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10 Questions with ... The Good Morning Guys
April 30, 2017
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
All Access begins our series of featuring 2017 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees with "The Good Morning Guys" from Townsquare Media KUAD (K99)/Ft. Collins, CO. For 28 years, Brian Gary has teamed with Todd Harding on the show. Susan Moore has been a valuable part of the team for the past 16 years. The Good Morning Guys are two-time CMA award winners (2008, 2013) for Small Market Personality of the year. They are also four-time winners of the Colorado Broadcasters Association "Best Morning Show" in a Major Market. Brian and Todd had very limited experience in radio before coming to K99 over two decades ago. Brian was a DJ in Bismark, North Dakota for a couple years before coming to Northern Colorado. Todd got his Start at KMXX/Sterling, CO while attending school at Northeastern Junior College. They both arrived at KUAD in 1987 and were thrust together on the morning show in the Spring of 1989 and soon after were dubbed "The Good Morning Guys." Susan Moore joined the team in 2001 as"the News Chick," and now is considered one of the "Guys". Susan began her radio adventure in Grand Forks, ND then moved on to Anchorage, AK, San Diego, and Drake Chenault/Jones in Denver, CO. All three will be inducted on Wednedsday, June 21st in Nashville,
Brian is the MD at KUAD, and the trio holds down morning drive together.
1. Let's begin by asking what induction into the Country Radio Hall Of Fame means to you, and what do you think it says about your radio career?
Brian: It's an honor that still, we sit here and shake our heads - or I do - in disbelief. I have a feeling at some point you guys will figure out who we are and that this is just a mistake! It is just unbelievable to be honored for something that you love to do. I've had the opportunity to sit here and just be myself, and be a music fan and a goofball, and I've made a living out of it. It is just so surreal to think that we are going to be enshrined in the Country Radio Hall Of Fame! It's still hard to grasp, because we just feel so blessed and honored that this is what we get to do each day. And to have an honor come out of that is just incredible.
Todd: I think it's amazing that we get to win an award for doing something we love every single day. We'd do this for nothing - but don't tell our bosses that! But, seriously, we would do this job for nothing if we didn't need the money to support our families. Because, this is something we absolutely love to do, and we've gotten to do it together for 29 years. Susan has been with us for 16 of those years. It has been amazing, and to be honored for it is simply beyond words.
Susan: Well, RJ, I am absolutely delighted! I am treating this like I'm going to the Miss America pageant. This may pretty well be the last big blast I get to do, and for such an honor of this magnitude. But to be honest with you, I deserve it! Because, while Todd and Brian were flipping burgers to get through college or whatever, I was already on the radio road. I worked in Anchorage, Alaska as a Program Director; I went to KSON/San Diego for my major market experience; I was in Denver for Jones Satellite Radio, because I thought it would be cool to be on in Poughkeepsie, New York and Hilo, Hawaii at the same time! But then, when I moved into my small town of Fort Collins and met Brian and Todd, it was a dream come true. Just as Brian said, to get to do what we do every day and love it with all your heart, and then somebody gives you an honor like this - it's pretty awesome.
2. Tell us about your first radio job.
Brian: What's very bizarre about my career is that I've only had three jobs. I got out of broadcasting school - Brown Institute in Minneapolis. Then, I worked at Y93 in Bismarck, North Dakota for about year. We moved out to Colorado to follow my wife's job, and I worked for a radio station called KIMN for one day! I was on the air for one shift, and the Program Director came in and said, "You sound too perky and too up. You sound like our competition!" I said, "Well, who is that?" And he said, "KUAD." I said, "Well, then I quit, and I'm going there!" I did quit, and I came to knock on the door at KUAD; they let me in, and I've never left!
Todd: Well, I've only had two jobs! I worked at KMXX/Sterling, Colorado when I was in college. Then, when I came to Colorado State University, I applied for a job at KUAD. I did not get hired, but then I heard that they were changing Program Directors. I went in that day, met the new PD, and I said, "Are you guys hiring?" And he said, "Actually, I have your tape right here," and he asked if I was busy that weekend. It was really that simple. It was crazy and coincidental, and that was about 30 years ago.
Susan: Mine was in Minot, North Dakota. I worked for the Ingstads, and my first job was babysitting the Larry King Show overnight. I had the most beautiful start in radio; everyone just loved me. And you know what? When I started in radio in the early 80s, women were not allowed on the air during the daylight hours. I was the first one in the state of North Dakota to do that!
