In some ways, Eddie Money was unconventional. How many former cops become rocks stars? Rockers are supposed to be anti-establishment, not part of it. Musically, his critics ripped him for being too conventional in the era of Corporate Rock, however you define that.

Whatevs… I loved Eddie Money. Always did, always will. Yes, he was not your typical bad boy rocker, though he had his demons to be sure, but his raspy vocals were always heartfelt. He opted for ties and suit coats on stage and played saxophone, not exactly the sexiest or coolest of images, but that didn’t matter to his legion of fans like me.

His death Friday at the age of 70 came rather quickly after just learning of his late-stage esophageal cancer diagnosis just a month earlier in August. This week on my Doc’s Deep Dive segment, I’ll play some of his songs you don’t hear on radio anymore or very little.

At my first radio job in Big Rapids, MI, in the late 80’s, my first stage announcement before a rock concert was for Eddie Money’s show in the summer of ’89 at the Ferris State University football field. His career was already starting to wane, and there were probably only 1-2,000 fans in attendance for the outdoor show. I didn’t even get to meet him, but did see him backstage. One thing any Eddie Money fan or media personality who met him would say is that he was always friendly and always put his heart into his live shows.

It was sad to hear of his passing last week – our rock heroes are departing regularly now – but his music and memories it evokes will live on here at your home for classic rock in Peoria, 95.5, GLO. Enjoy these somewhat forgotten Money Man tunes:

M, 9/16, Peace in our Time

Tu, 9/17, I’ll Get By

W, 9/18, Trinidad

Th, 9/19, Looking Through The Eyes Of A Child

F, 9/20, You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me

Doc Watson