10 Questions with ... Jo-Jo (Rick Roberts)

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Major and Medium Markets Everywhere for 45 years

1. What are you up to these days?

Relaxing and enjoying family life

2. Why did you decide to go into radio and how it all start?

I was 13 years old in the car traveling to Indianapolis with my Dad and we were listening to an AM Top 40 station. I heard the jock do a break over Credence Clearwater Revival’s Sweet Hitchhiker and something hit me. I told my Dad, “that's what I want to do, be on the Radio.” He said, “do it.” So, from that day forward I started listening to radio stations in a different way; everything they were doing, the jocks, news music, and my first love was jingles. It was something about them that fascinated me. I had no idea what a radio station looked like only what I heard. My mother bought me a Sony component set, reel to reel and an eight-track recorder, all top of the line stuff back then.

I recorded the KATZ jingles on the eight track, used the selector between the turntable and aux also tape player so I could hear the jingle then go into the song and I would practice being on the air in my room.. On a summer trip to Chicago, at the age of 15, I had the bug for radio bad. I listened to WLS, WCFL, and WVON. My uncle saw where this was going, and he took me to WVON and WCFL to see the stations. After that I took every course in high school dealing with reading, words, and even drama class I was preparing myself to be on the air. I got a chance to be an intern at KATZ at 16 through a career building program at my high school called Community Campus.

I was following my dream working at the station learning everything I could from the jocks, engineers, sales, and anyone that would answer my questions. After a year, the PD Keith Adams walked in and said, “you are going on the air tonight your name is Rick Roberts.” I was ready because the jocks had let me run board for them but the first time opening the mic -- I was so nervous. To me, I sounded horrible, but everyone encouraged me to just relax and be confident. Here I am 17 years old, a senior in high school, doing overnights, and then going to school later in the morning because of the program I was out of school at noon then rode the bus to the radio station every day and worked weekends too in a major market, it was a dream come true. My parents, friends, and family were so proud of what I was doing. I had worked at KATZ for two years --then in 1977 I, Barry Pope, and JJ Jackson were fired by Doug Eason the General Manager. Ron Dennington called me and asked if I wanted to come to San Antonio at a Top 40 station KZZY KZ 100 to do overnights. I went and was there for 3 weeks and one-night Clay Gish the PD at KRBE Houston called on the request line and asked me to meet him for breakfast. He told me he liked what I was doing and hired me….and the rest is history I went on to work at many great stations like KMJM St. Louis, WDRQ, WHYT Detroit, KMJQ Houston KDKO Denver, KJLH Los Angeles WDIA Memphis, WAOK Atlanta, and more.

3) What was it about radio that you loved so much?

Being Live! And challenging myself to be better every day on the air and doing production

4) Would you share with us one of your funnier radio moments?

This girl I knew in St. Louis in 4 degree weather pulled the valve stems out of all four of my tires because I missed a date with her and also smeared lip stick on the windshield so I could not drive or see-- that was crazy and funny to me.

5) Who were your favorite air personalities to listen to?

Lee Michaels, Keith Adams, Doug Eason, Chris Hall John Records Landecker, Ted Richards, Dr. Brock Jo Jo Kincaid, Sam Weaver, Young Bobby Day, and Chuck Geiger.

6) What thing or things you are most proud of?

Being able to live the dream! #RADIO.

7) Who have been some of your influencers and mentors?

Their names are above but I studied Lee Michaels and he became my mentor. I was influenced by the music of George Clinton, the things he did on records were just so much fun to me so I took the concept of that into radio and never took any of it seriously except having fun on the air and getting paid for what I was doing. I was a fan of his music and we have known each other since 1979. We did some great interviews and shows over the years like the time at WDRQ he brought The Romantics to the station. I put them on the air and record reps for that area freaked out because they did not know about at that time. DRQ was R&B and I put them on air when “Talking In Your Sleep” was on Fire.

8) What's the biggest misconception out there about Black music?

Music to me is not Black or White. If the song is great, I don't have a problem with it. Look at the songs from Black Artists that get played on CHR Radio and The Pop and Country Artists that are played on Hip Hop and R&B AC stations. If people like it, they want to hear it. If they can't get it from radio, there are too many sources to go and hear what they want.

9) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _______?

Prayer

10) What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Never be late, talk to--not at listeners, and be a complement the music.