changes in the lyrics, Clive Fox worked on the produced project for release through United Artists Records. Jimmy Haskell would provide the music behind Van Dyke’s saturated, patriotic salute he voiced-over in The Flag. 

Today, while no longer in radio, Charlie Van Dyke continues to free-lance his voice talents for media markets in both radio and television affiliates across the country.  

Charlie Van Dyke, we thank and salute you for your acclimated 1976 display and show for true-American patriotism!

CHARLIE VAN DYKE * THE FLAG

Special thanks to George Griggs for contributing “The Flag” record/audio featured with this exhibit.