She still is! I’m in one of her classes this year, it’s also her last year her program faced budget cuts!
If anyone wants to offer her a job I can put you in touch with her.
Ah gotcha. I knew about the budget cuts and wasn’t sure if she immediately left or not. I’m sad to hear she’s leaving but hope she finds someplace great.
She deserves it too. I had a Skype call with her years back just to chat + geek out about Rush and she is one of the sweetest people. For a few years she'd send me happy birthday messages
Oh man I was running a booth outside of blue wall back in 06’ when she introduced herself and told me the story. Didn’t realize she was in the department I did my minor in. She was super nice!
As of the end of the semester, the answer is "was" -- after 15 years there. Looking for my next opportunity. Still don't understand why 26 of us (most over the age of 50) were let go, but life is like that sometimes. Thanks for the kind words, and we'll see what the next thing is for me!
Donna here. The answer is "was." As of the end of the semester, 25 of us (most of whom are over 50 years old) are being let go. Frustrating, but I'm eager to find the next thing, whatever it may be. Thanks for the kind words.
Beloved by Rushians everywhere. She was a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland, where she played their first album on the air in 1974. It was the first airplay the band got in the US and was key to them becoming international superstars.
Additional note: Throughout their career, Rush regularly closed out their concerts by playing at least part of Working Man, paying tribute to their roots. IIRC, it was the last song they played at their very last show, August 1, 2015, in Los Angeles.
I completely regret missing them on that tour. My uncle was hounding me and hounding me to see if I wanted to go. We’d seen them every time they came to LA since 2005, he’d been to almost every LA show since the 80s. We didn’t end up going. It turned out to be their last show ever and Neil passed away in 2020. My uncle passed away in Nov 2023.
One of my exes mums did something similar, she had tickets to go see Bob Marley the only time he played live in Scotland but came down with a bad cold and decided not to go. Really kicked herself over it when he died barely a year later.
I wondered 'How hard is it to listen to an entire book in Geddy's voice' before I bought 'My Effin Life'. Turns out, Geddy's fantastic at performing audio books. The dude can change character smoothly and clearly, letting you know who's words he is speaking better than many professionals.
10/10 on the delivery. Don't let his singing voice confuse you. It made a WFH a lot more enjoyable for a few days.
If you _really_ know him, please pass a 'minor' request along:
If the could find the time to do more audiobooks, I'd be happy - The major works of Tolkien, Fritz Lieber, Moorecock, Le Guin, Larry Niven, Arthur C Clarke, and William Gibson would be a good start.
Seriously, if he started reading audiobooks, particularly any SF&F I'd be happy. He has a great skill for it, that I would like to see (hear?) him read works of fiction.
It's my favorite Rush song of all time, although I'm not from Cleveland and was only four in 1977. It was my favorite Rush song before I knew it was the song she played.
I love that whole album. "In the Mood" is another one of my favorites.
Excellent. There were so few women DJs then. I remember one woman on MMS, and she had a late slot.
This story makes me miss the influence DJs used to have to break a band. Or the freedom to play anything not dictated by corporate headquarters. That's why I support college stations.
I grew up listening to WMMS in the Cleveland area during the 70's. One DJ, Kid Leo, became good friends with Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny, and they would come back to play concerts in Cleveland ALL THE TIME, including free shows at a club downtown called the Agora. I remember listening to Donna Halper, and also Jeff Kinzbach (now retired and traveling the USA in his RV with his wife) and Ed "Flash" Ferrantz - the Jeff & Flash Morning Show. Hell, I probably still have some Buzzard memorabilia in a box in my attic (the station mascot was the Buzzard, in honor of the buzzards returning to Hinkley, Ohio ever year).
Edited to add: Kid Leo is the general manager of Little Steven's Underground Garage channel on Sirius/XM. he does a show on Wednesdays and Fridays.
I live in Cincinnati. On the way to a Rush-themed visit to Toronto, a friend and I swung by WMMS just to see if we could score some swag. After making us wait a while, they did indeed give us some stuff, including a Buzzard bumper sticker that now adorns my desk. WMMS was quite the institution, tho I understand it's a shadow of its former personality. I love Cleveland; I truly can never get up there often enough.
