10 Questions with ... Pat Martin

1) Let’s start at the beginning…how did you first get bitten by the radio bug?

Growing up in Southern California I was a Top 40 kid (KHJ Boss Radio), until I turned about 13 and discovered FM Rock radio, KMET and KLOS. Jim Ladd and Bob Coburn were my favorites and both inspired me. My junior year in high school I started writing for the school’s newspaper as the entertainment reporter. My editor gave me an assignment: interview a disc jockey at KNAC in Long Beach, a guy named Bobby Blue. I became enamored immediately. Bobby was so cool, and he’d met rock stars and played music on the radio for a living. So I asked him how to get into radio. He gave me some very sage advice…go to San Diego State, get a gig at the campus radio station, and see what happens.

2) How did that work out for you?

I applied, got accepted, and got a shift on KCR, which at the time was a station on Cox Cable, which meant we actually had listeners. About a year later, much to my surprise, I got a call from the Program Director of KGB-FM, a gentleman named Rick Leibert. He offered me a weekend job. My first shift was 4 am to 9 am on Saturday mornings. A few months later I was bumped up to daytime weekends, and a few months later he hired me to do nights, full time. I was 20 years old. So yeah, the SDSU advice from Bobby Blue turned out to be pretty good.

3) 20 Years old and working at KGB/San Diego. How was that?

It was amazing. As basically still just a kid, I was lucky to be thrown into a very welcoming and professional group of broadcasters who took me in and mentored me. They put up with my sometimes erratic behavior and taught me how to do radio the right way. There was Jim McInnes, Gabriel Wisdom, Jeff Prescott, Bill Hergonson…all these San Diego legends, who I learned a great deal from…things I still practice to this day. I loved every minute of my time there, which turned out to be about ten years.

4) You eventually left KGB to work at KMET/Los Angeles. How was that experience for you?

Yes, in early 1986 I took a job at “The Mighty Met”, KMET. I was hired to do the shift once held by “The Burner” Mary Turner, 6 to 10 pm. That whole experience was a trip. I’d pull up to Metromedia Square (well, the Fox Television Center when I worked there), sign my name at the glass guard booth and head up to the top level to park. When I’d pull into my spot, there in front of me was the Hollywood sign. Very surreal.

5) Let’s fast forward to the present. You recently transitioned from doing middays at KRXQ in Sacramento for the last 33 years, to moving over to sister station KSEG for mornings. Before we talk about your new gig on 96.9 The Eagle, how do you put a bow on 33 years rocking on KRXQ?

Well, I was feeling a bit of melancholy leading up to my last day, as I had worked there for more than half my life. I had a lot invested in that station. I got engaged while working there, got married, had kids, bought houses, all those wonderful things, and all because I had this great job. I’m very grateful. Thinking back now that I’ve moved on, I’m very proud of the success that KRXQ has had all these years, and proud to have contributed to that success with my little part of the deal. But at some point, you realize that it’s time for a change. I got to that point.

6) Now let’s talk about your move to mornings on KSEG. How did this transition come together in the first place?

Well, Joe Calgaro surprised me one day by saying “I want to make you a job offer.” I thought he was kidding. He said “no, seriously…” and offered me the gig. My first question was “why would you offer ME this job?” I guess I was uniquely qualified in that I have name recognition in this market, and close ties to virtually everything rock ‘n’ roll in Sacramento, so it made sense. I was ready for a new chapter and challenge, so I took the job.

7) You’ve been doing the morning shift on 96.9 The Eagle since early July. How are things going so far?

I’m still working out the kinks but I have to admit, I’m really enjoying it. I have a lot of improving to do, but I think I’m a really good fit for the station, not only musically but for the life group as well. People have been very nice and complimentary so far. Getting up at 4 am sucks. I have a TV friend, Mark S. Allen, and I asked him if you get used to getting up so early. He said no, you never do. You just deal with it.

8) Are you doing any special benchmarks or features on your new morning show?

Given that it’s a music-concentric show, I have a bunch. I do a daily news feature twice a show called “The Pat Cast”, I do “The Daily Rock Report”, and an all-request hour at 9am we call “Eagle On Demand”. And a bunch of whatever else comes up. I use a lot of sound, my show is kind of an audio circus. I’m never short on available content.

9) Besides waking up a lot earlier, what are the major differences for you moving from middays on KRXQ to mornings on 96.9 The Eagle?

I’ve gone from being sort of a background personality to more of the forefront. The new show has more content, more energy, and a different mindset altogether. But I was doing a lot in middays on KRXQ anyway, so what I’m doing now is just bumping it up a notch. Joe Calgaro is a great talent coach, so I’m learning a lot from him already. It’s actually a lot of fun.

10) Finally, you’ve had a successful career in radio for 40 plus years now on only a handful of stations. What are some of the key elements that have contributed to your longevity in this business?

Great question. My tenure in this business, 44 years now, has nothing to do with radio talent, because the truth is, I have none. I don’t have a great voice, I’m not particularly funny or witty, I’m not a real personality. But I have been good at a lot of other things. I think I’m good at connecting with people, both on and off the air. I understand the importance of relationships and alliances. I’ve worn a multitude of other hats in programming and production and I’ve always tried to be flexible and made myself valuable to the business any way I can. I always say yes. I get out in the public a great deal, hosting concerts and charity events alike. But the one single thing I can say to answer your question is, every day, when I walk into the building, I say to myself “what can I do today to prove I’m worthy of working here?” That’s my mindset. I try to earn my place here, every single day.