 Uncle Johnny It's October of 1973. I am doing afternoons at WWCO, Waterbury,Connecticut. The phone rings and it's Bill Garcia. He says he's getting set to launch a new station in Tampa. Garcia says he has his staff hired except for the overnight shift... "How's the weather up there?" I say it's already in the forties. " It's seventy-eight here and I just got back from the beach. How would you like to do overnights?"
That was it. I handed in two weeks notice and was off to Tampa. I still remember rounding the bend on I-4 and seeing the skyline for the first time. I only had an AM radio in the car as did most people in those days. I had WLCY on and they were playing "Love Theme" By Love Unlimited Orchestra... I had a hell of a time finding the Q105 studios. They were not in the phone book yet and would not be on the air for another week. I stumbled on to the Executive Square office complex, made my way to the second floor and found all the doors locked... After banging on the door for twenty minutes, Bill Garcia answers the door. "Where the hell have you been? I thought I was going to have to hire someone else!!"
That was the start of Five great years At Q-105. To get FM into peoples cars, we used to give away Audiovox FM Converters at all of our promtional gigs. By January the station had an 8 share in Arbitron and we were on our way. The Original Q-105 DJ line up was "Griff IN The Morning" 6-9 am Alan Obrien 9-noon, Bill Garcia noon to three, Chuck Stevens 3-6pm, Tim Davison 6-10pm, Scott Griffith 10 P-2am and Uncle Johnny 2a-6a.
 Scott got home sick for Valdosta and quit after a couple of months. I was promoted to the 10p-2am shift and Mike Sutton was hired to do overnights. After a couple of years Tim Davison was promoted to Mornings and I took over the 6-10pm shift. What a wild time. I used to paint my beard red, white and blue for promotional appearances. Ride Busch Gardens "Python" for thirteen hours. Challenged "Creature Features" host Dr. Paul Bearer to an arm wrestling match at the Bayfront center rode a donkey across the field at Tampa Stadium during half time at a Rowdies game... Remember them? I would do anything for publicity. In 1979 I moved down the dial to Y-95 for five months.
In August of '79, I was hired by Q-107 in Washington, DC for the six to 10pm shift. More crazy stunts and great ratings untill 1985 when I was hired by WZOU radio in Boston. Working in Boston was the fulfilment of a life long dream. I was there for a year and a half and then it was back to DC and Q-107 for another three years. In 1990, I was hired by WXXL, Orlando and have been here ever since. I am currently doing weekends and swing for WXXL (top 40) & WSHE (oldies).
Hey, Mason Dixon, you should hire me for afternoons on Oldies 104.7!!!! I visit Tampa often and am always amazed at the growth the city has gone through. One last note about the original Q-105 line up. They were a great bunch of guys to work with and hang out with. We were all friends. I am sad to report that Chuck Stevens and Mike Sutton are deceased. God bless 'em.
Update 7/30/2005
Uncle Johnny says, "I'm doing morning drive at Q105.1 in
Jackson
, "Hotter than a Peppered sprout"
Mississippi
! The first time the Q105 jingle came through the headphones was like stepping into a time machine. The music we play takes me back as well. Superhits of the 60's and 70's. Former Q105,
Tampa
mid day jock,
Steve
Kelly is the ops. manager.
"
My little morning show in Jackson got the Clear Channel
blade treatment in December. They are now voice tracking the morning show! Can't pay a "live"
human, ya know? That's the last corporate radio station I will ever work for.
Update 3/28/2007
I found a great six station group owned by FOUR PEOPLE!!! Starting next week, I will be
hanging my hat at WSIG, Harrisonburg, VA. Beautiful place! The Blue Ridge Mountains and farms
situated on rolling hills that seem to go on forever. I guess sometimes God really does take
care of aging dj's! By the way -- Check out my web site: www.realcountrywsig.com
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