10 Questions with ... Fred Rico

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

It's been 22 years

1. What got you into radio?

Music and always thinking that I'm funnier than most (not true).

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

Many things...a hobo, a lawyer, a coach, a football star, a roadie for Run DMC or Iron Maiden.

3. What's the biggest difference between programming Rhythm radio in Honolulu and Arizona?

AZ is full of gangstas! Ha! No...Hawaii is great and rhythmic music there is really Top 40 especially the way Top 40 is now. AZ likes to still pay homage to hip hop records.

4. What about Tucson vs Phoenix?

Tucson people hate Phoenix things, Phoenix people don't really even care about Tucson. Phoenix people mess with Tucson because they get so heated especially about U of A vs ASU. It's funny, I mess with my dad all the time about U of A's downfalls.

5. What would probably surprise most people about Phoenix?

All the white people are from Chicago.

6. Without getting too dramatic, you were out of the business for a time while you focused on your health. What was your biggest takeaway from your time away?

Ha...'without getting too dramatic'? It's stage 4 cancer! It fucks with your head! It takes time to grasp that it's a reality and get your head right. Getting back to being yourself is great, but you do get a new appreciation for discovering what the most important things in life are. It's surprising sometimes. The gift of vision that this curse gives you is a blessing! There's your Drama, Pete!

7. What aspect of the business did you miss the most while you were out?

Helping. In radio you're always in a position to help either the community or even small things for a co-worker. I missed the big and small of it.

8. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

I'd be John Goodman's stunt double

9. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?

The Biggest Loser. They always pick some emotionally week fat people, it gives us a bad name.

10. Who is the last person that you bit?

Those stories get exaggerated over the course of time. You bite 50 people in your life and everyone acts like I've bitten thousands.

Other than hiring Pablo Sato, any decisions you've made in your radio career that you'd like a "do-over" on?

Sure, a lot of it goes to my mindset at different points in my career and seeing what a young dickhead I was in lots of instances is something I would do over, maybe. The only regret I have about Pablo occurs when I make fun of him for losing at gambling all the time. He gets all sad.

Sushi or Mexican food?

Sushi...good with butter in a hot frying pan and homemade corn tortillas.