I started as an air personality at WJMO Cleveland, then worked at KMJM St Louis. I moved to Detroit on WJLB and can now be heard on WDMK Kiss 1059. I’m the NBA Arena announcer for the Detroit Pistons and am the only PA announcer selected as an NBA All-Star!
My influences were Quincy McCoy in New York, Rick Dees in California and Mike Payne in Cleveland. First, Mike Payne was a master at taking everyday life and connecting its importance to the listener. 2nd, Quincy McCoy taught me FUN on the radio and to never stop creating. And finally, Rick Dees showed how to use the phones in a very human way and how to make characters sound real and conversational. The science of what I learned from them gave me tools for every radio situation.
I have many proud moments but if I only can choose one, it was the hour-long story I did on Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops. I had only decided to do it one hour before I went on the air because the artist story I had worked on for 3 hours the night before, I left at home by mistake. So I did an hour featuring Levi’s work in the studio. I focused on his work ethic and the ability to deliver the music. I did it all from stories I had been told, things I had read in the past and how I felt about him in my heart. It was something I felt ‘cause I had nothing else after leaving my prepared stuff at home. Levi was incapacitated, could not speak and was confined to a wheelchair. Can you believe he was listening to the radio in his home that morning! Nooo way right? How did I know that?
His family came to the station afterwards to tell me. But unknownst to me and because it was in my heart, I did the hour long story with music. Here’s how God stepped in. GOD made me forget my other story and put Levi in my heart. The reason he was listening was because it was his BIRTHDAY. Otherwise he didn’t listen to the radio unless it was on but that morning it was his DAY. His son Levi Jr said as I started to tell my story he rolled his wheelchair over to the radio and just started crying. For me, THAT moment.
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