8 Strawberry Bank Rd.

Suite 20

Nashua, New Hampshire

 
    On a wonderful 85 degree day, I was sitting poolside in Florida, waiting for some friends. I set my towels on three chaise lounges next to an older, good-looking man and sat down to wait. When a third friend showed up, I realized I did not have enough lounges for all of them.

   Suddenly, my neighbor said, "I can move over a chaise to make room for your friends."

   I was about to decline, when I had to do a double-take. That voice – that unforgettable voice – was embedded in my memory. Without thinking, I blurted out, "Who are you? You're famous."

   He smiled like the Cheshire cat and finally said, "I'm Dave Maynard."

    "Wow," I replied. "You're Dave Maynard. WBZ, Boston." I fairly gushed, "I listened to you every morning on the radio from the time I was four years old. I am so pleased to meet you."

   When I came home, I told practically everyone I know: my husband, my parents back in Marblehead, Mass., my sister, who also lives in Marblehead, my older kids in New Hampshire, my youngest son in Florida, and everyone else I could think of. Holy Cow! I thought. I was thrilled to meet an accomplished celebrity who lived here in my own neighborhood.

    Four months later, I was collecting signatures to run for the Florida State Senate. When I rang one doorbell, I was shocked when the door was opened by Dave Maynard. "Hi, Dave," I blurted.

   Without waiting for the reason I was there, he invited me in and offered me a cold drink. More than an hour passed while he regaled me with stories of the people he had met during his radio and television days in Boston. I was fascinated with his humorous stories and I hung on every word. I could close my eyes and listen to his voice – that amazing voice.

    After that election (which I lost), I said to my husband, "I think I would like to write down the stories Dave told me, so the family can pass them down to the grandchildren. Do you think he would let me do it?"

   My husband smiled and said, "Well, you won't know unless you ask."

   About 2 ½ years and about 64,000 words later, The Dave Maynard Spin was born. When we had collaborated on around two thirds of the book, Dave said he would like to see the book published.

   These stories are heartwarming. Many are hilarious. They are a tribute to a lifetime spent working in radio and television. Many who remember those times would say the effort was, "a piece of cake." The stories range from Dave's time spent as a private eye to his interviews of some of the most prominent statesmen in the world, much of it filled with the wit and humor he was quick to share with us all.

    In addition, he tossed in some classic one-liners and even a few health tips. In some cases, we had to change the names to protect the innocent . . . or not so innocent.

   Working with Dave on this book was like attending the Dave Maynard School of Broadcasting. I watched tapes of some hysterical commercials: Challenging Boston Celtics great, Robert Parrish, to a one-on-one basketball competition; a boxing match with middleweight champion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler; and Dave in drag, exercising with Richard Simmons. All promoted Maynard in the Morning, his WBZ radio program.

   There were trunks full of photos documenting 22 years of traveling the world, leading tours. In addition, there were hundreds of pages of jokes he used, newspaper and magazine articles, and the many recognitions and awards he won over the years. The single element Dave had in abundance was passion; passion for the music, passion for his curiosity, passion which showed through his energy, the energy of at least eight men.

   During the preparation of this book, I was uplifted by his gift of gab, his dry humor, his enrichment of lives by reading, listening and remembering his words.

   You will be too.

Suzan Franks

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