10 Questions with ... Keith Allen

NAME:Keith Allen TITLE:Morning Show Host, APD, Mister STATIONS:WFBE-FM MARKET:Flint, MI COMPANY:Citadel BORN:Warren, MI at the dawn of the 70's RAISED:Warren, MI

Please outline your radio career so far:

WFBE-FM 2007-Present
WCEN-FM 2002-2007
WKCQ-FM 2002
WFBE-FM 1998-2002
WWWW-FM 1994-1998
WHND-AM 1991-1994
WKZC-FM 1991
WMXD-FM1991
WKSG-FM 1988-1991

1. What made you decide on a career in radio?

I guess I took after my mother in that I talk a lot. I also had a habit of making people laugh in school. I was bored as hell working at my first job and I got into the biz quite on accident while I interned at WKSG.

If you had not gone into radio, what would you be doing for a living today?

Around the time I got into radio, I was thinking about teaching band or elementary education. So that, or stand up comedy maybe.

2. You live in an area that most people don't think of as a hotbed of Country listeners. Tell us about Country music in the Flint area and what makes programming there different from other areas of the U.S.

Flint has always been a blue-collar town - big automotive town - so we have a lot of third shift listeners. The city consists of local workers, but more workers head south for their job. Flint is unique because you can hear stations from Lansing (to our west), Detroit (to our south), and Saginaw (to our north), while in the market. This doesn't really play a huge factor in the Arbs, but some of the stations will show up occasionally. I don't think you can really consider any of them "competition." Each of the other stations has it own distinct stationality. With Michigan's economy being in the crapper, we understand the need to be upbeat, positive and fun. It can be helpful if another station breaks a record and listeners start to ask for it, which gives us an inkling as to what is getting buzz in the region. We may not be a country "hotbed," but we've certainly got some hard-core cities in the area that love country!

3. Do you think that being a native of Michigan helps you when it comes to relating to your listeners and choosing music?

Absolutely. We have all been told over and over that LOCAL WINS. We need to be able to relate to the area and not just what is happening with traffic. We need to know the "regional lingo". We have a mall here called Genesee Valley Center - people call it "the Valley." Imaging, promos and jock speak should all reflect a local feel. I think we'd be stupid not to play a Josh Gracin song, for example, because he is from Michigan. It is a way to bring a little hometown pride to the on air performance. Naturally, though, music choices should be decided by combining a variety of aspects: research, listener reaction, can people relate to it, will it lead to a emotional connection, how the programmer feels about it and the programmer's GUT (my favorite aspect).

4. Anyone that has known you for more than five minutes knows that you are a huge Rat Pack fan, mainly Dean Martin. First, how did your love of that music come about? Second, why Dean Martin - most people usually go for Sinatra?

Both of my grandfather's listened to big band music and standards. I heard that a lot when visiting them. My dad played all kinds of music for me growing up, too. I knew who Frank and Dean were, but really did not get into their music until my early 20s. I had heard some of their songs, but discovered the movies, Dean's TV show, and their extensive library of other songs around 1994. I began trying to find all things "Rat Pack" at used record stores and video stores. The more I listened and watched, the more I gravitated toward Dean. Frank was the Boss. Sammy was the stooge. Dean was the regular guy. He made every thing he did seem so easy. Vocally, Frank has a unique style. He can sing the same song three times and each time it is different. His phrasing is so different from many vocalists. Dean's voice is warm, inviting, and smooth. It is real. It isn't as pronounced as Frank's - listen to how Frank pronounces his "t's" and "s's" precisely. Dean's vocals were loose and fun. In my opinion, Dean was the better singer. Both, however could sing hurtin' songs, and almost bring you to tears because you can feel their pain: Listen for yourself to Frank sing "One For My Baby" and Dean sing "Come Back to Sorrento" - have a tissue ready.

5. Name three songs that had a profound effect on your life and tell us about them.

"September Song" - Willie Nelson. I recall summers up at my grandfather's trailer. When they first bought it, they had no TV, just a radio with a cassette deck. He owned two cassettes - one of them was Willie Nelson's Stardust. Every time this song came on, he'd say how much he loved this song. It is probably a coincidence, but he died in September of 1981. I grew to love that album and each time that song comes on, I still think of him, and how much I wish I'd had more time with him. (Which ties into the next song.)

"If I Had Only Known" - Reba McEntire. I understand that this song is about a love that has ended, but a friend of mine told me to listen to this and think about my grandfather (who had just passed away) while I listened. If we could know the future, how differently we'd treat the time we have with others. "If I had only known" is something we hear all too often in life.

"Untitled Hymn" - Chris Rice & "I Can Only Imagine" - Mercy Me. Both just beautiful songs with a message that brings happiness and comfort to me every time I hear them.

