10 Questions with ... Chris Patyk

NAME:Chris Patyk TITLE:PD STATIONS:KUFO MARKET:Portland, OR COMPANY:CBS Radio BORN:Yes, in Tucson RAISED:Yes, in Tucson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started as an intern on the morning show at KRQ in Tucson, AZ with Mike Elliott and Jimmy Kimmel, back in 1993. I was promoted to producer and then six months later we were all fired. Jimmy was and is my mentor and still the funniest person I know. Mike Elliott was THE morning guy in Tucson and couldn't have been a better person to lead me into this business. I was very lucky to get mixed up and, later, fired with them. Good people.

After KRQ, it was off to Power 1490 where Bruce St. James took me in as a morning show producer. I later met up with my now-afternoon host -- Marconi. Just goes to show you what a small world this business is! While I was at 1490, Bobby Rich, the PD of the AC, asked me to help him on his morning show and soon I was working with Bobby in the mornings and helping him in the programming department at Mix 94.9. I took record calls and listened to Joshua Kadison's "Jessie" a lot that year.

A couple of years later 1490 became "The End" -- Tucson's first Alternative station. It was my first PD job; my afternoon show and MD was Stryker, and we had a lot of fun back then. Again, just another great talent to meet up with on this journey.

As "The End" met its end, I was offered nights and APD/MD at KEDJ in Phoenix, AZ. Shellie Hart was the PD and for three years, we took the station to new heights of success, #1 18-34 on a simulcast! Aside from nights, I performed middays and afternoons during that time. We discovered Steve Tingle -- now the afternoon show at Q101 in Chicago, and worked with more fun people like Dead Air Dave, Robin Nash and Marty Whitney.

In 1999, I got the call from Angela Perelli to work at Star 98.7 in Los Angeles. I was hired as the MD and again, met up with a lot of great, talented people. Ryan Seacrest and Lisa Foxx were the afternoon show. We had Jamie White and Danny Bonaduce in the morning. Most of all, there was a great staff behind the scenes -- Robert Lyles, our marketing director, and Jim Pratt were responsible for some of the greatest imaging ever.

In 2005, I became Program Director at KZON/Phoenix. It was filled with new challenges. The biggest was in 2006 when it became "Free FM." I was able to meet a lot more amazing talent. It was fun to test out shows and see what would happen. Two teams that mean the world to me -- my night show at the time: Big O and Dukes -- who are now killing it at WJFK in Washington, D.C. just like they did in AZ; and Toucher and Rich at WBCN in Boston -- they only did two test shows at KZON, but I'll never forget them. Eventually "Free FM" said its goodbye in June, 2007. It was one of the highest-rated "Free FMs" and I'm very proud of the success it had.

Which leads me to today being at KUFO in Portland -- amazing call letters, heritage and people. The talent is the greatest -- Adam Carolla in mornings, our all-star MD Bozyk in the middays, Marconi in afternoons and Cort and Fatboy in the evenings. Susan Reynolds, Becca Burda and Bridget Livergood work marketing, promotions and web, and they're the best in the biz.

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

First job was at KRQ in Tucson, AZ as the producer of "Mike and Jimmy", the morning show. My influences at the time were David Letterman, Chris Elliott, The Simpsons, The Ben Stiller Show, Kids in the Hall and Mystery Science Theatre 3000. That really worked with Mike and Jimmy. I count Jimmy as an influence and still do. It was a big deal for me to come in and make him laugh. It was even better (and sometimes for the worse) when he would terrorize me. I'll never forget the day he told me he was going to be on late-night TV one day. I wonder what happened....

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?

I didn't want to have a real job. The day I became "Pepperoni Boy" (long story, but needless to say, Hormel did a buy on the station and I "hid the pepperoni" around Tucson) and made those guys laugh and had people seeking out the pepperoni was quite -- like "Sex Panther" -- pungent. I also loved music ... and to be at a place where the CDs were free was a nice perk.

3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

Good question; it's hard to think of doing anything else at this point. Perhaps I would have been a lawyer. Law school seemed like a good idea at the time. Possibly I would have gone on to be a starving artist or writer at a newspaper.

4) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Always trust your gut.

5) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?

Encouraging new generations to listen to the radio. To inspire them with memorable, smart talent that takes risks. This is a creative time for radio -- there are so many new outlets out there to be heard: online streaming ... HD. The fun part is discovering these new worlds and giving them the appropriate platforms.

6) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?

Worst: two words --- "Pepperoni Boy" (see above)

Best: Taking a group of listeners to see U2 at Dublin's Slane Castle in 2001 and walking into the field to hear the entire crowd singing "Trouble" during the opening band's -- Coldplay -- set.

7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

Doug the Slug/Sluggo on KROQ. The best jock ever. Period.

8) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

It's always been KROQ. No other station has navigated the musical trends and changes better. The artists always feel tied into the genetics of the station. Kevin Weatherly has an amazing team and he has always put KROQ's core, brand values on the top of the list no matter what -- they never make bad on their promise to the listener; you know what you're gonna get. Kevin and Bean are consistently solid -- one of the best morning shows ever. And just the amount of brilliant talent who has worked there is astonishing.

9) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?

I'm listening to the R.E.M. CD, "Accelerate" a lot. It's like 1986 all over again! The Black Keys' new one is strong. Been listening to a lot of Guided By Voices -- good to revisit some '90s indie. The new Muse live CD/DVD is stellar.

10) Favorite artist you have met?

John Mayer -- because he appreciated the significance of Bubb Rubb and 'Lil Sis and their Whistle Tips. YouTube it! Woo Woo!

What is your favorite TV show?

So many to choose from. I'm obsessed with "Lost" and am now getting into "Battlestar Galactica." "Arrested Development" was pretty close to a perfect TV show, though.