-
10 Questions with ... Jack Diamond
March 6, 2007
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Jack DiamondTITLE:Morning Show Host of The Jack Diamond Morning ShowSTATIONS:WRQX Washington, DCMARKET:Washington, DCCOMPANY:ABC/DisneyBORN:Washington, DCRAISED:Washington, DC & the Maryland suburbs
Please outline your radio career so far:
WABC, WLS, WRQX, WMAL, KSON, 94Q Atlanta, KNBR, WRKO, WCBM, KIMN, WPRO, Pro-FM, B104, and WINX.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My first full-time job was doing 7-midnight at WINX in Rockville, a suburb of Washington, DC. I took Terry Steel's place when he went to CHUM in Toronto, and Rick Price (also known as Joel Denver!!!)
I grew up listening to Terry and Joel on WINX, and Dan Ingram & Cousin Brucie on WABC (man, was it a thrill the first time I appeared on WABC after dreaming about it for decades!). All the great jocks on CKLW, WCFL and WLS (another thrill first time I appeared on WLS)
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
At 12 or 13 I had a "home made" radio station in my basement. At 14 I met someone in radio and was allowed to hang out and occasionally "help". The day I got my driver's license at 16, I headed to Annapolis, Maryland, and got a part time job at WYRE. When the school year started in the Fall, I applied for Terry Steel's job at WINX doing 7-12, and got it! My senior year in High School I was moved to 3-7pm. Amazing!
3) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now, what you didn't then, would you still do it?
I left the business only twice since 1970; once was to work for Atlantic Records, and the other was to do TV full time. I hated being out of radio both times, and can't imagine my life without radio.
4) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Washington is like NO other city in the world. Our local news is national news. EVERY special interest group is here. Every country is represented. Many have come here to "take the city" and many have gone home with their tail between their legs.
Urban/Rhythmic music rules on music radio. Personality rules on all stations. We have a little bit of everything on the 42 sticks in DC. Listeners are educated and opinionated. Doesn't matter the topic, the phones WILL ring. Answer them and run with it. We are a diverse and fascinating city and radio market. You'll literally hear everything. It's an amazing place to work and live, but you have to pay attention 24/7 and bullsh*t is not an option. This is a smart city.
5) What's been your biggest disappointment in Radio today?
I hate the commercialization of EVERYTHING, and the "win at all cost" mentality. It has lead other stations to law suits, dead listeners and a warped business. Let's go back to a bit more service (and entertainment) to our communities, or the FCC WILL give the licensees to those who will! We hold them in the public Interest and TRUST!!!
6) Most of us have known or even worked for a "colorful" owner/GM/air talent. Care to share a story? (The names can be changed to protect the innocent).
I once worked for a guy SO nuts that he fired 15 people in my first 90 days! Including the PD who hired me and moved me across the country! I ended up being the PD, MD and GM!!!! I left about a month later before he could fire me. We never did unpack a single box in Seattle! (but what a great and beautiful city!)
7) What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you on the air?
I was doing 7-12 on WINX. It was my first full time job. The studios were upstairs in an old victorian house. The offices were downstairs. I was 16 and REALLY into it. I had the monitor up SO loud, when someone broke into the building, and stole literally the WHOLE first floor, I didn't hear or see a thing. I went downstairs to the soda machine about 11pm and the first floor was EMPTY. I had to call the GM and police. Fortunately it was an inside job. (and I was NOT involved)
8) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
Becoming [acquainted] with AL Gore and having my band play at his functions, [both] charity and official. SO many through the years: finding lost parents, kids and old flames, and children's charities like "Hope For The Holidays." Many things that never make it on the air, but changed all of us that participated in small ways.
Here are two of the most memorable and touching:
A former high school mate of mine called and said his 16 year-old son was gravely ill and would die soon. He was offered a trip to Hawaii by "Make A Wish," but told his dad; "I don't want to go on vacation, and then come home and die". He said his son wanted to restore a 68 Camaro with his dad.
