KNIX’s morning duo, Ben and Matt, hosted the Parada del Sol Pro Rodeo and Historic Parade in Scottsdale Saturday. The parade, which as taken place for 57 years, began at 10am and runs up Scottsdale Road from Oak to Indian School.
Ben and Matt were located at the Scottsdale Road and Indian School intersection. Hosts were present at other intersections along the way, including Radio Free Phoenix’s Liz Boyle and Andy Olson at Scottsdale and Osborn, and a reunion of the KDKB morning team, Bill Andres and John Giese.
Ben Campbell, real name George B. Campbell, of the KNIX Ben & Matt morning show was arrested last Friday in Scottsdale after driving under the influence and speeding.
The Arizona Republic has the entire story, plus mugshot, here.
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.
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
Liz Boyle tells us that John Giese and Bill Andres (KDKB’s John & Bill) are planning to reunite at the AMEHOF benefit concert, Sept. 6. Also emceeing: Wonderful Russ (KDKB), Marty Manning (KESZ), and Jim West (KNIX, KMLE)!
