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.

Woody Wooden 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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-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.

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.

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. 

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 I, 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 University of Florida football games. Ackerman has worked in radio in television for the past eight years and writes for Scout.com and GatorCountry.com. Prior to his work in the media, Ackerman worked as an assistant football coach at Valdosta State , Jacksonville State and Adams State .Ackerman was a running back at the University of Florida from 1987-1991 and was a member of the first official SEC championship team in 1991. The Terry Bowden Show is heard LIVE from 4-7pm Monday through Friday on ESPN Radio, WHOO-AM 1080  in Orlando and ESPN Radio WIXC-AM 1060  in Melbourne.