It was Groundhog Day 1984 at about 6:30am when I dragged myself out of bed. Back in those days, I wasn't much of a early bird, but it was my birthday and I didn't want to miss a minute of it. After all it was a milestone, my twenty-fifth. I gazed over at the glowing blue dial of my Marantz and could hear the faint KZEW elephant trumpet at low volume. I reached over to turn it up, I realized that LaBella and Rody was on. Being an night-owl, it was a rare occasion to catch the ZOO's morning team. I quickly popped in a cassette and hit record. I soon hear John LaBella and Mike Rhyner, but no John Rody. Rody was famous for being late. I continue to record, not knowing this very recording would go out over the DFW airwaves once again nearly 25 years later.

I came to this realization last month when I happened across a post on the TheUnTicket.com, a fan site for The Ticket Sportsradio 1310am/104.1fm Dallas-Ft.Worth. It seems that this recording had found it way to The Ticket and Mike Rhyner's co-workers put it on the air to rag on Mike about his FM radio style back in his ZOO days.

Here's some of that re-airing on The Ticket's Hardline Show - Dec. 18, 2008

I can tell that this is MY recording from the starting point, it was part two of the twelve ZOO parts I had recorded that morning. Why so many parts? Like many in those days, I would flip back and forth from the ZOO to Q102.

But how did they get MY recording? I then remember that back in 2003, long before I had thought of putting together my own site, I had sent a copy to Bill Tyler for his ZOO site he had up at the time. It seems that this recording had made its way from Bill, all the way to The Bone's program director, Gary Thompson who sent it to The Hardline's producer.

Listen below to some clips from that day in 1984.

LaBella & Rhyner doing the news...1984-02-02-KZEW-Pt2

More news & Jerry Orr stops by to do sports...1984-02-02-KZEW-Pt7

More news & Kevin McCarthy also stops by to do sports...1984-02-02-KZEW-Pt8

After LaBalla & Rhyner are done with him, Kevin McCarthy gets kicked down the stairs...1984-02-02-KZEW-Pt9

LaBella & Rhyner open up the rock and roll date book for this day in rock history...1984-02-02-KZEW-Pt11

Rody never showed, being either out sick or on vacation. The entire show is pure Labella and Rhyner. Let's not forget Jerry Orr and Kevin McCarthy stopping by to help with sports. I also remember that it turned out to be a beautiful day and that Groundhog 'did' see his shadow...pretty much like today.
Enjoy...Zookeeper (Now, even older than dirt)