3. Growing up, what radio station or personality did you listen to most, and how did either - or both - influence your decision to pursue a career in radio?
Brian: For me, honestly, I have never been a radio guy. I am a music guy who found his way into radio, with the coolest job in the world, getting to work in the industry that I was in love with. So, I never grew up hearing radio jocks and thinking I wanted to be them. I heard the music and thought that I wanted to find a way to get to play it. I just wanted to carve my own path, play music, and be me when I got on the radio and try to be something that hadn't been before. And, it has worked out!
Todd: I grew up in a town with not much radio. I grew up in Holyoke, Colorado. One of the few radio stations we could get carried Casey Kasem's Top 40, and I "kept my feet on the ground, and kept reaching for the stars."
Susan: Well, that's hard to follow, Todd! I grew up listening to the radio station for the songs and the music. But my favorite guy was Orly Knutson, "The Happy Norwegian." He did mornings at KFYR/Bismarck, North Dakota. He was just such an easy-going, easy-breezy guy to wake up to each morning! I just really loved him.
4. I have to ask you, Susan, did you at one time have a heavy accent from North Dakota, and did you have to work on that on the air?
Susan: I grew up in music in high school and college as a vocal music major. They hammered that out of you. But, when I spend ten minutes with Brian reminiscing about our home state, it kinda comes out again there, RJ!
Brian: Well, there's not much you can do about it! Once it's in your blood, you can't get it out of there!
5. Mentors - everybody has a few of them. Who was it for you that helped you, challenged you, and made you believe you could actually make this a career?
Brian: There are two for me. One is the guy who originally hired me and taught me radio, and that was Bob Beck. Bob Beck worked all over North Dakota and had been in the business for 40 years. Bob was the first one to show me what it was like to be a morning man. He was the first one to give me a break and teach me anything about radio. He's still someone I admire and respect, and he's someone I stay in touch with to this day. The other, without a doubt, the influence in getting me to where I am now in my career, I have to say is Bob Moody. Bob came to me at a time when I really needed Bob to come to me, and I learned more from him in the few years that I worked with Bob than from anybody. He was the first one to make me feel like I really belonged, and like I was good enough to do this. I will always, always owe a debt to Bob for teaching me about this business, how to pay attention to music, how to develop relationships, and how to stay true to the brand. I learned a lot to Mr. Moody. I'm very aware that he's already in the Country Radio Hall Of Fame. We've sent messages back and forth, and I will be so honored to be in the same spot there with Bob.
Todd: Well, there's a couple people that influenced me. Number one would probably be Tim Dunbar. He passed away a couple years ago, but he taught me to be a friend on the radio. He taught me that when I'm talking on the radio, to talk to one person - because, usually, when someone is listening to the radio, they aren't listening in big groups. Typically, they are listening as one person, whether it's in the car, the shower, or whatever. And, he taught me that. Then, the most I've ever learned from anyone is radio is from the guy sitting right across from me, Brian Gary. Without a doubt. The biggest influence in my life, period. Brian Gary.
Susan: Well, I think the most influential person in my broadcasting career is my late husband, Don Nordeen. He was my first husband and was with Ingstad Broadcasting. His advice to me was, "Say 'em like you love 'em," about the call letters.
6. Talk about the dynamics of this show. Brian and Todd, a working relationship like yours is often compared to a marriage - you have been in the same room for many years. Have there been streaks where you got on each other's nerves, and the performance of the show may have suffered? And how did you work through it? Or, has it just been bliss for 29 years?
Todd: A marriage? Well, the sex is not as good, trust me!
Brian: Well, what has been really cool about this relationship is that it hasn't been bliss. We have learned how to work with each other. I have learned a lot about myself. One thing Todd has taught me in working together through the years is that you don't have to agree on everything. So many times, people spend their time trying to convince someone else that they are right. But, what I've learned with Todd is that we are complete opposites, and that's totally fine. It's okay to have to completely different opinions; I don't have to be right, and he doesn't have to agree with me. That has taught me a lot. But honestly, have moments where you'd like to just strangle the other guy - but you just walk away for a minute, and by the time you come back in, it's all gone. We've never had anything linger more than three or four minutes. It has always been that way. We allow each other our moments to vent, and we have a great respect for each other and love for each other. Really, there have been no times where we've had to work through any situations; we've always just been there for each other.
