This week I learned that Lloyd Thaxton passed away. Who's Lloyd Thaxton??? Lloyd was once a very popular variety television show host in the 1960's in Los Angeles.Check out this cool video retro below, if you grew up in Southern California and are over 50 or so, you probably watched his show. I myself never saw a single show and up until the early 2000's had never even heard of him. (I'm way below the demo).
While I was producing the morning show over at K-Earth 1o1 for Gary Bryan, he had mentioned Lloyd's name and the question came up weather or not he was still around. He was!!! We were able to get a hold of Lloyd and also found out that he had just come out with a new book titled "Stuff Happens, Then You Fix It". It was a perfect opportunity for Lloyd to come to K-Earth and talk about his career. Now over the years, guests come and go in morning radio, they come in, do their thing, take a photo, shake a hand, sign a book or cd, then leave and never come back.
Not Lloyd!
There was something about him that made me want to keep in touch... we traded e-mails from time to time, I studied what he had done in his life and was real curious about his life. My parents were excited to hear that I met and kept in touch with him.
We had Lloyd back in the studio over the next few years and even one time we actually had Lloyd "guest host" the show while Gary was on vacation. That morning when he pulled into the old KHJ studios (now K-Earth) on Melrose, I met his car at the gate... he pulled up and was whispering to me while holding his throat saying that he had lost his voice!! I panicked for a quick second until he started laughing!!! He was only joking!!
When my time at K-Earth ended in 2005, Lloyd found out on L.A.Radio.com and sent me an email wishing me luck! I received lots of emails that day, but for some reason, I've always held on to his. It was genuine, he didn't have to do it.. I didn't write him first, he loved the fact that he was treated like a pro whenever he came to K-Earth.
And to follow-up, when Lloyd found out that I was hired by K-Frog a month later, he sent me another email to congratulate me!
It's not the fact that he sent me a note that was the big deal, it's what he said in so few words that told me that he actually cared.
Lloyd, it was a pleasure to meet and to get to know you, even if it was just for a short while. It's people like you that make me love doing what I do for a living! Thanks for the kind and encouraging words, I will never forget them.
Rest in peace, and may God watch your finger puppets in heaven!
