29 years ago, today, I was working at a small AM/FM radio station in Champaign County, Illinois. As best as I can remember, it was about ten til four in the afternoon when the red light went off in the studio. This meant a news bulletin or a weather alert. Clear skies that day, so I assumed a news blast.
My news guy comes into the studio and drops the AP wire copy in front of me during a commercial break.
BULLETIN:ELVIS PRESLEY IS DEAD>>>>>
Out of commercial break, I read the bulletin. "More at the top of the hour", I said.
A couple of more spots, a tune, repeated the bulletin....then to network news.
In the mean time, the switchboard was lit, smoking and walking across the room.
I was attacked on the phone by callers, all women, mostly middle aged. I was accused of playing a publicity stunt. I was called names by little old ladies that were my fans.
I was called everything you can imagine, except white.
I did the station break and sent it to the network news.
Suddenly, after the lead story on the AP network news.....the phones stopped ringing.
I came out of the news with an Elvis tune, right after I said: "Told Ya".