Todd: Before I started working in radio, I was not on medication. After working a couple of years with Brian, I started taking a drug called Inderal, which is for high blood pressure, which was caused by Brian. To this day, I take that drug.
Brian: You're welcome!
Todd: That being said, there's no one I'd rather work with. I love Brian deeper than a brother. I can honestly say, I know everything about him, and he knows everything about me; I wouldn't want it any other way.
7. And, Susan - you came in to this show after these two guys had already been together a while and were well-established. How did you gain their trust, and evolve into an important part of the show?
Well, I think just my moxy. Brian would call me out for trying to eat a donut while doing the newscast. "Hey, whatcha eatin', Susan?" We would just play up the natural parts of who we are. And, Brian and I had a real connection right from the beginning, because we are both from North Dakota. Both Brian and Todd were both just very generous and gracious to welcome me. I was a pretty big deal in the market before I got here.
Brian: It's very true!
Susan: I was on the number two station until I got fired by Stew Haskell at Clear Channel - not that I'm mentioning any names. It was the best thing he ever did for me, though, opening the door for me to come over here to the number one station in the market and play with the big boys. It's a day-to-day joy every day to keep up with these two.
8. And now, with three of you in the room for many years, who is the "middle child" among you? Which is the peacemaker who tells everyone else it'll be alright?
Brian: There really is not necessarily a peacekeeper or even a need for one. I definitely drive the bus, but these two offer up suggestions of where to go. I mean, I blow them off, but... Haha! It is this three-headed monster where everyone plays such an integral part. Where I'm weak, someone else is strong, and vice versa. We had done very well until Susan came along. But, when she got here, it just added another dimension; it was something that was missing. Because, when I write the show every morning, I'm writing things thinking, "Okay, this is one that will be perfect for me and Susan, because it clicks with us. And this would be perfect for me and Todd." So, I have two different people to play with that I can take in different directions. And, they each have their strengths. The rare thing about this trio is, we honestly are the best of friends. When we aren't here and we're going out and doing things, we are actually doing them together. I have breakfast every Sunday morning with Susan and her husband! We are that tight. We're not only on the air together, but these are honestly my two best friends in the entire world, and I spend more time with them off the air than anybody else.
Susan: And, may I add, last Easter, my husband and I spent it with Todd and his wife and their family. We really are family.
Todd: And what about Thanksgiving, too? And Christmas.
Susan: Yes, every holiday!
Brian: We really are a family, the three of us. We look out for each other, protect each other, respect each other, and we know how special and unique this relationship is.
Todd: But, I do have to add that Susan is the best thing that ever happened to Brian and me. Without question. We had a good thing going, but Susan was the best thing to happen to us.
Susan: Not coincidentally, when I came along, we started winning every award!
Todd: That's true.
Brian: It is. Thank you, Susan.
9. Can you talk about working in one market, at one station, for the majority of your career? You've probably woken up several generations of listeners now - not to make you feel old or anything...
Susan: We are old!
Brian: That is the greatest honor, is that we've been able to refuse to grow up with people. They have been with us through this entire journey. There are so many people, and we see it here coming back to this radio station. But, so many people have a dollar sign that they are chasing or a market number they are chasing that they have to achieve this or that in order to be happy. Or, even in order to consider themselves successful. Where, all I've ever wanted to do is something I love to do with people I love to do it with. And, just to have enough money to be able to get a steak if I wanted it. And, ya know, I've been able to do that. I have no desire to go somewhere and chase something, because I've already found it here; I'm happy! I think the whole goal in life is to find happiness. I found it here and never felt the need to go anywhere else. To get to be here and to stay here, and to actually grow in to people's lives - and to have generation after generation come in and respect you - is something you cannot buy. I wouldn't trade that for anything. I love that our career has been right here.
Todd: I still remember when an intern came up to me and said, "I've listened to you for my whole life." And, he was 21 years old and had literally listened to us his whole life. His mother was listening to us when he was delivered in the delivery room at the local hospital.
Brian: I'm guessing we were there at the conception, as well!
Todd: It was the first time I really felt old, and also the first time I really thought, "This is pretty cool. We have affected this person's life and have been with them through every single moment of this person's life up to this point." That's pretty special.
Susan: I am so, so blessed, because I am married to a doctor! And that means he can afford to support my lifestyle, and we aren't going anywhere! We have a little farm where I have a barn full of horses out my backdoor at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I hope I can be on the radio forever, but I'll be here forever. I am in Susan's La-La Land every day, and then I also get Brian and Todd. Can you believe it?
