GREEN TWP. -- Family and friends remember with laughter the crazy antics, funny stories and kindness of former DJ, record company owner and author Shad O'Shea. Born Howard Norman Lovdal, Mr. O'Shea died Friday June 5, 2009 at the VA Medical Center. He was 77. "In the 25 years I've known Shad, there was only one thing bigger than his sense of humor and 6-foot-6-inch frame. That was his heart," said Terry Armor, former Enquirer graphics editor.His son Scott Lovdal of Mount Washington said his father "was a phenomenal storyteller. He was extremely interesting, to put it mildly. He really loved me and my brother." Scott said his father enjoyed conversation, being with family and enjoyed his five grandchildren. "He gave me all the tools I needed to succeed in life," said his other son, Stewart of Milford. "He had an answer for everything outside the textbooks."

Cliff Radel, an Enquirer writer, said one of Mr. O'Shea's greatest gifts, aside from his humor and abilities, was to cheer up people. "He was an incredible joker. He'd leave these phone messages, imitating other people like Henry Kissinger. His sign-off on radio was "This is Shadley O'Hadley, the badly dadley from Cincinnadley who loves you madly."

Mr. O'Shea was born in Sacramento, Calif. in 1931. He earned a bachelor's degree from Sacramento State University and served in the U.S Air Force. He worked in radio in San Diego, New Orleans and St. Louis before moving to Cincinnati in 1963 to join another disc jockey, Mike Gavin, at WCPO-AM, a top 40 rock station at the time. Their program included playing three or four records an hour, telling jokes and playing characters. Although they lost their disc jockey jobs when WCPO-AM was sold in 1966, the two remained friends. "He was the dearest, most loyal friend I ever had," said Gavin. "We had 45 years as great pals. We had the best time insulting each other. He liked nothing more than telling a few jokes and making people laugh."

Mr. O'Shea went on to start Counterpart Creative Studios in Cheviot. "At the time, it was a state-of-the-art facility," said his son Scott. "He made tons and tons of music. He worked with James Brown, Mike Reid and others. Midnight Star recorded their album "No Parking on the Dance Floor" in his Cheviot Studio. He worked with a lot of people who got their start in Cincinnati."   In 1975, he purchased Fraternity Records, the oldest, continuously operating independent record label. "He was a wide-ranging producer, from country to comedy to R&B to novelties. He had gold and platinum records on the wall," said Radel. "He never took himself too seriously but he was a very serious about promoting the artists he recorded and proud of what he did."

In 1999, Mr. O'Shea was honored at the Legends of Rock 'n' Roll III. He wrote several books, including "Just for the Record," "Common Sense and the Music Business" and "Beware . . . the Song Shark," all books that not only teach the business but warn of unscrupulous people and practices in the industry. He also taught classes at University of Cincinnati, Southern Ohio College and in seminars.

Webster was an unofficial mayoral candidate in Cheviot in 1998 and rode with his campaign manager, Mr. O'Shea, in the Harvest Home Parade. In 1999, Webster served as Mr. O'Shea's "campaign manager" when Mr. O'Shea ran for a Colerain Township trustee.

A memorial service and party was held to celebrate Mr. O'Shea's life at 6:30 p.m. Thursday June 11, 2009 at the Twin Lanterns Reception Hall, 6191 Harrison Ave., Dent, OH.

Hillside Chapel Cremation Co. and Niedhard-Minges Funeral Home are serving the family. Memorials may be made to the Sugar Bear Dog and Cat Rescue. P.O. Box 68, Blue Creek, OH 45616.

Condolences may be sent to www.neidhardminges.com.

By Karen Andrew This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

A native Californian, and a veteran of both the broadcast and music industry, Shad O'Shea has an uncommon ability to entertain as he informs. He was one of America's top radio personalities in San Diego, New Orleans, St. Louis, and Cincinnati.

After leaving the broadcast industry, he built Counterpart Creative Studios. The state-of-the-art facility attracted artists such as Aerosmith, Todd Rundgren, Bootsy Collins, Livingston Taylor, Mike Reid, Midnight Star, The Zap Band with Roger and Larry Trout, Leonard Bernstein and many more. Bernstein's world-famous work, The Mass, was recorded in its entirety at Counterpart Creative Studios, in Cincinnati. For years, the studio also recorded for other major labels and worked with dozens of other nationally known recording artists. Shad was instrumental in starting the careers of such superstars as Mike Reid and Charlie Daniels. It was also at Counterpart Creative Studios where Midnight Star's album "No Parking on the Dance Floor," was recorded in its entirety. From that album came five #1 national singles and the album eventually went triple platinum!

Counterpart Creative Studios was the choice of such R&B and funk superstars as Bootsie Collins, Larry and Roger Troutman, known as the "ZAP Band," L. A. Reid of L.A. Reid of "Babyface," Melba Moore, the Ohio Players, and the internationally renown works of Manzel Bush, now being re-released world wide on 10" and CD recordings. Manzel's works are probably the most pirated, boot-legged and sampled recordings in the world.

After years in the studio business, Shad wrote his first book, entitled "Just For the Record," the book Grammy Magazine called, in its full page review, "The finest book ever written on the subject, the subject being the music and recording business as seen by an insider with over thirty years experience."

Several years after the release of "Just For the Record," Shad wrote two more books, "Common Sense and the Music Business," and "Beware…the Song Shark." These two books were also received with great enthusiasm by the music industry. Following the three books, a video was produced, entitled "Just For the Record." The video, which Music Industry Focus says is "the most practical, finest video ever made about this crazy business of music."

While operating Counterpart Creative Studios, Shad also went on the road with America's most successful music business seminar, "One Full Day With Shad O'Shea." For seven years, Shad O'Shea, Shelley Starke, Larry Boden, and Bob Monaco toured America to sold out crowds of four to five hundred people. While running the studio and doing the seminars, Shad was very active as a radio and television spokesman for such clients as the Ford Motor Company. Shad was the official voice of the Ford Motor Company for seventeen years in the Midwest. He had written and produced all of their radio and television commercials during that time - approximately ten advertising campaigns per year.

Shad O'Shea's voice was heard throughout America on national radio and television for such clients as Dodge-Plymouth, White-Westinghouse, the Ideal Toy Company, and Cintas, "The Uniform People." He wrote and produced broadcast commercials for more than 500 clients.

As a song writer, record producer and recording artist, he has written and produced over 100 nationally released novelty records, and is the featured artist on a 6-volume CD set of collector's recordings.

O'Shea purchased Fraternity Records, America's oldest, continuously operating independent record label in 1975. He has, to date, put over fifty newcomers on the national Top 100 charts. Shad also taught courses in radio, television, music production and TV and record production at the University of Cincinnati and Southern Ohio College.

Shad's walls are lined with gold, platinum, double platinum, and triple platinum recordings by established stars on major labels. One of Shad's novelty records, nationally released on the Sun Label, titled, "Goodbye Sam," was listed by Michael Ochs, world reknown record archivist, as one of the top 10n greatest records ever made that didn't become a hit.

Shad's Fraternity record label is also parent to two very successful music publishing companies, with a total of over 2000 copyrights between them. Shad's first work of fiction, titled "FOURPLAY," is presently in pre-production for a national major movie release.

As a record producer and consultant for song writers and recording artists, Shad O'Shea has help, to date, more than 50 newcomers on the national and regional Top 100 Charts. Shad's experience and background are unique. Few, if any, offers songwriters and artist such a rich source of information and encouragement.