‘Don’t Mean Nothin’ radio show to air July 4
Shepherd University radio WSCH-FM 89.7 will air on the Joe Gray Show from 10-11 a.m. on July 4, the once nationally broadcast, hour-long special called “Don’t Mean Nothin'” – the true story of a man’s spiritual journey through war and home again.
The production, created by Jim Surkamp and Kevin Williams, with Bill Caldwell as the protagonist named “Vergil” was awarded a Silver Angel Award for “moral excellence in the media.” Film Director Oliver Stone endorsed it and two leading clinicians, Dr. Charles Figley and Dr. Roger Pitma, wrote powerful letters of support for giving it a Peabody Award, because of its accuracy and power to touch and heal.
“This is our gift to those seeking insight and wisdom about those in war and seeking spiritual wholeness thereafter.” Surkamp said, who spent six years researching, interviewing, developing and finally writing the script.
“Listening to ‘Don’t Mean Nothin’ is like living a lifetime,” Surkamp added, especially with songs those of us from the Sixties remember so fondly, such as Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” Tommy Edward’s “Its All in The Game,” The Chamber’s Brothers’ “Time Has Come Today,” Scott Mackenzie’s “If You’re Going to San Francisco,” Pink Floyd’s “Us & Them,” Santo and Johnny’s “Sleepwalk,” Willie Nelson’s “As I Am.”
“Please join us and reflect and be moved,” Surkamp concluded.
In 1999, Public Radio International aired the full broadcast over West Virginia Public Radio, in Boston, New York City, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco among others. One listener from Boston emailed in: “This is the best program I’ve ever heard on radio.”