1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:01,200 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 2: Mariam Alido would be on from ten to noon. 3 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 3: We'd have Scott Muni hour from noon to one, and 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 3: then Maria would come up and finish and do one 5 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 3: to three. And I said, Maria, don't be upset that 6 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 3: we're breaking up your show, because that hour is going 7 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 3: to boost your overall ten to three rating and you're 8 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 3: going to make some ratings bonuses. 9 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: And she did. 10 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: It was a very successful hour. 11 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 4: Welcome to this episode of Taking a Walk. Buzz Night 12 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 4: as your host and he loves talking to his radio 13 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,479 Speaker 4: comrades from his past. Today his guest is Bill Weston, 14 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 4: legendary rock radio programmer, leader of the great WMMR and 15 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 4: WMGK in Philly and one of the finest in the business. 16 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 4: Bill spent forty five years as an esteemed program director 17 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 4: at great radio stations all over the country. Bill Weston 18 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 4: joins Buzz Night next on Taking a Walk. 19 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: So I'm so excited. 20 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 5: We're in the lobby of the glorious Warwick Hotel in 21 00:00:58,640 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 5: Rittenhouse Square. 22 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 3: Like probably the perfect acoustic environment. 23 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 5: Well, this is where we start the taking a Walk 24 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 5: and sive that audio verite. Yes, okay, So nice to 25 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 5: see you and to be in your town, Philadelphia A. 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 3: I was reminded I have not been downtown in quite 27 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 3: some time. So when I was coming down to Park 28 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 3: and I was walking up a walnut and seeing the 29 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 3: piles of trash and the homeless and the panhandlers, It's like, 30 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 3: I've really missed downtown. 31 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: Well, this is big city life. Of course. Now I 32 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: will say I was here last year roughly at this time, 33 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: and we had a nice. 34 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 5: Dinner in this same area here, in fact, I think 35 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 5: the same spot that we're going to dinner later, but 36 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 5: we didn't get a chance to record an episode of 37 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 5: the podcast. So now I hit the jack pot. I'm 38 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 5: not only able to have dinner with you, but we're 39 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 5: also going to record an episode. 40 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 3: I'm honored and excited. 41 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 5: So I thought, rather than winding through the career of 42 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 5: Bill Weston from the beginning, which I often do in 43 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 5: terms of. 44 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: My radio friend guests on the podcast, I. 45 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 5: Prefer to start at the present or work backwards, because 46 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 5: the Philadelphia part of your career, and we could start 47 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 5: sauntering if you'd like to, the Philadelphia part of your 48 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 5: career has been such a long standing, amazing run, and 49 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 5: we don't want that headline to get buried. 50 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: So how long have you been in Philadelphia? 51 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 3: First of all, oh, my god, I remember coming up 52 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,519 Speaker 3: I ninety five from Richmond. 53 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: I'm waiting for the revolve door. 54 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 3: From Richmond, that horrible, horrible drive in two thousand and four, 55 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: and having dinner with you and Checkey, yes, the inimitable 56 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: mister fine Blat, Yes, at La Colina right there in 57 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 3: many Unk and starting this amazing run. Yeah, but yeah, 58 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 3: two thousand and four. 59 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 1: Wow, time flies? My god? Is that the longest ten 60 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: year old gig for you? In your criber? 61 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 2: Bye? 62 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 3: By like twounds? I think the other the second longest 63 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 3: stop would be maybe eight years that I did in Providence. 64 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: Okay, you know at whj Y. We'll get to that. 65 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 66 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 5: But so did you go into the job having any 67 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 5: idea how long you'd be here? 68 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: Of course you didn't know me. I know you didn't know. 69 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: I mean I didn't I didn't know what was going 70 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 3: to be, but I knew that it was a good opportunity. 71 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: I felt like you had my back. I felt like 72 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 3: Fred had my back, and Rick and subsequently John Fulham. 73 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 3: But I didn't know right it was like it was 74 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 3: better than where I was because Richmond was in a 75 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 3: state of yeah, not turmoil, flux. So I didn't want 76 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 3: to move and change schools and all that stuff for 77 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 3: my cousin, but I did it. I said, let's take 78 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 3: a swing because it was a major market, which you know, 79 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 3: I didn't do so well in New York, right, But okay, 80 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 3: so Philly's top ten. 81 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 6: Let's see if we can make something happen. I felt 82 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 6: that Greater. 