A Closer Look

At WDBO-AM 580 and WDBO-FM 96.5 11-23-12
Thanks to Patrick Johnson for this closer look at WDBO-AM 580 and WDBO-FM 96.5. WDBO is exclusively on FM now at 96.5. 580AM switched to ESPN 580 Orlando (the WDBO calls remain). The line-up on WDBO-FM 96.5 is as follows; "Central Florida Morning News with Jim Turner"-5AM-9AM. Neal Boortz-9AM-11AM, Mel Robbins-11AM-1PM, Clark Howard-1PM-3PM, Sean Hannity-3PM-6PM. "Central Florida Evening News with Scott Anez" and Andy Dean from 7PM-10PM. Ken Tyndall is the morning anchor, Patrick Johnson is the lead reporter for the mornings. Valerie "Red" Cooper is a Reporter, Morning Show Producer and Web Reporter. Samantha Jordan is the mid-day Anchor/Reporter. Angela Jacobs is a morning reporter who came from Tampa. Angela worked on TV for Fox Sports/Sun Sports. She is also the mid-day anchor for ESPN 580's local Sports Center updates. Scott Anez is hosting an afternoon show there from 4PM-6PM daily. Kyle Cassandra is producing Scott's show. Magic games are still being broadcast on both stations. Patrick Johnson is the morning drive sports anchor on ESPN 580 for local Sports Center Updates.

Black Crow Settles With GE Capital
9-16-11 GE Capital Credit Corp. and Daytona Beach based Black Crow Media have settled for $20 million. Georgia based broadcaster and businessman Paul Stone has purchased the loan and becomes Black Crow's majority owner. Black Crow has also settled with other creditors for $200,000. Southern Broadcasting, Inc. was purchased by Cox Radio in 2008 and Paul Stone was one of the founders of the company.

Black Crow Media Now Suing GE Capital
10-22-10 The Black Crow Media Group which owns WNDB-AM 1150, WKRO-FM 93.1, WHOG-FM 95.7 and WVYB-FM 103.3 in Central Florida, as well as other stations, is now suing their secured lender General Electric Capital Corp to block them from voting on a reorganization plan. The suit also seeks damages for “filing repeated nonsensical motions, objections and complaints, dumping thousands of pages of unindexed documents on debtors’ counsel, switching expert reports, mischaracterizing material facts”. Black Crow filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in January, owing $38.9 million to GE Capital.

At Black Crow Bankruptcy
6-1-10 From Radio-Info.com
Black Crow moves further from GE Capital, closer to new lender Paul Stone
Florida-based Black Crow beat GE Capital to the punch with an emergency Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on January 12, frustrating the lender’s attempts to have a New York court appoint its chosen receiver. The jousting continues in court, but as of Friday, Black Crow has an agreement from the judge to pay GE Capital the “undisputed” amounts and thus clear the way to grant new lender Paul Stone the security interests he wants. This TRI Newsletter told you back on April 12 that Stone is offering post-petition financing to Southeastern radio operator Black Crow of as much as $1.5 million. That plus its cash on hand gives Black Crow the dough to satisfy the immediate requirements of GE Capital. Jacksonville-based Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Glenn does give GE Capital “partial adequate protection” of its interests now that Paul Stone has entered the picture. Black Crow must provide GE Capital with a series of reports by 5pm each Wednesday – reports about pacing on a three-month rolling basis, plus collections and disbursements (if they’re different from the budget). Then every month, GE Capital is entitled to balance sheets, including data on capital expenditures and corporate overhead.

Black Crow Files For Debtor-in-possession Status
1-23-10 In a legal maneuver to head off a group creditor takeover led by GE Capital Black Crow has filed for Debtor-in-possession status with the FCC for all of it's 21 full-power stations and a couple of FM translators. Black Crow Radio LLC also has subsidiary companies, such as BCA Radio LLC, which has three full-power stations and a translator in Huntsville, Alabama, Thomas Radio LLC in Jackson, Tennessee, Rainbow Media in Jackson, Mississippi and the largest subsidiary, RTG Radio, with stations in Florida and Valdosta, Georgia.

