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10 Questions with ... Rick Party
November 2, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
35+ year radio host who has worked locally and nationally in over 35 markets-- WGCI/Chicago, WKSC/Chicago, KJMZ/Dallas, WBLS/New York, WVEE/Atlanta, WHQT/Miami, WEDR/Miami, and others.
1. When and why did you decide to go into radio?
I fell in love with Radio in the early 1980’s when I would call the local radio station, 102.7 WBMX (Original dial position for the station) in Chicago every day. On the other end of that phone was radio host, Earl Boston, and he would take my calls. Earl knew that, as a young teenager, I should be in school rather than making requests to my girlfriend, who was in school, so he took the time to speak to me, encouraged me to get back into school and to set my life on the right track, I did just that. Today, kids need mentors, and the way Earl Boston took me under his wing was the encouragement I needed to not only get my life straight, but to do exactly what he is doing, become a radio host.
2. What are you up to these days?
These days, I have decided to launch the nationally syndicated “The Rick Party Show,” and I am pleased to announce that WBMX 104.3 Jams in my hometown, Chicago, is my flagship station.
Let me just take a moment to mention the man behind the curtain, Gary Bernstein. Gary cares! He has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that not only the Rick Party brand, but he's done so for many others as well. He's done it through creating great partnerships. My show is available for syndication in all dayparts through Gary's Oceanic Tradewinds in Partnership with Compass Media Networks. For affiliate information Gary can be reached at (508) 245-1776.
In addition to my radio show, I’m also the signature voice of many radio and TV networks around the country and I can be heard daily on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Also, in my free time, I coach Voiceover talent in group sessions.
3. Would you share some advice for up-and-coming air talent?
Once your radio show stops, that doesn’t mean that your life on the microphone is over. Start a podcast immediately, create a YouTube page, start rooms on the Clubhouse app and monetize all of these!! Additionally, for those already on social media, use your platforms to showcase your skill on the microphone because that is your visual résumé.
4. You’ve got a lot of funny radio stories, could you share one of them?
One story that sticks out, is when I was a radio host at WBMS in Wilmington North Carolina in the late 80s. “Big Shirley” would call the radio station every single day with her sultry voice and she invited me to meet her, I was excited! I didn’t make much money, so without a car, I walked with my friend and fellow radio compadre, Donnie Devoe, to Big Shirley‘s house. I knocked on the door and to my disbelief, the woman answering the door was Big Shirley and I thought she would be Shirley‘s mother. The house reminded me of the homes I’ve seen on the tv show ‘Hoarders’ and there were cats everywhere! Shirley gave us something to drink and when we woke up in her bed the next morning with her in the middle, we promise we’d never visit her again.
5. What are you most proud of?
I am a proud father of 20 children, 7 of them are my biological children, and the other ones are my bonus children whom I love dearly. I am so proud of the adults that they have become in life! Everything from great parents, doctors, counselors, professionally trained choreographers and dancers , star athletes, supervisors, financial advisors and most of all, amazing human beings! So, my youngest, 12, is on the cusp of a bright future as a student who excels academically.
6. Who have been some of your influencers and mentors?
My mother, Thelma C. Itson-Stonewall, and my family have taught and/or reminded me that life is not about us, it is about serving other people.
Earl Boston was the first to introduce me to radio, mentorship, long life friendship and to always give God the glory.
James T, radio host at hot 105 Miami, reminded us to use our platforms responsibly by super-serving our audience.
There are so many others I could name such as Doug Banks, Harv Roman, Elroy Smith, Armando Rivera, Jerry Rushin, Geno Jones, Phil Michaels, Dr. Dee Thompson, Dr. Elizabeth Garcia, Steve Crumbley, Tony Richards and so many others. They know exactly who they are, and the roles they’ve played in my life.
7. What frustrates you the most about radio and the music industry?
What frustrates me the most is that talent aren’t as creative as they used to be, so today we’re seeing the cookie-cutter version of every other talent that exists right now. I want to turn on the radio and hear great talent, that’s how we learn from one another. Iron sharpens iron! What frustrates me most about the music industry, is that some record companies hold no responsibility in what they promote. Also, they don’t care that some of the brainwashing music targeted to our youth is partly responsible for the destruction we’re seeing in our poverty-stricken communities around the country.
8. How do you see the future of terrestrial radio and all audio platforms?
If radio doesn’t open the floodgates and allow good talent to connect to their audience, people will continue to turn to podcasts quicker than the eye can blink.
9. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
The best advice I was given actually came from a book, “Soul of a butterfly” by Muhammad Ali. In the book Muhammad Ali was quoted saying, “Service to others is the rent we pay for our time here on earth.” This resonated so loudly with me and reinforced my goal to become a humanitarian. So recently, I was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanitarianism due to my lifelong work with people in communities around the world. Lastly, don’t give up on yourself.
10. How do you see your future evolving?
Honestly, I’ve done everything I possibly could have imagined, so my future definitely ends with what I’m doing now, teaching others from my mistakes on how to become the best versions of themselves and voiceover, radio and in life.
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