A Great Friend And Broadcaster Moving On

This is a blog I am bitter sweet about.  Sad.  Happy.  It’s not often you get to work with one of your best friends in this field.  As Spaced Out Radio says goodbye to probably the most controversial and entertaining host we’ve ever had as a part of our group, Richard Giordano.  Our great Saturday night host has decided to move on and start building his own GUFON Radio Stream on YouTube full time.  It’s going to be fantastic for him because Rich is such an amazing talent, hilarious, and I feel he’s going to do amazing.

Rich and I met online about six months after I was in this radio biz.  He first was a guest, then we started to team up to promote each other.  We’ve always stayed in contact.  There was a bit of a blip on the radar for a while, but when Rich was doing his own thing again, we came back together and he’s made me laugh ever since.  There’s two different Little Richie G’s out there.  There’s the host.  Then there’s the person.  Rich may not agree with me when I say this but they are two completely different people.  Funny part is, I like both of them.

Rich joined SOR in late spring, taking over Saturday nights.  He did some fill in for me as well.  The broadcaster is a talented voice, who isn’t afraid to say anything on the microphone.  At times, he doesn’t know where or when to install the filter.  You never know what he’s going to say.  For the most part, as owner of SOR, I would be tuning in just to see the outrageous things Rich would come up with and say.  I’d find myself laughing my ass off wondering where the hell he came up with this stuff?  Then admittedly there were a few times where I would have to chat with him and say “Whoa bro, you went a little too far there.”  We wouldn’t always agree, but that’s okay.  As a radio guy, I knew what I was getting with Rich on the air, and to me, the pro’s always outweighed the con’s.  In my opinion, there weren’t many con’s to worry about.  I knew in the end, Rich had SOR’s best interests in mind.

Now, for the person Rich is, away from the microphone, I cannot say enough good things about him.  Over the last two years, he and I had some great, deep and detailed conversations about everything from radio to life in general.  When I needed a laugh, I’d call Rich.  There were times we wouldn’t talk for a couple weeks.  And there are times where we’d talk every couple days.  Rich and I, in many ways are quite alike.  We’ve had some of the same hardships.  We’ve had many of the same struggles.  We’ve shared a lot of laughs.  Rich is a real dude.  The only shitty part of our friendship is I’m way up in British Columbia, and he’s down in Phoenix, Arizona, and we’ve never had the opportunity to hang out and down a couple of beers as good friends should.  I still want that opportunity, because I want to know what it’s like to have a night on the town, hanging out with Richie.  I can only imagine how fun it would be.

As Rich moves on to focus on GUFON full time, I want to tell all of our SOR followers, listeners and subscribers to go support Mr. Giordano.  Rich brings something different to the table each and every night.  It’s entertaining.  It really is a breath of fresh air.  But I started thinking a lot about how many times, especially in this field, there is always some sort of drama that comes along with any split.  Yet here, there’s none.  It’s one friend supporting another.  Sure there may be some sort of speculation or rumor, but I’m here to tell you there’s no crap like that.  Rich wants and deserves the opportunity to grow GUFON, and I back him 100 percent on that because with his hard work and dedication to his craft, he deserves the opportunity to go for it.

Rich is going to do awesome, and with SOR, we are better for having Richie a part of us, even if it was for just a short time.   It leaves a big hole on the weekend to fill, as Rich has big shoes, but we’ll find someone to do it.  Don’t know who, as of yet, nor is that the point of this blog.  The real purpose was to say thanks Little Richie G for the good times with SOR.  I’m excited for your new adventure, and can’t wait to meet up with you and finally have that beer!  I think we deserve it!  Cheers!