10 Questions with ... Chuck 'DZL' Thompson

NAME:Chuck 'DZL' Thompson TITLE:APD/MD/PM drive STATION:WEND MARKET:Charlotte COMPANY:Clear Channel Radio BORN:Atlanta RAISED:Atlanta

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WCHK/Canton, GA, WZGC/Atlanta, WKLS/Atlanta, WARQ/Columbia, SC, WPXY/Rochester, WKGS/Rochester, WIBT/Charlotte, and WEND/Charlotte.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Professional Musician

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Michael Jackson - Thriller! I saved my money from cutting the neighbor's lawn and my $5 a week allowance from my folks to buy the album and the cool ass Michael Jackson leather jacket that he wore in the Thriller video!

FIRST CONCERT:

Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet Tour

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Guns N Roses! The old GNR not the new "Axl" GNR!

1. How did you become interested in radio?

My grandfather was the morning drive personality for KJCF radio in Festus, Missouri. I remember going in to his radio studio when I was a wee boy watching him smoke his Lucky Strike cigs and drinking some sort of liquid out of his coffee cup that didn't smell ANYTHING like coffee! Hmmm. Wonder what that was?! One time, he asked me to pick out the next record he played. I went to the room that had all of the egg crates full of albums. Since I didn't know any of the artists that he played I just looked for the coolest album cover I could find and took it into the control room and said, "here ya' go!" He played it, but he prefaced the spin by letting his listeners know that his grandson had picked out the record so if anyone didn't like it they could keep it to themselves! I wish for the life of me I could remember what the record was, but... no dice. Ever since that moment in his radio studio I knew a radio career was in my deck of cards!

2. What stands out the most about your first few days in radio?

My first professional radio job was at a 5,000 watt AM gospel radio station called WCHK AM1290 based out of Canton, Georgia. When I first pulled up to the driveway of the 3 bedroom house that we broadcast out of I noticed the beat up old Oldsmobile station wagon that bared the call letters on the drivers side door and thought to myself, "Man, I have made it!"

3. What do you like best about your job? Least?

The thing I love the most about my job is that I affect people's lives everyday. Good or bad (usually bad).

Least... I refer back to the "usually bad" comment!

4. What would an outsider find most surprising about The End?

The guys that work here at the End have actually worked at this same station for 15 YEARS! You just don't find that kind of thing anymore and I hope that in 15 years I can say the same.

5. What resource have you found to be the most helpful in learning about new music?

All Access man, come on! Like you didn't know I was going to say that!

6. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I sang Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" in my Middle School Talent show and came in 2nd place biotch!

7. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ________?

Porn... just kidding! How about my computer (which you can watch porn on). It's pitiful how dependent I am on technology -- cell phone, Blackberry, iPod, laptop.

8. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

I used to love to listen to WKLS 96 Rock in Atlanta when Christopher Rude hosted the "Rude Awakening." When I actually got a job there hanging banners and driving the van I thought, "Man, I've made it!"

9. What has been the biggest highlight of your career?

So far the job that I hold right now is the highlight. I know that sounds like a very self serving answer, but the truth is I have wanted this job for 10 years! I am truly blessed in my life. At this time in our history I am doing great: I have met the woman of my dreams and am engaged to her. I also have the job of my dreams, working with Jack Daniel is nothing short of incredible! I am living the highlight of my career!

10. If you were to leave radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

I would be a starving musician. I am the lead singer and guitar player for a working band here in Charlotte. During a brief break from radio I made my living playing in this band "Drop D." www.myspace.com/DropDRocks We are getting set to go record a new album of music that I have written. It's another passion of mine... no doubt.

What are your hobbies?

Playing in a band. I am also a very bad golfer.