Black Crow Files For Chapter 11 Status In Florida
1-15-10 Black Crow CEO Mike Linn is at least buying some time, probably several months in the lawsuit filed by GE Capital. If he’s granted Chapter 11 protection, he’ll have the time to come up with his own plan of reorganization to handle all the debts and creditors. The names and amounts of the 20 largest creditors include Frederic Wells of Huntsville, who’s owed $1,573,616, , James Wolfe of Jackson, TN-$304,980. Some of the other creditors include Arbitron-$547,312, BMI-$300,321, ASCAP- $275,220 and SESAC-$55,451. The Radio Music Licensing Committee is owed $8,622. Premiere Radio Networks is due $6,193. Titans Radio (for Tennessee Titans game rights), $1,750. Black Crow, under various corporate names, owns a total of 26 stations in Valdosta, GA, Huntsville, Jackson and Daytona Beach.

1-15-10 Black Crow’s Chapter 11 Filing Keeps Its Creditors At Bay In New York
Yesterday’s scheduled emergency show-cause hearing was cancelled and there’s a “stay” in the New York courtroom of U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan. So instead of lender GE Capital persuading Sullivan to install receiver Larry Patrick, the court is asking for updates on the bankruptcy proceedings going on down in Jacksonville, starting March 12.

1-13-10 Black Crow Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
In a maneuver to save their stations, Black Crow Media has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. General Electric Capital Corp. had filed suit over the alleged default on a $38,886,250 loan plus attorney fees and other expenses. Black Crow owns stations in Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The Daytona Beach stations include WNDB-AM 1150, WKRO-FM 93.1, WHOG-FM 95.7 and WVYB-FM 103.3.Black Crow was scheduled to appear in court, in New York City, on Thursday. This will delay court action for the time being.

1-14-10 Black Crow Says It Will Continue
Daytona Beach based Black Crow said in a statement, said it will continue to operate its 22 radio stations during the restructuring. "Unfortunately, over the past year, and despite enormous efforts to reduce expenses," wrote Mike Linn, President of Black Crow, "economic conditions have finally deteriorated to a point where it has become impossible for us to support our existing debt." Black Crow claimed debt of around $45 million when it filed for bankruptcy protection. Under Chapter 11, Black Crow is seeking to voluntarily restructure its debt and will also ask the court to allow them to maintain employee payroll and health benefits, fulfill certain pre-filing obligations and to honor all customer programs. "We want to assure everyone - our customers, suppliers, our people and our communities - that our stations will remain open for business as usual," Linn said. "This is an extremely difficult decision that I believe is necessary to ensure that Black Crow will have access to the resources necessary to serve our communities in a manner they deserve." According to the lawsuit filed GE Capital, they do not want to close the Black Crow stations, but they are seeking to have a designated receiver appointed, W. Lawrence Patrick, president of Patrick Communications to continue the operation of Black Crow's assets.

At WELE Premier Travel Show...

At Scott and Erica 8-22-07
WOMX-FM 105.1's Scott McKenzie and Erica Lee have been the morning team for 16 years. Scott was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956. He began his career at WNKO-FM 101.7 in Columbus in 1978, using the air name Scott Friedman. Then it was on to WTHZ-FM, Tallahassee in 1986, where Scott met his wife to be, Fran. In 1989, Scott and Fran headed to WXGT-FM in Columbus, Ohio. Then Scott spent a year at WZOU in Boston, then on to Orlando and WOMX-FM 105.1. Scott spent his first month on the morning show with long-time Orlando personality Alan Spector. Then on October 29, 1990, Metro Traffic Services' Erica Lee joined the "MIX 105.1" morning show as the newscaster. Erica grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey and moved to Florida in 1975. She has worked at stations in Jacksonville, Panama City and Tallahassee. Erica is a Florida State University alumni. On January 3, 1991 Scott McKenzie was named the new morning show host, with then newscaster, Erica Lee. In 1994, 1995 ands 1996 Scott McKenzie and Erica Lee were nominated as "Personalities Of The Year" by Billboard Magazine. In January of 2007, Scott and Erica signed a new contract that will keep them on the CBS owned station until the year 2011.

