10 Questions with ... Buzz Jackson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• 88-90 Weekends at WOVV/West Palm Beach (Top 40)
• 90-91 Nites at Z-103 Tallahassee (Top 40)
• 91-92 Nites at I-100 Daytona Beach (Top 40)
• 92-94 overnites and then nites at B-94.5 Orlando (Country)
• 94-95 nites at WRMF/West Palm Beach (AC)
• 95-01 afternoons (and later PD) at WROO/Jacksonville
• 01-present PD/afternoons at KIIM/Tucson

1) First and foremost I just have to ask - how did you come up with the name Buzz? Are you a big Buzz Lightyear fan?

Actually, I was "Buzz" before Buzz Lightyear. I was part of the gang that put one of the first "Young Country" stations on the air, B-94.5 in Orlando, back in 1992. All the DJs were looking for names that fit the station's "Bee" image, so we had a Queen Bee, a Hive-Meister, a Swarmin' Norman and I got to be Buzz.

2) You've been in radio for over 20 years, starting out in Top 40 in 1988 and making your way to Country in 1992. Have you always been a Country music fan, or was it a big adjustment for you as you made the transition to our format?

I was never a Country music fan. I fell into it by accident. I was working at I-100 in Daytona Beach when it changed format and I was let go. The first station I was able to get work at was B-94.5, doing overnights. I'll never forget being told one morning by the PD, "Uh, Sawyer Brown is a group, not a guy." But I have grown to love the music and the artists since then, and I can't see myself ever wanting to go back to pop music.

3) What type of music and what radio stations did you listen to growing up in Glen Head, NY (where is that by the way)? Who were some of your favorite jocks?

Glen Head is on Long Island, about 20 miles east of New York City, so I grew up listening to some of the best radio in America - WABC and WNBC in the '70s, and Z-100 and WPLJ in the '80s. My favorite memories were of listening to the Z- Morning Zoo on Z-100 - at the time that station had revolutionized hit radio, and everyone in radio today - regardless of format - owes at least something to Scott Shannon.

4) This has been a big year for you! You won your first Academy of Country Music award for Medium Market Personality of the Year. Congratulations! Describe what you were feeling the moment you found out.

It was really cool. I've been nominated a few times for national awards, but this was my first win. It was kind of funny, I got a call on Tuesday from the ACM confirming that I would be at work and on the air Thursday afternoon. That was suspicious, and I had never gotten a call like that in the years I'd been nominated but hadn't won. So I checked with Mike Hammond at WIVK and he basically said there would be no reason for them to call me if I hadn't won. It was then that I figured out that I must've won. Still, I got another rush when I actually got the call on Thursday from Bob Romeo at the ACMs to tell me that I had won.

5) Was this your first trip to the ACM Awards show? Tell us some highlights from your experience.

I've been the ACMs a few times before. I was nominated once before, and the station was nominated once before, but it is much cooler getting off the airplane in Las Vegas knowing that you are already a winner! I think my favorite part of the weekend was Saturday evening - I saw the Kenny Chesney Summer In 3-D movie with a few of my close friends - Morgan Freeman, Reba McEntire, Tim & Faith and of course Kenny Chesney were all there. Of course, they had better seats than I did, but we were all in the same theater at the same time. It was fun. I also had a blast at the taping of the Brooks & Dunn Last Rodeo special the night after the awards. Seriously, how can you not have fun in Vegas?

6) What are some artists you're really excited about right now?

This market really responds to the more traditional side of country. Easton Corbin is doing great here. Troy Olsen is a local guy who finally has a record deal and he will be a star!

7) One of my favorite things about you is that you are bluntly honest and you are not afraid to tell me what you think of songs I ask you about each week. What's one song that never really took off that you felt should have been a huge hit? (And tell me how you really feel!)

Last Call from Lee Ann Womack was a HUGE hit here. I don't remember where it peaked nationally, but we played the snot out of the song and still do. Hers is a voice that belongs on country radio.

8) Recently you got to take flight with the Air Force Thunderbirds. I saw pictures and video on your website and Facebook page, that looked awesome! How did that opportunity come about? Did you feel like you stepped right out of the movie Top Gun?

It was a blast. The short story is, three years ago the Blue Angels had come for the local air show. They select a local media person for a flight, and I was the first runner-up for that flight, meaning that if one of the primary riders had been sick, I would've flown. Sadly (for me), nobody got sick. But I made up my mind that come hell or high water I would fly the next time. So this year the Air Force announced that the Thunderbirds would be a part of the air show and I immediately began lobbying for the media flight. It helped, I think, that we helped the Air Force get a Joe Nichols concert for the Air Show weekend. I did 9.2 G's and never threw up! See the whole story, pictures and video: http://www.kiimfm.com/BuzzFlight

9) Who are some of your mentors or people you admire inside and/or outside of the music/radio industry?

I have admired Rusty Walker for nearly 20 years. My first exposure to him was during a conference call as we were launching B-94.5 in Orlando, and I remember thinking this guy is part-genius, part-insane. Bob Glasco is a smart strategic and tactical guy. I owe a lot to John Richards who was my OM in Jacksonville, and Linda Byrd who was my GM in Jacksonville, for giving me my first PD gig.

10) If you hadn't gone into radio, what other career path would you have chosen?

I have no other skills, so if I wasn't in radio, I'd be living in a cardboard box under a freeway overpass.

1) You finally just received your actual ACM award. Do you bring it into meetings in the conference room with you and just kind of set it in front of you?

I had it here for a day, but now it lives at home so I can be reminded each morning what it's all about. I will bring it in for special occasions, or when Judy Ellis comes to visit.

2) Some of your favorite foods are Chinese and Fuddruckers. For people who haven't tasted those great Fuddrucker's burgers, what are they missing?

The best thing about Fuddruckers is that you can pretty much build your own burger. I have had a long relationship over the years with beef, and although it's probably bad for me in the long term, I don't smoke or drink, so I figure if the worst thing I do is eat too many burgers, that's not too bad.

3) What other music do you enjoy listening to outside of Country?

When my daughter was born eight years ago, I made sure she would have a healthy appreciation for '80s pop. I'm not sure how many 8-year-olds can sing both "Jump" by Van Halen and "Love Story" by Taylor Swift.

Even the worst 80s song is a hundred times better than what passes for pop music these days. Or maybe I'm just too old.