83 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 3: Media had a lot of resources and that they really 84 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 3: wanted to win, and if you're rated thirteenth, it's like, 85 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 3: really nowhere to go but up. 86 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: So but I had no idea it would run this long. 87 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 5: And Greater Media had tried to recruit you to go 88 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 5: to Detroit, mister Tom Bender. 89 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, brought you in. 90 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 3: I went up there and I interviewed because I was like, 91 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 3: you can't hurt, right, Let's talk to these people and 92 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 3: see what they're all about. I like Tom a lot. 93 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 3: Detroit didn't scare me because I'm from the Buffalo area, 94 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 3: but it scared the crap. 95 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: Out of my wife. She said, absolutely not. 96 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: I didn't realize that. 97 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: Yes, Connie had a bit. 98 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 3: She says, look, if we got to go someplace, we're 99 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 3: not going to Detroit. 100 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 7: So since when is your wife Connie so directed her thoughts, 101 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 7: Oh my god, Oh well, I'm saying that lovingly, but yes, 102 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 7: and you know what. 103 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 2: Here's here's a great observation. 104 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 3: As an army brant, she moved around a ton in 105 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 3: her youth. So when we moved from Savannah to Buffalo, 106 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 3: to Providence to New York, the Providence to. 107 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: Richmond, she was okay, right, but. 108 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we we we took a we took a swing, 109 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 3: and here we are. 110 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: But just to go back on Detroit for a second. 111 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: That period of time, though. 112 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 7: For Detroit as a big city, it was a tough 113 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 7: period in a sense, experience a greater resurgence. 114 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, as a city, I think there's some some shine 115 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 3: put back on the apple there, right. But yeah, in 116 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 3: two thousand and two, maybe two thousand and three, I 117 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: think might have been in early really two thousands, it 118 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 3: was just kind of like how do I get out 119 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 3: of Richmond, which really was a quality of life move. 120 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 3: I wasn't really there to make any great strides, but 121 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 3: the company that owned the station was I don't know, 122 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 3: the guy leading it was a little psychotic, believe it there, Yeah, I. 123 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 7: Leave it right there now, you had known WMMR certainly 124 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 7: as a guy who followed the industry. 125 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: Right when I was in all those smaller markets starting 126 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,679 Speaker 3: out a blow as a music director in the early 127 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 3: eighties or. 128 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: Gosh, where did I go? 129 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 3: It was in Courtland and whatever. I'd always read in 130 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 3: the trades and see all these great pictures of WMMR. 131 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 3: This guy, quickly, I think, was the promotions director. And 132 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 3: it was the Zoo years with the Bella And. 133 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 5: By the way, this coincidental that we're walking around rittenhow 134 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 5: Square as well, because MMR was here at that time. 135 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 3: I believe, and they did some amazing things. Their pictures 136 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 3: were always in the trades with famous rock musicians or 137 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 3: doing some crazy promotion to go, wow, that station has 138 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 3: got it going on, right. 139 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: It was really the bigger than life attitude. 140 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was like, yeah, now Philadelphia has a little 141 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 3: bit of not like Detroit, but you know, Philadelphia is 142 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 3: a a little grit, a little bit of a grit 143 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 3: on the city around. You know, it's a blue collar towns. 144 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: It's not It's not La although it's probably worse out here. 145 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 3: I know, I'm getting off the track, but yeah, so 146 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 3: Philadelphia as a lifestyle move was I didn't know what 147 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: to expect. But living in the suburbs here's like the 148 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 3: living in the suburbs in Cleveland or Pittsburgh or anywhere else. 149 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 6: It's like you find your spot and then to make 150 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 6: a home. 151 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 5: And then you certainly stumble upon this morning show up 152 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 5: by the name of. 153 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: Precedent Steve, which has done It's like, okay. 154 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: Oh my god, the smartest thing I ever did. Now, 155 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: I'd like to say, hiring D. 156 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: Snyder to do Knights was this one the smartest thing 157 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 3: I ever did. That was a John Fullham thing. John says, look, 158 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 3: we need to do something. Early on, nothing was going on. 159 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: He said, we need to do something to make some noise. 160 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 2: So we put D. 161 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 3: Snyder in a seven and midnight and built them a 162 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 3: studio in his Long Island house and whatever. But no, 163 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 3: he said, look, you gotta find a morning show. That 164 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 3: was John's marching orders. And he gave me six to 165 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 3: eight months, and we started talking to people and flying 166 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 3: people in solo guys, teams, new people, established shows, and 167 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 3: right in our backyard with these guys, you hucking it 168 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 3: up every morning, and they're pretty good. They're pretty good. 169 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 3: It was kind of the obvious. 