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10 Questions with ... Brotha' Fred
August 16, 2005
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NAME:Brotha' FredPOSITION:APD/MDSTATION:KHFIMARKET:Austin, TX (#42)COMPANY:Clear Channel
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.)
2001-03: KRBV/Dallas (WILD 100.3); Swing
2003 - present: KHFI/Austin (New 96-7 KISS-FM); APD/MD/Afternoons
Track-a-lacked: KKRZ, KZHT, KXXM, WIBT, WNOK, WKSI1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
Utility. I was at KRBV and did whatever they told me to do. I figured if I never said "NO," I'd be hard to terminate - even though I sucked on the air. Having worked various shifts, there came a time they were completely stuck and called me to do middays. I failed a test later that day at SMU, because I worked instead of studying, but it was worth it. Apparently, I sucked less than usual that day and they let me hang around.
2) What led you to a career in radio?
I grew up in a "radio" family. My grandfather owned and managed radio stations in the midwest (back when individuals could actually own radio stations); my mom studied broadcasting in college and worked in the industry for a short time. As hard as they tried to make me a "manager," my passion was always for being ON the air.
Other 8-year old kids played baseball and rode their bikes, but I programmed my own (illegal) 3-watt FM radio station in Scottsdale, AZ. A very old-school "drive-by radio" transmitter that an engineer converted into something I could plug a mixer into. I had imaging, rotations ... everything - and was hooked.
I ditched the radio dreams in favor of college in Dallas, where I decided to become a lawyer. Couldn't kick the radio bug, and involved myself with the college station, where I met Billy The Kidd (now MD/Nights at KHKS/Dallas). He helped get me my first gig after listening to my 'on air' demo (which was actually made in the prod room at SMU - sorry Alex, John and BTK).
3) It's our 10th anniversary this year. What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was 14, in Arizona, probably trying to figure out how to unblock the porn channels on my Dad's cable box. Damn you, Dad for constantly changing the access code.
I still don't know the code.
4) What Movie or TV program best describes your life?
I'm just like Danny on "The Real World Austin," the guy who pulls more women than he knows what to do with. No really, I'd say maybe the movie "Wedding Crashers." My passion is my playground. Wait a minute ... I really don't like this question. Can we strike that from the record?.
5) Using one sentence for each, how would you describe the on-air staff at the station?
Bobby Bones: I admire him for being incredibly talented and focused on his personal goals, those he has for his show, and for our station.
Jill: She's an amazing find, who literally IS the core demo, with the polish to represent it so well.
Lunchbox: An immensely talented guy, who makes fantastic radio with his "never-say-no" mentality, which usually gets him shot at with paintballs or leaves him running naked down I-35.
Micki: The most talented midday personality in the country (voice-tracked or otherwise), whose being FROM Austin is icing on the cake.
Our programming support staff and part-time staff consisting of J-Mack, Candice, Melissa (also my producer and right hand person), and many others, are absolutely essential to our success and represent both industry experience and youthful exuberance.
NOTE TO PROGRAMMERS READING THIS: You can't have any of them, unless you're going to pay them $1,000,000.00 dollars ... and I want a finder's fee.
6) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
That's a toss-up between Billy The Kidd and Toby Knapp. Billy is absolutely fantastic on the air. Exceptional. In my opinion, he is the best night jock in the country. His interaction with the listeners is unparalleled. His show is tight, with tons of energy and perfectly focused content. He is the epitome of what a night jock should be. He's not that much of a shithead, either.
Toby is that guy I say I want to become. He's an amazingly creative air talent, and a very talented programmer as well. He finds a way to do both things very well. His destiny is whatever he chooses for it to be. Whether he wants to program in a Top 5 market (and win) or be an air talent in a Top 5 market (and win) is completely up to him.
There are SO many people I admire and respect on the air, though: Geller and Maynard are two (of many on my list) fantastic talents in different ways, and I am thankful to call them friends, as well.
7) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
I love aviation. My Dad is a pilot (as a hobby), and his influence has led me to become commercially rated with an instrument rating (it's not really that hard, by the way). Just ask Tommy Austin. I'm a bad-ass pilot. I've never seen someone turn that shade of green before.
8) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Work hard and put your heart into your work, and good things will happen. I think my parents instilled that in me, and I've learned that it is a universal truth in anything you do. Sometimes, I come off as overbearing and perhaps even TOO passionate, but my heart is into what I do, and I demand success for my team and for myself. When you work hard and work smart, success is imminent.
9) What advice would you give people new to the business?
NEVER SAY NO. DEVOTE YOURSELF TO THE CAUSE. Be the "go-to guy," who will help any and everybody. Not only will you learn in every new situation, you'll make yourself valuable in your setting. People will want to see you develop - not only because of who you are, but also because of how hard you are willing to work to get to where you want to be.
10) Looking around your office, desk, walls, etc. ... how would you describe your working space?
VERY organized. Everything has a place, including my toy donkey collection and my list of record people I need to call back. I really will call you guys back, I promise!!
Bonus Questions
We've all got that one special song that's in our DNA. It stops us in our tracks and causes us to crank it up and block out the world. What's yours?
Not sure why, but the one that comes to mind is "Mo Money, Mo Problems" by Puffy and Biggie. It was the first song I ever punched on the radio, as a jock. It's just a good record. Lots of memories (drunken and otherwise) related to that one.
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