Submitted by: Natalie Palmeri      From: Hamburg, New York

Memory: One of my first jobs, after graduating from high school, was working at WBLK radio station. In 1964, I went for the interview and George Lorenz hired me. I was thrilled and honored to be his secretary. I felt as though I was working for a celebrity! When I was younger, I always listened to WKBW when George was the DJ and just loved it when he would say: "The Hound's Around". In fact, I used to imitate him! I thought he was the greatest and coolest guy on radio!!

While I was working for him, I remember he had a contest going and he announced on the radio that the winners would win a box of Whitman's Chocolates if they could answer some questions correctly. Well, there were several winners and George gave me a list of people to call and inform them that they had won the candy. Most people were excited about winning but one lady gave me a difficult time. She kept telling me that she didn't believe me. She even made a remark that I sounded too young to even be working. I just couldn't convince her that I was calling from WBLK. I had asked her to hold the line a minute (and am shocked that she didn't hang up on me) and I asked George what I should tell this woman. All he said was: "Tell her that, if she would like the Whitman's Chocolates, she can pick it up at the radio station at her earliest convenience". Evidently, she still didn't believe me because she never came to pick it up! I was really quite upset. I had just started working for George and wanted to do a good job and make a good impression. He was just so understanding and told me not to worry about it. He said, "If she doesn't want the candy, you can have it"!!

I worked at WBLK for a couple of years and then went to work for the Erie County Health Department. Many years later, one of my co-workers and I were talking about George and he mentioned that he was a friend of his. I had told him that I worked at WBLK and was George's secretary. We both thought...what a small world! About a week later, he presented me with a cassette of WBLK's 20th anniversary show. I was so surprised and was so happy to have a remembrance of such a great and talented man....George Lorenz!

Submitted by: Ross Jarvis      From: Toronto , Ontario

Memory: 'The Big Heavy' would start to pound on every car radio at the drive-in, or wherever the kids would gather. It would immediately be tuned up loud as we heard...'The Hound's Around....We're rockin' in record, baby...from the Zanzibar man...for Big Bob and Pal Al. And don't forget all you hound-doggers, Don't pound the slab...Take a Madison Cab...George Lorenz would punctuate the licks of his theme song, 'The Big Heavy' with obviously his own slogans for all of his sponsors. He was the coolest DJ I've every heard. I often tell my kids of those fabulous times at the birth of rock n roll and how it was the off-spring of the Rhythm n Blues music that was played by the semi-underground DJ's, led by The Hound. I'd love to get a tape of one of his programs.

Submitted by: Larry Wood      From: Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada

Memory: Sometime in the early to mid 60's my father bought our first AM-FM radio. FM of course, then as now, sounded better but it was essentially all elevator music. I was determined to find something better on that band. Surfing the band, I tripped across WBLK Buffalo quite by accident. Eureka! I was hooked. It was theme song and start start of the Hound Dog Show, starring the great George Lorenz. I was hooked. That great sould music just wasn't available anywhere in this area, except possible very late at night on very distant, fuzzy AM stations. The Hound was simply the collest DJ, to boot. It couldn't get better. I spread the word to all of my friends and they agreed.

Rest in Peace Hound Dog; you were simply the best

Larry Wood

Submitted by: Jill Glaser      From: Dallas, Texas

Memory: My dad owned the Zanzibar where George broadcasted his radio show. The Hound was contacted by a promoter named Colonel Parker who was trying to get his client booked in Northern venues. George asked my dad if he was interested in bringing this young singer to the Aud. My dad wasn't interested as he never heard about this guy and was used to bringing in jazz entertainment. I'm sure by now you figured out that this missed opportunity was Elvis Presley.