170 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: Choice in the end, and it's a beautiful story. 171 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 5: I mean, it's still massively successful, and obviously it's a 172 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 5: centerpiece to an amazing radio station that is still day 173 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 5: in and day out doing amazing things for the city 174 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 5: of Philadelphia. 175 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 3: I really admit that those coattails of theirs of the 176 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 3: Preston Steve Show, I am hanging on tight. Hey. You 177 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 3: know what is they're good people and they still work hard. 178 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 3: Most of them still really work hard at the show. 179 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 3: And eighteen years in of being number one by double 180 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 3: so no coasting at all. And that's pretty admirable because 181 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 3: when you achieve a level of success and you've got 182 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 3: guaranteed contracts and you've got all of this stability to think, well, 183 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 3: they could, but they don't. They still really care deeply 184 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 3: about the show and the audience. 185 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 7: But said could be said for the rest of the 186 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 7: staff at WMMR too, right. I mean it's just embedded 187 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 7: in the thinking for that radio station to just care 188 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 7: about what they do. 189 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that even the president the Thief Show 190 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 3: would admit that they're. 191 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 2: Not as big as the station. 192 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 3: The brand of WMMR with its fifty four years and 193 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 3: it's Pierre Robert forty one years and at the station 194 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 3: and still having talent that would take chances on, like 195 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 3: with Jackie Bam Bam and you know Brent in the afternoon. 196 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 2: So yeah, they would they would agree. 197 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 3: That it's the station brand, but but president and Steve 198 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 3: and and Pierre and everybody else may make it a 199 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 3: special place. 200 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 5: And then you stumble into the Southern radio station in 201 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 5: the building that they handed you the keys to named 202 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:18,599 Speaker 5: w m g K. 203 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: How much fun has that been being with that group? 204 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 8: Well, you know when when uh, when that was handed 205 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 8: to me, I was like, oh gee, thanks, I'm really uh. 206 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 3: Back in the old days where you know, MMR was 207 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 3: this sovereign nation, it was like it had its own everything, 208 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 3: so on programmers, O music director, own sales staff, O promotions. 209 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 3: Everything was was, uh, what's you know easy to keep 210 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 3: track of? And then okay, all said, I'm gonna dividing 211 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 3: my time with now this and another radios that also 212 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 3: plays led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, and so there's some sharing there, 213 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 3: trying to keep them the wing tip. 214 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: The wing tip, I don't know it was. 215 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,719 Speaker 6: First off, it was hard, but there was a there 216 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 6: was an office on. 217 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: The third floor where MGK studios were, and then there 218 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:23,839 Speaker 3: was the MMR office on the fourth floor, so there 219 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 3: was a little bit of a When I would go 220 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 3: down those stairs, it would help me kind of like 221 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: you know, reset, like, Okay, who am I talking to? 222 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 3: What are the issues, what's what's the what's. 223 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: The psyche of the station? 224 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 3: And you know, but I didn't want them ever to 225 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 3: feel like they were second citizens, you know. 226 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 2: So that was the That was a tough part. 227 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 6: But it turned out, Okay, they're also doing pretty well. 228 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 3: You know, they're they're like the top rated station in 229 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 3: Philly in the UH in the June book sixth plus, 230 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 3: which is like, wow, that's like, that's everybody, you know. 231 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 3: Granted a lot of their audiences is fifty five plus 232 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 3: and that's the challenge. But if you talk about every 233 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 3: radio listener in Philadelphia, most of them listen to MGK, 234 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 3: which is pretty cool. 235 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 5: But then go back to the Providence period, because I 236 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 5: think it is worth jumping around a little bit because 237 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 5: that this is good. 238 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 2: Rather than a chronological approach, Why. 239 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 5: Make it easy for people to understand what to make 240 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:30,599 Speaker 5: it as difficult as possible. 241 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: If they don't know. Okay, I'm getting up for that, 242 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: but no, WHKY quite a legendary station to this day. 243 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 5: What are the similarities do you think between HJY and 244 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 5: a WMMR. 245 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, obviously WMR major market a lot more 246 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 3: at stake, the value of the property, the price of 247 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:03,959 Speaker 3: the spons is kind of elevated. But both rock stations 248 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 3: with that irreverence, with that. 249 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: Not naughtiness. 