At WXXL-FM 106.7's Jayde 8-5-07
Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel wrote in his Taking Names column of August 2, 2007, writes about Johnny Magic's new morning partner Jayde. Back in January of this year she was working, as "Trish", at Sacramento California's KDND-FM 107.9 as part of the "Morning Rave". Ten employees of (KDND-FM) "The End" were fired and the morning radio show was canceled. This was as a result of a water-drinking contest that left Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old mother of three, ill hours before she died, apparently of water intoxication in a contest called "Hold your wee for a Wii". The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department investigated the contest, the district attorney determined no one was criminally liable for Strange's death. The two hosts, Lukas Cox and Steve Mane, are filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against Entercom, the parent company of KDND (107.9 The End). Cox, Mane and Trish (as well as 40 other defendants) have all been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Jennifer Strange. Trish Sweet, (now known as Jayde) the third DJ who hosted the show, is not suing.

At The New York Connection 7-13-07
Pete Simonson made an interesting observation recently. "...Did you realize that with Chris Russo handling the morning duties at WFAN (AM 660), it makes two former WKIS employees who have moved to ""The Big Apple"? Frank Reed went to WNBC (later WFAN after Radio 66 went dark back around 1977) and was there in a variety of time slots for 4 years or so..." That got me to thinking about other folks that passed through Central Florida Radio and made it to the "Big Apple".

The latest Orlando Alum to head fro New York is Jill Strada, former WPYO-FM 95.3 Program Director/Music Director. Jill joined "Hot 97" WQHT-FM New York City as Assistant Program Director/Music Director in 2007.

Herb Oscar Anderson WDBO-AM 580-1948
H-O-A became best known for his successful show on the legendary WABC-AM 77. HOA was crowned the "Morning Mayor of New York." Anderson has also recorded for Capitol, Verve, MGM and Columbia.

Here's Herb On WABC-AM 77 with his show opening each morning

Roby Younge WTMC-AM 1290, WLUS-AM 980
Roby began his career at age 15 at WTMC-AM 1290, and then moved to WLUS-AM 980. Roby was fired from WABC-AM 77 in New York City, in October of 1969 when he talked about the rumor that Beatle Paul McCartney was dead. It was an hour and a half before program director Rick Sklar got Les Marshak in to relieve Younge. Thanks to Jonathan Wolfert via Allan Sniffen's page about Musicradio 77 WABC for the audio. Roby died on July 18th, 1977 of a heart attack at the age of 54 in Miami.

Roby Younge on WABC Oct. 1969

Frank Reed
WFIV-AM 1080, WVGT-AM 1580, WABR-AM 1440, WORJ-FM 107.7, WOCL-FM 105.9 WKIS-AM 740. After a long stint in Central Florida, in 1977 Frank got a call "from out of the blue" from Bob Pittman, (MTV, AOL, etc) to fly up to NY and interview for WNBC-AM 66. Eventually ended up doing afternoons, then moved to middays to make room for a guy who I was told did something really "different"; yep, I got replaced by Howard - Howard Stern. Frank worked between Don Imus and Howard Stern for about 3 years, then was replaced by Soupy Sales.

Frank Reed On WNBC May 24, 1985

Don Gould WEZY-AM 1350, WAMT-AM 1060, WMMB-AM 1240, WKIS-AM 740
Don moved to WNBC-TV in New York in 1982 as sports anchor where he backed up Marv Albert and Len Berman for 10 years. In addition, from 1983-91, he was also seen on the NBC Network alongside Connie Chung on "NBC News at Sunrise" Don also anchored the "ESPN Sportscenter" in the mid eighties. In 1993, he began the first of two turns at WCBS-AM 880 and the ABC Radio Network. From 1995-1997, Don was the weekend sports anchor for WPIX-TV, Channel 11 in New York. After a try at retirement he has returned to New York radio as weekend sports anchor on WINS-AM 1010.

Here's Don on WINS-AM in 2007

Gene Burns WKIS-AM 740
Gene arrived in Orlando in 1971 for what would become his first stop in at WKIS-AM 740. Gene headed to Philadelphia in 191 and spent 1 year there before heading back to Orlando. gene spent four more years at WKIS and then on to Boston's WRKO and then on to WOR-AM 710 in New York. WOR would syndicate the Gene Burns Program to 162 stations across the country, including WDBO-AM 580 on a delayed basis. Gene was heard on WDBO at 10PM.

Chris Russo WKIS-AM 740
Chris graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park in 1982. Before WKIS-AM 740 in March, 1984, Chris worked at WEXI-AM 1000 in Jupiter and WOKV-AM 690 in Jacksonville. Chris became well known for his rapid-fire banter and vast sports knowledge. During his stint at WKIS, when it became clear that the people of central Florida were having trouble understanding his intense New York accent and the station sent him to see a speech therapist twice a week.
After working at WMCA-AM 570 for a little more than a year, he caught the attention of WFAN Morning Show Host, Don Imus. Imus brought Russo on-board the "Imus in the Morning" show as the Sports Reporter. WFAN paired up Russo with Mike Francesa, who was the co-host of the mid-day show.

