Prior to graduating from the American Technical Center in Salt Lake City I landed my first paying gig.  I became the overnight guy at KSIT 104.5 FM (now 99.7 FM), a classic rock station in Rock Springs, WY.  I still have clear memories of sitting in the tiny on-air studio...a bank of reel-to-reel players and two turntables to my left, the temperamental cart machines, the mixing board that generated enough heat to melt a glacier, the broadcast tower monitor to my right, and the room filled with LPs just outside the studio door. A copy of Radio and Records Magazine was on the table just in front of the studio window. It was live. It was unscripted. It was everything I thought it would be and nothing like I thought it would be. 

Within a short time of being hired I became the morning host.  I produced a ton of commercials and spoke with the rock and roll faithful at all kinds of on-location broadcasts.  My first radio gig was short lived and I returned to Utah. To John Beach, Jon Smith, Val Cook, Bob Telk, and the rest of the team, I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your radio family.

You can listen to a sample of my radio show by clicking the play button below.

My second gig in the radio broadcasting industry was at a KBZN 97.9 FM, a “Smooth Jazz” station. It was my first gig in a major market (Salt Lake City, UT).  Eight years had passed since I worked at KSIT (the radio business is very fickle) and the industry had changed with the times.  The turntables were gone - everything was on CD.  The spots (commercials) had started their migration from carts to MP3 files. The World Wide Web was just on the verge of becoming a very important part of a radio station’s identity.  I enjoyed my time at “The Breeze” immensely.  I loved the music (still do) and met some incredible artists, including Craig Chaquico, Peter White, Richard Elliott, and Warren Hill.  In 2008, KBZN changed its format to Adult Contemporary.  I would like to believe that someone (maybe me) will bring “Smooth Jazz” back to Utah soon.

You can listen to a sample of my radio show by clicking the play button below.

My third (and currently last) gig in the radio broadcasting industry occurred when I joined a wild group of “hot talk” radio hosts as a producer at KCNR 1320 AM (later moved to 860 AM).  I produced many of the weekend shows and would occasionally sit in for one of the weekday producers. This gave me the opportunity to work with Rick Emerson, Clyde Lewis, Todd Herman, and Martin Davies. Each of these gentlemen has their own style and approach - the mix worked exceeding well.  Sadly, it all ended as many radio stations do. A company that had a mouse for its spokesman offered the station’s parent company a hefty check. KCNR was gone, but the memories would never die.