`BIG MAC' FINDS LIFE AFTER RADIO

Published: Thursday, September 20, 1990
Section: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON , page 14
Type of story: AFTER HOURS

Source: Roberta Thisdell

© 1990 Landmark Communications Inc.

William Randolph McClellan is sleeping late these days.

Most of us wouldn't care much about one Beach guy's snooze system, except that we used to hear the man most every morning. We knew him on the radio as ``Big Mac'' McClellan, on-air personality and the man behind the jokes at WNOR-FM for about seven years.

They pulled the plug on Big Mac about six months back during a personnel purge. Since then, he's found life after radio.

McClellan's comedy bits have found new life through Radio Joke Box, a comedy network sold to stations across the country. The gags and skits - some recycled from FM 99 days - are created at Studio Center, a Norfolk television and radio production house.

The comic also emcees for the Comedy Zone on Tuesdays at the River House, down at Rudee Inlet on the Oceanfront.

``I don't like `Roseanne,' '' he said of his chief Tuesday night competition, ``so I thought I may as well go out and make my own jokes.''

While McClellan said he'd shopped around for a job at local radio stations without success, the lack of on-air time has been something of a blessing. He's writing more and working on comedy that wouldn't necessarily have fit radio.

``I've been able to change my act around,'' McClellan said. ``I always wrote for them, with an eye on what they needed, and their personalities.''

And, of course, he's broken the tyranny of early morning radio.

``I don't miss getting up at 4 o'clock in the morning,'' he said.

Raging Cajuns What could be better than a taste of Cajun music? How 'bout a helping of Cajun country cooking on the side?

Major Handy and the Wolf Couchons promise both at their show Thursday night at Larkin's.

First off, the group is dishing up some spicy zydeco tunes, probably the first club appearance for that Louisiana genre. Major Handy himself was a founding member of Buckwheat Zydeco - who rocked out at Harborfest this year - and also played with Rockin' Sydney, of ``My Toot Toot'' fame.

But wait, folks. Major Handy is also considered a premier Cajun chef, and in that role, will be taking to the kitchens with his band to prepare a feast of shrimp jambalaya, spicy chicken wings, red beans and rice and more.

``It will be probably one of the finest Cajun meals this city's ever seen,'' said promoter Mike Rau.

The last everything Just when it was wearing out its welcome, summer finally grinds to an end this week. With the season goes the last of the free outdoor tunes here at the Beach (except for the Neptune Festival next week).

The final Ocean Occasions concerts are at the 24th Street Park this weekend, with The Difference playing rock tunes Friday night (and performing at The Fire Escape on Saturday), Flight of Six playing Saturday and the Virginia Symphony Pops closing out the year on Sunday.

At the Farmers Market, country traditionalist John Keeling and his Pure Country Band fiddle through the last Friday Night Hoedown this weekend.

On the beat The first whispers of fall haven't slowed down the Sunday afternoon party at the 67th Street Officers Beach Club. We found Ernie LeBeau and the Beach Blasters reigning there last week, with a dozen dancing children and a whole trolley-load of bachelorette party attendees.

One man not on stage was Lennie Epps, former conga man for the Blasters. Epps was enjoying watching the band, and chatting up his new group, Park Avenue. For that group, he's planning to be front man, singer and guitar player, leaving the drumming to another ex-Blaster, Joe Pangaro. Also coming from the Beach Blasters is sax man Steve Goff.

Singer and keyboardist Julia Ford, formerly of the premier show band, Gentlemen and Their Ladies, rounds out the mix.

Epps said his new group will feature beach music and Top 40, but with an emphasis on show, fitting for a guy who spent four years in Gentlemen and Their Ladies.

``It's going to be all the stuff we did here with Ernie, and all the stuff we did with Gentlemen and Their Ladies and more,'' Epps said. ``This band shows a lot of promise.''

What's left for LeBeau? Well, he's added keyboardist Rick Craft, formerly of The New Band and Mile High, drummer Rick Hockett from Never Never and Ray Smith, last heard locally in Kid Shaleen, on congas and bass.

All the guys are working on their vocals, LeBeau said, and will be adding four-part harmony to the mix soon.

Meanwhile, the band sounded pretty great Sunday, rocking out in the North End. Craft did a particularly nice job on keyboards, adding an element of fun to the proceedings with sound effects and such.