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10 Questions with ... Tony Woods
September 1, 2020
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
My career started in the 5th grade when the principal at Moler Elementary in Columbus Ohio., allowed me to announce sports scores on the P.A. system before classes started. I interned and worked at radio stations in my hometown at WVKO & WCKX. My career officially started when Carl Conner (RIP) hired me at WFXA in Augusta Ga. I basically spent the next 15 years working for him in Texas and Georgia. I was young when I met Carl and as young folks do, I made a bunch of mistakes early on in this business. I was so blessed that Carl was my PD, but more importantly that Carl was my friend. An on-air personality can, these days, make a mistake and never get another opportunity in radio. Carl allowed me to learn from my mistakes AND continue working, even when his supervisors would question his decisions concerning me. Carl Conner represented “Black Lives Matter” before that term existed. I would not be answering “10 Questions” without meeting him over twenty-five years ago. So, any opportunity I get I will mention Carl’s name. A smart, strategic, compassionate, competitive programmer that changed lives, not just Arbitron numbers. I know he has a lot of friends that, although I have never met, that feel the same. Rest in power Carl.
1. Isn’t this your first programming job?
Yes, I am a first-time programmer. I have had the privilege though of working aside some of radio’s best. I was working for Carl Conner in Augusta Ga., when he got the call to program KMJQ in Houston back in the early 90’s. I guess he saw something in me that others did not. I had just left WCKX in Columbus, OH and had only been at Foxy 103 in Augusta for a couple of months before he asked me if I would be interested in going to Houston with him. I got lucky, and that luck continued with opportunities to work with some great programmers like Robert Scorpio (who changed my name to Tony Woods), Al Payne, Larry Jones (Funky Larry), Nate Bell, John Long, Mitch Faulkner, Jeff Harrison, Faith Daniels, and Terri Thomas. I’m sure I left some off, blame it on my memory. I have to mention Keith Antone, who is currently doing talk radio in St. Louis, who gave me my first job at Z103 in Johnstown Ohio.
2. What changes would you like to see made in radio?
That PD’s could be more independent and not totally rely on someone up in a skyscraper seven states away telling them what’s good for them there on the ground.
3. Have you ever been interested in any other profession other than radio?
I spent six years in the Military, there was a time when I thought that would be my career.
4. How about sharing the funniest thing that has happened to you during your radio career?
I allowed a consultant to talk me into leaving a p/t position in a top 10 market, for a f/t position in Odessa Texas, that he said would get me back to a f/t position in that top 10 market. That may not be funny to you but looking back that @ish was hilarious!
5. Would you share the names of some air personalities you grew up listening to?
Columbus Ohio was probably one of the last cities to get a FM urban station. It was WVKO-AM, and it went off when the sun went down. While the sun was up though, it had some real personalities. Les Brown, the motivational speaker of today was the morning jock at WVKO. I remember when he left and moved to Florida to pursue political ambitions, WVKO ran PSA’s saying that they did not fire him and how they wished he would come back. Can you imagine a company doing that now? Les Brown (The man about Town) was the MAN. He was replaced by Frank Kelly, who I still to this day will borrow some of his quick witty one liners he used to say. Mostly though after I got out the Army (in California) I stayed tuned into KDAY in L.A., Steve Woods, Russ Parr, Jack Patterson, Greg Mack, JJ Johnson my homeboy out of Cleveland Oh., and the Good Dr. Perry Johnson. They were the jocks who I admired.
6. How did you get into radio?
GOD put it in me. When I was six I was listening to WCOL the white station in Columbus Oh., (it was after dark, WVKO had gone off the air) the jock introduced Stevie’s “Signed, Sealed and Delivered” and I remember saying to myself “I can do that.” I remember that moment like it was yesterday.
7. Who have been some of your mentors?
Carl Conner, Mitch Faulkner, and Larry Jones
8. What are your career goals?
To keep working.
9. Why do you like being on the radio?
I’m not trying to be preachy, but I like being on the radio because GOD gave me the talent to be on the radio…for a long time now.
10. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
My Mom told me not to worry about all the ones who are against you, you only need to pray and honor the one that is for you.
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