-
10 Questions with ... Brian Gary
June 22, 2009
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Brian GaryTITLE:MD/morningsSTATION:KUADMARKET:Greeley-Fort Collins, COCOMPANY:Regent BroadcastingBORN:Silver Bay, MNRAISED:Mandan, ND
Please outline your career so far:
My career has been quite simple. I graduated from brown institute for broadcasting in 1985 and started doing part time overnight at Y-93 radio in Bismarck, ND. I moved to Colorado in 1986 to follow my wife's job and got on part time at KUAD in Windsor, CO. New management took over and basically everyone but me and Todd Harding were let go. We were the only warm bodies left so they put us on the morning show and over 20 years later, we are still here.
1) What/who influenced you to try a career in radio? Did you always know this was something you wanted to do?
I can't say anyone influenced me. I was just always a music freak and a bit of a smartass, so this was the natural choice.
2) What was your favorite radio station to listen to when you were a kid and why?
I can't say I really had one.
3) You have been at K99 for over 20 years. That is a long time these days. How do you explain such longevity?
We have just always been ourselves on the air. We don't pay attention to the industry and just do what we feel works - and it has. People like hearing real live people who live in their community that they can reach out and touch and we are that. We do lots of school visits and are very active in the community - that is the difference.
4) You co-host the morning show with Todd Harding, and the two of you have won quite a few awards, including the 2008 CMA Personality Of The Year. (Congrats on being nominated for an ACM this year, by the way.) What's your secret to a successful morning drive? After so many years, are you finally used to waking up at the crack of dawn?
You never get used to waking up at 2:30a, but when you do what you love for a living it is all worth it. I hate the alarm but once I get to work and get to play with Todd and Susan, it is just a blast. We are just being 'us' on the air. No cookie cutter, 'place a laugh here' type of show. Just real honest humor and great country music.
5) What is the worst job you've ever had?
I was a phone solicitor for an hour once.
6) What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of radio?
I am a movie freak, love watching movies, riding my Harley, playing with my pugs and following my beloved Minnesota Vikings during football season.
7) We hear that you coach football for the Greeley Recreational League. How did you get involved and what do you love most about it?
I coached when my son was in football. I just loved working with kids and teaching them about believing in yourself.
8) There's a TON of great music out there right now. What are some of the artists you are high on right now?
I love Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, and it's great to have Darius Rucker join our family.
9) Name three songs or albums that have influenced your life and tell us about them.
Gary Allan - Smoke Rings In The Dark. Great album. It just brought country to a new level of cool in my mind. Chris LeDoux and the Western Underground - the first CD he did for Capitol was just amazing to me after being a fan for all the years he was on his on little label. Kiss - Alive 2. Need I say more?
10) What separates your station from other stations in the market? What do you do to sound 'local?'
We are so active and visible in the community. We are always kind and professional and approachable. We take every moment we are in public, work related or not, as an opportunity to make an impression. It is just about being real and true to who you are. People don't like phonies - we definitely aren't phony.
Bonus Questions
1) What was the first album you ever bought and the first concert you attended?
"Wayne Newton Live" was the first album I bought, and my first concert was Wayne Newton in Las Vegas.
2) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Diet Mountain Dew.
3) You guys must get like 80 feet of snow every winter. (It's probably still snowing there now, isn't it?) Do you enjoy winter sports like skiing or snowboarding?
I enjoy snowball throwing, making snow angels and peeing our names in the snow.
-
-