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2006-The Year In Review
January 2006
Terry Mason Passes
Terry M. England age 52
years of Omaha. Longtime Omaha Radio personality. Terry is survived by
daughters, Megan England and Molly England and brother, Charles Wayne England.
Terry was program director for Waitt Radio Networks' "Oldies
Plus" radio format, originating in Omaha and distributed to stations
throughout the United States. Terry also worked many years in Central Florida
Radio, including WGTO-AM
540, WWZN-AM
540 and WOTS-AM
1220.
Miguel Negron pioneer in
Spanish-language radio passes 1-2-06
Negron appeared on WONQ-AM
1030 in 1991 and was an instant hit among Hispanics who indulged
in his give-and-take format with politicians and community activists. Negron,
called "The Showman," died Thursday December 28, 2005. He was 78 years
old. Negron began his career in Puerto Rico and continued in New York before
moving to Orlando.
WXXL
PD Arrested 1-11-06
Gary Wheeler, the program director of top 40 radio station
WXXL-FM
106.7 was arrested on Tuesday (January 10,2006), in Citrus County
FL, on charges related to child pornography and child exploitation.
Wheeler is known as "Adam
Cook". Investigators said that Wheeler had sexual conversations on
the internet with a 14 year old girl, however the "girl" was in fact
an undercover officer. Clear Channel Communications owns the radio station.
Thanks to Carol Alfonso for this info.
Acquisition
of WTLN-AM and WHIM-AM completed 1-27-06
According
to Radio Ink magazine,
Salem
Communications Corporation has announced that it has completed the
acquisition of WTLN-AM 950
and WHIM-AM 1520,
serving the greater Orlando market, from Alton Rainbow Corporation and TM2,
Inc.
Salem announced that it would acquire the stations in October 2005. Both
stations remain in the Christian Teaching and Talk format. Salem
previously announced the pending purchase of Orlando station WORL-AM
660, which will be programmed in the News/Talk format.
February 2006
WAOA-FM
Gets New PD 2-3-06
Tony
Banks joins WAOA-FM
107.1, Melbourne as program director.
So long Savannah 2-7-06
First it was The Monsters of the Mid-Day, then on to the mornings with
the Monsters, Then a swing over to the Shannon Burke show. And now
Savannah has been let go by the folks at Clear Channel. She has made an
appearance on Sirius with "Bubba The Love Sponge". Will she
re-emerge locally? Only time will tell; stay tuned.
West
Volusia Has Its first 24-hour Mexican Radio Station 2-28-06
WTJV-AM
1490 "La Maquina 1490" AM, Deland is on the air. The station
will provide service to a growing Mexican population in northwest Volusia County
and surrounding areas. Farm Worker Association coordinator Marcos
Crisanto said the new station reflects the growth of the Mexican population in
Volusia. Crisanto said he is happy that people who have lived the hardships of
the Mexican community in this area are spearheading the station because they
understand its need and lifestyle.
March 2006
Woody
Woodsen Passes
3-6-06
Long
time area disc-jockey and newsman Woody
Wooden has passed away after a brief illness. With more than 50 years
on the airwaves Woody’s mellow voice up until recently had entertained Sunday
night listeners on WPCQ-FM 97.5 as host of
"The Classic Country Show".
He will be missed for his great demeanor and enduring respect for the artist’s
records he played during his career.
Brian
Thomas Named PD At Jack-FM, New York 3-9-06
WCBS-FM
New York known as "Jack-FM", has named radio veteran Brian
Thomas as its program director. Thomas worked in Orlando as PD at WBJW-FM
105.1 "BJ105" from 1985 to 1987 and WOMX-FM
105.1 "Mix105.1" from 1988 until 1991.