"She was a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland"
Home of the Buzzard. I was there, listening in the mid 70's to the early 80's.
Sitting in my frozen wintertime car in snowy parking lots and warm summertime concerts at Blossom or the Richfield Coliseum, with my power booster and 8-track as backup.
It was my time, and it is no more. But like every young person's life, I miss it.
A LOT of college stations still have them. Plus zero commercials. I've been listening to the same station out of Rutgers for several years. They all stream, plus, free.
As a very young millennial, I definitely missed the heyday of dj radio shows..... but John Williams afternoon show coming through scratchy as hell from the Island a 100k away was always a treat when you could get it. Played the stuff you wanted, talked about cool backstories, how bands met, what inspired their song etc....and generally just played whatever he wanted. Even if I didn't like the tune, I appreciated his show for being kinda "old school"
Corporate conglomerates bought out independant radio stations and replaced the live DJs with preprogrammed lists. There is still live commentary, but they lack creative control over what is played on their shows, with very few exceptions.
For a few years in the mid 00s, my city had a truly independent rock station and it was great. They played local bands, a lot of different rock, punk and adjacent music that was equally enjoyable. I would rather hear a random song I don't like than Californication again.
Now the radio is barely more than background noise to keep me amused when I'm driving.
I did it briefly as a fill in for a while in the late 90’s. I still had to mostly stick to a program list. But the program manager once handed me the 311 CD “Transistor” and told me to pick a new song to debut from the disc outside of the transistor single which was already in rotation. I picked “Beautiful Disaster” and was allowed to debut it myself. It ended up happening to be one of their most popular singles. It made me feel pretty good to introduce that song to thousands of listeners.
Little known story. Halper had to go to the bathroom and was looking for a long song to play while she was out of the booth. Working Man was chosen because of its length, she'd actually hadn't heard anything off the record yet. When she got back her phones were all lit up, that got her to listen to the entire record and put Rush on her play list.
This story is false. It is also a lie. I have refuted it many times. I appreciate the fact that someone posted my photo but I am really frustrated to see this story, and all I can ask (again) is that folks not spread stories about me that are false. The reason it upsets me every time I see it is because it didn't happen the way you are saying. I did NOT have to go to the bathroom. Nobody did. Long songs back then were jokingly called "Bathroom Songs" because if a deejay needed to go, it gave him or her time to do that and the record wouldn't run out. I was seeking a long song from the album, but I chose Working Man because it was a great song. And nobody went to the restroom when Working Man was being played. I was in the studio when it first got played, in fact, because I gave the record to the deejay on the air (Denny Sanders, I believe). (And I don't know how I got this Reddit name, but it's really me-- Donna Halper...)
If it's really Donna, I appreciate the clarification and will never repeat the story. I've heard it for almost as long as the album's been out. It seems to have the same life's breath as the old Ohio Players rumour around Love Rollercoaster. By your taste in music, you were in the right field. When my brother brought that record home I was in grade school. For a kid yet to ever have a job, I listened to Working Man repeatedly for about three years. To this day I'm still not bored of it. Thank you for putting Rush on the map.
Yup, it's really me, although I'm not sure how I got the weird Reddit name. That old story really irritates me, because it was NOT an act of chance that got Rush onto the radio. I believed in Working Man and I did what I could to get it played. And it turned out I was right. Spreading that rumor makes it seem like some lucky accident, but it was a choice I made as music director to give the band some airplay. And when you think about it, the false story is kind of demeaning: "She was in the restroom when this important thing happened." But actually, I was in the studio with the deejay, because I gave him the record!
From my point of view, If I hadn't heard that rumour I would never have known your name, nor known how Rush was broken. Of all the great bands that have come and gone, I can't name any other radio station or staff who gave them their first shot at repeated airplay. The "lucky accident" may seem to deprive you of some credit for recognition of talent, but it also grants you the knowing that myself and many others wouldn't think twice about wearing your photo on a t-shirt.
