I was hired at ROCKET 101 in October of 1990... I'll never forget my first day. The drive to North East seemed to go on forever. I remember the station owner Rick saying, "Turn right at Vineyard Oil...can't miss it". Well I did, adding my own flaw to his theory. I had many thoughts racing through my mind that day... I was nervous, excited, and eager to start my new career, and meet my new work family...and not paying attention to the obvious signs. There was "Vineyard Oil" and there it went as my tiny car flew by the entrance way clocking in at 30 mph. Not exactly the smooth entrance I had envisioned. I quickly turned around and made my way slowly down the long road leading back to the radio station. I could smell the grapes from the vineyard to my left. Ahead of me, the shiny railroad tracks glistened... at the main entrance a "Welcome to ROCKET 101" sign greeted me. I pulled my car into the main lot and found an unassuming parking spot by the dumpster. (Little did I know that dumpsters would play many a role with future morning crew stunts.) I could see Rick in his front office, meeting with T.J. Anzivino (trivia tidbit - the 1st ROCKET employee). As I entered this amazing radio facility, literally in the middle of nowhere, or as one comedian tagged "in the backyard of Sanford and Son", I could see Rick jump from his seat and hurriedly rush to greet me at the door. His hand extended, his trademark "light up a room" smile on, and with a hardy "Hello Ron, Welcome to ROCKET 101," my 1st day at the ROCKET had begun ...

So many memories...If those station walls could talk haha... One quick story... For one of our many low-dough shows, I had the awesome task of picking up the legendary bluesman Bo Diddley for a show at the King's Rook Club. I arrived at the airport and Mr. Diddley hops into the ROCKET van and we take off for the show. I see Bo reaching into his side pocket and he pulls out a cassette tape. He goes "You wanna hear my new demo"? "Oh s%&^!" I think to myself. What Bo doesn't know is that the ROCKET van was notorious for eating cassette tapes. Fearful of being "the guy" that destroyed Bo's new demo, I reluctantly reach for the tape and force out a hopefully convincing "Sure." I plopped the tape into the player, praying for the best, and out of the speakers comes the Diddley trademark beat and rhythm. So far so good. After 10 minutes of sweating to the Bo beat, the moment of truth had arrived. Will the ROCKET van eat the Bo demo? I don't even remember what Bo's new demo sounded like. All I remember is the extreme feeling of relief when I hit "eject" and the tape popped out as cleanly as it had popped in. Scoreboard read: Bo Diddley: 1 - ROCKET van cassette player: 0.

So many talented people, and so many "thank yous." It is and has been an incredible honor to get up in the morning and go to work with such an amazing group of people. Some of the smartest, most creative and talented people you'll ever hear on the radio. To the mornings shows, Kris Earl Phillips & Steve Bohen, the first ROCKET morning show and the ones who set the stage for the madness to come, the current morning show, Mojo & Nat, who have been a stalwart and a keystone of the ROCKET for almost 20 years strong (and now with the talented AC); to the former afternoon dudes: Van Dusen, Randy "the Weasel" Hurley (my brutha from a different mutha), Randy "Buckethead" Bauman (creator of ROCKET sports with Rollo), and Woody; to the ROCKET goddesses: Deb Ireland and Sammy Stone... All extremely talented, extremely creative people. To you, I say "thank you."

To the hard working promo dudes, Chuck Peters, Andy McNutt, and current promo guy, Chuck Rambaldo (I would adopt him if I could), they are the ones in the trenches. The 1st ones at the ROCKET events and the last ones to leave. They kept the ROCKET fleet sparkling, the ROCKET banners flying and definitely got us "everywhere!" Hardest working people in radio!

To the main sales guru: Michael Malpiedi - He has written up more orders than Carter has pills. (Old timers like Michael will get that one.) Thank you for putting up with us!

And last, but not least, to the main ROCKET man and creator, Richard Rambaldo. One of the brightest and most creative guys I personally have ever met. Rick had the courage and vision to bring rock n' roll to Erie. His energy, drive and enthusiasm inspired all of us to strive to achieve great things. And for this opportunity, to serve up rock n' roll for the best listeners, in the greatest city around, I will forever be greatful!

I have been blessed and privileged to work with this amazing group of people and am honored to call you all friends.

But the biggest "thank you" I have saved for last. That "thank you" goes out to YOU, the loyal ROCKET 101 listener. You have been by our sides throughout these past 20 years. You are our heart and soul ...our inspiration! You have been there for the playing of the non-stop Beatles to "the launch" in June of 1989. You've banged your heads through the hair band years, worn the torn flannels during the "grunge" period and slipped uneventfully into the Y2K era. You wore our "No Wimps Allowed" and "Crest" shirts proudly while always giving the ROCKET van the "thumbs up"! You witnessed "Cuz" dancing to the Black Crowes, Alice in Chains performing at the Rook, the fall of the Berlin wall with Floyd jamming "The Wall" "live." You were there for "ROCKET sports" with Rollo, Rock N' Roll jury with Kris Earl and Steve Bohen, and the infamous "Weasel Wednesdays." You saw Mojo underwater in the "Tank Of Terror", "Frozen Alive" and dressed in drag as "Mojetta" (twice actually). Twenty years of awesome rock memories and you were there for it all! Smiling, shouting, rocking out, shaking your heads to the beat with devils horns raised high in the sky! You, the ROCKET 101 listener, are the inspiration for this 20 years page! None of this would have been possible without YOU. And for that I save my final "thank you" for YOU!

Hold your cold one high! A salute to 20 years of rockin' Erie and a toast for 20 more! Always keep your amps at 11 and as AC/DC would say..."For Those About To Rock... We Salute You!"

Ron "the Klinster" Kline
Program Director of ROCKET 101 - 1990 - present