My High School acquaintance called to see if I knew of anyone with a car they could work on FAST. I asked Russell if he'd come on the air, and talk about this a bit. We did and the phones literally exploded. We not only got a 68 Camaro to restore, we got dozens of members of the community to help out. One had a Camaro body, another a transmission, someone would paint it, another the interior. This went on-and-on with local and national TV. Constant updates on the radio as the project moved forward. AMAZING unity and community participation with Russell and his son lifted everyone's spirits.
Not only was the car completely restored over a few months, but the family was so happy and moved by all this that Russel's son started feeling "better". The doctor's said there was no reason to come back, but they went for "one last checkup". The cancer was in COMPLETE remission!!! Duke University couldn't believe it, but they confirmed it was true!
The young boy went on to not only drive the car (his ultimate "I Want to Live Long Enough to Do This" goal), but the car won car shows around the region and country.
This young man eventually got married and had a healthy son. [It was] just amazing in everyway.
The young man eventually succumbed to the cancer when it returned, but can you imagine? What if I hadn't called this guy I barely knew from high school? What if I had just blown him off and said I'd call a car dealer friend for him? What if we didn't put his story on the air? What if I wasn't really listening to him.
Several years later we became very close with Mattie Stepanek, the amazing young poet who had Muscular Dystrophy, and was best friends with President Jimmy Carter and Oprah. He was a guest on our show many times to read his poetry, and we gave him a "guest DJ" day for his birthday. He rolled his ever-present wheelchair into the studio and we gave him his own headphones, a mic and place at the board. Guests to interview, phone calls to answer. An in-studio audience with catered breakfast. It was a blast and a truly touching day. After Mattie passed, his mom told us it was his favorite birthday and one of the best days of his life. Listeners tell us the same thing.
Those are the two things about our show we hear the most about. The human side. The things we're most proud of.
9) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?
I wish I had been kinder to and more aware of some of the other talent and hard workers around me. Sometimes you're swimming so fast and hard to keep your own head above water, you don't realize what your "wake" is doing to those behind and next to you.
10) How do you stay in tune with your audience?
I am ONE of our listeners and I "live" in the community, go to my kids schools, games, etc. I see movies and TV that I like (and they do too) share my thoughts and feelings on the air and LISTEN to theirs.
"Washington "happens" on The Jack Diamond Morning Show". If you heard, saw or wondered what happened in Washington - we're talking about it, and probably interviewing those involved.
I also recommend ALL personality jocks fill-in on your cluster Talk station. It builds GREAT character when it's ALL about you & the listener & the topic, and there are NO records to hit!
Here's my brief philosophy on our business and succeeding in it: "Say aloud what people are thinking." It WORKS. Just make sure you're in the right format on the right station or YOU may be the one that doesn't fit!
If you are in the right place, you can't go wrong with trusting your thoughts and words. If you have an emotional response to something and you share it - chances are the majority of your audience will have had an emotional reaction to it too.
Thanks for the opportunity to share a bit of my journey. It doesn't matter what market size you are in or what you make. Be true to yourself and to your audience and the future WILL take care of itself. At the end of each day, the only one you really have to answer to is yourself. How did you do today?
Bonus Questions
1) How did you get your on-air name?
At my first station, WINX, the GM, Pierre Eaton, was a big fan of Cousin Brucie on WABC. He wanted a "Bruce" on his station. Neil Diamond was BIG. Pierre hired me, and when he introduced me to the staff he said "Please welcome Bruce Diamond". I sat there and looked around for "Bruce". I had NO idea it was me. It was a BIG laugh for everyone. A few years later, a PD wanted to do a Billboard campaign with the playing card "The Jack of Diamonds". Clever, huh? That was the last time I changed my name. My legal name is Harvey. Bruce Diamond sounds pretty good now, doesn't it.
2) What do you do in your spare time?
My wife and I have a band that performs covers of the music we play on Mix107.3, and original music too. It has been a GREAT promotional tool for the show and station, and we have a blast. We have played for as many as 40,000 people. The other members of the band are stellar musicians. I'm also really into photography and make the occasional short film. My 5 kids take up the rest of my time and attention. They are the high-point of each and every day.
3) Who would be your dream guest on the show?
We have had EVERYONE from McCartney to Presidents, and we book amazing guests. Check out the latest at www.mix1073fm.com. Whoever can reach or interest our audience is welcome.
-
-