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10 Questions with ... DJ Buck
January 26, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started in college doing a small campus only station WXIN with a buddy. After that worked with various other college station WBRU, WDOM and did worked for Skippy Whites for years. Did clubs for years and that’s what got the attention of my former PD Jerry McKenna at WWKX. He brought me in to do a weekly hip hop mix show and from there I had to sacrifice a lot but at the end of that run I was the PD. I don’t know why but I caught the attention of Steve Salhany, OM of the CBS cluster in Hartford and he sent the boys down to get me and twisted my arm to take the job. Oh yeah and you’re doing mornings too. lol
1. What got me into radio?
As a kid would always listen to the radio and tape this guy called Dr John in Providence. He was mostly mixing dance music and I think that was when I started becoming obsessed with radio. I never planned on doing radio because I’m really a quiet person and being on the air meant I had to talk a lot and that scared me to death.
2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?
For some reason I knew I would be in front of people one way or another. I played the trumpet in middle school, played bass in high school and I thought I was Bootsy Collins. At that time I also started playing basketball and that took over my life. I was a pretty good ball player and won every award in Rhode Island at the time. I thought I was headed to the NBA.
3. Biggest personal lesson learned from Covid-19 pandemic?
I’ve learned that its ok to slow down. I have what you call FOMO (fear of missing out) I was always up and down the highway to every event and I would drive back and go right on the air. I didn’t want to miss or be missed at any event. This pandemic has made me realize that Time is something you can’t get back so use it wisely and slow down.....soooo when’s the next party
4. Doing more takeout or cooking during the pandemic?
So I fired up my air fryer and nothing is safe anymore. You name it and it goes in the air fryer. When the weather was good I was in the back on the Big Green Egg. I would say cooking at home after work and takeout during the day.
5. What would probably surprise most people about living and working in Hartford?
I think that the fact that Hartford has the third largest West Indian population in the country behind New York and Miami I believe.
6. Bucket-list vacation spots?
I’m addicted to taking my camera to places and taking pictures. I want to visit Asia, Dubai and Africa.
7. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?
I would be producing music or something in the music industry.
8. What do you like to do with your spare time?
This damn photography thing got me hooked. I take the camera everywhere and I’m usually the guy at the industry dinner taking pics of everyone. I also started doing what I did before radio and thats produce music.
9. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?
Name That Tune or that Shazam game.
10. Who are/were some of your radio mentors?
I would have to say Jerry McKenna and Bonnie Gomes, who called me and offered me my first mix show on a commercial station Hot 106. Steve Salhany has played a major part in where I am and is one the smartest radio guys I know. There’s also a guy who I’ve worked with for a long time here in Hartford by the name of David Simpson and I can’t forget my longtime format co-host for 20 years Nancy Barrow. I was her boss but she taught me so much about morning radio.
Bonus Questions
Who inspires you, personally?
My grandson, Caiden was born with Cerebral Palsy. To see him do what they say he would never be able to do inspires me. He’s my little DJ Caiden and he pushes me every day without even knowing it. I need to be here for him and my family.
If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be? (Mexican, Italian..etc)
Soul Food
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