250 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 2: Naughtiness doesn't but. 251 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 3: You know, like to get in trouble a little bit, 252 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 3: you know, pushing the boundaries. That very similar, you know, 253 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 3: because when you that's why I've been. 254 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 2: In rock radio, I think all this time, because there's 255 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 2: always been. 256 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 3: That kind of element of fun pushing, whether it's you know, 257 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 3: the language you use in sweepers, or there's a topical 258 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 3: event you want to cuff that around a little bit, 259 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: make some fun of it. Yeah, I think irreverence is 260 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 3: probably the best way that is very similar for both 261 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 3: of those properties. But in Providence when I started there, MERV. 262 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 3: Griffin owned it one of seven stations he owned that 263 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 3: was it right, And then deregulation happened in the I 264 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 3: don't know eighty nine to ninety whatever that was, and 265 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 3: things all started kind of though, kind of just changing. 266 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: Did you encounter MERV. 267 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, tell me us about like fascinating, fascinating. The videos 268 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: used to use that word a lot, fascinating. He owned 269 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 3: whg Y WHJJ. He also had a station, w m 270 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 3: r V, which I think is in Binghamton, which I 271 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 3: thought was you know nicely, you know a name like 272 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 3: MERV and mar vv. 273 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: Hey he owned it. 274 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, But he came to the station. 275 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: Like a year after I was there. 276 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 3: We did a live broadcast. He came in and sat 277 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 3: in the morning show, and we had a thing at the. 278 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: Station and. 279 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 3: He could go into a room with forty or fifty 280 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 3: people in there and be introduced blah blah blah and 281 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 3: Sammy and Mary and Jimmy and John whatever, and forty 282 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 3: minutes later as he's like maybe leaving the room, every name, 283 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 3: every name, Jimmy, Mary, John, Joe, Mike whatever. He was 284 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 3: really good at I think, looking at people, listening to 285 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 3: what they said when they told them their names, and 286 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 3: it was. 287 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: Like, Wow, that cat is cool. 288 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 3: Plus all, you know, he wrote the Jeopardy theme. 289 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 2: It's like that guy has done amazing. 290 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 3: That was it was cool working for MERV Griffin because 291 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 3: there was that little bit of star power, a little 292 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 3: bit of that uh, you know TV stuff that was 293 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 3: in there. 294 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 5: Did you see him exit the radio business while you 295 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 5: were still working for He sold the station to Mike 296 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 5: Craven and Jim Thompson, which coincidentally have a tie in 297 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:37,359 Speaker 5: with WNMR and Philadelphia. 298 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: Yep. 299 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 3: They bought the MRV properties, called it Liberty Broadcasting, a 300 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 3: couple of other things that they bought, and. 301 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 2: They were they were cool guys. 302 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: I remember getting to go to Aruba for company meetings. 303 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 4: Really, can you imagine. 304 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 3: That we're gonna fly everybody to do a rubb We're 305 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 3: going company meetings? And to their credit, we sat in 306 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 3: a hotel room for like six for seven hours on 307 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 3: both days. 308 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: We were there. 309 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 3: It was like, why did we come to a rube 310 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 3: if we. 311 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 2: Can actually work. 312 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 5: Boondoggle? You made reference to your time in New York City? 313 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 5: How quick was that time? 314 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 3: First time ever been fired? And I wish I could 315 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 3: have been successful, but it was tough. 316 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: It was tough. 317 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 3: I was, you know, eight years into Richmond or into 318 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 3: Whay and ratings were great, kind of I'd managed. I 319 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 3: developed a new morning show. Paul and Al still there 320 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 3: by the way, Oh my god, I think they've been 321 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 3: on the air there since I know thirty years but somebody, 322 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 3: Dave Richards called me. He was on the He was 323 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 3: at across the street at WWRX classic rock station, and 324 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,719 Speaker 3: they could not get arrested with HJY. So when he 325 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 3: moved on, he remembered the work I was doing there, 326 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 3: and he said, there's an opening at waxq Q and 327 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 3: O four New York and you should come down here 328 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 3: and talk to them. So okay, I'll talk to them. 329 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 3: And Jimmy Dicastro was the head Haunchow and Chancellor Media 330 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 3: and he had he'd done the Man Cow thing in Chicago. 