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10 Questions with ... Dray Lopez
August 2, 2005
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NAME:Dray LopezPOSITION:Afternoons/ Production Director/ MixerSTATION:KSRT (Jammin 107.1)MARKET:Santa RosaCOMPANY:Results RadioBORN:Cloverdale, CARAISED:Cloverdale, CA
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.)
While attending the Junior College in SANTA ROSA, someone tipped me off to a new Hip Hop station in town. I brought in a bunch of mix demos very persistently and became the very first mixer to be played over the air, which was a dream come true. (Thanks PHIL) Then I sat in learning SAW AUDIO thanks to JAYTEE VALENCIA and got promoted to Production Director. Once the company was sold to RESULTS RADIO they offered me the job of Production Director for all three stations in the market as well as afternoons on JAMMIN
1) What was your last non-Industry job?
I worked as a delivery guy for COUCHES Etc, which was difficult on the body, me being only a buck twenty. Everyone was bigger than me and couches are not light.
2) What got you interested in Radio?
I wanted to be in radio since I was 11 years old. But I just wanted to be a mixer. I never even thought about being on-air. I used to listen to all the mixers on KMEL and KYLD and just dreamed of being on the radio.
3) Are your parents very supportive of your career or do they always ask about getting a "real" job?
They are very supportive of my career choice. They used to bust into my room when I would be practicing my mixing skills and ask if I had all my homework done. I used to tell them " I'm doing my homework right now - I'm gonna be on the radio." That happened all through Middle and High School.
4) What's the highlight of your radio career to date?
I think going to the Mix Show Power Summit last year was probably a real big highlight. I got to chop it up with DJs from around the world whom were interested in the same thing I was. Coming from a small town, I never was around people that were interested in music as much as me. I knew almost everyone at my high school and I was the only DJ..
5) What's your favorite part of your gig as an air personality?
I like putting smiles on faces. They always say that it is a pleasure to meet me, but I believe the total opposite. It's a pleasure for me to meet them.
6) Where do you see yourself in five years?
I actually love being on air now and would like to be doing what I am doing now, but at a top ten market. I also would love to be a PD and will be producing beats for upcoming artists.
7) Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
My mentors are definitely MICHAEL NEWMAN, BENJI KURTZ, and the lovely LAUREN MICHAELS. They have all been a tremendous help since day one, which was about two years ago when I hadn't a clue about anything in radio.
8) It's midnight on SATURDAY night in SANTA ROSA. Where do we go to find you?
If I'm not at the Hideaway spinning, then I'm at another club or getting' my drink on wherever there are females. I really like to party.
9) If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I would work in construction. I like to feel like I accomplished something every day and like to work hard no matter what it is.
10) How's it working for the hottest beotch in the biz?
(thanks LAUREN)
When I first heard I was getting a new boss (LAUREN MICHAELS), I was dreading it cause I heard PDs were mean people. But boy was I wrong. Now I don't believe I will ever encounter a boss as cool as she is. She's fun and always has a smile on her face. It's awesome learning from and working with her. She puts a smile on everyone's face. That's just the type of person she is.
Bonus Questions
What's your dream market?
LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO, MIAMI. I love hot weather, I can never get enough. I love being in the sun and near a beach.
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