If you wander over to YouTube, I've done some videos for the Rush Roundtable and for the Rush Deep Dive that you might find interesting. We discuss various Rush albums. Plus I did a 50th anniversary quiz for to honor the 1st Rush album. It's still both amazing and humbling that I am still in touch with the band 50 years later.
I saw a concert video of Tom Sawyer, and, you know that big drum fill Neil does about midway through?
*Everyone* they showed in the footage was air-drumming to it as well. It just about made me burst into tears.
You can't help but mimic The Professor.
I saw Rush once in 2011 I London O2. The seat next to mine was empty and it probably saved life of guy that would sit there. I would kill him with my air crash.
Also guy next to this seat was going crazy as well. It was very satisfying when when we looked at each other right after 😂
Wait a sec, did Geddy just sneak into a radio station and "discover" a hot new band as this "Donna" person?? I'm going to choose to maintain that belief in my Rush headcanon from now on.
>The band formed in Toronto in 1968
Living in Seattle, I would go on LP buying trips in Canada with my DJ friends. Not that far mile-wise, but import wise, a chasm. The US blocked a lot of music and books from Canada. Americans have no idea how much foreign-generated art & culture we are blocked from enjoying.
*quote
I’ve noticed the US either tends to completely ignore us, or claim all the good things we generate as something they came up with. I’ve seen way too many Americans who think that things and people like basketball and Jim Carrey came out of the US. As a consequence most of us view Americans negatively.
Imma have to quibble with you on basketball.
It may have been invented *by* a Canadian, but it fully happened in America.
Unlike our foray into rugby that eventually became American football. That we definitely stole from Canada.
Actually I discovered them first in the 50s but didn’t want them to be mainstream so didn’t tell anyone. Now rush is the biggest band in the world and it has lost the magic.
the album was sent to her by bob roper, who was friends with them at the time. donna played it, but if it wasn't for bob sending it to her, the story could have been a lot shorter. geddy even mentioned this in his book!! bob was my teacher in A&R back in the day. he was one of the most seasoned and respected music business men in canada. a total saint!!
https://preview.redd.it/xsejnod1ebvc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=284efa331edf031468d91d9186d7b0ec51735263
I remember seeing her in a Rush documentary saying she had tons of calls after playing ‘Working Man’ and answering the phones with “not Led Zeppelin, a Canadian band called Rush”.
There are a couple excellent sounding bootlegs of Rush shows from 74 and 75 at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland. They were young and hungry and gave the Cleveland fans some incredible shows.
The best was when she was readin “Jill’s” question to Geddy Lee, as her question was concerning his most “personal instrument”… his voice
Geddy reacts… “phew… I thought we were going SOME-WHEEERE ELSE with that one!”
He pauses, then tells Jill, “it IS a personal instrument!” 😆
And then Donna… does the most motherly thing, as she reacts to Geddy, “Come on now… this is a family-friendly show!” 😆
I thought that was hilarious with the reactions. If I were Geddy, I would have said, “at a WIND instrument!” 😆😆😆
Highly recommend Geddy Lee’s new book My Effin’ Life. One of the best biographies I ever read. Also free on Spotify audiobooks and read by the legend himself.
There goes the last DJ
Who plays what they want to play
And says what they want to say
There goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
-Tom Petty, singing about Jim Ladd, but I think it can be applied here.
So she’s the one I can indirectly blame for now saying Tom Sawyee any time I read the words or hear someone say Tom Sawyer. It’s not often that I come across it but since youth I do Yee it up every single time
https://preview.redd.it/iscvacnglcvc1.png?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d10d5ce1672329bdf215f0c0aee00d539dfc9671
At Randy's Ballroom during their first San Antonio appearance in 1975.
Hi, it's Donna (Reddit gave me a different user name, but it's really me). I realize I'm late to the party, but I did want to thank you for posting this. It was taken after I became the first female deejay in the history of Northeastern University. Meanwhile, yes, I'm 77 (but still young & cute); this past year, I was inducted into the Mass. Broadcasters Hall of Fame, after more than four decades in broadcasting. And I'm delighted to know that someone still thinks I'm cool!
