Scratchy Grooves

This site is an ongoing project for John Andrew Chambless, the son of Bill Chambless. Dad devoted much of his life to sharing the music he loved. His long-running "Scratchy Grooves" show on the University of Delaware's WVUD-FM became a Sunday night tradition for loyal listeners and callers. While I don't pretend to have anything approaching dad's knowledge of the eras and the musicians, I will provide as many shows -- and as much information about them -- as possible on this site.

'Scratchy Grooves' is aired, under Brian Lee Hart, on WVUD-FM (91.3). It's on Sundays from 7 to 8 p.m. EST, and is streamed at www.WVUD.org.

Shows from past years will air live about once a month. Here's a sample:

Nov. 29, 1992

'Cozy Songs' includes: Tunes to warm up a winter night, including 'I'm in the Mood for Love' by Frances Langford, 'It's Just the Memory of You' by Connie Boswell, 'By the Fireside' by Donald Greer's Orchestra and more! (60 min.)

http://scratchygrooves.com/Scratchygrooves112992.mp3

Dec. 6, 1992

'My Favorite Songs' includes: Listener Dan Mahoney of Bridgeton, N.J., joins dad in the studio for his favorite songs, including 'Willie the Weeper' from 1927, Paul Whiteman's 'Whispering' from 1920, Rudy Vallee's 'I'm Confessin' from 1930, some piano roll music and more! (60 min.)

http://scratchygrooves.com/Scratchygrooves12692.mp3

Dec. 13, 1992

'1922' includes: Songs from that year, including Duke Ellington's 'Running Wild,' Marion Harris singing 'Carolina in the Morning,' some nickelodeon songs, 'Little Red Schoolhouse' by BIlly Murray and 'Yankee Doodle Blues' by Billy Murray and Ed Small. (60 min)

http://scratchygrooves.com/Scratchygrooves121392.mp3

Dec. 20, 1992

'Roses' includes: Listener Ethel Schmidt's favorite songs, including lots of songs about roses: 'Roses in December' by Ozzie Nelson's Orchestra, 'A Rose for Every Heart' by John McCormack, 'Wrapped in a Red Red Rose' and lots more! (60 min.)

http://scratchygrooves.com/Scratchygrooves122092.mp3

Part of the

Hall of Fame!

Bill Chambless was among the first inductees into the WVUD Hall of Fame, announced this month. That's me, John Chambless, second from right. My thanks to everyone at the station for making dad's life so rich. Here's the story, in part:

May 15, 2009 ---- Fresh from celebrating its 40th anniversary last fall, radio station WVUD-FM 91.3 -- the “voice of the University of Delaware” -- has chosen to honor key contributors to the station's history by establishing a WVUD Hall of Fame. Five members were honored in an inaugural induction ceremony held May 5 in the Perkins Student Center, which also is home to the station's studio and audio library. Introduced by Steve Kramarck, assistant director of student centers and station manager, and Scott Ohlmacher, student general manager, the inductees included:

-- Bill Chambless, host of the popular “Scratchy Grooves” program on WXDR and WVUD from 1984-2002;
-- Greer Firestone, the station's co-founder, who, when the original 10-watt WHEN went on the air on a cold night in October 1968, around 8 p.m., said, “WHEN is Now;”
-- Ron Krauss, a station member from 1974-77 who was instrumental in transforming WDRB to the on-air station WXDR in 1976;
-- Tom Mees, who developed his love of broadcasting as a part of WHEN from 1968-72 and went on to become one of the primary sports anchors during ESPN's formative years; and
-- Chuck Tarver, who served WXDR and WVUD from 1985-2008 as the professional station manager and ultimately as assistant director of UD Student Centers.

History through music

Mr. Chambless, who died in 2003, was the host of “Scratchy Grooves,” which initially was slated as a six-week temporary program featuring old recordings from his collection. Kramarck described him as a guy who “when you needed a promo at the drop of a hat, it was Bill Chambless.”

Kramarck said it is a testimony to Mr. Chambless' staying power that his radio voice continues to reach listeners who perhaps were not even born when “Scratchy Grooves” made its broadcasting debut in 1984.

Brian Lee, longtime station member and current host of “Scratchy Grooves,” said that Mr. Chambless was one of the most unique people that he has ever met, adding that “he was just a wonderful guy.”

Mr. Chambless' son, John, who is in the process of converting many of his father's old shows from cassette to CD format, has established a “Scratchy Grooves” Web site to make the programs available to fans old and new. The site notes that “from the first program in 1984 to the last one about 19 years later, he [Chambless] explored the music and sounds of yesteryear (1900 to 1940), scratches and all."

“Having my dad inducted in the WVUD Hall of Fame is very exciting,” Mr. Chambless said. “He was never happier than when he was at the station. It's been really nice to hear him on the air.”