10. A lot of people have expressed concern about where the next generation of new, great air personalities will come from. Where do you think the next great radio stars will come from with fewer and fewer "farm team" type opportunities being available now?
Brian: To me, that is one of the worst things that ever happened to radio - the invention of voice tracking. I absolutely despise it with the life of me. I think it's faking the listener and lying to the listener. It is taking away jobs from people who could be on the air talking live, instead of a company being able to hire one jock to fill up 8 to 12 markets. I really, really wish there were more opportunities for people, because that's a really good question. I'm very, very fortunate that I happen to work in a place that believes in cultivating new talent. We actually are ones who do that. We give interns their break; we give people who have that fire within a chance to go in and maybe voice track a shift, work with them, and hone them in to being the next generation of talent. We work toward having a farm team system here in our building and developing them. That's something we take great pride in, and a lot of the people who work here are ones that came in and initially were setting up remotes or emptying trash cans but found a way to grab their chance to get on the air. It still happens, and we make it happen here.
Todd: One of our best female talents started out as an intern. Oh, wait - best female talents, besides Susan, of course.
Susan: Thank you.
Todd: She started out as an intern, and now she's doing a regular on-air show on two of our stations.
Susan: She absolutely rocks it when she does weekends on K99! I am just so proud of Shelby, and I'm proud of the station.
Todd: But, Brian is right. We do give people opportunities. But, we also know we are dinosaurs. We know that we are a dying breed. Not only are we getting old, but what we do just really is not done anymore. If a consultant were to come in here tomorrow, they'd say, "That's not how you do it! You didn't do a benchmark right there, blah blah blah." But, that's why we've been successful; we don't do it like anybody else does it. We don't listen to other radio shows or other radio stations. We don't try to copy what's current or hip, or what other people are doing. Brian is a very unique individual, and he can find humor in the weirdest thing. Ha! But, more than anything, we take life and make it funny. I don't know that it's really done anymore. "Seinfeld" tried to do it for a few years, but it's just not done that much anymore on the radio. It seems like there's a lot of cookie-cutter stuff, and that's one thing we are not.
Susan: They really covered it all. We really coddle and care for our youngsters. And, we are very fortunate that we have Colorado State University on one side of our building and UNC. So, we have these two colleges that syphon come of their up-and-coming stars to us in their radio communications department. So, we take advantage of that.
Bonus Questions
What has been your proudest moment in radio? Either an off-air or an on-air moment, collectively or individually.
Susan: Well, we just wrapped up our "28 Hours Of Hope." It was our 19th annual. That is definitely my proudest hour, just listening to 28 hours of the best radio ever. It's Brian and Todd, and I pop in and out. I don't stay here for the duration, so I get to be a listener for the best 28 hours you can ever hear on the radio. It's fabulous.
Brian: I have to agree. The "28 Hours Of Hope," that's just an example of the bigger picture - using what we do for a living to actually make a difference in people's lives - it's by far the greatest reward. We've won lots of cool trophies and all of that, but when somebody comes up to me and says, "Because of what you did for the Veterans, I felt this." Or, "Because of what you did for the kids, I felt this." Or, "Because of what you did for child abuse, I was able after 30 years of holding this in to finally tell my story." When you get things like that coming to you, that is - without a doubt -the greatest reward you can get. To know that you've affected not just a person's life but an entire community in a positive way is, by far, the greatest reward I've ever had.
Todd: We did the "28 Hours Of Hope" last year, and we had a 60 year old man on with us who said he was sexually abused when he was 12 years old. And, the first time he ever told anyone publicly about that was on our show.
Brian: That's incredibly powerful. And, that's not something that happens in other industries, but it happens in radio. And, not just any radio - that happens in COUNTRY radio!
Susan: I just wanted to add that Stew Haskell at Clear Channel fired me. And, he brought me in a dozen long-stem red roses. The next day, I started over here.
Todd: Brian and I were thrown together as kind of an experiment. I don't think anyone expected it to last, they just did it because we were the two cheapest talents in the building.
Brian: We were the only two left!
Todd: And, they knew they could get us for dirt-cheap. So, they threw us together, and somehow, it worked. I think we kind of defied the odds and somehow have ended up staying together for nearly 30 years. So, that's that.
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