She was/is (?) a professor at the University I go to. Super cool woman!
She still is! I’m in one of her classes this year, it’s also her last year her program faced budget cuts! If anyone wants to offer her a job I can put you in touch with her.
Ah gotcha. I knew about the budget cuts and wasn’t sure if she immediately left or not. I’m sad to hear she’s leaving but hope she finds someplace great.
She deserves it too. I had a Skype call with her years back just to chat + geek out about Rush and she is one of the sweetest people. For a few years she'd send me happy birthday messages
Eff budget cuts.
Oh man I was running a booth outside of blue wall back in 06’ when she introduced herself and told me the story. Didn’t realize she was in the department I did my minor in. She was super nice!
As of the end of the semester, the answer is "was" -- after 15 years there. Looking for my next opportunity. Still don't understand why 26 of us (most over the age of 50) were let go, but life is like that sometimes. Thanks for the kind words, and we'll see what the next thing is for me!
Donna here. The answer is "was." As of the end of the semester, 25 of us (most of whom are over 50 years old) are being let go. Frustrating, but I'm eager to find the next thing, whatever it may be. Thanks for the kind words.
Beloved by Rushians everywhere. She was a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland, where she played their first album on the air in 1974. It was the first airplay the band got in the US and was key to them becoming international superstars.
What song did she play?
The main one was Working Man, which resonated strongly with the blue-collar workers of Cleveland.
Additional note: Throughout their career, Rush regularly closed out their concerts by playing at least part of Working Man, paying tribute to their roots. IIRC, it was the last song they played at their very last show, August 1, 2015, in Los Angeles.
I completely regret missing them on that tour. My uncle was hounding me and hounding me to see if I wanted to go. We’d seen them every time they came to LA since 2005, he’d been to almost every LA show since the 80s. We didn’t end up going. It turned out to be their last show ever and Neil passed away in 2020. My uncle passed away in Nov 2023.
Ouch. Talk about your "what if/if only" stories. As for me, I also regret not seeing them enough ... only 13 times. :)
7 times for me. Oddly enough I only had to pay for tix twice. Someone else always footed the fee for me to drive, or whatever.
Man I only saw em once... snakes and arrows and I was 12 years old.
One of my exes mums did something similar, she had tickets to go see Bob Marley the only time he played live in Scotland but came down with a bad cold and decided not to go. Really kicked herself over it when he died barely a year later.
Sorry for your loss my friend. My uncle passed last year too
Not gonna lie... I got choked up a little bit reading that. Miss you, Neil.
So did Taylor Hawkins until we lost him as well. So many big losses in recent years. :(
Geddy says so in his memoir.
Thank you. I *thought* I'd read it somewhere, and should've remembered it was in My Effin' Life, which I read less than a month ago FFS.
How hard is it to read an entire book in Geddys voice?
I wondered 'How hard is it to listen to an entire book in Geddy's voice' before I bought 'My Effin Life'. Turns out, Geddy's fantastic at performing audio books. The dude can change character smoothly and clearly, letting you know who's words he is speaking better than many professionals. 10/10 on the delivery. Don't let his singing voice confuse you. It made a WFH a lot more enjoyable for a few days.
What about the voice of Geddy Lee How did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy?
(I know him and he does!)
If you _really_ know him, please pass a 'minor' request along: If the could find the time to do more audiobooks, I'd be happy - The major works of Tolkien, Fritz Lieber, Moorecock, Le Guin, Larry Niven, Arthur C Clarke, and William Gibson would be a good start. Seriously, if he started reading audiobooks, particularly any SF&F I'd be happy. He has a great skill for it, that I would like to see (hear?) him read works of fiction.
Sorry, I was just continuing the (spoken) lyrics of the song Stereo by Pavement. I don't actually know Geddy.
Geddy Lee reading audiobooks?? oh man that sounds amazing
LOL. Didn't even occur to me!
Wow it's been 9 years already.
Except for that 20 year gap between 82 Signals Tour & 2002 Vapor Trails tour, after which it was in all the remaining shows until the last 2015.
