AZCentral.com’s 4th annual Best Of poll is out, asking readers for their best choices around the Valley, from food, to entertainment, resorts, hotels, and the best of in radio.
One question asks, “WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MORNING DJ(s)?”
Options (and percentages as of 5:45 this evening):
Ankarlo (Darrell Ankarlo), KTAR 2%
Barry Young, KFYI talk radio 2%
Ben and Matt , KNIX 30%
Beth and Bill, KEZ 5%
Dave Pratt, formerly of KMLE 31%
Doug & Wolf, KTAR 1%
Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, KUPD 4%
Howard Stern, Sirius Satellite Radio 2%
Johnjay and Rich, KISS 21%
Tim and Willie, KMLE 2%
PhoenixAirchecks.com Analysis:
- Where’s everybody else? Surprised to not see Chris & Amy. What about JR & Mary? And why not Tom & Maria? Dave Pratt is still an option, yet it’s been fifteen months since he’s been on the radio. (Yeah, but he also blogs for AZCentral.)
- Speaking of Dave Pratt, Pratt is beating Holmberg’s Morning Sickness over septuple! (that means times seven)
- Johnjay and Rich seem to be the ones most pushing for their followers on Twitter to vote for them on this one. So far it’s gotten them to 21%.
- Why can AZCentral never spell Willy’s name right?
Tomorrow’s “Lopsided World of Jonathan L” show on 98 KUPD will be one of the few remaining. Jonathan L, a veteran of radio of three decades, announced his retirement last month, with the last show to air Sunday, April 18.
The “Lopsided World of Jonathan L” has been a part of KUPD weekends since August 2005. The free-form style show currently airs Saturday mornings, 6:45-10am, and Sunday evenings, 5:45-8pm.
Jonathan L has had a career in radio, lasting three decades and over two of them spent in the Phoenix market. He had begun, inexperienced but determined, in 1982 with his successful specialty show called “Virgin Vinyl” on KLPX Tucson.
In 1986, he was among the original staff (as APD) of the newly established Key 100.3 (KEYX-FM) in Phoenix, “Arizona’s Rock & Soul.” Jonathan L is also considered one of the pioneers of the format of AM 1060 KUKQ, Phoenix, and starter of the Q-Fest music festival.
Just a few years ago, he was voted Phoenix New Times’ “Best Rock Radio Personality,” 2008, and awarded as “Best Radio DJ,” several more years.
For more information on Jonathan L’s show and retirement, click here. A journey through radio, as told by Jonathan L himself, here.
Posted on 22 February 2010 by PhoenixAirchecks.com
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
A day full of rain for the Valley and severe thunderstorms, flooding, high winds and tornado watches have threatened many homes, blocked off access through many streets, and have taken down several objects in its path.
The storms worsened in the evening, including taking off two of Sandusky’s rockers, 93.3 KDKB and 98 KUPD and Clear Channel’s smooth jazz KYOT. All have been out for at least a couple of hours tonight.
Posted on 08 December 2009 by PhoenixAirchecks.com
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.
Posted on 04 November 2009 by PhoenixAirchecks.com
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.
Nationally recognized radio historian, Radio & Records, and All Access columnist Bob Shannon is coming out with a new book. It’s titled Turn It Up!: American Radio Tales and it features several of the biggest names of radio– talent, programmers, the innovators, and brilliant ones behind the magic of radio.
Some of those included are names us Phoenicians may know: Larry Daniels, John Sebastian, Gary Stevens, and Todd Wallace.
Those who were awaiting the Morning Mayor Dave Pratt’s big news likely got it this morning via email.
