launched their first big hit (Remember “Meet Virginia?”) Plus readers got a first look at MTV’s Dr. Drew and the scoop on his Loveline show with sidekick Adam Corolla. September 1999 featured a comedian from the tobacco fields of Virginia who had already made his mark in the campus market. Colleges had already been clamoring for Anthony Clarke, a young comic with a soft Southern accent, whose honest, blue collar brand of humor and earnest manner catapulted him to the top. It is amazing how many real stars have found their roots in the campus market and Anthony Clarke was one of them. This story was about his success on college campuses that gained him the attention of Castle Rock Entertainment. and a deal for a mid-season sitcom. Plus in this issue you got to meet a new music
sensation, Howie Day and the high-energy band from the film Titanic, Gaelic Storm. October 1999: This year’s music issue was a tribute to Aware Records, A company that successfully launched the career of many developing music artists. The starting point for many artists under the Columbia/Sony Music brand, readers got to find out just how the company operated. Aware alumni included Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, Pat Monahan of Train and Adam Gardner of Guster. We also delivered a feature story on the Christian music of David Kauffman along with contemporary picks Smash Mouth, Soul Coughing and Citizen King. Other top picks included Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Marcy Playground, Chris LeDoux, David Ball, Steve Wariner, Angry Salad, Saffire, Mary Wilson w/ The Supremes. November 1999’s cover story was a feature on Brent Scarpo’s Journey To A Hate-Free Millennium with special interviews with Dennie & Judy Shepard, the parents of James Byrd, Jr. and responses from the Colombine High School Memorial. We also had a special feature on Black Artists with an introduction to Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers. January 2000 covered the world’s most famous comedy dynasty, The Second City. No other organization in history has
delivered so much laughter from its alumni. There was a special feature on one of NYC’s funniest people, Lewis Black and the fresh Christan sound of Bebo Norman. February 2000’s cover was the history making coast-to-coast bicycle ride of campus comedian and musician, Mike Rayburn. And we featured some of the best current speakers including Wendi Fox, Bob Harris Famous Amos and more. March 2000 honored the Reader’s Choice Awards winners. The Spencers took both Performing Arts Artists of the Year and the coveted Entertainers of the Year. Beth Wood won Best Club Performer; 1964: The Tribute again won Best Large Venue; Teresa won Best Country Performer; Faith Hill won Best Major Performer; Creative Dating won Best Lecture; Craig Carmean won Best Comedian; Craig Karges became one of the most-winning artists in the awards by taking Best Live Novelty Performance, Best Novelty Games was Wax Hands, Campus Program of the Year was University of Akron RHPB and Agency of the Year was Auburn Moon Agency. April 2000 featured Weird Al’s campus tour and we went back in history with Al Franken as we talked about his history with SNL and the message he was bringing to college campuses. We also went on the road with Craig Karges. August 2000 included not only a special interview with Shawn Wayans but a clean, silly and funny look at Buzz Sutherland. We offered out comedy picks for 2001 and did a special look at a young comedian, Eddie Ifft and his success in the campus market.