In the summer of 2009, I interviewed Davy Jones of The Monkees–an interview I have shared and re-shared on this blog. But that summer also found me hopping on the long distance phone lines to chat with Ron Dante.
Ron Dante provided the singing voice of Archie. Known in the pages of “Life With Archie”, “Archie’s Pals and Gals”, “Archie’s Scientology Adventures” and “Archie at Riverdale High.” (One of those might be made up.) As with my Davy interview, the super-swell Corey Sorenson–then an account executive for our radio stations–made the Dante chat possible. When (if?) you listen to the audio you’ll hear me plug an upcoming concert appearance in Deadwood. I find folks are very willing to chat about their past so long as you weave in those plugs for their current activities.
When I listen to this interview I notice a significant difference between it and the Davy Jones interview: Ron Dante had a scheduled time to be by his phone, and when I called–questions and details in hand–he answered! Davy Jones, on the other hand, did not answer at the appointed time. But he did call the next morning, leaving me scampering down the hall to get my interview notes and do the interview live on my morning show. Every time I listen to it I can hear myself panting and huffing and puffing for the first couple of minutes.
Ron Dante was a great interview, and the conversation is filled with little nuggets of music trivia. He’s had a truly remarkable career! And I saw him in concert! When Kroheim and I went to the Happy Together tour in Deadwood back in 2018, Dante was filling in for Howard Kaylan of The Turtles. I was so over the moon from seeing The Association live on stage that I didn’t think to yell out, “Hey Ron Dante! I’m the Nebraska radio guy who interviewed you nine years ago!!!!”
Anyway, here’s the interview, beginning with the obligatory testimonial…still airs on the morning show every day in a trio with Davy and Righteous Brother Bill Medley. I like doing these kinds of interviews. They happen rarely so I try to be appreciative when one does avail itself.
Oh!!!! And….ehhhhh……just one more thing. Ron Dante sang one of the cheesiest, earwormiest, 80’s-riffic TV theme songs of all time: