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10 Questions with ... Debbi Calton
August 13, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I have literally lived a life alongside my listeners. We've been together through marriages and children being born and other life changes. I'm always astounded when someone comes up to me and remembers something I said years ago. Decades ago! I have gone to my listener's retirement parties, their weddings, their other special events. I'm always thrilled that they consider to invite me. The outpouring of messages I've received since my retirement announcement was made has been overwhelming. That daily interaction will be irreplaceable and I know I will miss that the most
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1. What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment?
It was an accident! I could've been a welder. I was majoring in English and minoring in French at Guilford College, Greensboro, NC and decided to take a semester off to learn an actual skill. I knew that it had to be some kind of school for my parents to continue footing the bill. I sent off for trade brochures and was ready to apply for welding school when I got a packet from a broadcasting school. I had worked some behind the scenes at WQFS, Guilford's campus station but was way too shy to go on-air. I thought maybe I could do something else in broadcasting. The school turned out to be a bust but I figured as long as I was committed to finishing the course, I might as well learn what I could. So I knocked on doors in Charlotte, NC and landed on the doorstep of AM daytimer WRPL and volunteered (literally) my services. I started out getting coffee, then writing copy and in two weeks they put me on the air. Yikes. I got to work with the legendary Al Cafaro, Chris Hensley and Daniel Brunty.
2. Can you give us a brief history of your radio career before WMGK?
I was at WRPL for two years during which time I pretty much did everything from mornings to PD. It was an incredible learning experience. There were days I was on air from sunrise to sunset. From there, I spent time in Florida at 98 ROCK in Tampa and then WORJ in Orlando. Then it was off cross-country to follow my then fiancé Brock Whaley to Denver where I worked at KFML and then on to Chicago at WMET. In 1983, when WMET was taken over by Doubleday, we all dispersed in different directions. I was the very last one to hang on. A number of my co-workers landed in Philly so I visited. Originally, I was slated to interview with Charlie Kendall at WMMR. For whatever reason, that didn't happen so Michael Picozzi at WYSP said I'll hire you on the spot. (anything to circumvent MMR! Hahaha)
3. Congratulations on your 26 years in the same daypart on MGK. You recently announced your retirement on December 6th. Why are you hanging up the head phones now?
Honestly, no one particular reason. I'd like to be more available to help my parents in NC. I'd like to travel a bit with my husband Chip when he tours. I actually made the decision last year on the occasion of my 25th anniversary at 'MGK but was asked to please stay another year so I did. And I'm glad I did.
Debbi and Joan Jett in 20054. With the advent of social media, how different is your role on the air now as it was 26 years ago?
Very! I remember when FB first became a thing,I was posting like crazy and I heard from someone who said, "Aren't you worried your bosses are going to think you're shirking your job?" And I said "This IS my job now." I'm pretty active on social media and realize the value of cross-referencing. I really enjoy that other level of sharing and communicating. I may not be able to run a 30-minute interview on the air but I can excerpt and then point listeners to the website for the full listen. It truly opens up the shared experience.
5. Are you doing any special features or benchmark music programming for the workforce checking out MGK during the day?
I've been doing a feature called Noontime Nuggets forever. It actually began at WYSP and when the rights to the name expired, we brought it back here on MGK. Nothing major.... requests during the noon-1p hour but it's a very recognizable handle. I also do a 10a feature we call Connect 3 and the listeners have to figure out the common thread.
6. How would you describe any differences in the music today on MGK from when you first started in middays there?
Well, when I started here, MGK was making the transition from its Magic/AC format to Greatest Hits of the '70s. Andy Bloom was working for Greater Media at the time. I had worked with Andy at WYSP several years earlier. He told me that MGK was getting ready to switch formats and although he couldn't tell me what it was, he thought I would be a good fit. I had been unceremoniously released from WYSP several months before so I was intrigued. I didn't know a lot about MGK at the time so I tuned in and gave Delilah a listen. I told Andy that I didn't think I was cut out for that, but he told me that it was going to be a total departure from their current programming. And what a fun format it turned out to be! Playing Joni Mitchell next to Bad Company next to The Spinners! As long as it came out in the '70s, it was fair game. Over time, the format evolved into Classic Hits and then Classic Rock. And over the last several years, we've seen the definition of Classic Rock expand to include Pearl Jam, RHCP, etc. I remember when we first added GnR to the format and there was a bit of pushback on that. Now the audience understands that Classic Rock can be a living breathing entity.
Debbi at Let Freedom Rock Fest in 20097. What were some of the most memorable interviews or moments during your 26-year run on MGK?
Being on the air as the events of 9/11 unfolded was perhaps the most humbling day of my career. Trying to make sense of what was happening while trying to maintain composure on-air while the whole time, I was trying to get hold of my son's school to make sure everything was okay there. Whew. In the days that followed, we all felt a tremendous responsibility to help reassure our audience that even though this senseless and mind boggling event had happened, that we were in it together.
Having David Crosby in the studio live with me for an hour-and-a-half was, at the very least, interesting. He was candid and told wonderful stories but in between on air breaks, he was a tad irascible and confrontational and I was shaking the entire time. But he still was one of the best interviews I ever had. I've talked to my heartthrob Jackson Browne many times and even got to pick up him at the airport once. I had John Paul Jones on my show for several hours and he played live and as a huge Zep fan, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Little Steven was on the air with me the day George Harrison died and it turned into a wonderful several-hour tribute. I participated in a children's record project called "All About Bullies Big And Small and it won a Grammy! I got to go up on stage at the Grammys! And being recognized at the Philadelphia A.I.R. Awards as a milestone honoree alongside Lifetime Achievement winners Gamble and Huff was surreal. Plus, in what other industry could you interview John Entwistle in a bathtub and Mick Fleetwood in a bathroom stall? (I sense a common thread here).
8. Is there someone you never had a chance to interview, but wish you did?
I would love to talk to Patti Smith. She was gracious enough to send a greeting to me on the occasion of my 25th anniversary here last year. Ronnie Wood would be a hoot to talk to. I met Terry Reid but didn't do an interview ... would love that chance! I'm hoping I can figure out a way to still have access to interviews without having a radio station!
9. What makes doing Rock radio in Philadelphia so special to you?
I have literally lived a life alongside my listeners. We've been together through marriages and children being born and other life changes. I'm always astounded when someone comes up to me and remembers something I said years ago. Decades ago! I have gone to my listener's retirement parties, their weddings, their other special events. I'm always thrilled that they consider to invite me. The outpouring of messages I've received since my retirement announcement was made has been overwhelming. That daily interaction will be irreplaceable and I know I will miss that the most.
Debbi Calton- Philadelphia Eagles fan!!10. Finally, what are your plans for retirement after your final show on Dec. 6th?
Good question! My nephew is getting married in Hilton Head the following weekend so maybe I'll just stay there for an extra couple of days without worrying about using up all my vacation time! I do plan on working more on my stained glass hobby, possibly going out the road with my husband Chip who is a touring musician (Cowboys in the Campfire with Tommy Stinson), and spending more time with my parents in North Carolina. My dad wants me to write the Great American Novel. We'll see! And I definitely plan on doing more work with American Public Television and their fund drives. My Uncle Albert (yes, I've got one!) has some exciting art projects and a book on the horizon and I plan to work closely with him in a PR capacity.
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