10 Questions with ... Raul 'R-Boogie' Alvarado

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

In 2001, I started here in Reno at WILD 93.7 as a mixer doing one mix show a week then it evolved to voice tracking overnights and being the morning show mixer. After getting better on overnights I graduated to the night show and added MD stripes. Now I'm on in the afternoon and hold the PD position!

1. What got you into radio?

I was a budding DJ working at a DJ store when a really tan guy in a Red Mercedes coupe came in and bought like $500 dollars in vinyl, which was unheard of at the time. When I asked him what he was doing, he said "starting a radio station" - The rest is, as they say, history.

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

When I was a kid I wanted to be an architect or an animator for Disney. Oh, and there was a summer I wanted to be a marine biologist because I wanted to live by the ocean.

3. Reno's known as The Biggest Little City In The World. What makes it seem big to you?

The pace at which it's growing! We just recently jumped up to market 97. That's approximately a half-million people. The more people that move here, the more lives we can impact with our brand.

4. Do you remember the first time you spun in a club? What stands out about that night?

Yes, the first time I spun at a club there was probably only 10 people there, but I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. I had a pre-planned set and I remember my first record on the turntables was Ice Cube - We Be Clubbin'.

5. What would probably surprise most people about Reno?

That it's a great place to visit and not just for the casinos, 24-hour drinking and gambling. In the summer, we have Lake Tahoe right in our backyard. It's truly a one-of-a-kind place. Where else can you get an ice cold lake 6200 feet in the mountains? Not to mention in the winter, we have the highest concentration of world class ski resorts within a 100-mile radius. I think we have fifteen.

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

I teach Spanish to a group of kids at a daycare in my free time and the feeling you get when they finally get what you're teaching them is exhilarating so I would definitely be an elementary school educator/teacher.

7. What do you like to do in spare time you have?

#DADLIFE! I also like to mountain bike, hike, and go on romantic walks...wait, wrong profile. I mean I enjoy the outdoors, remember what I said about Tahoe? Oh and sleep, 8 hours + a night is key.

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

It would definitely be the reboot of Joker's Wild with Snoop Dogg. I'd get to hang out with someone I grew up listening to and win some money at the same time. It would be like hanging out with an old friend.

9. The Voice or American Idol?

I'm more of an America's Got Talent guy but if I had to pick one it would be The Voice. The blinds and knockout rounds are pretty entertaining.

10. If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?

It would be a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, complete with platanos fritos, frijoles, crema and handmade tortillas. The second month would definitely be Chicken Parmigiana.

Camping or room service?

Camping, under the stars type camping for sure. One of my bucket list items is to go to the Pacific Northwest to go on a week-long expedition to search for Bigfoot. Seriously!