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10 Questions with ... Double J
December 2, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- KBOS/Fresno Intern
- KWIN-KWNN/Stockton nights
- KSEQ/Fresno nights
- KPAT/Santa Maria, CA APD/mornings/Imaging Director
- KNKK/Lake Havasu City PD/mornings/Imaging Director
- KWIN-KWNN/Stockton mornings
- KDND/Sacramento weekends/fill In
- KHTN - KUBB/Modesto-Merced afternoons/Imaging Director/Promotions Director
- KAGM/Albuquerque APD/mornings and KDLW APD/MD and KARS Imaging Director
I am also currently the Imaging Director for KDON, KOCN, KNKK, KPRT, KARS
1. What got you into radio?
Well I really love eating top ramen, so back in 1994 I thought, the only way I can guarantee that this would be just about all I eat for the next 20 years was to get into radio. No seriously, I ate top ramen for years, sometime even got the creamy chicken kind. I grew up in Fresno and use to listen to people like Rene Roberts, Mark Adams and Don Parker and loved what they did. I use to be that kid that called the station EVERY NIGHT doing bits, requesting songs, and making dedications to imaginary girlfriends. Then one day I got invited down to the old Power 102 studios. Sure it was in the middle of some cow pasture in the middle of nowhere, and was inside a beat up mobile home, but once I had seen all the lights and buttons in the studio, I was hooked.
2. Do you have a 'go to' karaoke song?
Harry Belafonte - Mama Look A Boo Boo .. BEST SONG EVER!!
3. You've been fairly nomadic in your radio career yet you've been in Albuquerque for several years now. What's different?
They call New Mexico "The Land of Entrapment". I met my wife here, I love the people of New Mexico, but more importantly when I'm speeding down the freeway, 98 percent of drivers will move out of the fast lane so you can pass them. Being from California, this was a concept that I had only heard about existing, now I can attest...it's real!
I also work for a great company with an AMAZING management team. Rogers Brandon Owner, Bill Krueger our GM, Matt Rader our OM and DJ Lopez our Program Director give me the freedom to actually be creative. Are there parameters? Of course, but cookie cutter radio is not what these guys want in a morning show or air staff. We have a great team here in Albuquerque. Johnny V who is an amazing imaging guy is a staple in ABQ afternoon radio, MQ who rocks nights in Albuquerque is also the MD people love this guy!, Even all our part time guys.
It's a real family feel here in Albuquerque and I love that. To feel wanted and valued in radio seems to be rare these days, except here. I do think it's a little weird that DJ Lopez has implemented a mandatory Friday afternoon pant-less singing of Kumbaya.
4. Did you do any Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving?.
No, but my wife managed to slip my credit cards out of my back pocket (yes, I slept with my wallet in fear of Black Friday) and she managed to do a little shopping for me
5. Don't you also do production/imaging?
I have been doing Imaging for Sam Diggedy at KDON for 10 years now and sister station KOCN for the last six. I also do imaging for KARS In Albuquerque, KPRT in Farmington NM, KERN in Bakersfield and KNKK in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
6. What's your favorite song on the station right now?
For KAGM it's Lifestyle by Richgang.. because "I do this for Miss Gladys" too! On KDLW I love the Sam Smith - Not The Only One. It's such a beautifully written song.
7. What do you think you'd be doing, if you weren't in radio?
I'd be in Ferguson, MO loot....errrr....I mean...protesting. #NoJusticeNoPeace
8. I've known you a long time, how the hell did you land your wife, Amanda?
Well Bill Cosby was a mentor of mine growing up...and one night she just fell into my arms. No seriously, I don't know. I took her on a date, acted like I knew how to play the piano and played her a song and BAM...she was out by the time I finished.
OK, seriously, I don't know how I was lucky enough to land her. I truly am the most blessed man in the world. She is my everything, her sense of humor is amazingly wicked, she is incredibly smart, ands she loves just about everything I love. Thanks Bill C.!
9. If you were going to be on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, who would you want to be your professional dance partner?
Derek Hough. Not because he's incredibly good looking and because he constantly wears V necks on hot sunny days. No, it's because he's a great. Wait, did you mean female?
10. As a morning guy, you've always been able to push emotional buttons. What do you think was your best moment as a morning host?
Wow, there are so many of them. Asking Timbaland if he was attracted to Aliyah and in love with her was one. Getting T.I's wife to sing to me then a year later playing it for T.I. and he made me call my wife and she sang to him to pay me back was another. Sitting down and talking with Michael Jackson was incredibly memorable.
On a serious note, getting the mayor of Albuquerque to come on the show and talk about all the police shootings that were getting nationwide coverage. Since our show is really known for goofing around and the serious topics are not an everyday occurrence and the mayor was not doing radio in Albuquerque. My philosophy is make people smile and laugh in the morning, but after a rash of police shootings in Albuquerque, protests and near riots, I asked the mayor to come on my show and we addressed the high amount of police shootings and the protesting, to my surprise Mayor Richard Berry was very open and honest and did not dodge any questions that I asked him.
Bonus Questions
If you had to eat one type of meal everyday for a month, what would it be?
Look Pete, don't try to lure me in with open of your All Access sexual questions.... wait... what?
Your "go to" romantic spot in Albuquerque?
Vernon's Hidden Valley Steak House! It's where I took my wife on our first date. Pay off that credit card before going, though!
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