Drew
Gets Decked 3-22-06
Police
in Orlando report that shortly before midnight Friday, March 17, 2006, WOCL-FM
105.9 morning host
Drew
Garabo was attacked by one of WTKS-FM
104.1 personalities from the Monsters in the Morning "Blackbean,"
whose real name is Carlos Navarro. Navarro was charged with simple
battery after he allegedly rushed a stage at an event and punched Garabo,
breaking his nose. "I was hosting an event on Church Street when out of
nowhere I was physically attacked," Garabo said. "As a result of this
attack, I received a fractured nose." The police report indicates Navarro
told police that Garabo called his girlfriend a name. On Tuesdays show Garabo
told his audience "I was hosting an event on Church Street when out of
nowhere I was physically attacked," Garabo said. "As a result of this
attack, I received a fractured nose. And as Mel Taylor can tell you right now by
looking at me, I have two black eyes. Garabo said that after the punch, Navarro
repeatedly hit him while he was down, WKMG-TV, Local 6 reporter Gerald
Reznick said. Navarro was arrested and charged after the attack. Garabo said
the police department and the state attorney are handling the matter. "I
have full faith that justice will be served," Garabo said during a
statement. Garabo was part of the WTKS-FM 104.1 family until last year,
when the station fired him.
April 2006
Jim
Philips Takes To The TV Airwaves
4-20-06
WESH-Channel
2's 6 p.m. newscast will give WTKS-FM
104.1's Jim
Philips his commentary debut around 5:55 tonight. Tonight's
subject: Confederate license plates. The Philips Phile is the top-rated
afternoon show.
Thanks to Paul B. Walker, Jr. for
these updates 4-21-06
WNTF-AM
1580 is running the Spanish format as "Latina 1580AM".
Rumor has it, the lease on "Que Buena 1680AM", WLAA-AM
1680 Winter Garden/Orlando LMA with the Spanish programmers is in
jeopardy.
Also, WTIR-AM 1300
Cocoa Beach, FL has gone back to a Spanish format, dropping the Traveler
Information Radio Network!
Where's TIRN going to move to? You guessed it! Back to it's original
home, AM 1680! www.walkerbroadcasting.com
Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting To
Purchase WSBB 4-23-06
Gore-Overgaard
Broadcasting owners of WROD-AM
1340, is purchasing WSBB-AM
1230 from TK Radio (Brian Tolby) pending FCC Approval.
Imus Returns To Central Florida
4-27-06
WAMT-AM
1190 brings "Imus In The Morning" back to the central Florida
airwaves.
May 2006
Chris
Morgan Passes 5-1-06
Chris
Morgan aka Jeff Summers, WKMG-TV "Local 6" traffic
reporter passed away. Chris was working for Traffic Management as a
manager operating the DOT cameras and updating the 511system. Chris had a
stroke and was thought to be on the road to recovery. Chris was 53.
Mike
Harvey and SuperGold Returns 5-19-06
Mike
Harvey and his syndicated program, SuperGold
return to the Orlando airwaves Saturday, May 20 on WEUS-AM
810 "Big 810 AM", from 6PM to Midnight. Mike also hinted
he may be on WEUS-AM on a daily basis with a new syndicated daily show by
summer. Stay tuned...
Dick
Ravenhill Passes 5-20-06
Thanks to Sam Stratton, the
grandson of Dick
Ravenhill for this obituary.
Richard C. Ravenhill
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Richard C. Ravenhill, 84, of Marshall, formerly of Leesburg, Fla., died Monday,
Feb. 6, 2006, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Cremation. Services are
pending.
Born Aug. 1, 1921, in Portland, Ore., he was the son of the late Clifford
Ravenhill and Elva Williams Ravenhill. He attended Missouri Valley College and
was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He had lived in Leesburg most of his
life and was a retired radio broadcaster in Orlando and Leesburg. Survivors
include two sons, Richard Ravenhill and wife Karen of Columbia and Robert
Ravenhill and wife Jan of Marshall; two daughters, Sara Stratton and
husband Tom of Topeka, Kan., and Helen Ravenhill and husband, Ed Meltzer, of
Kansas City; one brother, Ronald Ravenhill of Phenix City, Ala.; eight
grandchildren, Colin Ravenhill and wife Stefanie of Watkinsville, Ga., Scott
Ravenhill of Los Angeles, Calif., Sam Stratton of Lawrence, Kan., Laura Stratton
and Joel Stratton of Topeka, Kan., Rachel Brown and husband Rob of St. Louis,
Martha Ravenhill of Washington, D.C., and Gerri Ravenhill of Ft. Worth, Texas;
and one great-grandson, Jacob Ravenhill of Watkinsville, Ga.
