10 Questions with ... Taylor J

NAME:Taylor J TITLE:On-Air Noon-3p & MD STATION:KSLZ-FM/Z107-7 MARKET:St. Louis OWNER:Clear Channel

Please outline your radio career so far:

1991-1993 -- WHSD/Hinsdale, IL - Hinsdale Central High School
1995-1997 -- WBBM-FM (B96)/Chicago - Morning News Producer/Community Affairs
1995-1997 -- WCRX/Chicago - Columbia College Chicago - Middays, News Director
1997-1999 -- WFXW-AM/St. Charles, IL - Morning Producer/Co-Host, Fill-in jock, Account Representative
1998-1999 -- WUSN/Chicago - Public Affairs Producer
1998-1999 -- WBBM-AM/Chicago - Assistant Producer
1998-1999 -- WBVS/Joliet, IL - Weekends
1998-1999 -- WDEK-WLBK/DeKalb, IL - Weekends/Fill-in
1999-2003 -- WQCY/Quincy, IL - PM Drive, News, Program/Music Director
2003-Present -- KSLZ (Z107-7)/St. Louis - Music Director/Middays
2007-Present -- WRVQ (Q94)/Richmond - Middays (voicetracked)
I also voicetrack 10a-3p at WRVQ (Q94)/Richmond.

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

Amazing! I grew up listening to B96. To be asked to intern there was incredible, then to be hired at the end of my internship was OUT OF THIS WORLD! I did anything asked of me! I was timid and nervous, though. If I could have changed one thing about it, I wouldn't have been so shy. I would've spent more time with Todd and Erik.

2) What led you to a career in radio?

It was probably my dad. He worked in a record shop and played in a band when I was born. I was into popular music from birth. I used to play record shop with my albums as a kid. Sundays were spent listening to and taping Casey's AT 40 and the WLS-FM countdown after that. The best gift I got, as a child, was a Panasonic tape recorder. That is when I started playing radio. My high school had a radio station, so I got to play, for real, when I was 16.

3) What is your favorite part of the job?

Sometimes I get choked up when I am out at a club or at a concert and see the joy that music brings people, the way people use music. It's a pretty cool feeling to know that something that makes so many people so happy started with us. I just love music so much, so all the perks that come from being in the music biz are cool. Hearing music from my favorite artists first is pretty cool. And I got to meet Billy Joel the other night!

4) Could you give us a little insight into your on air staff?

Amazing! MJ -- love him or not, you listen to him. Big Mike is a native St. Louisan and die-hard Cards fan. He's been here the longest. He got into radio, listening to and loving it, in St. Louis. I am full of Hollywood gossip. Curt Copeland is my "big brother (who happens to be four years younger than me!) and AMAZING! He's a true "radio superstar." He flirts with the ladies and truly does a show for the listener. He rocks the mic at a club like no one else! Haze is our "little bro." He's full of energy and is also amazing out in the clubs! We are one, big, happy family. Seriously, it amazes anyone who comes into our family. Most weekends you'll find most of us at the Cards games -- together! No ego zone!

5) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff, and why do you like them?

Too tough! A'ight ... I'll give him props. Jeffrey T. Mason. In the late 90s, I was working all these parttime radio jobs in Chicago and the 'burbs, broke as hell. No life. I didn't know if I really wanted to go through with this career. Finally, the Chicago area got a true mainstream Top 40 in Big City's Kiss FM. I heard this guy on at night. He was exactly why I wanted to get into radio in the first place. I emailed him, immediately. We became friends and he's been like a mentor and inspiration ever since. He's so good! I love all those jocks I grew up listening to -- George McFly, Alan Kabel, Coco Cortez, Roxanne, Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez, Brian Kelly, Brant Miller, Amy Scott, Todd Cavanah, Terry Foxx, Brian Middleton, Cara Caravieu, Terry Gibson, the late Alan Stagg, and the teacher of all teachers -- Karen Hand!

6) What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

It was WLS-AM89, then it was WLS-FM 94.7, which became Z95. My family was a really loyal WLS family. After Lujack retired, we dabbled in Johnny B., in the morning. I listened to a little Q101 and B96, but Z95 was my station as a kid.

7) Looking back, which years hold the best musical memories for you, and who were your favorite acts at that time?

Ha ha! 1989, probably. My formative years. I was an obsessive Debbie Gibson fan. I was in her fan club. I sought out pen pals who were Deb heads. Crazy. I loved Dance/Pop! I still love Chicago Freestyle music. I loved Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Brenda K. Starr, George Lamond, Madonna, all that Dance Pop stuff.

8) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?

If I'm not at the station, "you can find me in the club." Surprisingly, to relax and unwind, I do Sudoku puzzles. With all the clubbing I do, I have to keep my mind sharp, somehow.

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

Radio people are in radio because they have a passion for it. When you lose that passion, you're the first one to lose your job. And when it's budget time, radio people's natural paranoia intensifies!

10) What is the current state of the radio "talent pool"?

I got my experiences through working parttime at suburban stations and smaller markets. Those opportunities keep shrinking with consolidation and voice tracking. I'm excited to see the advent of HD radio. We have a lot of promising up and comers getting their feet wet on our HD-2 station. It's an interesting time to get into radio with so much change going on. If you aren't able to adapt to new things, this is not the career for you!

BONUS: Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why.

Selena. I'm obsessed. To this day, I'm convinced she would have started the "Latin Invasion." She was so important to an ever-growing Latin population in the US (and Mexico). She was so down to Earth, but so talented and such a star. She would have been bigger than Jennifer Lopez. She had everything going for her! Such a tragedy, but her life was inspiring at the same time.