2008-Chrsi would leave WFAN and sign with Sirius Satellite Radio.

Here's Chris with Yankee manager Joe Torre on WFAN

Brian Thomas WBJW-FM 105.1 WOMX-FM 105.1
Brian was the program director at WBJW-FM 105.1 "BJ105" from 1985 to 1987 and WOMX-FM 105.1 "Mix105.1" from 1988 until 1991. In 2006, WCBS-FM 101.1 New York known as "Jack-FM", named radio veteran Brian as its program director.

Ed Tyll WTKS-FM 104.1
Ed would leave Orlando and WTKS-FM 104.1 for KABC-AM in Los Angeles. After a few other stops Ed made it to New York and WLIE-AM 540 in Long Island. Edward Tyll is now doing stand up comedy in and around New York.

Mike Harvey WROD-AM 1340 WSHE-FM 100.3 WEBG-FM 100.3
In the year 1964, at the age of 18, Mike was about to make his Orlando radio debut at WLOF-AM 950. But, WROD-AM 1340 in Daytona Beach also made Mike an offer and broadcasting from Daytona Beach - hmm let's see - the beach - girls - radio just seemed more appealing. By the time Mike was 24 it was off to New York City. Mike now has two programs in syndication; The Mike Harvey Show nightly and Super Gold on weekends.

Bob O'Brien WOCL-FM 105.9
From August of 1988 until September of 1989 Bob worked in New York with legend Norm N. Nite at the United Stations Radio Network's “Solid Gold Scrapbook” as writer/producer for the syndicated 5 hour weekly oldies magazine.

Rick Stacy WHLY-FM 106.7
In 2003, Rick would move to WNEW-FM 102.7 in New York. The station became "Mix 102.7", switching to dance hits, mainly from the 1970s and 1980s.

Kris Earl Philips WDAT-AM 1380 WOGO-AM 1550 WMFJ-AM 1450 WRMF-AM 1060
WSBB-AM 1230 WFKS-FM 99.9
Kris worked in New York at "Z100" WHTZ-FM 100.3.

At Ratings 1-25-07
In his Blog dated Jan 25, 2007 Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel posted the ratings of the top 20 shows and stations for both mornings (6-10) and afternoons (3-7). The ranking is for total listeners ranked by Arbitron in the Orlando market. A reader posted the following comment.

Scott--
Great list of call letters for the top 20 stations. But, who are they? What's the name of the show, where are they on the dial? Your column is great, but you gotta get on the stick on this. Posted by: Kurt | January 25, 2007 at 07:50 PM

Scott replied
I hear ya, Kurt. unfortunately, this blog thing's not my really my day job - and Arbitron doesn't give me a way to cut and paste (and ok, to be honest, once you get past the top 10, even I'm not sure of all the show names.) but I can direct you to one place that has the call letters for every station, the lineup -- as well as pretty much the entire history of each station as well. It's a good site for local radio folks anyway, as it's all Central Florida stuff, run by a true fan who knows the biz. It's here:
http://cflradio.net/
Hope that's of some help anyway.
So we thought about doing a follow up. So here is the complete list along with call letters, programs and formats. Thanks to Scott Maxwell for the mention.

Morning (6 AM to 10 AM, total listeners)

11. WRUM-FM 100.3-"Los Anormales" (The Abnormal Ones)-John Musa, Jenny, Clandestine and Crazy
Sam (Spanish)

11t. WJHM-FM 101.9-The Steve Harvey Morning Show-syndicated (Urban Contemporary)

17. WRLZ-AM 1270-"Despertando" (Waking Up with) John and Damaris (Spanish)

20. WRLZ-AM 1270-"El Tapon" (The Cork), Edwin Roman and Alma Musik (Spanish gospel)

12-22-08	7-3-08	10-31-08

10-31-08	11-5-08	11-24-08

CFNews 13 Audio Report 10-31-08	WFTV Audio Report 10-28-08	WESH 2 Audio Report 10-31-08

	Doug Wilhite on WELE 11-3-08