It’s a comical read about the real sex, drugs and rock and roll that happens on the other side of the microphone. It also recounts the triumphs and disappointments, which exemplify the Baby Boomers’ early adult years. Ride along with Geoff and I.P. in an insane, rollicking adventure that takes them from Waco to Chicago, from London to Swaziland, and to the heights of the most competitive radio battles and markets.

It’s written for those of us who lived through radio’s most exciting years, who mark their youth with the tunes and jocks of the ’70s, and for the young men and women still doing their best to get entertainment and music to their listeners, whether terrestrial, satellite or online.

The Radio Gypsies is J. Blackburn’s third novel, but the first one offered for publication. He is a Vietnam
veteran, and spent almost forty years in the radio business, in programming, management and consulting.

Blackburn put the legendary Loop on the air in Chicago in 1977. He owned and operated several radio stations for several years, selling the last one in 1988. Blackburn retired from radio in 1991 following a neck injury resulting from martial arts, which he practiced since he was fifteen, in military school.

Blackburn continues to write and collect art, and lives deep in Texas with his wife of thirty-three years Chancey and their cats.