June 2006
Scott and Erica Together
for 15 Years 6-8-06
Scott McKenzie and Erica
Lee celebrate fifteen years together on WOMX-FM
105.1 on June 8. They are commemorating the event with a private concert
for listeners with Hootie and the Blowfish tonight at Universal
CityWalk.
August 2006
WDBO Studios About
To Come Down 8-6-06
Orlando Sentinel
writer Joy Wallace Dickinson in her latest Florida
Flashback column
talks about the old WDBO-AM
580 studios "...waiting to be erased from the landscape and
replaced by condo towers..." www.cflradio.net received a
couple of mentions as well as our buddy Dick
Camnitz. Pioneering
station got streamlined in 1940s
Billy
“The Janitor” Alverson Passes
8-9-06
Billy
Alverson, better known as "The Janitor" on WJRR-FM
101.1 has died. Billy was also in promotions for "Real Rook
101one" and for WQTM-AM
740 "740 The Team". He had recently taken over
promotions for Clear Channel Brevard.
Happy
Birthday To Us! 8-28-06
It
is the 3rd anniversary of www.cflradio.net.
What began as a tiny tribute site to 3 local radio stations, blossomed into a
full time avocation. None of these pages would have been possible without the
support of my "head cheerleader", the love of my life, my wife, Wilma.
She made sure the site was put back up in November while I was recuperating from
a brain aneurysm for which I spent 21 days in ICU in Orlando, until my release
after Thanksgiving. Then once I got home she became my full time nurse. She
realized how important the site was to me and she has kept things and me going.
And thanks to everyone who contributed pictures, info, sound clips (and other
contributions) to the site and keeping this a true history of Central Florida
Radio. There's a whole lot more to come, so stay tuned... Bob
Buckethead
Is Back...Well Sort Of 8-24-06
Jason
"Buckethead" Bailey returns to afternoons on WJRR-FM
101.1 via voice tracking. "Buckethead", who last month
moved from afternoons on "Real Rock" WJRR-FM 101.1 to
mornings at "98 Rock" WXTB-FM 97.9 in Tampa is now voice
tracking his old afternoon shift on
WJRR.
October 2006
Changes
at "740 The Team" 10-12-06
WQTM-AM
740's program director and afternoon drive host Marc
Daniels has been let go from the station.
Carole Nelson Returns 10-6-06
Carole
Nelson former
WFTV and WDBO-TV
news anchor as well as talk host on WKIS-AM
740 is returning to local radio.
"Talk to Me with
Carole Nelson" will air Sundays from 2 PM to 3 PM on WMEL-AM
920.
Robyn Austin Returns To WLOQ
10-14-06
Smooth Jazz WLOQ-FM
103.1 is bringing back Robyn Austin as the replacement for
morning show co-host Eileen Foster. Eileen is moving with her family to
North Carolina. Austin has previously spent three years with WLOQ as
night time host.
More
Clear Channel Cuts 10-28-06
BethAnn
Shaffer and Reagan
Smith were let go from WFLF-AM
540 by Clear Channel in more cost cutting moves. Just a couple of weeks
ago Marc Daniels and Steve Egan were cut loose from WQTM-AM
740 "The Team".
Steve Harvey Show Comes to "102 Jamz" 10-28-06
The Orlando Sentinel's Scott Maxwell
reports "102 Jamz"
WJHM-FM 101.9 will
replace their morning show with the syndicated Steve
Harvey Show beginning Monday, October, 30.
November 2006
WJRR
Shuffle 11-3-06
WJRR-FM
101.1 has promoted Rick Everett to Program director. He
succeeds morning host Pat Lynch, who will now become Assistant Program
director and continue to focus his efforts on the morning show.
Chad
Pitt Gone From WXXL
11-5-06
All Access is reporting WXXL-FM
106.7 afternoon guy Chad Pitt is the latest Clear
Channel casualty. "Stick" will move to afternoons. Frankie's
Neighborhood is the new night show and is voice tracked from San Diego.
The Hideout Closed at WTKS
11-8-06
WTKS-FM
104.1's El Jefe and J-Dubs are on their way out of the
"Hideout" heard evenings on "Real Radio". The syndicated
(and delayed) Lex and Terry show (which airs live from 7am to 10am) will
replace the Hideout.
