Interview with Helen Leicht

First record I bought

Too many to say for sure but one of the first LPs I bought was Meet the Beatles... Ran all the way to Broad and Snyder. I also got my $5.00 ticket from same place - yes, ticket - one - to see The Beatles at JFK Stadium August 16, 1966. 21,000 attended the concert. So, yes, I did get to see The Beatles. I think I even heard them. Still have the dress I bought for the event!

First concert I saw

How about some of the early concerts I attended at the (now gone) Convention Hall in Philadelphia PA? And I met these artists - even though I was very young and they probably didn't really want to meet me, but my Uncle Joe was the GM of WIBG radio. He took us backstage to say hi. Now you know why I decided radio was the place for me. I met Sonny & Cher, David McCallum ("Man from U.N.C.L.E"), The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Dave Clark Five, Chad & Jeremy, The McCoys, The Monkees (first show presented by WFIL), and many many more!

All time favorite artists

The Beatles, U2 and Genesis

My favorite station

WIBG, then the only station in town and, as I said, my Uncle Joe Conway was the General Manager. What other station would I listen to?

Musician I was most excited to meet

There is a theme here... Paul McCartney. This photo (left) shows the first time I met Paul. I met him at The Plaza in New York. My husband actually took this photo, and Paul held me up so I didn't fall over. We went to NY for the screening of Give My Regards to Broad Street.

The first time I saw U2...

was at the Bijou Cafe March 4, 1981, on the Boy Tour. I will say that looking down from the upstairs (mezz) I said, "this must have been what it was like watching The Beatles at the Cavern Club." U2 were amazing and very young.

Thanks to the internet, I have more details.

Main Set: The Ocean / 11 O'Clock Tick Tock / Touch / An Cat Dubh / Into The Heart / Another Time Another Place / Electric Co. / Things To Make And Do / Stories For Boys / Twilight / I Will Follow

Encore(s): Out Of Control / 11 O'Clock Tick Tock / The Ocean

Favorite XPN Local bands

Too many to mention. See Vol #1 and Vol #2 for suggestions of my favorites

Genesis or Yes?

Helen with her family

I love prog rock music. Genesis is my favorite band. They were an amazing live performance band. Recently I saw Phil Collins and Chester Thompson perform together. I took my two young adults Daniel (23) and Rachael (19). Now they know why I love the drums. Our son Daniel was born while the music of Trick of the Tail played in the hospital delivery room.

Four things you don't know about me

1. I've always wanted to learn how to play the drums (mom said no thank you). So, I'm thrilled that our son is a drummer; our daughter sings. I love going to see high school marching bands perform.

Helen's shot of John Lennon and Yoko Ono recording their guest host stint on "The Mike Douglas Show" in 1972

2. I worked in the Production Department at KYW-TV when it was on Walnut Street. The week of February 1972 I spent a week in the audience watching John Lennon & Yoko Ono co-host "The Mike Douglas Show". Yes, I met John & Yoko - held his guitar too!

3. My first job in radio? Every Sunday morning I would read the Sunday paper on the RICB (Radio Information Center for the Blind).

4. When I was an on air host at WIOQ I contacted the Marines to help elevate the Toys for Tots Program in Philadelphia and got WIOQ totally involved with supporting this organization with concerts. I invited the Marines to join us in the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade - making it a WIOQ/US Marines Toys for Tots Float. The rest is history.