10 Questions with ... Ken Buckner

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started my radio career hanging banners for 6 bucks an hour in '99 at the big ol' "99.5 the Wolf" (KPLX) in Dallas/Fort Worth, just hoping to get close to a studio while I was going to school. Eventually got that shot and I moved into programming, producing for Cody Alan, Amy B and Bobby Mitchell and serving as swing jock. I got the call from Bruce Logan at WKKT in '04 and left to do afternoons for 5 years in Charlotte, NC. Then in February of '09 I moved back to my hometown of Lubbock, TX to work at the station I grew up listening to, 96.3 KLLL. I am currently serving as PM drive, APD, and MD at K Triple L and I'm loving it!

1) You left Texas Tech after one year, moved to Dallas and got into radio. What inspired the move to Dallas, and what made you leave college? Did you get the radio bug?

I've had the radio bug my entire life - one of those "doing radio shows in my bedroom when I was four" type of situations. In fact, I still have those tapes! But in college I transferred to SMU in Dallas as a music performance major playing viola and while listening in DFW realized that radio COULD sound like "Saturday Night Live." From that point on it was no looking back.

2) You were born and raised in Lubbock, and you listened to KLLL growing up. Who were some of your favorite jocks growing up?

KLLL was the soundtrack growing up for me. I loved listening to Jon Steele and Don Vanlandingham. I won a contest when I was 12-years-old with Kelly Green. Yes, it's possible to win a contest on the radio!

3) Is it true that Waylon Jennings used to be a DJ at KLLL? Do you have any future "Waylons" on your staff at the moment?

KLLL has got a ton of history. Buddy Holly used the studios, wrote songs here, and recorded jingles for KLLL. And before Waylon went on that last tour with Buddy, Jennings was a DJ here. I hope though we don't have any Waylon's on staff currently. There are several stories on this, but the one I've heard the most was that he was eventually fired for showing up consistently drunk for his air shift. So from my APD view, let's hope not!

4) 2009 has been a great year for Country music. What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?

Time to make the record promoters angry! It's been a great year from the "up & comers." I've loved Lady Antebellum's work, everything Darius Rucker's put out, and the Zac Brown Band has been a breath of fresh air. They don't sound like anyone else and finally Nashville listened.

5) Do you guys tie in a little bit of Texas music into your programming? Who are some Texas artists you would recommend for us to check out?

I think we've got an advantage being in Texas with this "Texas Country/Red Dirt" scene. We do feature the Texas stuff, but I try to listen to a song as a song, regardless of where they're from or who they are. Great music is coming from guys like Aaron Watson (The Road), Johnny Cooper (Crazy), and local guy Josh Abbott, who's just fantastic and could "cross over" into Nashville immediately.

6) What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work? Are you, like every Texan, glued to the TV every Sunday to watch the Cowboys?

I totally disagree with National Contesting because - oh - wrong question. Yes, I love the Cowboys. I'm also a big fan of hanging with my family - one of the main reasons I came back to Lubbock.

7) Have you been to the new Cowboys Stadium yet? It is really like the 8th wonder of the world?

I think radio as an industry will be even better because of the current economic conditions. It'll take a - wait. What? No - I can't get tickets.

8) Tell us one thing people would be surprised to learn about you.

That it's hard to get a direct answer from me.

9) You met your wife, a make-up artist, on the set of a TV show. What show was it? Have you ever done any acting before?

It was an "American Idol" type of TV show they do all over the east coast called "Gimme The Mic." I served as a judge for 3 seasons and met my wife on the first taping. I've done commercial work for TV in Charlotte, plus lots of PA work for sports teams in DFW, and I act every day from 3p - 7p.

10) What music would we find in your iPod or CD player at the moment?

Pat Green's a staple. I also work in some Alison Krauss, Frank Sinatra, and yes, Lady GaGa rocks.

1) You are a true Texas boy at heart - you MUST know of some great BBQ places in the area. If we were to visit Lubbock, what restaurant would you take us to, and what would you recommend we order?

I'd probably take you for Mexican food first, but if you're paying, "Bigham's BBQ" has been around forever for a reason. None of that pork junk. BEEF BABY!

2) What five albums would you grab out of a burning building?

Whatever my favorite record promoters are pushing, then George Strait cause you can build an entire playlist in Texas with him. Also, Pat Green's "Three Days," Willie Nelson's "The Great Divide," Alison Krauss "Live," Garth Brooks "Ropin' the Wind" - the best ever

3) If you could have dinner with any celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

George W. Bush, and we wouldn't talk politics at all - but because I've been impersonating him for 9 years and c'mon - you know when Laura's not around he's gotta be wild!