More
Clear Channel Cost Cutting
11-14-06
Stick On The Radio, current
afternoon host at WXXL-FM
106.7 will also be doing the AM shift at WBVD-FM
95.1, Melbourne. Also over at WXXL-FM 106.7; Assistant Program
Director/Music Director/midday host Jana Sutter picks up middays on WBVD-FM
95.1. And finally, WXXL-FM 106.7, Program Director Tommy
Chuck adds programming duties at WBVD-FM 95.1. He succeeds Brian
Richardson, who continues in the afternoons.
Clear
Channel Accepts $18.7 Billion Bid 11-16-06
Clear
Channel owners of WGNE-FM
98.1, Daytona Beach, WBVD-FM
95.1, WLRQ-FM 99.3,
WMMB-AM 1240,
WMMV-AM 1350 in
Melbourne and Orlando stations; WJRR-FM
101.1, WMGF-FM
107.7, WQTM-AM 740,
WRUM-FM 100.3,
WTKS-FM 104.1 and
WWNZ-AM 740. Clear
Channel says it will sell 448 of its radio stations as well as its 42
television stations. All of the stations to be sold are in markets smaller than
the top 100, meaning ownership of the Orlando radio stations will not be
affected.
Nat
Chat Live Celebrates Five Years
11-29-06
Natalie Emerson, host of talk show, "Nat Chat Live" on WELE-AM
1380 will start her 5th year on the air this Saturday, December 2, 2006.
Natalie is 14 years old and started "Nat Chat" at the age of
10. The show airs every Saturday morning from 10am-11am. "Nat Chat
Live" can be heard world wide via the internet at WELE-AM 1380.
Monster Blackbean and Garabo Story Over 11-29-06
The Orlando Sentinel's Scott
Maxwell is reporting that WTKS-FM
104.1's "Blackbean" (Carlos Navarro) was
sentenced Monday (11-27) for his St.
Patrick's Day attack on WOCL-FM
105.9's Drew Garabo. "Bean" plead "no contest" and
will not have to serve jail time. The judge did order 3 years of supervised
probation, a $2,000 fine, and he was ordered to avoid alcohol and any contact
with Garabo as well as 200 hours of community service. Scott says he'll have
more in his Thursday column.
December 2006
The
Mystery Of Missing Morning Hosts Solved 12-1-06
Lisa
Moldovan and Timmy
Vee, hosts of the WAOA-FM
107.1 morning show, told their listeners why they were suspended back in
September. The offense happened on the day before Thanksgiving of last year.
Seems Cumulus Broadcasting was concerned with the possibility of being
fined after the pair played the Bob Rivers twisted tune "Who Put the Stump
in My Rump," a holiday novelty song about the view of the tree top angel.
Vee said a listener complained to the station, and instead of pulling the song
from the rotation, he and Moldovan asked their audience if they wanted to hear
the song.
Z88.3
Grows Again 12-1-06
WPOZ
-FM 88.3 has just purchased WWIA-FM 88.5 which is licensed
to Palm Bay and serves a portion of the Melbourne market. Z 88.3
currently broadcasts on WPOZ-FM 88.3 Union Park, WMYZ-FM 88.7
Clermont and WEAZ-FM 88.1, Holly Hill as full power signals. Translators
for Z are at 90.3 Tavares, 95.9 Mount Dora, 96.9 Leesburg, 102.7
Groveland.
Carole Nelson Returns To
Weekdays 12-3-06
Carole
Nelson announced her Sunday talk show on WMEL-AM
920, is headed to a Monday through Friday schedule beginning Tuesday,
December 26, from 10am to 11am.
WDBO Re-Ups With ABC News
12-5-06
WDBO-AM
580 Orlando has renewed its affiliation deal with ABC Radio News
for another 5 years.
Jim
Turner Signs On For Another Three Years 12-6-06
Thanks to Mike
Murillo for letting us know that Cox Radio and 2004
Marconi Award winner
Jim
Turner have
come to terms on an additional three year contract. Jim came to WDBO-AM
580 in 1972.
Bye
Bye Big Show 12-12-06
The
John Boy and Billy Show
will be replaced by Dixon
and Willoughby beginning January 2 on WHTQ-FM
96.5. Richard
Dixon and J. Willoughby, are coming to Orlando from WAPI-AM 1070
in Birmingham, Alabama. They'll also be joined by long time Orlando broadcaster Alan
Spector. J.
