Quote:
Originally Posted by dilanesp
By the way, since I know the guy takes a beating on accuracy (and I think accuracy is important!), let me say something nice about Grunder. He truly has a unique voice. It's not cookie cutter. There used to be more announcers who had really unique vocal tones and were associated with specific tracks or circuits- think Harry Henson, or Phil Georgeff, or Trevor Denman.
In the music business, they would say that Grunder was "blessed with a unique instrument". You heard that voice coming out of a speaker anywhere and, love him or hate him, you knew that it was a race at Tampa Bay Downs.
In that sense, Grunder will be hard to replace.
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Excellent post. Richard's voice and style allowed us to immediately know it was Tampa Bay Downs. That kind of branding IMO is very important in the very competitive world of race track signals.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Richard for many years. What I've always admired most about him is consistency of character.
Even if it had been years between conversations you'd immediately feel like you were talking every day with him.
A truly unconditionally nice man.
TB has some VERY big shoes to fill. The racing there will never be the same.
I hope he does come back to Oaklawn so I can personally congratulate him on an exemplary career.
Maybe I can get him to call one?
