10 Questions with ... John Anthony Kehoe

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Internship started in 1979 with Armed Forces Radio & Television. Upon returning to the United States and graduating from high school, I entered the radio program at Miami Lakes Tech. Landed a music research job while in school with WQAM/Miami – worked my way to on air and MD. Was MD at WAIL-FM/Key West, PD at WFFG/Marathon, FL, OM/PD at WAVW/Vero Beach, FL, PD at WGNE/Daytona Beach, PD at WKRO/Daytona Beach, PD at WKWS/Charleston, WV andOM/PD WPHR/Vero Beach.

1. How would you describe your first radio gig?

Pure excitement! The first time I walked into a live studio I was hooked. The mixing board, the VU’s, records, turntables, carts, the posters on the walls. Everything about it told me that I would be doing this for the rest of life! Plus, I was getting out of school two hours early each day!

2. What led you to a career in radio?

I grew up a military brat. I was attending A.T. Mahan High School at NAS Keflavik, Iceland. The school offered a Cooperative Work Experience. (Military speak for Internship). DET 8 – Armed Forces Radio & Television had an opening. My first job was to file music, cart up the top 40 each week and destroy old records and reel to reels. One day the Executive Officer and Senior Chief (Military speak for GM and PD), asked me if I was interested in taking over a live, one hour show every Tuesday. I was allowed to draw up my own flex clocks and schedule my own music as long as the show was themed and I hit the top of the hour news. “At the sound of the tone, the time will be 8 o’clock”…an entire country heard me close the show that way once a week!

3. You’ve had a long and successful career, the majority of which have been spent programming and broadcasting in Florida. What is the allure of the Sunshine State for you?

The military moves people around every couple of years. My dad was with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, but when we rotated back to the US, his Shore Duty would always put him in South Florida. That makes Florida the closest thing to a home town or home state that I know.

4. Growing up you lived in some really cool places. How did those experiences prepare you as a radio lifer?

The constant moving taught me how to adapt to new situations very quickly. It’s a survival skill that fits perfectly into my radio environment. Marines will say “Improvise, Overcome, Adapt, Persevere.” That saying is engrained in my head to this day. Ask my kids, they’ll tell you. Also, growing up within such a diverse group of people and being the minority in foreign countries, you understand that even though we are all very different, we can achieve common goals. This experience was instrumental dealing with the multitude of personalities we work with in radio every day.

5. What did you learn about yourself as a programmer navigating the pandemic?

Resiliency! You can lose all of your staff, you can lose advertisers, everything you’ve learned about listening habits can be turned upside down, but you still have to deliver the best possible product that your situation allows. I still have to write and mix imagers, schedule music logs, produce spots, keep the stations on the air. The owners expect it, no matter what kind of furloughs, budget cuts or virus is raging through our building.

6. You’re the OM for a 5-station cluster, and still do afternoons on Country B 94.7. Why is it important for you to still crack the mic every day?

That’s my time. For me, being on the air is still the most satisfying part of the day. I love being in the studio, whether it’s live or tracked. If the day starts to get away from me, I’ll find an empty studio, close the door, turn the music up and regroup. It’s my happy place!

7. How does Scott Bristow’s morning show jump start the day for 93.7 GYL?

Scott gets an A+ for Adapting. He and his morning show partner were furloughed, the partner went on to another gig but Scott recently returned to his morning show. He built an awesome sounding home studio and is currently tracking. Scott lives in one of the most densely populated areas within our market and is out there meeting people every day. Each morning he wakes up The Treasure Coast with a passion and energy that is second to none.

8. Have we heard The Song Of Summer 2021 yet? If so, what is it?

On Hot AC – “Déjà Vu” – Olivia Rodrigo
On my Country station--it’s a local artist. Kurt Stevens – “Sunshine State of Mind.” Great Summer time video too!

9. What were your favorite stations growing up as a kid? Jock(s)?

In the USA, I remember listening to 560 WQAM in Miami and hearing Jim Dunlap.. Overseas I listened to Wolfman Jack, Charlie Tuna, Casey Kasem and Orange In The Morning on AFRT’s – but my favorite was listening to BBC1England on shortwave while in Iceland. For the DX’ers in the audience, I listened to radio stations from around the world while I was there. Hops and skips you only dream of!

10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

Mom and Dad. My dad served our country as a sailor in United States Navy for 30 plus years. I get my work ethic from him. I get my resiliency from Mom. She grew up in Nazi occupied France during WW2. I get my positive attitude and commitment from both of them. They set me up for success no matter what the career path. For the past forty plus years, I’m fortunate to be able to say that radio found me.

With the venue of your choice at your disposal and an unlimited budget, which 3-5 acts would you pull together for a station Welcome Back Bash?

The venue would absolutely be Red Rocks in Colorado! The acts: Alabama, Lynyrd Syknyrd, Luke Combs, The Judds and Garth Brooks. Not necessarily in that order!