6. In high school you played the tuba, trombone and trumpet right? Do you still play? Any other hidden talents that we should know about?

Yes, I played all three, but trumpet primarily. I still drag out the horn but since I am so out of practice, I can only play in short spurts before I feel like my lips are going to fall off. I have a folder of music that we played when I was in school and will try to hit the high notes I used to be able to hit, but it usually just makes dogs in the neighborhood howl along. Hidden talents: I play a mean game of pinochle and do a very bad Regis Philbin impression (who doesn't). Most of my other talent is hidden and I can't find it.

7. You have a lovely wife and two wonderful boys, what do you all do as a family for fun? What do you do if you happen to have the afternoon to yourself?

We all love camping. Dante' and Dimitri had a blast a few weekends ago. We're hoping that we can get out more this year. It is really a great time to enjoy nature and each other. The boys and I like to wrestle and mess up the house while doing that. Of course, we love a good BBQ or big Italian dinner! I rarely get an afternoon to myself, but when I do, I usually sit down and watch old TV shows on DVD that Aimee doesn't want to watch with me, ha ha! Our taste in TV is really different. I prefer old stuff like "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables" and "Sanford & Son." If it is not TV - I'm reading or napping!

8. There's a lot of new music out there right now. What do you hear that really excites you?

Emily West from Capitol is the next big star! I've heard the advance and there is not one bad song on there - the whole thing is on my iPod. She was a blast to hang around with and is an amazing talent. Lady Antebellum is another group that I love! Great voices in this group. I love the new Jewel CD. Lots of people have a problem with her being played on country radio, but I think it is an awesome sound for on air. Great story telling and good music. Carter's Chord have some distinct and one of a kind harmonies. These three little gals deserve a shot on the air - There is so much substance to their stuff.

9. If we were visiting Flint for one day and you were our tour guide, where would you take us?

First, I'd show you down town because it's the most historic. It has beautiful older buildings (a lot of which can be seen in Semi-Pro with Will Ferrell.) We'd take a drive on the old brick roads, and then we'd head off to Hurley hospital to get our gunshot wounds treated. Maybe a drive through Flint isn't a good idea. Lots of good places to eat though, Halo-burger (hometown tradition - olive burgers!), Sorrento's (Italian), and Red Wood Lodge (where they brew their own beer), so come hungry!

10. Having been in radio for a while, I am sure you have had a few of those "wow, I have the coolest job ever" moments. Tell us about one of those that really sticks out in your memory.

I had an extra backstage pass for Reba one summer, because the friend meeting me at the show was running extremely late. Not wanting to waste it, I walked around the amphitheatre and looked for someone decked out in Reba gear. The meet and greet was just minutes away and I saw a gal in a Reba shirt. I asked her if she was a big fan and I was told that she brought her dad to the show because it was his birthday and he adored her! I asked her how fast she could get him to me and asked if he'd want to meet her. Her eyes lit up and she ran off to get him. He arrived just as they were calling folks down. He kept asking if I was joking around with him. He had never met anyone before, let alone someone he "adored, so he was nervous." When she walked out, he was shaking. I introduced him as a birthday boy, and she treated him like a king! She took extra time with him, kissed him and hugged him, and wished him Happy Birthday. She took the rose he bought her and treated it like it was the last flower on earth. He had tears in his eyes as he left and he thanked me for the best birthday present ever. It is moments like that when I know I have the coolest job ever!

1. If I remember correctly, you have quite a fondness for Charles Nelson Reilly, what's that about?

I'm not sure how these rumors get started, but I'm sure Joby Phillips at WCEN has something to do with it! I believe I said Alec Baldwin does a VERY funny CNR impression, and that was probably twisted and turned around to make it out that I like him. He was a snappy dresser! Charles and Nipsey Russell made the Match Game!

2. If you could only listen to one album ever again, what would it be?

Come on, Kelly, do you REALLY think I can answer this??!!

3. What are your five favorite movies of all time?

The Godfather - A work of art. Brando and Pacino are magnificent! From the moment the haunting trumpet plays, you are hooked. The opening scene, with the funeral director speaking to the Don is so well shot. As the camera pulls back and you see Brando for the first time - it's magic!

Airplane! - A smorgasbord of great actors and non-stop laughs. I read an article once where Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges discussed the movie after seeing the script. They knew that it would either kill their career or be a huge success. They both took the gamble and won.

The Blues Brothers - The soundtrack is one of my favorites! This was the first movie my parents ever let me watch where the dialogue contained the "F" word. The plot is simple, the destruction of property is unreal, and the singer guest stars are plenty!

White Heat - James Cagney hadn't been played a gangster for years, but returned to that role in this movie. The finale with him up on top of an oil take is simply perfect! My favorite scene is when he gives a "little air" to a guy in the trunk of a car.

Caddyshack - Two words: Rodney Dangerfield!