The 405 Coffee Break with O.K. Solberg

There's no need to fear. Underdog is here. Today O.K. covers a man named Billy Powell, whom back in 1970 signed up as a roadie for the Leonard Skinner band...

What is The 405 Coffee Break with O.K. Solberg?

Greetings and Welcome to The 405 Coffee Break with O.K. Solberg

New episodes tend to air over the local KMMR radio station @ 5 minutes past 4PM each M-F. And have been doing so, nearly every week since Sept 2018.

I'm D.J. Rasmussen, O.K.s friend since junior high, possibly your neighbor & this websites maintainer, whom strives to get each episode's show notes written, the transcript proofed and the audio posted to the internet within a few hours of that days KMMR air time. NOTE: recently been publishing most new releases by 4:30PM.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy the time we can spend together.

OK Solberg:

I wanna again welcome you to The 405 Coffee Break. Guys, you know the routine. Get your cup of coffee, glass iced tea, steaming hot mug of cocoa. Let's see what's happening. Spring wheat $5.59 a bushel, 550lb steer calf $4.05, What? Yep. Four zero five on The 405 Butcher hog in Iowa 58ยข a pound, and a 100lb lamb that's fat in Billings weighing a 100lbs $2.41. But guys, there's more, much more.

OK Solberg:

Now you probably knew of Randy Skinner, and it's quite possible they even know Eric Skinner. But what about Leonard Skinner? Yes. I'm talking about the band, the rock and roll band called Leonard Skinner. And don't ask me how to spell it, but I can say it.

OK Solberg:

Now there is a story I wanna relay today about this band. And if you don't know who I'm talking about, let me help you a bit. Even if you aren't a rock and roll fan, you quite likely have seen the movie Forrest Gump. If you didn't, I tell you right now, you need to watch Forrest Gump. Great movie.

OK Solberg:

But for the ones that know the movie, remember when Jenny, the heroine, probably on heroin too, but she was a heroine of the show, is doing drugs with a friend and she goes out on the balcony ledge and considers jumping from many stories up as she looks at the night traffic and the mesmerizing lights below. While that scene takes place, Leonard Skinner's most famous song is being played and it's titled Freebird. Powerful scene, powerful music. Well, know how I like the underdog stories. Right?

OK Solberg:

You know how I like the underdog stories. There's no need to fear. Underdog is here. Anyway, you know how I like Johnny Podres as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers beating the Yankees in game seven of the 1955 World Series in Yankee Stadium.

OK Solberg:

Yes. A huge underdog story. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You told us all that before Orvin, I know. But here's another underdog story I haven't told you. The band Leonard Skinner was formed in 1964. Yep. The same year the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan show. And in 1970, a man named Billy Powell signed up as a roadie for the band.

OK Solberg:

Now what's a roadie? A roadie, most of you know, some don't. In the music world, that refers to helpers of the band as they travel on the road. A roadie transports equipment from the truck to the stage. Well, they set up and break down the stage.

OK Solberg:

They manage the equipment, etcetera. So in 1970, Billy Powell was a roadie for Leonard Skinner band. That's just a flunky in some people's world. He wasn't doing much, but, yeah, he was there. He was helping and he was needed.

OK Solberg:

Now let me insert this first before I tell you the whole story. Musicians can be, not always, but can be egotistical. Yeah. Listen to me. I'm the best.

OK Solberg:

The world revolves around me. Now, of course, not all musicians but some can be. Well, for that matter, some ranchers or farmers can also be that way. I guess that's human nature. But I think of the emotional tensions between the members of CCR, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Fogarty was older and his brother John.

OK Solberg:

But John got most of the attention. It caused the band to break up. Emotions can destroy some good things. You need to be aware of the possibility to fully understand this Billy Powell story. That happened. It can happen so often. So Billy was a roadie for Leonard Skynyrd band. Just a flunky. Right? Well, he started with the band in 1970.

OK Solberg:

And one time in 1972, while he was helping set up the stage, well, he saw a piano in the corner of the room and started playing his own take on Freebird. While he was playing, Ronnie Benzant came up to him and said, you mean to tell me you've been playing the piano like that and you've been working for us for over a year? And I said, well, you know, I've been classically trained most of my life. So right then and there, he said, we need a keyboard player. Enter Billy Powell from roadie to band member right then and there and it's because of Billy Powell's talent on the keyboard that Freebird is what it is, a classic.

OK Solberg:

And thanks to my friend in Longmont because if it weren't for him I wouldn't have included this story. Good deal. I think everyone should have a friend in Longmont. Now it's about time to bid you adieu but remember tomorrow morning Aaron Flint and Montana talks and our own doc from KMMR who is a retired lesson brain surgeon will be on the show along with her patient Robin Stewart who had an arrow that looked like a spear penetrate his skull above the right ear, go into his brain, lodge behind his left eye, doc removed the arrow successfully, and Robin Stewart lived. And tomorrow morning, you can hear them together on Montana talks at 9AM.

OK Solberg:

Brain surgeon and patient reunited to retell the story. So tune in. And again, like I told you yesterday, Robin the patient will be given his testimony in our church on Sunday morning at 11:00. Come and join us to praise God for a miracle. Job 5:9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

OK Solberg:

So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.