At some point, Neil began opening his shows with diatribes about the state of things locally. He would rant and rave, bang his fist and shock the bejesus out of me! He would mock our daily existence and implore us to “wake up!”. In retrospect, Jim Morrison sort of did the same thing with his poetry and stage antics. Neil was brilliant and dead on. He was “absolutely correct, sir” about everything. It was mind blowing. It was controversial and intriguing … and it was also comical. It was great radio. It was great theatre for the mind and certainly theatre of the absurd – and trust me, Miami, was and still is absurdity’s playground.

From self serving hypocrites, corrupt politicians, nazi highway patrolmen, proselytizing pedophiles to geriatric old farts who stole silverware and packages of “Sweet n’ Low” at Wolfie’s or Pumperdink’s Restaurant (homes of the pandering “Early Bird” specials), no one was safe from Neil’s barbs, not even himself. He was a self described “fat, balding, Jewish homosexual”. He was a gay who hated gay activists. He was an atheist who hated organized religion but didn’t shirk from embracing (and lambasting) his Jewish culture to some extent. Neil taught me it was ok, and maybe even therapeutic, to be self-effacing, but also to be self-embracing, if not self-righteous at the time. Most of all, he taught me to speak up, be assertive, and at the same time, not to take things so seriously. I learned it was ok to be me, at a time in my life when I was expected to be something else. Religion admonished me to be self-nullifying; Neil taught me to just be comfortable in my own skin.

Eventually Neil, blew off topical radio and his mind numbing guests, as well as the many chronic callers he had. He blazed his own path in comedic farce, albeit what some might call shock radio. His ratings were astronomical. He was politically incorrect and still politically correct for doing so. When he wasn’t calling out those who deserved to be called out, he played comedy bits that were rude, crude and lewd – and still, his audience grew. He pulled no punches and most listeners got his shtick and loved him for it – but others still did not – especially those chronic and pretentious sour faced bile filled “douche bags” who regularly monitored him, and would eventually call-in claiming to have inadvertently tuned in, feigning a “radio accident”, and being shocked that “this sort of filth” is allowed on the air. These were the types who, as Neil would say, just couldn’t turn his show off and would get a sexual thrill from just tuning in in order to fume, seethe and writhe their hands. Yes, many people as such tried to get him off the air, even the city government of Hallandale, they didn’t succeed. When he “retired” in 2009, he was the highest-paid radio entertainer in South Florida. He may have earned an estimated $1 million per year in salary, but he was one in a million and worth every penny.

Growing up, I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a radio on somewhere in the background. Radio was everywhere it seemed in those days. You could find it at home, at work, in the car and even outside in your hand (and the radio, too! – as Neil was wont to say). And, all through the years it seemed Neil was there, too. Being a long time listener, an admirer, a fan and admitted life long “Neily”, I eventually took his best advice “to get the hell out of South Florida”. I currently live in Greece. Ok, maybe I went a bit too far … but I’m sure Neil would tell me “not far enough”.

Rest in peace, Neil. Thanks for “mammaries”. Yes, it was only a radio show, but you will be missed … you bastard!

PS. Thanks for reading. If you were also a “Neily”, leave me a comment. And, if you would like to do something in Neil’s honor, make a donation (as per Neil’s website) to: Abandoned Pet Rescue, Inc.

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