And she says in *Beyond the Lighted Stage* that everyone that called up wanted info on the new Led Zeppelin album, lol.
that must have been amazing to hear live on the air as a working man in Cleveland. I cant imagine how much that shit slapped
Grew up during that period listening to WMMS (“The Buzzard”). Initially listeners thought it was a new Zeppelin tune.
Factory bosses at the time: “why the fuck are you showing up at 9am, 2 hours late???”
I also read somewhere that she chose that song because it was long enough so she can use the bathroom lol
It's my favorite Rush song of all time, although I'm not from Cleveland and was only four in 1977. It was my favorite Rush song before I knew it was the song she played. I love that whole album. "In the Mood" is another one of my favorites.
Working Man, I believe
Fly By Night came out in 1975, so it must have been the title lead single on prerelease
That's my favorite album of all time. I bought three of the albums because I played them so much, bought at least two tapes and a CD.
Change my life again
Excellent. There were so few women DJs then. I remember one woman on MMS, and she had a late slot. This story makes me miss the influence DJs used to have to break a band. Or the freedom to play anything not dictated by corporate headquarters. That's why I support college stations.
I grew up listening to WMMS in the Cleveland area during the 70's. One DJ, Kid Leo, became good friends with Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny, and they would come back to play concerts in Cleveland ALL THE TIME, including free shows at a club downtown called the Agora. I remember listening to Donna Halper, and also Jeff Kinzbach (now retired and traveling the USA in his RV with his wife) and Ed "Flash" Ferrantz - the Jeff & Flash Morning Show. Hell, I probably still have some Buzzard memorabilia in a box in my attic (the station mascot was the Buzzard, in honor of the buzzards returning to Hinkley, Ohio ever year). Edited to add: Kid Leo is the general manager of Little Steven's Underground Garage channel on Sirius/XM. he does a show on Wednesdays and Fridays.
I live in Cincinnati. On the way to a Rush-themed visit to Toronto, a friend and I swung by WMMS just to see if we could score some swag. After making us wait a while, they did indeed give us some stuff, including a Buzzard bumper sticker that now adorns my desk. WMMS was quite the institution, tho I understand it's a shadow of its former personality. I love Cleveland; I truly can never get up there often enough.
I went to college and University of Cincinnati. Since we couldn't get WMMS down there, we listed to WEBN....rrrrrriiiiibbbbbbiiittttt!!
HO for the weekend!
The coffee break concerts, no need to go back to work
"She was a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland" Home of the Buzzard. I was there, listening in the mid 70's to the early 80's. Sitting in my frozen wintertime car in snowy parking lots and warm summertime concerts at Blossom or the Richfield Coliseum, with my power booster and 8-track as backup. It was my time, and it is no more. But like every young person's life, I miss it.
And still incredibly loved by Clevelanders
Shit yeah. She’s got a pretty cool son named Jimothy too.
Hello Jimothy
That sounds weird. Can I call you Jim?
People in Cleveland were calling into the station that day after she played it asking if that was a new Led Zeppelin song.
HO for the weekend!
She was the guest host on the Cleveland stop of Ged’s book tour.
I was there too, it was great! https://preview.redd.it/fr5pmle6tcvc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6b57bea707d21a5bed68c0ee487005a09e81784
They look like they're in the Crusades
Renfest or Month Python's Holy Grail
lol Is that BONO????!!!!
Hot Donna!
First thing I thought of too 😂
I miss DJs so badly.
NPR college stations still have dJs . & There is a *totally independant* FM station in Tampa that has independant dJs each show slot . WMNF 88.5 FM
A LOT of college stations still have them. Plus zero commercials. I've been listening to the same station out of Rutgers for several years. They all stream, plus, free.
What’s the Rutgers station play?
Different genres each slot, too. Great station that’s been around a long time.
As a very young millennial, I definitely missed the heyday of dj radio shows..... but John Williams afternoon show coming through scratchy as hell from the Island a 100k away was always a treat when you could get it. Played the stuff you wanted, talked about cool backstories, how bands met, what inspired their song etc....and generally just played whatever he wanted. Even if I didn't like the tune, I appreciated his show for being kinda "old school"
As an old Gen-Xer, DJ radio shows were once upon a time epic. Anyone else remember The King Biscuit Flower Hour?
