Those who were awaiting the Morning Mayor Dave Pratt’s big news likely got it this morning via email.
The announcement was sent in the wee hours of the morning, written by Mark Curtis, friend of Pratt’s and of Channel 12.
“Well guess what? Pratt is back,” Curtis writes. “Yes, now you can still get your dose of Dave Pratt in the Morning! You can still get the bold opinions, off-beat humor and eye opening comments that have caused thousands to spit out coffee on their dashboards.”
When Pratt hinted that his announcement would have nothing to do with radio or television, he wasn’t kidding.
Starting today, he is making a unique return– still local– via personal blogging on azcentral. Get to his page here: www.davepratt.azcentral.com
Back in mid-December, PhoenixAirchecks.com got first word from a friend of Jeffrey T. Mason that he will be KMLE Country 108’s new afternoon personality, set to begin Jan. 11 (originally– but the debut has since been moved to the 13th) and that this will be “my second run with OM Kris Abrams. We worked together at WFBC/Greenville in 1995,” Mason told AllAccess.com.
Now since yesterday, word from the same source is that Jeffrey will also get a full-time position at 94.5 KOOL-FM, a sister station of KMLE at CBS Radio Phoenix playing classic hits.
The word came suddenly, as he updated his homepage with large, bold font, “This just in,” and beginning the news with “there’s yet another twist to this story…” He will start at KOOL on Monday, Jan. 25, in the 10am-1pm time slot.
Many maneuvers are happening recently around CBS Radio Phoenix, including the replacement in Market Manager by bringing in Tim Pohlman, and most recently bringing in Bruce St. James to program KMLE and KZON, leaving Kris Abrams to program only KOOL.
The beginning of Bruce St. James’ Facebook and Twitter status Tuesday evening reads, “I think I got a real job. My 6 month vacation is coming to a screeching halt.”
A change-up at CBS Radio Phoenix brings aboard Bruce St. James to program both Camel Country 108 (KMLE) and top 40/rhythmic 101.5 Jamz (KZON).
St. James is a programming veteran of Valley radio, most notably of Power 98.3 (& 92.3 before the switch),KKFR, and alternative station, The Edge, KEDJ.
KMLE Country 108 brings aboard “Jeffro,” Jeff Mason, to the afternoon shift. He is set to begin January 11.
Jeffro comes over from doing afternoons and middays on country WMZQ-FM in Washington DC. His other positions at WMZQ included Music Director and Assistant Program Director.
Tim Pohlman will be joining CBS Radio Phoenix as their new market manager after the announced departure of Mark Waters in November. Pohlman will join the three station cluster consisting of country KMLE, classic hits KOOL, and top 40/rhythmic KZON.
Pohlman is no stranger to CBS Radio or the duties as market manager. He had been market manager of CBS Radio Los Angeles’ cluster. He has been CEO of Riviera Broadcasting.
Tuesday morning power outages in the Valley have not only left an estimated 18,000 people without electricity, according to APS spokeswoman Jenna Henry, but also briefly knocked out several major Phoenix FM radio stations.
Several– if not a majority– of the FM stations went to static around 10:27am. The static lasted for a minute or two before broadcasts returned on-air. A few others, like KOOL-FM, went from static to silence for a few moments more.
A second occurrence reportedly occurred just minutes shy of 11am, that affected Bonneville’s KPKX and KTAR-FM. Since both stations returned just before the noon hour, we presume the hour was used for transmitter work. Both are located on South Mountain, which supports a majority of Phoenix FM radio station transmitters.
KMLE Country 108 morning duo, Tim & Willy, hosted their 18th annual “Christmas Breakfast Show at Night,” Saturday night at the Celebrity Theatre. Proceeds benefit the Tim & Willy Kids FUN-Dation.
Comedian Tim Hawkins was a part, as well as many other special guest appearances. Tim & Willy played with their All Earl Band, which is compiled of the Herndon Brothers– regulars at Scottsdale country bar, Handlebar J.
Below: Opening video to the Tim & Willy Christmas Breakfast Show at Night
Taylor Swift “sings” Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” with background dancing by Tim & Willy.
Clear Channel country station KNIX re-sign the morning duo, Ben and Matt, who have been with the station since January 2008 after departure of Tim & Willy.
Tim & Willy are fixtures in Phoenix country music radio, and Ben and Matt have been doubted to be a viable replacement. Contrary to those beliefs, they have been doing well, even battling the Tim & Willy morning show on country competitor KMLE.
Ben and Matt were awarded as “Best Country Radio Personalities” by the Phoenix New Times in 2009.
Below: “Meet Ben and Matt” YouTube video circa January 2008
Mark Waters has left the building at CBS Radio Phoenix as Sr. VP/Market Manager, overseeing Country station KMLE, Classic Hits KOOL, and Rhythmic/Top 40 KZON.
In 2006, Waters left Bonneville Phoenix. He joined CBS Radio Phoenix in November 2006, and has held the Sr. VP/Market Manager position of the three station cluster since February 2007, succeeding Marco Camacho.
It is not known at this time who the replacement will be.
This year’s VA Veterans Day Parade in Phoenix will include longtime Valley morning radio host, Dave Pratt, as Celebrity Grand Marshal. The parade is set to begin at 11am from Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center on Wednesday November 11.
Pratt, who has been on the radio in Phoenix for nearly thirty years (KUPD, KZON, KMLE), was let go from CBS Radio/KMLE in late 2008 due to budget cuts. His support and dedication for the Phoenix community continues on. You can catch him at the upcoming parade.
Those who were awaiting the Morning Mayor Dave Pratt’s big news likely got it this morning via email.
