Local radio get props

Several local commercial radio stations, executives and on-air personalities were honored as award nominees recently when industry publication Radio & Records held its annual convention in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, none took top prize.

In the alternative rock category, WROX-FM (96X) was nominated for best station, and its Jay Michaels made the operations/program director list.  WNOR-FM was in the running for best station in the active-rock group, and Harvey “Big Bird” Kojan had a shot at best operations/program director .

“Frankly, it’s more a testimony to my longevity than anything else,” said Kojan, a veteran at FM99. “I’ve been program director here for over 15 years. I’m a survivor – kind of like a cockroach.”

Others in the hunt for radio station of the year were WVKL-FM (95.7 R&B, urban adult contemporary) and WXEZ-FM (Star 94.1, gospel). Cindy Crawford of WXMM-FM (100.5, Max FM) was one of two women vying for rock-format personality of the year. Ryan Seacrest, heard Sunday mornings on WVBW-FM (92.9, The Wave), won as nationally syndicated personality of the year.

How soon is now?

Charles Gallagher may list The Beatles and other melodic pop and rock acts from the 1960s and ’70s as primarily influences, but the Norfolk singer/songwriter is more contemporary sounding than he realizes.

Gallagher has yet to perform in public, and he may not be mass-marketable, yet his newly released 10-track studio recording, “Sooner Than Later Again,” is a delightful listen. While “Megan” is surely an amalgamation of borrowed Beatle riffs, “Listen to the Rain” smacks of Morrissey, and “Blind Eye” is a quirky blend of Fountains of Wayne and Ben Folds. Check ’em out at www.myspace.com/charlesgallagherjr.

Group effort

Singer/songwriter JoAnna Lynne is recording an EP at Whiskey Bear Studios in Virginia Beach, but she insists she’s in no hurry to complete it.

“We are taking our time with this one and having fun . There’s no pressure for a release date. We are just going to record till we are happy. I want this to be about friends and local musicians.”

In fact, the Virginia Beach acoustic artist is inviting as many of her fellow local musician pals to contribute, including former Pedestal drummer Chidori and Counterfeit Molly multi-instrumentalist Chris Kendrick. Lynne is looking to feature five songs on the recording. “We already have plans for recording three favorites: 'The Girl,’ 'Speaking Japanese’ and 'Grey to Green,’ and I am working hard at writing three just for the project.”

Series kickoff

National jazz recording artist Julie Kelly will be joined by the John Toomey Trio on Monday . The 8 p.m. performance by the critically acclaimed vocalist is the first of the fall semester in the Diehn Concert Series (held at Chandler Recital Hall) on the Norfolk campus of Old Dominion University.

Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com