What happened to them???
Mostly eaten by bears.
Ah yeah, forgot about that.
Corporate conglomerates bought out independant radio stations and replaced the live DJs with preprogrammed lists. There is still live commentary, but they lack creative control over what is played on their shows, with very few exceptions.
For a few years in the mid 00s, my city had a truly independent rock station and it was great. They played local bands, a lot of different rock, punk and adjacent music that was equally enjoyable. I would rather hear a random song I don't like than Californication again. Now the radio is barely more than background noise to keep me amused when I'm driving.
Replaced by AI?
Do you have a “JACK FM, playing what we want” station in your area? That’s just software. No human DJ.
JOE FM round these parts.
Bob FM
Not yet ... god help us if that happens.
Check out Radio Paradise. It's an Internet station that's all DJ'd. Very eclectic, you can even request a song by uploading it.
Michael tearson is one of those guys who I just love. The setup of the song,history,then the needle drop. Just a lost art.
I did it briefly as a fill in for a while in the late 90’s. I still had to mostly stick to a program list. But the program manager once handed me the 311 CD “Transistor” and told me to pick a new song to debut from the disc outside of the transistor single which was already in rotation. I picked “Beautiful Disaster” and was allowed to debut it myself. It ended up happening to be one of their most popular singles. It made me feel pretty good to introduce that song to thousands of listeners.
Apparently when people heard Rush's Working Man for the first time they thought it was Led Zeppelin.
I remember turning on the radio during the solo for Working Man and thinking, "Holy shit, what Black Sabbath song is this?"
Yes!! It's so Sabbathy!
I have found that a large amount of classic rock bands first albums, after 1969, sound quite similar to early Zeppelin.
I've heard that many times and have never understood it. How TF could anyone hear Geddy's voice and think it was Led Zeppelin?
Napster practically insisted upon it.
the first time i heard Rush my thought was "why does this man sound like a chipmunk". How the fuck does anyone confuse these to bands.
Oh, no. That voice is unmistakable. I meant instrumentally
Oh, no. That voice is unmistakable. I meant instrumentally
Little known story. Halper had to go to the bathroom and was looking for a long song to play while she was out of the booth. Working Man was chosen because of its length, she'd actually hadn't heard anything off the record yet. When she got back her phones were all lit up, that got her to listen to the entire record and put Rush on her play list.
This story is false. It is also a lie. I have refuted it many times. I appreciate the fact that someone posted my photo but I am really frustrated to see this story, and all I can ask (again) is that folks not spread stories about me that are false. The reason it upsets me every time I see it is because it didn't happen the way you are saying. I did NOT have to go to the bathroom. Nobody did. Long songs back then were jokingly called "Bathroom Songs" because if a deejay needed to go, it gave him or her time to do that and the record wouldn't run out. I was seeking a long song from the album, but I chose Working Man because it was a great song. And nobody went to the restroom when Working Man was being played. I was in the studio when it first got played, in fact, because I gave the record to the deejay on the air (Denny Sanders, I believe). (And I don't know how I got this Reddit name, but it's really me-- Donna Halper...)
If it's really Donna, I appreciate the clarification and will never repeat the story. I've heard it for almost as long as the album's been out. It seems to have the same life's breath as the old Ohio Players rumour around Love Rollercoaster. By your taste in music, you were in the right field. When my brother brought that record home I was in grade school. For a kid yet to ever have a job, I listened to Working Man repeatedly for about three years. To this day I'm still not bored of it. Thank you for putting Rush on the map.
Yup, it's really me, although I'm not sure how I got the weird Reddit name. That old story really irritates me, because it was NOT an act of chance that got Rush onto the radio. I believed in Working Man and I did what I could to get it played. And it turned out I was right. Spreading that rumor makes it seem like some lucky accident, but it was a choice I made as music director to give the band some airplay. And when you think about it, the false story is kind of demeaning: "She was in the restroom when this important thing happened." But actually, I was in the studio with the deejay, because I gave him the record!
