10 Questions with ... Steve Murry

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Been a part of the broadcasting industry for about 41 years and I’m proud to say that most of it has been with the same organization from the very start, I’ve worked every daypart and have experience in every area of the operation from on air to engineering to installing computer networks for the stations daily operation.

1) Would you share the story of finding out who your real idenity?

Wow, how much space do I have? I’ll try to keep it as short as possible cause this is a lifelong experience. I was about 3 or 4 years old when a woman took me from my grandfather’s front yard, and I never saw my family again. I remember doing a lot of traveling with this woman and then settling in a little town on Long Island, NY called Bayside in Queens. We later moved to Chicago where I spent most of my childhood and young adult life. From there I joined the United States Marine Corps and spent a year in Vietnam. Upon my return to Chicago, I had more questions about my identity and fewer answers. So, I went on with life and enrolled in college and relocated to Huntsville, Alabama. It was there that I got married and took a trip out of country without the document needed to verify my identity, my birth certificate. I was detained by Puerto Rican Authorities and spent hours detained with more questions about my identity than anyone should ever have to take on. A local newspaper got hold of my story, since I was a local radio personality, they wanted to print it. It was then that my story was picked up on the TV news magazine, “A Current Affair”, who contacted me to see if they could do my story. Once I agreed they hired investigators and research people to help along with the people from my Congressional Office and the State Department helping me locate my birth certificate so that I could get a passport. Two years later I discovered that I had a family, got my birth certificate, my passport and as you can imagine my whole life changed. There is more to my story but not enough space.

2) How did the impact of that experience affect you?

It’s made me more aware of people outside of my little radio world. It also made me see how important we are to each other which gives me a better view of what’s important to our listening audience.

3) Where did your interest in radio come from?

I was fresh back from Vietnam, and I was driving a “hack”, that is a cab for all you lay people. I had a regular customer that I got to know well and one day I asked her what she did. She told me that she was nighttime Jock for the Loop WLUP (Chicago) the powerhouse rock station. Trudy Fisher was her name and she encouraged me to try my hand at broadcast school. I did and she kind of took me under her wing and later she advised me to continue onto Columbia College (Chicago) where I majored in radio/TV broadcasting.

4) How much importance do you put to working with air talent?

A lot because I think that it is very important for radio to develop talent in order to keep radio strong and a viable media.

5) How Did you get your first radio job?

Before graduation I was recruited during career day at Columbia College (Chicago) for a job in Madison, Alabama. They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. It was the best and worst decision I ever made.

6) When did you get into programming?

In 1984 I began working at WEUP Radio in Huntsville, Alabama. In 1987 the current programmer just up and left and I was thrown into programming. Flying by the seat of my pants with a computer program that I had to learn over night and no music director turned out great. I’ve been with this station ever since.

7) Who are some of the people that have influenced your career?

I’ve looked up to several different people. One who turned out to be a good friend of mine from Columbia College (Chicago) and Walt “Baby” Love who was also a brother at arm, a Vietnam veteran as well. To add to my list was the late Al Parker affectionately known as “Big Al” who was head of the radio department during the time I was a student. The only other person that has had any impact on my life in radio is the owner of the station where I currently work, Mr. Hundley Batts, he's been like a big brother to me, he is the one who showed me the business side.

8) What’s special about Huntsville?

Its diversity, its location, the climate, and it’s just a great place to settle in and raise children. We’ve got about 8 universities and colleges here. NASA is here and the FBI is building a facility here too.

9) Do you have an opinion on the future of terrestrial radio?

The future of radio is going to depend on getting back to basics. If not, the future of radio looks very dim to me. Community involvement, breaking new music, and developing new talent, all play an especially important factor in the future of radio.

10) How do you keep your passion for this business?

One of the things that I love about radio is that no two days are ever the same. I’ve never had a boring day. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all fun and games. It’s a lot of hard work and planning.

What are your interests outside of radio?

Bicycle riding, scuba diving, Diabetes Awareness Health & Wellness, reading good books and spending time with family.