10 Questions with ... Ramiro Torres

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started off interning at JAM'N out of high school. While interning I started doing weekends at WFHN (Fun 107)/New Bedford. After my first show at Fun 107, my PD Cadillac Jack (now PD at Power 105 in NYC) put me on air at JAM'N to do weekends and fill in. I'd like to think it was because of my incredible talent, but it was the Summer book and nobody else wanted to do the crap shifts. I eventually started doing nights, then afternoons, and finally teamed up with Pebbles for the morning show. I also host the Weekend Top 30 Countdown, A syndicated rhythmic countdown. It's a great addition to your station's weekend programming.

1.What was your last non-Industry job?

Washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen in a hospital. I would take days off just to intern at the radio station and my supervisor didn't understand why I would take days off of a paying job to do free work. Apparently he thought I had a lucrative future in the custodial arts.

2. What got you interested in Radio?

Chris Berman. My favorite show on TV was NFL Primetime on ESPN (The old version of the show that aired immediately after the football games, not the version that's on now). I couldn't understand why I loved this show so much since there was about 97 sports highlight shows on the air. I finally figured it that it was because of Chris Berman and the way he delivered the highlights. Then one day in High School a friend of mine showed me a brochure for Northeast Broadcasting School and I thought "THAT'S what I want to do!"

3. I've heard you're a black belt in karate. How does your martial arts training help you in your work?

(cough cough) Actually that's 2 Black Belts (cough cough). It's actually helped A LOT, especially when it comes to discipline. Anybody that does a morning show knows that we live a completely different lifestyle than most other people and it takes discipline to go to bed early, wake up early, eat right and exercise so that you can give your best effort every day.

4. Have you ever had to use your training in self defense?

Almost! There were times when guests got upset with me on air. Some of the more memorable ones were R. Kelly who threw a table at me at a radio junket in Las Vegas, and Mike Epps, the comedian, wanted to fight me on air once. Luckily, things didn't escalate or else I would have had to unleash 5 feet 8 1/2 inches and 160 lbs of Hell, GRRRR! Did that sound intimidating?

5. You've been teamed with Pebbles at WJMN since 2001. In 25 words or less, describe Pebbles and your relationship with her?

I can do it in 3: Best Partner Ever. She's the voice of reason and balances the show out perfectly.

6. You're a Boston native. What are most newcomers to Boston surprised by?

How easy it is to get lost in such a small city and how insanely passionate we are about our Sports teams. I do some TV stuff for NESN (The New England Sports Network) and every single Red Sox home game is a sold out event. Apparently in some other cities people can have a conversation that sounds like this - "Hey, wanna get some tickets for tonight's game?". That doesn't happen here. The Patriots, Celtics and Bruins fans are just as nutty.

7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?

There are so many people I almost don't want to mention any names. I'll definitely say that I have an insane amount of respect for Cadillac Jack. Not only is he probably the smartest person I know, but he's also given me every opportunity I've had in the business - from putting me on air at JAM'N to putting me on the Morning Show. He even recommended me to Hollywood Hamilton to take over as host of the Weekend Top 30, which airs celebrity interviews with affiliate stations' jocks (www.usrn.com for a demo). Also a big shout out to Ralphie Marino for playing my tape for Cadillac since I didn't have the guts. It kills me that he's out of a gig right now. Someone hire him please.

8. Don't you have a couple other "gigs" on top of your morning gig at WJMN?

As a matter of fact I do! I'm not sure if I mentioned this earlier but I also host The Weekend Top 30 Rhythmic Countdown. We're on about 30 markets right now. We base our playlist on listener votes and affiliate spins, so we play what you play. For a demo contact United Stations or go to www.usrn.com. For TV, I do stuff w NESN and I also host Community Auditions, a New England based talent show that airs in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Random Factoid: Community Auditions was at one time the longest running show in Television history. It aired from 1950-1987 and was brought back three years ago. So I'm hitting the young demo with JAM'N, their dads with NESN and their grandparents with Community Auditions. I'm just like Ryan Seacrest, if you zapped his career with a giant shrink ray....

9. You've had a long, successful career. Not to put you out to pasture or anything but do you have any advice for newcomers to the biz?

1. Keep the passion. I know the business aspect of radio sucks right now, but the business aspect of everything sucks, so remember why you got into it in the 1st place.

2. Never Stop Learning. The more you know, the better. Learn something every day.

3. Don't take yourself too seriously. This is for newcomers and people who've been in the business forever. Stop taking yourself so damn seriously! We're all just dopes that are blessed enough to have fun in front of a mic everyday. If you think you're more than that, you're taking yourself way too seriously...

10. What secret about you may surprise even your close friends?

I don't drink coffee.

Hypothetically...you're getting married on Saturday. What singer or group would you like to perform at your reception?

The Dan Band (They're the band that played in the movies "Old School" and "The Hangover").

What's your all-time favorite party record?

Whatever song is #1 on the Weekend Top 30 Countdown