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George Gimarc is a Texas disc jockey and a record and radio program producer and author who is known for his extensive and authoritative knowledge about the classic rock radio format; recorded music in general, and specifically the era of punk rock. His broadcast programs have been heard in various formats in the USA, Europe and New Zealand via licensed stations and unlicensed pirate radio transmitters.
Brief biography
After attending Wallace Elementary School in Dallas (see external link to reunion, below), George Gimarc graduated from Lake Highlands High School, Dallas, Texas in the Class of 1975. Further details of his early life to be added.
DJ career
George Gimarc began his career at college as a disc jockey on the University of North Texas radio station KNTU, with his program called The Rock & Roll Alternative . This was one of the first regular New Wave or punk radio shows in the United States.
The Rock & Roll Alternative program was responsible for introducing acts such as R.E.M., Go-Gos, U2, Psychedelic Furs, Sex Pistols, Devo, The B-52's, XTC, The Smiths, The Cult, and hundreds of others to the listening audience of the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex listening area from 1977 onwards. Its catchy musical introduction began with the words "This is George's show ..." and it was recorded for George Gimarc by The Bangles.
The The Rock & Roll Alternative program moved to commercial radio on May 18 1980 and continued for 14 years until it was retired. It was heard on four different licensed stations throughout its run in Texas. It was also syndicated from recordings made at KZEW (The Zoo), its flagship station in Dallas, Texas. The cassette recordings were then supplied by the Texas based Four Freedoms Federation to their 4FWS network (Four Freedoms World Service) of unlicensed pirate radio stations transmitting on AM, FM and shortwave in Europe and via KIWI (http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9885/kr1.html) on shortwave from New Zealand to Australasia and beyond.
While George Gimarc was hosting the The Rock & Roll Alternative on KZEW-FM, in 1982 he also became music director on its sister AM station KRQX (K-Rocks), which was the first classic rock station in the USA. This format was successfully copied by many other stations. George Gimarc took to the air over KRQX and presented his own shows which often focussed on obscure records from the 1960s.
In 1987 after both KZEW and KRQX changed ownership and formats, he began a new program called Back Pages on KZPS in Dallas. This was an eclectic classic rock show combining rare records, intriguing stories and listener requests.
In 1989 George Gimarc joined KDGE (The Edge) where he co-formatted the station as Music Director and hosted the afternoon drive show. He left KDGE with other staff in 1993 when the station changed its format to a Top 40 style of format.
Producer and author
In addition to his on-air work, George Gimarc became the sole writer for Rotten Day syndicated radio program starring John Lydon which aired in over 50 markets. He has acted as consultant for the Time/Life History Of Rock And Roll series, compiled several record collections and written liner notes for many record labels. He has also written several books including Punk Diary 1970-1979 and Hollywood Hi Fi. Although much younger in years, the career interests of George Gimarc have to date been similar to those of the late John Peel, who began his radio career in Dallas before moving back to England where he was first heard in Europe via the offshore pirate radio station Wonderful Radio London.
Published works
PUNK DIARY 1970-79: "The beginning of punk in 1970. There are over 2,000 music news entries and 1,000 recordings detailed. Rare records are annotated with details."
POST-PUNK DIARY 1980-1982: "The mutation of punk into the thrash and Oi! movements, the rise of the New Romantic movement with groups like Duran Duran, Visage and Spandau Ballet. America heard new music from Boy George, R.E.M., 10,000 Maniacs, and The Bongos. Although it only covers three years in music, this complete day-by-day diary includes over 900 bands and in excess of 3,300 records."
HOLLYWOOD HI FI, (with Pat Reeder), St. Martin's Press: "An overview of 125 recordings by singing celebrities who really should never have been allowed into a recording studio. You wouldn't believe the songs sung by Jerry Mathers, Joe Pesci, Clint Eastwood, Leonard Nimoy, Bette Davis, Hogan's Heroes, Joan Rivers, Rex Reed, Mae West and others."
External links
George Gimarc at Wallace Elementary School, Texas, reunion. (http://www.lakehighlands.net/1975/elementary.html)
George Gimarc moves his show from North Texas State University campus station to KDNT during 1975. (http://www.knus99.com/kdnt.html)
George Gimarc's show was aired via 4FWS on shortwave to the South Pacific over KIWI Radio, New Zealand. (http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9885/kr1.html)
George Gimarc teams up with Johnny Rotten (ex-Sex Pistols) for syndicated radio show (http://www.dallasobserver.com/issues/1998-12-03/music4.html)
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