Gene Arnold
Encyclopedia
Gene Arnold nicknamed "Giant Gene" by his fans at record hops and dances, is a radio
and television
personality from Philadelphia.
as a teenager in 1956, where Dick Clark
gave him the stage name
'Rick Roman' when he was asked for a suggestion.
Arnold married Terry Hunter, herself a singer and entertainer, on June 24, 1962. They were part of "The Sounds Of Philly" scene for years. Arnold wrote and produced records under the Rick Roman name..(Tridels, The Good Guys, The Stylettes, on SanDee and Worldwide Limited Records, and is an ASCAP Composer.
In 1967, Arnold began his radio career on WIFI-FM with Ron Josephs. Josephs and Arnold played "oldies" and had record hops and dances as well. One evening, Gene did not bring his record case and found a group of albums on the station floor. He had to play something on the air, so he discovered sounds he had never heard before. The audience loved them and the phones rang off their hooks. His love for progressive rock
began at that moment, causing a rift between Josephs and Arnold about that "awful" music by groups like The Doors
, Jefferson Airplane
, and 13th Floor Conspiracy.
Arnold later continued at WCAM
with his "AM Undeground" and "heavy 13" format, WCAU
(with his "Gene Arnold's American Scene" talk show), and at WIBG
(with "Giant Gene's Electric Scene"). He was also a regular on many TV shows and hosted the Jerry Lewis telethon (among others) in Philadelphia for several years in the 70s. Arnold was also in the movie Fighting Back, which was filmed in Philadelphia.
, American Dream, Stone Dawn, Woody's Truck Stop, Mandrake Memorial
, Elizabeth, and The Legions, Stone Dawn, Almond Joy, The Driftwoods, by hosting the first "Be-IN" at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. He was involved heavily in promoting and serving as master of ceremonies
(MC) for the first Earth Day
concert, to which he drove his propane-powered car. He also acted as Master of Ceremonies for many of the top concerts at the Electric Factory
and The Spectrum
, including concerts by Jimi Hendrix
and The Doors
, as well as Steppenwolf
, Chicago
, Janis Joplin
and The Who
. Arnold was also a favorite MC of The Allman Brothers. He also introcued acts at the famed Main Point in Bryn Mawr PA, including Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder.
On August 24, 2004, Gene MC'd at the Brotherly Love All-Star Tour, which included performances by [[Charlie Gracie]], [[The Soul Survivors]], [[Essra Mohawk]], Stewkey's NAZZ, American Dream, and [[The Orlons]], who were all friends with Arnold during their careers.
Arnold has been presented the "Black Legends Of Music" award, has been entered into the "Disco DJ Hall Of Fame" (now part of The [[Library Of Congress]])dj hall of fame.html, and the "Philly TV and Radio Hall Of Fame." He was also recently voted 25th on [DJ's Portal]s "All Time Top Disco DJ" list compliled by Europe's popular DJ Yahu, He is also a member of The Broadcast Pioneers.
Arnold's latest projects include narrating for the documentary films "Dummy Hoy, A Deaf Baseball Hero", and "Survivors Stories, WW2." Terry Arnold, under the stage name 'Terryl', recently appeared in films "eBay Disco Ball" and a spoof on "The Price Is Right" as "Goldie Goforit" an enthusiastic contestant.New movie-star Brooklyn Decker played the model, with long-time Hollywood actor Jack English as Bob Barker. Both Terry and Gene are featured in a television documentary on (Jimi Hendrix.Recently, an ASCAP Composition co-written by Terry with Russ Edwards, a long-time Philly folk-rock-country personality, "I Won't Quit Now"..was released on his CD "They Call Them Cowboys." Both Arnold and Edwards have suffered long-term cognitive damage from auto accidents, and the song is an encouragement to "never quit"..even if you don't make sense to your own self sometimes.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality from Philadelphia.
Early career
Arnold began his musical career in the 1950s, appearing on American BandstandAmerican Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
as a teenager in 1956, where Dick Clark
Dick Clark (entertainer)
Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark is an American businessman; game-show host; and radio and television personality. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years...
gave him the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
'Rick Roman' when he was asked for a suggestion.
Arnold married Terry Hunter, herself a singer and entertainer, on June 24, 1962. They were part of "The Sounds Of Philly" scene for years. Arnold wrote and produced records under the Rick Roman name..(Tridels, The Good Guys, The Stylettes, on SanDee and Worldwide Limited Records, and is an ASCAP Composer.
In 1967, Arnold began his radio career on WIFI-FM with Ron Josephs. Josephs and Arnold played "oldies" and had record hops and dances as well. One evening, Gene did not bring his record case and found a group of albums on the station floor. He had to play something on the air, so he discovered sounds he had never heard before. The audience loved them and the phones rang off their hooks. His love for progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
began at that moment, causing a rift between Josephs and Arnold about that "awful" music by groups like The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, and 13th Floor Conspiracy.
Arnold later continued at WCAM
WCAM
WCAM is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Standards format.Licensed to Camden, South Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Kershaw Radio Corp. and features programing from CNN Radio....
with his "AM Undeground" and "heavy 13" format, WCAU
WCAU
WCAU, channel 10, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WCAU has its studios on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in the...
