About 10 p.m. Saturday night, the party at Ameristar, that began as a a rousing tribute to radio and rock ‘n roll, ended as many of the 1,400 broke into sobs.  J.C. Corocan had taken to the stage to announce the death of our beloved Stan Musial.  The evening’s joyous spell had been shattered.  Driving alone in the wakefully sleeping city, along highways where spring flowers once grew, I couldn’t help but think of what a smashing evening might’ve been had Musial been there to play his harmonica.  “The Man” would have been the star attraction accompanied by Sammy “The Red Rocker” Hagar, who made a guest appearance. The music was so loud you could see it through the luminaries there.  J.C. was with his glammy wife, Clarissa; Ray Branner, Mark Langston, Ted Habeck,  Mark Close, Mad Maynard, Ron and Joy Stevens, Sue and Kevin McCarthy, Smash, Dave Burd and Wayne Meissenholder were among those on hand.  Dave and Wayne worked together at Captiol Records, “Where we broke nationally such artists as Natalie Cole, Bob Seeger, April Wine and Storm Troopers,” said Wayne.  Lovable Jackie McCoy reminisced about her break in radio as a result of one interview with the late Richard J. Miller. Miller’s widow, Mary Jane, was there with her sister, Kate Yancey, to hear the praise that was heaped upon Richard. Corcoran asked, “Where else but St. Louis could something like this happen?  The idea that acts the magnitude of Hagar, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Rusty Young of Poco and others would drop everything to come to St. Louis and play for free just because event organizer Terrye Seigel, formerly of KADI and close friend of Richard Miller asked them nicely. The general consensus is that Classic Rock Radio Reunion is on its way to becoming an annual event.”

Smash

Sue and Kevin McCarthy

Clarissa and J.C. Corcoran

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