331 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 3: He put Man Cow and. 332 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 2: W RCX was it. 333 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 3: I think there was a call this. 334 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 2: They were a big rock station. 335 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 3: They were on fire Chicago, and he'd worked with this 336 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 3: woman at one of their urban properties in San Francisco 337 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 3: named darian O'Toole. His genius move was to bring darian 338 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 3: O'Toole from San Francisco into New York and replicate his 339 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 3: success as he'd done with Man Cow. Now WNW is 340 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 3: still on the air right. Wnw's Classic Rock, and it's 341 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 3: like they still got I think past Saint John was 342 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 3: on and a lot of those famous names. So they 343 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 3: would the heritage classic rock station in New York, and 344 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 3: we're like another classic rock station. So it was they 345 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 3: wanted to take it a little less hits and a 346 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 3: little bit more rock. 347 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: A little harder classic rock. Yeah, they said, okay, we. 348 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 3: Can do that, get an edgy morning show going and whatever. 349 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: Oh boy, it was. It was tough, but it was 350 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 1: a couple of years. 351 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 4: You were there. 352 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 3: I was only there thirteen months, fourteen months. 353 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 5: Got it? 354 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, New York, will they tell me grind you 355 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:27,360 Speaker 1: up and spit you out? 356 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 2: Yeah? 357 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, I sure wish we could have done better. But 358 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 3: I look at them now, they're like they're kicking butt. 359 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 3: You're kicking butt. 360 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: Did you hire Scott Muni? I did? 361 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 3: I did, And I give credit to Amy Winslow for that. 362 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 3: She was music director at at ANYW and I hired 363 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 3: her to come be music director at Q and Scott 364 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 3: was on. I think he might have been his airship 365 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 3: might have been. 366 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,239 Speaker 2: Reduced or whatever. He was having a tough time at 367 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 2: that stage of his career. 368 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 3: But Amy got me a meeting with the guy, and 369 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 3: I remember we met at a fats We met at 370 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 3: some bar and there's Amy and there's Scott and I'm 371 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 3: on the other side of Amy, because I figured she's 372 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 3: going to break the ice whatever, and he was open 373 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 3: to coming to Q and doing more work. And I said, great, 374 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 3: we're going to record this show. It's going to be 375 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 3: a midday, noon. 376 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: Time things show. I don't know, it's got to be live. 377 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 3: And I said, how do you tell a guy who's 378 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: having trouble. I've heard him live on any W and 379 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 3: he would he'd missed a step or two right out 380 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 3: of all respect, but if we could produce a show, 381 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 3: do was so great. We eventually convinced him to do it, 382 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 3: and it was probably the one success I had there 383 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,120 Speaker 3: because the noon hour, Maria Melito would be on from 384 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 3: ten to noon. We'd have Scott Muni Hour from noon 385 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 3: to one, and then Maria would come up and finish 386 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 3: and do one to three. And I said, Maria, don't 387 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 3: be upset that we're breaking up your show, because that 388 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 3: hour is going to boost your overall ten three rating 389 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 3: and you're gonna make some ratings bonuses. And she did 390 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 3: the It was a very successful hour. 391 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 5: And I'm not sure you know this, but Mark turn Off, 392 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 5: my former boss and friend, recorded an episode of this 393 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 5: podcast in. 394 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 1: Central Park and he told me on the episode. He said, 395 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 1: I think it's really cool. How Q one O four 396 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: point three. 397 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 5: Still to this day does the Beatles thing kind of 398 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 5: almost contribute to Scott in that regard. 399 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's what he would always insist on starting out 400 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 3: every show at noon with the Beatles song. Yeah, it 401 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 3: was kind of his thing. Yeah, that was cool. I 402 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 3: wish it was a mess I did. I hired Mark, 403 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 3: but he got to call you Fats. 404 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: Did he call you Fats? I don't know, maybe once 405 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: or twice. 406 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 3: It was it was an honor. I mean, the guy. 407 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 4: It was a true legend. 408 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 2: I mean, the Beatles stuff and all that, all that history. 409 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 1: And Lenin and you were saying, you hired somebody. 