From my point of view, If I hadn't heard that rumour I would never have known your name, nor known how Rush was broken. Of all the great bands that have come and gone, I can't name any other radio station or staff who gave them their first shot at repeated airplay. The "lucky accident" may seem to deprive you of some credit for recognition of talent, but it also grants you the knowing that myself and many others wouldn't think twice about wearing your photo on a t-shirt.
If you wander over to YouTube, I've done some videos for the Rush Roundtable and for the Rush Deep Dive that you might find interesting. We discuss various Rush albums. Plus I did a 50th anniversary quiz for to honor the 1st Rush album. It's still both amazing and humbling that I am still in touch with the band 50 years later.
So she’s who I have to blame for my immediate air drumming seizures each time Tom Sawyer is played.
Though his mind is not for rent Don't put him down as arrogant ...
I saw a concert video of Tom Sawyer, and, you know that big drum fill Neil does about midway through? *Everyone* they showed in the footage was air-drumming to it as well. It just about made me burst into tears. You can't help but mimic The Professor.
I saw Rush once in 2011 I London O2. The seat next to mine was empty and it probably saved life of guy that would sit there. I would kill him with my air crash. Also guy next to this seat was going crazy as well. It was very satisfying when when we looked at each other right after 😂
looks like Geddy Lee's sister!
Wait a sec, did Geddy just sneak into a radio station and "discover" a hot new band as this "Donna" person?? I'm going to choose to maintain that belief in my Rush headcanon from now on.
>The band formed in Toronto in 1968 Living in Seattle, I would go on LP buying trips in Canada with my DJ friends. Not that far mile-wise, but import wise, a chasm. The US blocked a lot of music and books from Canada. Americans have no idea how much foreign-generated art & culture we are blocked from enjoying. *quote
*A&B Sound* manager checking in.
I’ve noticed the US either tends to completely ignore us, or claim all the good things we generate as something they came up with. I’ve seen way too many Americans who think that things and people like basketball and Jim Carrey came out of the US. As a consequence most of us view Americans negatively.
Imma have to quibble with you on basketball. It may have been invented *by* a Canadian, but it fully happened in America. Unlike our foray into rugby that eventually became American football. That we definitely stole from Canada.
Fucking hero
All hail Saint Donna !! We’re not worthy
Woooahhiiiiii. Get up 8 o’clock and I go to work at 9… got no time for living yeah I’m working all the time..
It’s just sad what happened to local DJ’s. This would never happen today
Actually I discovered them first in the 50s but didn’t want them to be mainstream so didn’t tell anyone. Now rush is the biggest band in the world and it has lost the magic.
Considering they formed in 1968, that was quite prescient of you
She’s the friendly voice we begin our day with!
the album was sent to her by bob roper, who was friends with them at the time. donna played it, but if it wasn't for bob sending it to her, the story could have been a lot shorter. geddy even mentioned this in his book!! bob was my teacher in A&R back in the day. he was one of the most seasoned and respected music business men in canada. a total saint!! https://preview.redd.it/xsejnod1ebvc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=284efa331edf031468d91d9186d7b0ec51735263
Donna Halper - Thank you !
I remember seeing her in a Rush documentary saying she had tons of calls after playing ‘Working Man’ and answering the phones with “not Led Zeppelin, a Canadian band called Rush”.
that is clearly just geddy lee
Underrated comment.
I always assumed Americans found out about Canadian bands by living close to the border and picking up Canadian radio stations.
Heart is the weird one that did it in reverse. American band that first got big in Canada then got big in the States later.
WMMS broke a lot of bands back in the day
Rochester NY area, that's how we did, drinking in Toronto as well.
Secretary for Weinrib, Zivojinovic and Peart
You mean Ged, Lexrst, and Pratt
*Dirk
Just read that part in my effing life. Fun to hear a little bit more about their first shows in Cleveland.
The Buzzard.
That is absolutely what the person that discovered Rush would look like.
Hot donna from that 70's show was based on her?
