Minnesota Fattz

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wow. The first time I cracked him Mike, it was
like eighty three. I cracked him Mike at a radio
station which was owned by the Godfather Soul, James Brown
w RDW, which the Godfather Soul gave me the name
Minnesota FATS. A memorable moment when I cracked him Mike
and the one day that I'll always remember. The high

(00:22):
point of my radio career was during the late eighties,
there was a student that went to Richmond Academy by
the name of Freddie Hudson. He played football and of
course he was a punt receiver. Amongst catching the ball
and moving forward up the field, he took an awkward hit.

(00:44):
During that time, we were doing a promotion on another
radio station and I worked during that time called Hands
on the bull which was sponsored by slit Smalt Liquor.
It was a nineteen eighty eight trans am and I
incorporated that with Freddie Hutson's incident that happened on the
field because we gave away the cars call Hands in
the Bulls, so we had contestants that would put their

(01:05):
hand on the car and for every hour that I
stayed up, people would donate money. The listeners would come
in and donate money, and I was able to raise
close to one hundred thousand dollars to build a handicap
accessible wing onto his home. So it was better life
for Freddie Hudson. One of the highlights of my career
unforgettable unexpected guests President Obama. Well, you know, my favorite

(01:30):
listener interaction was creating characters on the air. Listeners that
called into the radio station that maybe had a raspy
voice or it's just funny. And one was Speedy Reedy.
She was a big character on the show during our
morning show, and people today still asked me about that character.
Oops moments. Yes, Sharon, and I was coming from Los Angeles.

(01:55):
We did the Soul Trained Music Awards during that time.
After returning back to Augusta, we landed stopped by a
local convenience store and played the lottery. Right, So I
played lotto every once in a while, so I played
my home address. So the next day when we returned
on the air for the morning show, I looked down

(02:16):
at the newspaper and I saw that I had won,
and I was like, oh shit, and we were on
the air, so I had to catch myself and that
was an Oops moment I didn't really think I was
gonna have a job after then, well, you know, no
one's invincible, you know, radio the challenge that people don't see,

(02:39):
you know, you put the work in and just realizing
that you need to know the science of the business,
you know what I mean, and that's so important, and
that you're never bigger than the brand. It's something that
you learn know and it's reality segments on the radio
that I loved. Yes, we do a thing called the

(03:02):
five o'clock Happy Hour Mix. It's interaction with the audience,
people calling into the radio station. It goes back to
those days when radio is very personal and people can relate.
They call up, they're getting off from work. They saying
high fash and share we out here rolling with you
this afternoon. And also Solid Goals Sunday when you take
people back in the time. This is a special feature

(03:24):
that we do on the weekends and our co hosts
with the Mighty Peanut, and we go back in the
day of playing music that people grew up with from
the seventies eighties and knowing that those songs had an
impact on their lives, their relationship, they made babies, so yeah,
those are some special segments and features that I love.

(03:45):
Personality that I never hope that goes away as that
because that's so important in the commitment of doing things
in the community. I think it's very very tradition with
radio and it will always be there and hope that
it will never go away. Wow, there's so many things

(04:05):
that happens with radio today than it was back in
the day. In twenty twenty five, AI, digital platforms, just
so many things that you as a talent, you as
a programmer, just so important that you know the science,
apply and learn, and that's one of the most innovative

(04:26):
things that we can continue to see in twenty twenty
five with radio. My favorite thing about being a part
of the iHeart family is innovative resources, just so many
great things, family and just being a part of the
biggest radio conglomerate in the world. That's what I love

(04:50):
about it.