10 Questions with ... Ted 'Bobcat' Brown

NAME:Ted 'Bobcat' Brown TITLE:PD/mornings STATION:KHEY MARKET:El Paso COMPANY:Clear Channel BORN:Sulphur Springs, Arkansas RAISED:San Diego County, California

Please outline your career so far:

December 21st this year, I will celebrate 40-years in the biz. Seven days later, it's my wife and my 35th wedding anniversary. Except for my first gig in The Dalles, Ore., I spent the 1970s and '80s in California radio, i.e., Oceanside, San Diego, Riverside-San Bernardino and Fresno working every thing from CHR to Oldies, even a short stint doing Drake-Chenault's Standards format. Between '85 & '06, I experienced over 20-station ownership changes during the deregulation period. I've been on the air in five California markets, Nevada, Oregon, Arkansas, Montana and Texas, in three locations.

1) What did you want to be when you were growing up, and how did you get into radio?

I never wanted to grow up, and being in radio all these years, I've been very successful in that goal. Having misspent my youth in Oceanside, CA, (midway between Los Angeles & San Diego), I heard some phenomenal radio from the KHJ Boss Jocks, especially Robert W. Morgan & Don Steele. At that time Casey Kasem was doing live afternoons at KRLA. Meanwhile, Charlie Van Dyke and Happy Hair were entertaining in the mornings at KGB & KCBQ respectively. Ron Jacobs was at KGB & Buzz Bennett and Jack McCoy were programming the Q! My father had been a chief engineer and Country morning jock in the Mid-West back in the '50s, so when I was scouting around for a career, he was able to get me into Don Martin School of Radio & Television Arts & Sciences (what a moniker!) in "Hollyweird," CA.

2) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

That my wife could put up with me all these years. Others have faded in just hours!

3) You've worked in several different formats - everything from Country to Rock to News/Talk and back to Country. What have you learned from working in each format, and what stands out about Country compared to the rest? What do you like best about working in this format?

No matter what format, play the hits - even News/Talk. Country radio artists, while confronting the same personal issues as others in different formats, strike me as more genuine, friendly, down-to-earth, approachable people. Even though we arrived in California when I was just six years old, my Arkansas roots make me feel most comfortable and "loose" when in the company of Country music artists, more so than Rock, Pop and Urban folks.

4) What are some of your favorite hobbies and interests outside of radio? Describe your dream day off.

I've always been an information junkie, so I read a great deal and spend hours with C-Span, ever expanding my arcane knowledge base, enabling me to bore almost anyone on any subject. My wife and I both love to go fishing and camping, whenever time permits. Unfortunately, after living in Las Vegas for nearly a decade, we also can go brain-dead in a casino with the best of 'em! The dream day starts by having a line already sunk the moment the light of dawn his the water top, then, after making the catch, when the day heats up, layin' in a hammock between two bigs oaks, reading. Cap off the afternoon cookin' that big mouth over a little hibachi.

5) You are relatively new to KHEY. What have been some of your highlights working there so far? Are you loving the weather? I hear there are like 300 days of sun a year.

I've experienced myriad events from a Carrie Underwood concert to a bull ride and rodeo - even a Fiesta De Las Flores festival with Little Texas and a major Air Show in my short time here. This part of Texas is much closer to Southern New Mexico than Dallas or San Antonio, so I can't wait to get out to explore all the recreational outlets - Riudoso, Elephant Butte, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands range, even Roswell are all just a couple hours drive. I've lived through the Montana winter, the Vegas desert and the rainforest that is NW Arkansas but I'm truly happy here weather-wise and people-wise. We find El Pasoans extraordinarily friendly, courteous and cheerful!

6) If we were coming to El Paso for a day and you were our tour guide, where would you take us? There must be some unbelievable Mexican food places there!

The Franklin Mountains, which bi-sect our city are the southernmost point of the Rocky Mountains, with views of East El Paso & all of Juarez, which are breath-taking. I'd take you to Mt. Cristo Rey, where you'd be in the exact corner of where Texas meets with both old Mexico and New Mexico. Down from there is Rosa's Cantina of the Marty Robbins song fame. Having grown up in the San Diego area, my unbridled love of Mexican cuisine can be met every night of the year without repeating any particular restaurant.

7) Name three songs or albums that have influenced your life and tell us about them.

"The Dance" - Garth Brooks. Garth said years ago it is his definitive piece of music and I agree, finding it very inspiring.

"We Just Disagree" - Dave Mason or Billy Dean, for it's simplicity in consoling a generation with the highest divorce rates ever.

"If Tomorrow Never Comes" - Garth again, because it's the tune my wife and I consider "our song" as a couple.

8) It seems like there's a TON of great new music out right now. What are some artists that are exciting you right now? Who do you expect to break out in 2009?

George Strait, Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith continue to astound me with their ever-increasing repertoire of hits! Lady Antebellum, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson are super, Miley Cyrus's "The Climb" is a killer. I'm really high on Jonathan Singleton & The Grove, too. There's also exciting stuff coming from Justin Moore, Dean Brody and Adam Gregory. Miranda Lambert will scale the next rung or two this year. Holly Williams inherited the "Family Magic" and Heidi Newfield is establishing her solo career nicely.

9) What is the best piece of advice that anyone has ever given you?

Whenever one door closes, another opens.

10) If you hadn't chosen radio as your career, what do you think you would be doing for a living?

There are other choices? Hell, now you tell me!

1) We hear you're a pretty avid fisherman. What has been your biggest catch, and where is your favorite place to fish?

I'm too embarrassed to share any real dimensions of my catches but as far as great fishing places, nowhere beats Beaver Lake, near Rogers, Arkansas for bass - nor fly fishing for trout on the Yellowstone River, just outside the park.

2) How did you get the nickname "Bobcat"?

It's a name I picked up working a "Kat Country" station - it has immediate retention, so it prints on a market quickly.

3) What was the first album you ever bought and the first concert you attended?

"Meet the Beatles" was my first album. I think my first concert Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, but it could have been Jimi Hendrix. L.A. and San Diego were concert rich, so I did a dozen or more concerts that first summer and those thereafter.