Submitted by: Al Reiller      From: McKee, Kentucky

Memory: I remember George "Hound Dog" Lorenz quite well. In fact he was the first DJ to play Rock & Roll on KB. He said "THE HOUNDS AROUND" at the beginning and end of his show. For that and many other reasons KB is and always will be my #1 radio station. I wished KB would have some kind of a write up about the Kipler Brothers that had the band called The Buffalo Rebels and made the song Wild Weekend, that became a big hit and sold over a million records back in the early 1960's. I also wish KB would try to get hold of a copy of the Rebels appearing on Dick Clark's American Bandstand back in the late 50's or early 60's. I'd be the first in line to buy a copy of that gig from you if it's allowed. Would very much appreciate what ever you can do about the above. Thank you! Al

Submitted by: Dave Denberg      From: toronto ontario m5r 3r2, ontario

Memory: I listened to The Hound alone, and his show filled my world with wonderful music, fascinating characters (imagine buying a used car from "Big Bob and Pal Al"!), excitement, wonder and possibility. Obviously I knew this was a radio show and there were many other listeners, but The Hound spoke in a way which made it a very personal experience. I felt included in this amazing world he brought to life, and I could belong without needing to prove in some impossible way that I was cool, hip and special. It seems to me now that The Hound made this seem true of anyone he spoke of on the show as well.

Later on, when I met other people who'd listened to The Hound, I noticed that sometimes it would be the last person you'd expect to be touched by this show and this music. For myself, I feel the Hound reached something in me that I wouldn't have had access to in any other way at that time, or maybe ever if this hadn't happened. I'm deeply grateful to him for this, and for, I suspect, doing this for many others as well.

I feel I've been able to carry a bit of The Hound with me all these years, the love of the music of course, but also a certain attitude towards life and other persons. I will never forget him. Much thanks to Mike and his brother for creating such a fitting site to honor him, and to other people who've submitted memories, as they've brought so much back for me.

Submitted by: Jack Horohoe      From: Town of Tonawanda, New York

Memory: I had the pleasure of getting my start in broadcasting working for the Hound.He had just gone on the air with WBLK. As a 21 year old kid, and fresh out of the Navy, I was hired by George to do all night news. More than 45 years have passed, so my recollections are somewhat dimmed, but I do recall working an air shift with a British guy named "Geoff" somebody. Geoff did jazz.

Frankly, we must have been the only ones listening. At that time there were very few FM radios. The only radios with the FM band were the large "Halicrafters" and few people had those. Cars at that time did not have FM radios. In fact, George actually sold FM "only" radios or gave them away to sponsors. He gave me one, so my girl friend could listen.

George was a very nice man and not at all what I expected him to be. I expected a jive talking hipster who was above it all. He wasn't that at all. Just a hardworking businessman and a legend who was trying to be an innovator.

I was fortunate to have crossed paths with George Lorenz. It was like being a little part of history.

Submitted by: Jim Farone      From: Newman Lake , Wa

Memory: I grew up in Lakewwod,N.Y.in the1950's. I never would have known about real R&R if not for The Hound! We would listen to him on WINE TIME out of Kenmore N.Y. My buddy's Bruce Alhgren & John Berg would get right home from school to sit by the radio and "Dig" him. He was the first D.J. to play "Bip Bop Bip"by Pretty Boy. I wish there was a way just to say thanks for not letting me grow up an American Bandstand square. Also for telling us about Ross The Boss's record shop in Buffalo.

Submitted by: Earl P. Bell      From: Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461

Memory: During 1955 and 1956, in my junior and senior years of high school, at 9 P.M. a group of us, every night, tuned in the Hound. We were living in a little eastern North Carolina town of Aulander, some 60 miles south west of Norfolk, Virginia. At the time, Aulander was a farming town of one thousand people located in the heart of tobacco country. We only had one T.V. channel broadcasting. It was Channel 3 located in Norfolk. We thought the Hound was the coolest. From his funky slow groove theme, the dog hollowing just before he came on to say "The Hound's Around!" He called just about everyone "A Real Cool Cat!" The man was our teacher and we were his avid, devoted students. Five of us, three boys and two girls, were serious, daily rock and roll dancers. All of us are alive and well. We will be attending a big high school reunion on Saturday, 18 April 2009. Our blog website is http://aulander.blogspot.com. We are in the process of writing up our passion for the rock and roll music that was sweeping the country. It should be posted in the next week. I can assure you that at the heart of our description, will be this "real cool cat" from Buffalo, New York who put down the goovey licks and answered to the handle of "The Hound!"

submitted: 1 March 2009

Submitted by: Barry Chmura      From: Utica, NY

Memory: Laying in bed with a mono earphone plugged into my Channel Master transistor radio waiting for that great howling sound and then "The Hounds Around", what a great way to end a day...

What wonderful memories, the Hound Dog was such a huge part of my early years. May he rest in peace...

Barry C.