(with his "Gene Arnold's American Scene" talk show), and at WIBG
WIBG
WIBG is a talk radio station from Ocean City, New Jersey. These call letters were previously used in Philadelphia for a pioneering rock 'n' roll station now called WNTP....
(with "Giant Gene's Electric Scene"). He was also a regular on many TV shows and hosted the Jerry Lewis telethon (among others) in Philadelphia for several years in the 70s. Arnold was also in the movie Fighting Back, which was filmed in Philadelphia.
Associations with Philadelphia progressive-rock groups
Arnold and his wife Terry helped pioneer many of the early Philadelphia progressive-rock groups such as The NazzThe Nazz
Nazz was a psychedelic and garage rock band from the 1960s. The band was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1967 by Todd Rundgren and Carson Van Osten...
, American Dream, Stone Dawn, Woody's Truck Stop, Mandrake Memorial
Mandrake Memorial
Mandrake Memorial were an American psych/progressive rock band known for their Baroque sound and unique song-writing.-History:The Mandrake Memorial were formed in late 1967 when producer/promoter Larry Schreiber was asked to put together a house band for Manny Rubin's downtown Philadelphia club,...
, Elizabeth, and The Legions, Stone Dawn, Almond Joy, The Driftwoods, by hosting the first "Be-IN" at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. He was involved heavily in promoting and serving as master of ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
(MC) for the first Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
concert, to which he drove his propane-powered car. He also acted as Master of Ceremonies for many of the top concerts at the Electric Factory
Electric Factory
The Electric Factory is a concert venue in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe original "Electric Factory" venue was a converted tire warehouse at 22nd and Arch Streets, which opened in 1968. The first performers, on February 2, 1968, were the Chambers Brothers...
and The Spectrum
Wachovia Spectrum
The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, including concerts by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, as well as Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
, Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
, Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. Arnold was also a favorite MC of The Allman Brothers. He also introcued acts at the famed Main Point in Bryn Mawr PA, including Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder.
Advertising business
After working in radio and TV for years, he formed American Agency with his cousin, and later Arnold started his own business, Gene Arnold & Company, to produce advertising and marketing for new and popular companies like Merry Go Round, Deb Shops, Barbara Moss, and Jean Nicole. Arnold, also was chosen to appear in thousands of radio and TV spots and [[infomercial]]s as "himself" acting as the [[spokesman]] or voice. Included are well-remembered spots for Philadelphia's famed Melrose Diner, for LifeCall (famous for the line, "[[I've fallen and I can't get up]]!"), for Beta Vision Productions, [[Craftmatic adjustable beds]], and Brazil Contempo Leather, featuring Terry Arnold wearing black gloves and sensuously stroking leather furniture. Arnold also rode elephants on TV spots for Allstate Transmissions ("No Matter What You Drive", and climed to the top of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to direct and appear in a commercial bringing the new Buicks to South Jersey. A real flying hawk led the way, flying through the bridge cables. The hawk was Buick's symbol for years. He was also a "tired mummer" in an ad for Lazy Boy Chairs, and built his agency into a nationwide Teen Fashion marketing giant.1988 to Today
Arnold was injured in a car accident in 1988, and was forced to retire from his ad agency creative work. In 2001, after encouragement from his son Jody, and with the assistance of Rich Levin and Bob Davis of Soul-Patrol.net and web hosts Netcetra.com, much of his original broadcasts have been updated and made publicly available.http://www.giantgene.com/ In an interview, Arnold said of this re-release:- "It's great therapy to hear from listeners and viewers you pleased a long time ago who've now found you on the web...I can't do "live" radio now due to an accident that took my spontaneous creative thinking process, but still enjoy communicating with the help of editing, re-takes, and of course, my wife, who keeps it all together for us. That way, nobody hears the mistakes or mis-pronounced words that occasionally pop-out, but he states it's still lots of fun to do the updates for our original broadcasts."
On August 24, 2004, Gene MC'd at the Brotherly Love All-Star Tour, which included performances by [[Charlie Gracie]], [[The Soul Survivors]], [[Essra Mohawk]], Stewkey's NAZZ, American Dream, and [[The Orlons]], who were all friends with Arnold during their careers.
Arnold has been presented the "Black Legends Of Music" award, has been entered into the "Disco DJ Hall Of Fame" (now part of The [[Library Of Congress]])dj hall of fame.html, and the "Philly TV and Radio Hall Of Fame." He was also recently voted 25th on [DJ's Portal]s "All Time Top Disco DJ" list compliled by Europe's popular DJ Yahu, He is also a member of The Broadcast Pioneers.
Arnold's latest projects include narrating for the documentary films "Dummy Hoy, A Deaf Baseball Hero", and "Survivors Stories, WW2." Terry Arnold, under the stage name 'Terryl', recently appeared in films "eBay Disco Ball" and a spoof on "The Price Is Right" as "Goldie Goforit" an enthusiastic contestant.New movie-star Brooklyn Decker played the model, with long-time Hollywood actor Jack English as Bob Barker. Both Terry and Gene are featured in a television documentary on (Jimi Hendrix.Recently, an ASCAP Composition co-written by Terry with Russ Edwards, a long-time Philly folk-rock-country personality, "I Won't Quit Now"..was released on his CD "They Call Them Cowboys." Both Arnold and Edwards have suffered long-term cognitive damage from auto accidents, and the song is an encouragement to "never quit"..even if you don't make sense to your own self sometimes.