Willoughby is the son of Birmingham Alabama 30 year radio icon John Ed
Willoughby. J. Willoughby had been at WAPI for more than eight
years.
Bowden
Enters The Hall 12-13-06
Terry Bowden heard weekdays, 4 - 7 pm on WHOO-AM
1080 "ESPN AM 1080", and WIXC-AM
1060 "ESPN AM 1060", was inducted into the Central
Florida Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, December 6 at the
Orlando Arena. Bowden, has lived in Orlando since leaving his coaching job at
Auburn in late 1998. As well as his daily program on ESPN radio he's also a
college football analyst for Disney-owned ESPN and ABC Sports.
Terry is the son of Florida State coach, Bobby Bowden, and the brother of
Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden.
Wayne
Weinberg Sits In 12-20-06
A well known
voice from 1984 until 1994 will return to the WDBO-AM
580 air chair, for a couple of days. Wayne
Weinberg will be sitting in for the vacationing Jim
Turner on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 26 and 27. Currently,
Wayne is the Director of Development for the
More
Surprises For Clear Channel?
12-20-06
Scott
Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel
is reporting that Clear Channel is preparing to sell off more stations
with the possibility of the Orlando market included. CC owns WJRR-FM
101.1, WMGF-FM
107.7, WQTM-AM 740,
WRUM-FM 100.3,
and
WTKS-FM 104.1.
Programmer
Jay Clark to Retire After 45 Years 12-21-06
Veteran
programmer Jay Clark is retiring from radio after 45 years in broadcasting.
Clark programmed WTKS-FM
104.1, after leaving Cleveland in 1984. Clark
ushered the station into its current status as one of the city's most popular
adult radio stations. WTKS listeners often heard Clark referred to by Jim
Philips as ''Popeye'' because of his passion for sailing. Most
recently, he has been the Executive Vice President of Programming for Sirius
Satellite Radio.
Carl
Marcocci Passes 12-23-06
The
owner of four Tampa radio stations, Carl Marcocci, 68, died from an
apparent heart attack Thursday night. Marcocci was leaving a dinner
meeting with his station managers to give out bonus checks, according to his
partner Steve Schurdell. His car crashed through a fence and
struck a building next door. The burglar alarm went off about 7:20 p.m.
His body was found the next morning in his Mercedes coupe. Marcocci's daughter, Sharon
Moffatt said Saturday that the family believes her father died of a heart
attack, possibly induced by the anguish of his son’s death earlier this year
and her own ongoing struggle with cancer. Radio was always a big part of
Marcocci’s life. He started out as a disc jockey in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and worked in many different cities, even serving a stint in Korea working for
military radio. He married Betty Lou Henderson, in 1962,
but they had to keep their marriage secret because Betty Lou was a flight
attendant for United Airlines and at that time, stewardesses (as
they were called then) were not allowed to be married. At the time of his death,
Mr. Marcocci owned the Palm Harbor based oldies station, WJQB-FM
106.3, WXCV-FM
95.3 in Homosassa Springs and WXOF-FM
96.3, Spring Hill as well as WINV-AM
1560,Beverly Hills. Carl is survived by his wife, Betty Lou Marcocci,
daughter Sharon Moffatt, son Russell Marcocci, and sister Lucy
Jane Clement as well as uncle, Louis Coccoli.
Brady
Ackerman To Join Bowden As Co-Host 12-26-06
ESPN Radio, WHOO-AM
1080 in Orlando and ESPN Radio WIXC-AM
1060 in Melbourne, part of Genesis Communications, Inc.,
have added Brady Ackerman as the co-host for The
Terry Bowden Show. Ackerman currently hosts the top morning drive
sports radio show in North Central Florida and serves as an analyst for Sun
Sports during college football season as well as the Post Game analysis on
all the
Lakeland
Radio Legend Passes 12-30-06
Frank
M. "Bud" Kurtz, Jr., of Lakeland, died December 20, 2006, at
the age of 79. Mr. Kurtz was an owner-operator of radio stations WVFM-FM
94.1 with partners, Duane McConnell and Herb Todd.
After selling the stations, he worked there for an additional eight years.
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