Disc jockey continues odyssey
He lost his voice and some of his confidence had begun to fade, but nationwide support and encouragement from family and friends have helped Cal U disc jockey Marc London continue on to his 80th hour of live broadcasting with no sleep. London had to save his voice Thursday and could not come to the phone for an interview, so his mother, Laurie London of McClellandtown, spoke for him.
“It’s gotten rough,” Laurie London said of her son’s efforts to broadcast live for a full 120 hours without sleep to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer’s disease. “He’s saving his voice, because it’s beginning to go, but he is still pressing on.”
London has been broadcasting live from the university’s radio station, 91.9 FM, WVCS, Power 92, since Monday in honor of his father, Ira T. London, who ironically passed away only hours before London began “London’s Marathon for Memory.”
At the completion of his endeavors, London will have broken a Guinness Book world record for consecutive on-air hours performed by a single DJ. The current record is 103 hours held by a DJ in Sweden.
Laurie London said her son is starting to look tired and at times is struggling to hang on.
“I think he is beginning to have some doubts that he can continue the whole thing. But he’s working on it,” she said, “and he is not alone.”
London is far from being alone. The station is buzzing with excitement from pop-in visits from fellow DJs and friends to a constant flow of incoming calls from listeners, well-wishers, media and local businesses who continue to donate prizes for on-air giveaways.
“The response has been overwhelming,” London said Wednesday as he approached his 54th hour. “I’ve done interviews with media from Oregon, Canada and the state of California. I’ve received calls from people I played Little League with as a kid. So many people call and say, ‘You probably won’t remember me, but,’ and it’s weird because I do remember them. It’s a good feeling, it’s overwhelming.”
Laurie London said people have been stopping by the station dropping off checks, students have made banners in support of London’s effort and “Charity Bears,” a national organization dedicated to supporting charities, voluntarily sent a box of beanie bears to the station for giveaways.
Sue Smith, director of the Greater Pittsburgh Alzheimer Association, who was at the station Thursday, said more than $600 in donations have been personally dropped off at the radio station and that doesn’t include those pledged online and through the mail or money raised through the online auction.
“This is great. The students here are great. They’re making banners and dropping in to show their support. I’m so impressed that all these young people would rally around and support a cause that is typically not an interest of young adults. What Marc’s doing for our organization is incredible. It’s certainly different from anything we’ve ever tried.”
Laurie London brought a picture of London’s father to the station to keep him motivated. She said that and the support of his friends should see him through.
“His friends are really rallying behind him. I’ve brought a picture of his father and told him, ‘This is what you’re doing this for, this is not about the world record, it’s about your dad and especially his memory.’ I think that is helping him get over the hump.”
A nurse checks London’s vitals every couple of hours and as of Thursday afternoon, he was doing fine. London said Wednesday that he has down periods then will have a sudden burst of energy. Laurie London said the same was true Thursday.
Marc’s wife, Rebecca, who has walking pneumonia, has stayed with him much of the time. She and a group of Marc’s friends make-up a lively atmosphere, one that would make sleeping next to impossible, even if you’re exhausted.
London admitted at times that could make things confusing. He has a lot of responsibilities. To break the world record, Guinness Book requires that he announce every song he plays and he cannot play the same song or a song on the same album within three hours.
“It gets hectic at times. Everyone gets excited and it makes it hard for me, but when there’s only three of us in here, and it gets quiet, I’m struggling to stay awake. It’s like a double-edged sword.”
So, for London’s own good, there is never a dull moment at the station and the small broadcasting area looks more like the aftermath of a teen-age sleepover than a radio station, with pop cans, food containers and bags of potato chips scattered atop his work station.
His friends, most of them fellow disc jockeys, make jokes and keep London on his toes.
They teased him as he played “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen again, but a sleep-deprived London, laughed and said he didn’t remember playing the song at all during the marathon.
“Sleep deprivation is an interesting thing,” London said on the air.
When asked if he was getting delirious, London’s wife replied, “He’s been delirious since birth.”
Amanda Kash, best friend and former co-host, agreed and said the sleep-deprived London is a more sane London.
But with all the teasing, London’s friends and fellow disc jockeys said they are very proud of him.
“He’s putting us on the national map because of interviews across the country. He’s brought exposure to the station that we never would have got, but the greater goal is Alzheimer’s disease, and we hope people realize the importance,” said Matt Konrad, former disc jockey and friend.