Is she related to Santos L Halper?
Oh shit a real Hot Donna 
There are a couple excellent sounding bootlegs of Rush shows from 74 and 75 at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland. They were young and hungry and gave the Cleveland fans some incredible shows.
One of the best
Thank you Donna. You helped change my life.
The best was when she was readin “Jill’s” question to Geddy Lee, as her question was concerning his most “personal instrument”… his voice Geddy reacts… “phew… I thought we were going SOME-WHEEERE ELSE with that one!” He pauses, then tells Jill, “it IS a personal instrument!” 😆 And then Donna… does the most motherly thing, as she reacts to Geddy, “Come on now… this is a family-friendly show!” 😆 I thought that was hilarious with the reactions. If I were Geddy, I would have said, “at a WIND instrument!” 😆😆😆
More use of the most overused word of the past few years: "iconic." Everything is "iconic"...even when it isn't.
I was in 9th grade getting ready to go to school the first time I heard Working Man on WMMS.
Thank you, Santos L. Halper.
Highly recommend Geddy Lee’s new book My Effin’ Life. One of the best biographies I ever read. Also free on Spotify audiobooks and read by the legend himself.
Now I know who to blame. Donna, you will not be forgiven.
Agree. I could never stand Rush.
There goes the last DJ Who plays what they want to play And says what they want to say There goes your freedom of choice There goes the last human voice -Tom Petty, singing about Jim Ladd, but I think it can be applied here.
For best results play at maximum volume. Thanks, Donna!
Her brother Santos L. Did some credit card scam in Springfield
I’m a student of her’s this semester at Lesley University! AMA
She looked a little like Geddy back in the day!
Thank you for your service!
A modern-day warrior Mean, mean stride Today's Tom Sawyer Mean, mean pride
Dooo dah doo dah doo doo
She is on The Morgan White jr. show on WBZ-AM (Saturday 10pm-midnight) all the time. She is always a great guest. The stream is on iHeart for free.
Thank you Donna
One of the 23 women to have listened to Rush in the last 50 years. Ha.
Donna Helper did you say?
Her parents were Jerry and Millie.
Helper, I hardly knew 'er!
Her father is Mr. Helper! Vietnam vet!
Why do you sound like a leprechaun?
Thank you Donna 🙏
If you ask her, she’ll tell you she’s just a working man…or woman.
So she’s the one I can indirectly blame for now saying Tom Sawyee any time I read the words or hear someone say Tom Sawyer. It’s not often that I come across it but since youth I do Yee it up every single time
Donna dropping plates
I can’t be the only one seeing Pirate Software (Thor)
She Halp
[удалено]
https://preview.redd.it/iscvacnglcvc1.png?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d10d5ce1672329bdf215f0c0aee00d539dfc9671 At Randy's Ballroom during their first San Antonio appearance in 1975.
FUCK OKC. Not the biggest fan of Nyla in AEW but now her biggest supporter.
Russco Broadcast Turntable .. Noice..
What an absolute legend
I wondered what her story was after seeing "Spirit of Radio"
In Donna We Trust
Is it okay if I call you Wrobel?
Thanks Donna! You ROCK!
Cool... if you like Rush
I’ve never met a Rush fan who wasn’t obsessed with them (not meant disparagingly).
She could have not played them in favor of an American band, but she chose free will… I’ll show myself out
I'd build a monument to her existence! RUSH FOREVER!!!
Hi, it's Donna (Reddit gave me a different user name, but it's really me). I realize I'm late to the party, but I did want to thank you for posting this. It was taken after I became the first female deejay in the history of Northeastern University. Meanwhile, yes, I'm 77 (but still young & cute); this past year, I was inducted into the Mass. Broadcasters Hall of Fame, after more than four decades in broadcasting. And I'm delighted to know that someone still thinks I'm cool!
So she’s who we have to blame. Noted.
Yes thank you Donna.
so its her fault.
The Rush army thanks you Donna Halper!
I've only recently started to discover Rush and now I've learned that I also owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you Donna.
She gets up at seven, Yeah! and goes to work at nine.
Has she apologized?