On July 6, 2014 I wrote the first installment of speaktherights.com.

One of my favorite photos put on this page some time ago.  My Uncle Stanley and myself taken at family reunion in Forest, Mississippi.

Today is January 2, 2021.  I am writing the 600th installment of speaktherights.com.

I have written a half a million words on this space.  I have enjoyed it all.  I have been asked why I do this.  My answer: It is just one of the things I do.  I didn’t plan on doing this.  It turned out that way.

Have we ever been more delighted to see a year go?  2020 will certainly acquire a euphemism or two moving forward in subsequent years.  I’ll just call it a pain.

I am sitting here listening to AMAZON music.  Justin Hayward’s solo album Songwriter released in 1977.  I am listening to this because on this past August 28th I lost my radio station.  Or at least I lost my desire to listen to my radio station.  Robert Becker sold 96.3 WJAA and that was that.  Nothing against the new owners.  But, for me, it was over.  The Cool Bus was never cooler than when Robert Becker walked out.

I still miss 890 WLS The Rock of Chicago.  I have written about that here many times before.  Uncle Lar and Little Tommy doing Animal Stories.  Oh my.  Irony?  Robert Becker is from Chicago.

This past year I saw that Les Grobstein, who was once the WLS Sports Director, was celebrating 50 years in the business.  Albeit he got an early start, 50 years is still 50 years and Les is still going strong in Chicago at WSCR 670 The Score.  Good for him.

A year with no music.  That was 2020.

Justin Hayward at The City Winery in Nashville, October 30, 2019.  This was the last concert my dear wife, Carrie, and I attended.

Seems like a decade ago.  Justin was kind enough to send me a recorded message to pass along to Robert Becker this past Spring, as I conveyed to Justin of Robert’s selling the station and Robert’s devotion to playing a Moody Blues tune even when I wasn’t requesting the song.

I shouldn’t say a year with no music.  Shame on me.  You can look on YouTube and find Tuesday Afternoons with Justin Hayward.  This year he was kind enough to present a video series of acoustic renditions of songs both originally by The Moody Blues or solo material we had never heard outside the record.  It was very nicely done and there are many of them.  Thank you again, Justin.

Post #600.  How can that be?

I have commented on and shared photos from places and people from all over.  I have been blessed.

One of my favorite photos from Tunnel Hill Bridge.

Do we go on with it?  I guess so.  After all, it is one of the things I do.

Speaking the rights…and yes, GO HOOSIERS today against Ole Miss!

Danny Johnson