410 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 3: I hired Mark to do afternoons. Now at the time, 411 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 3: we were again we were looking to do anything. And uh, Parento, 412 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 3: I'd listened to him, was well aware of his success 413 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 3: at BCN in Boston. And I don't know why he 414 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 3: was available. Maybe they put Opiate antheon up there, whatever, 415 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 3: but but. 416 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 5: They had legendary disc jockey certainly in Boston and Detroit 417 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 5: certainly previously and uh. 418 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: And uh it h he had. 419 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 3: All I remember about that is that he suffered. He 420 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 3: did not suffer. Darien O'Toole at all, and she was 421 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 3: like this queen and oh my god, it was it 422 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 3: was a mess. She had some issues and Mark didn't 423 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 3: give a crap about what her issues were. 424 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,439 Speaker 2: He called us, He called her out on so many things. 425 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,239 Speaker 3: And but he had a hard time in New York 426 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 3: because no ono knew who he was, and we cared. 427 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 3: In Boston, he was the king, Oh your table, mister 428 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 3: Prunda right over here, sir whatever. But in New York 429 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 3: he was like anonymous, invisible and uh, I mean a 430 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,719 Speaker 3: good jock, but he he had a hard time, you know, 431 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 3: with the uh. 432 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 2: It's kind of starting over. 433 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: Do you know who? 434 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 5: One of his big catchphrases was when he was uh 435 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 5: on the air, at uh. 436 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 3: At I I could uh well, I had a people 437 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 3: from West Germany when I was deported. 438 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 5: In nineteen eighty five that are following me still this day. 439 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,879 Speaker 3: Alright, I'm Robbie West rob Code from the railroad. My 440 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 3: dad my mom graduated from the direction and they were. 441 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 6: Happy to save the year fifteen forty nine. 442 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 5: My dad was secret service on the Pennsylvania Railroad. 443 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, my brother got all the railroad stuff. 444 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 6: Oh he merged with We merged with Canadian National? 445 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 5: How do you already did that? 446 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: Oh? 447 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 4: What the fuck are these kids doing? 448 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 3: All right? 449 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 6: You're out of your fucking mind. 450 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: Yeah no, Rob, I'm only fifty nine. You look like 451 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: my uncles or something. 452 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 2: Your older uncles. 453 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Oh man, what's the kid on now? 454 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 7: Is he? 455 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: Or is he? H? You took it easy? 456 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 2: Sixty seven Sportster right? 457 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: That border for me when I was fifteen. This is 458 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: why Writtenhouse Square is a crazy place. I'm smelling written 459 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: House Square. 460 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,479 Speaker 6: Just by very sticky sticky. 461 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. It's part of the local color. 462 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 3: Well it's very colorful. 463 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 5: Yeah, but this is this is why we like to 464 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 5: be actually in person for a episode of taking a walk. 465 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 3: So yeah, So New York blew up after fourteen months, 466 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 3: and I had I had a year left on my deal, 467 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 3: which was great, so I could take some time and uh, 468 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 3: and I had a hard time being stand at home 469 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 3: painting my painted my house. And then what and I go. 470 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:57,880 Speaker 1: I gotta do something. 471 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 3: So I went to work for and who was was it? 472 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 5: Josh Joshenbaum? 473 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:05,640 Speaker 2: Yes? 474 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:11,199 Speaker 5: Right, And Josh might be listening to this somewhere on 475 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 5: his boat on one of his boats, because I think 476 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 5: Josh got a couple of boats out of the deal. 477 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,479 Speaker 3: Yeah, but it was funny. 478 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,399 Speaker 1: Is so you were like in charge of programming stuff 479 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: for them or. 480 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 3: On the surface you would say it's the perfect programmer's 481 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 3: dream job. They said, yeah, we want you to sit 482 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 3: in this cubicle and we want you to cook up 483 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 3: show ideas that we can produce and then attach commercials 484 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 3: to it. It's like wow, and it's like, I mean, 485 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 3: I get to sit here and just be purely creative. 486 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 5: Uh. 487 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 3: And that's a little harder than it sounds. Had a 488 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 3: couple of ideas, did a couple of half baked shows, 489 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 3: but you know what, the cubical thing. It was kind 490 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 3: of a journalistic environment. I missed the Hallway five, the fires, 491 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 3: the what whatever. And I went back to Providence and 492 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 3: worked for Corwyn again at a classic rock station, which 493 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 3: that didn't last long because it was a Clear Channel 494 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 3: station when Clear Channel was only twenty stations and some 495 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 3: TV and then what was the big banana that they 496 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 3: merged with like West Starr and all the I didn't 497 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 3: can't remember multiple ones, but it was too many stations 498 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 3: in the market, and I found myself with another year 499 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 3: on a. 500 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 2: Two year deal. 501 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 3: I think I'll sit around and I'll clear the brush 502 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 3: around my house. I bought a chainsaw and I'm clearing 503 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 3: brush and I'm doing crap. And then then a friend 504 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 3: of mine, Virgil Thompson, who I worked with in Savannah, 505 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 3: said Hey, we got station out of Richmond. Why don't 506 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 3: you come down and talk to us, Like I got 507 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 3: nothing else to do, You're gonna pay for the plane ticket. 