Pa^e Six
COLUMNS
May 1979
Columns Features
Daniel, Not A Talking Head
Eddie Woodhouse
How would you like to have
private phone number of Bruce
Springsteen; or the number of several
other rock-and-roll stars? Well, if you
listen to WQDR-FM on weeknights,
you will hear a disc-jockey who does.
Daniel Brunty, who would like to be
referred to as just Daniel, is probably
one of the most knowledgeable
individuals when it comes to the rock
scene. There is not a rock artist or
group that this guy doesn't know
anything about. But that is not what
makes him such an interesting DJ. He
is fascinating to watch as he goes
through the motions of running his
7-12 p. m. shift. Daniel is a
perfectionist in every sense of the
word. He is constantly adjusting the
dials on his radio control board, with
each one having to be positioned just
right. When it comes time to
introduce his next cut, Daniel goes
about it in a unique way. His voice is
just a hair above a whisper, never
making a mistake. His listeners stop
what they are doing as to not miss a
word his soft voice has to say.
Mr. Daniels' background in radio
began in Pittsburg, Pa, where he
originally came from. He had several
jobs in the business, and even stakes
claim in a movie that was filmed
there. Before he moved to Raleigh,
Daniel worked for WRPL-AM and 95
WROQ-FM in Charlotte. He was a
smash in the Queen City. WQDR
heard about him, made an offer he
couldn't refuse, and the rest is
history.
Daniel doesn't keep it a secret that
he is a "Bruce Springsteen fanatic".
If Springsteen is to be anywhere in
the area, Daniel would be there. He is
sometimes a backstage regular with
Bruce, and he can call him that
because they are such good friends.
Even though Daniel can easily obtain
free concert tickets, he refuses to
take them. He would rather pay, so
he could be just like everyone else.
And Daniel always has the inside
scoop on Springsteen, as he does on
many other rock stars by way of his
informants. He can always find the
latest rock news; and by very reliable
sources. Daniel said Springsteen will
release a live album before long, and
this album will push Bruce into the
top 40 AM radio catagory. Even
though Bruce is tops on his list,
Daniel enjoys the music of Tom Rush,
Janis Ian, Southside Johnny, and
Bob James. Of course there are
artists that Daniel dislikes; some he
hates with a passion. He can't stand
Peter Frampton, Led Zepplin and
"Stairway to Heaven" are the pits,
and he uses a picture of Fleetwood
Mac as a dart board. In fact, one of
the highlights of his life was to
personally insult Fleetwood Mac's
lead singer, Stevie Nicks. He was
backstage at one of their concerts,
when Stevie Nicks happened to walk
by. It was too much of a temptation
to tell her what he thought of her and
her group. So Daniel proceeded to
tell her that her addition to the group
ruined their music, because it shoved
former lead vocal Christie McVie
aside, and that he did not like her
turning herself into a sex object.
Daniel's job just doesn't include a
7-12 p.m. shift. He assumes many
other responsibilities as Station
Sound Manager. He is Music
Director, Program Coordinator, and
promotion Director. He must filter
through all the rock music he can get
his hands on, and report back to his
friends at Billboard Magazine, Cash-
box. Record Sheets, and to a dozen
other record review authorities as
to what people are listening to.
m
Daniel
COLUMNS/Eddie Woodhouse
It is interesting to hear the people
that call him up night after night. A
listener in Greensboro will call about
an upcoming concert, right before an
obscene caller phones in. Daniel
frequently hears from a kid in the
hospital, and from some guy named
"Bucko" He has a group at N. C.
State University that call him every
other night. They have made him an
honory fraternity member. Why do
people call to just talk? Daniel thinks it
is because a "disc-jockey is always
available". Of course, he hears from
lots of ladies. And speaking of ladies
there is one woman that Daniel
doesn't mind seeing. It's his
secretary, Elizabeth, his "close
friend".
Daniel is also the host of T. V. 8's
"After Saturday Night", a weekly one
a.m. show. "I love the show. It gives
me the chance to cut loose," Daniel
states. He shows movies, has rock
specials, and has a popular guest on
occasionally.
Daniel played high school football,
and is still built pretty rugged. He is a
junk-food specialist, because that's
all he has time for. He comes in
between 9-12 and doesn't leave the
office until after 1 the next morning.
So for any aspiring disc-jockey to-be,
Daniel has this to say; "Think twice.
You work when you're sick, you work
on the holidays, i can't see many rock
concerts because I have to work. It's
glamorous, but not like people think.
You can sit by yourself for several
hours straight. It can be very lonely".
To compensate for the lonely times,
Daniel will sometimes pick on a
guitar.
Another regular on 94FM is John
Van Pelt. Van Pelt is very
self-assured, and a very mtelligent
young jock. It is a shame that the
public is somewhat deprived of being
able to hear more of him. This is due
in part to his attendance at N. C.
State, where he majors in communi
cations. Van Pelt has created Music
Media, a traveling disco show. He has
engagements at some of the most
popular nightspots in the Raleigh
area. What does John like about his
work at the station? "The best thing
about WQDR is the people; the
people I work with. And the people I
talk to (on the air) are the best!" And
after listening to him perform, there is
no doubt he will go a long way.
It's jocks like John and Daniel that
make WQDR a nationally famous
radio station. They put their listeners
first. But like Daniel says, "You have
to give your life to it". Call him up..
Ask him what he's up to. He'll
probably say, "I'm just rockin' and
rollin', playing the hits, and eating my
grits".
STEREO ROCK 94
Vmi've Got A Fnend
i.'
John Van Pelt