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10 Questions with ... Troy West
September 9, 2019
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1. Could you take readers on a tour of your career journey through radio?
I was 15 years old and pretty active in high school and community theater. The local radio station manager was also a regular in community theater and asked me if I'd like a part-time job at KIKS Radio. I was very interested and jumped at the chance. I did not get to go on the air right away. My task was to play commercials during the KC Royals Baseball games. I eventually was promoted to Sunday morning 6 a.m.-Noon shift, where I got to use the microphone...YEAH!
My love for radio grew during my high school years and I was trusted with other shifts and fill-in opportunities. I was offered the full-time KIKS Morning Show shift the day I graduated high school in 1982.
I left Kansas for Joplin, Missouri in 1986 to do mornings on country station, 94KIX and middays on KFSB, a full-service AC station.
In 1993, I left for Holland, Michigan to do afternoon drive at WJQK
1995, I moved to West Palm Beach to be Program Director and Morning Show host for WAY-FM.
I moved back to Holland, Michigan in 1996 to be Program Director, Afternoon Drive and have the opportunity to buy-in and become a part owner of the broadcast company. Ownership was a goal for me and JQ99 gave me the opportunity to purchase company stock over several years.
In 2014, I had turned 50 and had a little bit of a midlife crisis and wanted to take a shot at a bigger market. I had been at JQ99 for 20 years, and considered that I had one more opportunity to move to a larger station and learn from someone who knew radio way more than I did. Ty McFarland hired me as APD of KSBJ and I spent 4 incredible years learning from one of the very best. KSBJ had so many talented people in place and I soaked up as much knowledge as I could from Ty, Jon Hull, Chris Farnsworth and John Frost. After Ty left for Seattle, I was named PD for KSBJ.
2. What kind of role did radio play in your life, growing up? When you think back on it, what did it sound like?
My Dad had a huge garage and built street-rods and other custom vehicles. I had to clean his tools and kept the shop swept up. The radio was always on WDAF 61 Country in Kansas City. I loved listening to the station and fell in love with personalities. Even their traffic guy, Sky Spy John Wagner had a personality bigger than life. WLS in Chicago would come in clear in the evenings, so I would listen to them. Dr. Don Carpenter and Randy Miller were my early influences. My Dad wanted me to learn how to work on cars, but that life did not suit me at all. Radio was it for me.
3. Can you recall a moment when you realized you wanted to make a career out of it?
As soon as the station manager of our town's radio station offered me a part-time job, I knew that I didn't want to do anything else. When I was a junior and senior in high school, I got better on the air and loved having all my high school friends listen to my show. It certainly helped high school become less awkward for me.
4. Who were the people who helped influence that decision? Do you stay in relationship with any of them to this day?
Gary Lee Dunker was the station manager of KIKS. He's the one who hired me. He left radio a long time ago and I haven't kept in contact with him. Jon Durkee was my manager in Joplin. Jon had a long career at KRMG in Tulsa and I keep in contact with him today. Les and Brad Lanser who treated me like family and allowed me to discover my career as a broadcaster. I love them so much and owe almost everything to them.
5. When Netflix creates the biopic of Troy West's life, what are the songs that will make up the soundtrack? Also, who stars as Troy West?
Kevin James plays me! My soundtrack would include "Steal Away" from Robbie Dupree, because it was the first song that I introduced on the air. The intro was long and I nailed the post. "Lost In Love" from Air Supply, because there was a real quiet part of the song and I would ask my girlfriend to listen close to the radio and I would turn on the mic and whisper her name as it played. Not sure anyone else would have noticed, but she did.
6. From a career standpoint, what has served as its shining moment so far? And since drama's always interesting, what's your best example of a not-so-shining career moment?
Shining career moments for me are becoming a co-owner of WJQK, hiring Mike Kanklefritz at WJQK, hiring Mandy Young out of college at WJQK, Voice-tracking on KLOVE, learning programming from Ty McFarland.
Not-so-shining moments? I introduced Susan Ashton as "Susan Anton" at a concert.
I did a live phone interview with Rich Mullins and it was the worst thing ever. Rich answered everything with "Yes" or "No." It was so bad that I apologized to the audience when he hung up.
When I was Music Director for KFSB in Joplin I added the wrong song from Billy Vera and the Beaters. I played the B-side song instead of "At This Moment." That's back when we were serviced 45s from the labels. Gosh, I'm so old.
7. When people ask you what you do, how do you describe your job to them?
I manage great talent. I give them guard rails and step out of the way. I let my people do their job. I let them be creative and cheer when they win. I protect my people from outside annoyances and people who demand their time.
8. You've been in this industry for awhile. When you look at the landscape of Christian Radio, who gets you excited about the future of our format?
I love John Frost. He understands the importance of building a brand. I have learned so much from him. I really like Mike Couchman and his questioning of status quo and new insights. Carlos Aguiar is a great person to ask for advice. And you don't even have to ask most of the time! Haha. Honestly, I trust his wisdom. He is really smart. My APD, Drew Wilson can consult me in areas that I am weak in. He brings me a new perspective. I think David A. Dein is smart and I enjoy reading what he has to say.
9. What artists have resonated with you most, personally, throughout your tenure in CCM radio?
Mike Weaver because he is the same guy on the stage and off. I love his heart. Darren Mulligan is the real deal. He texts me out of the blue just to tell me he is thinking of me. He was the first artist to check in on me during Hurricane Harvey. I really like Micah Tyler, Mike Donehey, Crowder, Tauren Wells and Chad from Unspoken.
10. Outside of work, what matters to you most?
I love yard work. I put on a podcast and can spend hours mowing and trimming. I love sports, and will watch all the Chiefs games, Kansas Jayhawks basketball and NASCAR. I love to smoke meats and cook on the grill. I have been married to Tricia for 33 years, so my absolute favorite thing is to spend time with her.
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