508 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 3: So I went down there and and I loved the GM. 509 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 3: His name was Steve McCall. He was just the coolest guy, 510 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 3: very positive. 511 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,120 Speaker 1: Whatever. I end up taking the job. 512 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 3: I said, honey, we're moving to Richmond. And she goes 513 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 3: what I said, it's a job, and and she loved it. 514 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 3: She's a Southern person, so the Southern vibe and the hospitality, 515 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 3: and you know, people walking by on the street don't 516 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 3: look at their shoes or their phone. They tend to 517 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 3: look at you and say hello, which we liked. 518 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 5: You see people like the crazy guy that was just 519 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 5: over here down there, Yeah, tom really costco. 520 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, well in Savannah. 521 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 3: I mean every city has its. 522 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 2: Colorful people. But I liked it, and I was gonna 523 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 2: just have. 524 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 3: My kids grow up and go to finish school and. 525 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 2: Do all that stuff. 526 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 3: And and for about three years that was the case. 527 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: And then then you called and you said. 528 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,199 Speaker 3: Hey, we'd like to talk to you. It's like, but 529 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 3: do you remember the first time you called, I think 530 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 3: it was about MGK, and I was like, but the 531 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 3: second time you called was about MMR and there's something 532 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 3: really special. 533 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 5: Well, and then in the Detroit time too, Yeah, I 534 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 5: was very persistent. I knew I had encountered you at 535 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 5: industry functions, and certainly we knew each other from proximity. 536 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 5: I believe, if I'm not mistaken, when I left w 537 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 5: c l X, they might have even talked to you 538 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 5: to replace me at one. 539 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:22,439 Speaker 1: I did believe. 540 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 3: I did waste a plane trip going up there to 541 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 3: talk to uh Tony Beardini was that the guy? 542 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 1: Was he the head cheese? 543 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 2: Yeah? 544 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was that was not gonna happen. 545 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 5: But I knew I wanted to, you know, get you 546 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:37,679 Speaker 5: into the organization. 547 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, you were you. 548 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 9: I I am so appreciative of you, and also uh 549 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 9: your cohort Fred Jacobs, who up until Richmond, I had 550 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 9: not worked with Fred. 551 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 3: And I am so thankful that I got to do 552 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 3: that because that guy has been just a great confidant, 553 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 3: a mentor, just just super positive and knowledgeable consultant along 554 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 3: the way. 555 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: So one of the great people. 556 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 3: Yes, really nice human being. 557 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 5: And I recently saw your old boss, John Fulham with 558 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 5: his lovely wife Debbie for dinner with my wife and 559 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 5: we had a. 560 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: Raucous evening in Boston, tremendous time. 561 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 3: Nice. 562 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 563 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: I had not run into his wife for many, many years. 564 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 5: I think maybe back to a Christmas party down here 565 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 5: at Philadelphia or something. But we had one of those 566 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 5: nights where suddenly it was three hours later, we were 567 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 5: leaving the restaurant, and then it was like boy time flow. 568 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, yeah, but there's also it's. 569 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: A special guy. 570 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 5: Special Well, I'm so grateful to have had the time 571 00:29:58,560 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 5: to be with you here. 572 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 3: This was like this was easy, you know, just gotta 573 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 3: chit chatting, and. 574 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 5: We actually did take a walk and then we parked 575 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 5: ourselves on the bench here and written out square Bill Weston, 576 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 5: congrats on all your successes and your continued success. 577 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 2: Thank you, bus, it's been terrific. 578 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: Love you brother, Love you. 579 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 580 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 4: Walk Podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 581 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 4: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 582 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 4: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 583 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 4: and wherever you get your podcasts.