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10 Questions with ... Daniel "Mambo" Herrejon
September 11, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started in1996 at KCAQ as an intern. I got on payroll in '97 and started doing nights with Rico. In 1999 I got fired from KCAQ and hired at KSEQ/Fresno. In 2001 got fired at KSEQ and re-hired at KCAQ. In 2005, I left KCAQ to launch KVYB and got fired in 2008. I was out of a job for 15 months and in Sept. of 2009 I got re-hired at KCAQ! Since coming back in '09, I've been here with "THE TEAM" helping launch new stations and programming KFYZ in Santa Barbara.
1. Do the things that initially got you interested in going into radio still excite you daily?
Yes & No... Yes Because I got into this for the love of music! Although the way the audience gets their music has changed a lot since I got into radio. It's still exciting to be able to play "New Music" and meet "New Artist" and watch them grow into "Superstars"
And No, because it seems like everyone in radio plays it safe now. Nobody likes to take risks anymore. I'm even guilty of it! When I first got into radio doing something fun and stupid that the audience enjoyed would get you into the trades and sometimes the local news. Now you do something fun and stupid and it gets you FIRED!
2. You've been working with your morning co-host Rico for a LONG time. What does that history bring to your show daily?
One word... CHEMISTRY! What you hear on-air is what you get off air. We both know a lot of personal stuff about each other, so we use that on the show and most of the time it turns into a good bit.
3. Is there a downside of having worked with Rico for so many years?
YES! When I first started working with Rico, I weighed 165lbs now I weigh 216lbs. I blame RICO for my weight gain.
4. Your show is also on in Riverside on KQIE. Is the show simulcast or do you have separate content?
We do our show for both markets and the technology allows us to have local breaks for each market. Our focus is to do a show for "Southern California" and talk about stuff that everyone can relate to. We can also separate a talk break if something is going on in Riverside or Oxnard/Ventura.
5. Are you conscious of what may "play" in Oxnard-Ventura versus what may "play" in the Inland Empire?
As far as music, we play the same in both markets. When it comes to branding Q1047 and talk breaks, each market has its own content. We always make sure we know what's going on in all markets.
6. You programmed KVYB in the Oxnard-Ventura market for years and you're currently programming a station for Gold Coast Broadcasting, too. Does your programming background play a large part in the planning and execution of your morning show daily?
When I came back to KCAQ in '09 it played a large part in the way we did our show. Working at KVYB was a great learning experience and having a programming background gives "The Morning Show" the freedom to do bits and play certain music without running it by our boss. Our PD (Brian Davis) allows us to be "Us" and not "Puppets". Our main focus for "The Rico & Mambo Show" is having a good product on the radio that is ready to be put in other markets.
7. One of the radio personalities that helped inspire you as a morning guy is now the APD/MD/afternoon guy at KCAQ, Joey Rodriguez. Does he ever weigh-in on something you and Rico are doing in the morning?
We share ideas of what's worked in the past for us and in the hallways we joke around about different stuff that eventually makes it on the air.
8. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spending time with the FAMILY! I've been with my wife Lupe for 20+ years and we have three wonderful kids (young adults now) Justin, Jossette and Jayleen and any time outside of work is spent with them.
9. You lost a part of the morning show several months ago when Margaux Bangs relocated to Indianapolis. Have you been able to find a replacement for her?
I don't think Margaux will ever get replaced. (although we have used that budget to get someone here to help us out) Margaux was big part of the show and whenever she is ready to come back, Rico and I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
10. Time doesn't allow you to enjoy listening to the radio very much these days but are there any stations or personalities that stand out to you?
Of course KCAQ/KQIE. I think the boss, Brian Davis, does a great job at leading the team and you can hear that over the airwaves.
KPWR also does a great job with the way they play their music. It sounds like they are always mixing and being a DJ at one point in my career I like how Jimmy Steal and his team is getting the music to his audience.
Some of the stations I stream online and enjoy listening to are KMVQ/San Francisco and WLLD/Tampa.
As far as personalities I've always been a fan of The Baka Boyz. Their weekend show is something I enjoy listening from beginning to end.
Bonus Questions
I keep hearing about Pete's Breakfast House in Ventura. What's your favorite restaurant in the area?
That's funny, I've never heard of it. Let Me GOOGLE it.....Oh WOW their menu looks GOOD!
Some of my favorite restaurants in area that I highly recommend are: Tacos Don Chente in Oxnard, El Pescador in Santa Paula and in Fillmore, Natures Grill in Ventura and Andria's Seafood in Ventura.
If you and Rico weren't morning show co-hosts, what do you think you'd be doing if you were doing it together?
We'd be running Pete Jones' Breakfast House In Ventura
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