Aircheck: Radio Stories
AIRCHECK is a podcast about radio's personality from radio personalities. Each episode includes guests from the Radio industry including, but not limited to, Air Personalities, Program Directors, General Managers, and Owners. In addition to the shared stories, AIRCHECK incorporates the rewound audio from those special story moments. Both Rich De Sisto and Paul Kelly, currently on the air in Philadelphia, have concentrated their radio careers in the northeast corridor of the country. Radio stops for Rich include WAXQ/New York, WYSP/Philadelphia, WPST/Trenton, WMGM/Atlantic City, WAMX/Huntington, and WZXL/Atlantic City. Paul’s on air time includes WEZX/Scranton, WPDH/Poughkeepsie, and WZXL/Atlantic City where he and Rich met in the late 80s. Paul also operates Philadelphia-based Kelly Music Research. AIRCHECK is accepting guests for future sessions/seasons. If there’s a story to be told….and hopefully audio to complement it, from College Radio to AM/FM, Satellite, AIRCHECK will give it a listen. If you are in or out of radio and want to tell your stories, email: AirCheckMe@gmail.com.
Aircheck: Radio Stories
S4 E14: Steve Craig Pt 1 (99X/Atlanta - 101.9 WRXP/New York City - 97.1 The River/Atlanta)
Steve Craig is the morning host on Atlanta’s 97.1 The River/WSRV-FM. Steve has been holding down mornings since 2012. His passion for the music and his listeners shines through the speakers every day. He describes it as being “like a bar conversation about the bands we love.”
Atlanta was also Steve’s home as the midday jock for 17 years on now-defunct 99X/WNNX-FM. During those years, alternative/modern rock was just starting to take hold of the music industry, and 99X was one of the Radio industry’s flagship stations for delivering this fresh new sound to its listeners. As a beacon for the format, artists knew how important it was to get their music heard on 99X, and would often be interviewed on-air by Steve. Some of those up and coming artists included Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins, and Courtney Love, as well as heritage artists at the time, like Johnny Rotten, Brian Setzer, and Boy George.
101.9 WRXP gave the Big Apple its taste of alternative/modern rock as “New York’s Rock Experience.” Steve was there for it, and worked alongside Rock Radio industry veteran, Matt Pinfield. Those years saw celebrities roaming the hallways on a daily basis…thanks to Matt.
Other stops along the Radio dial for Steve included time in Barstow/CA, Fresno, Salt Lake City, as well as Los Angeles/San Bernardino.
Part one of four with Steve has him sharing with us his connection to the Ramones. From sneaking into their show at the Whisky in LA, to a New York City street corner encounter with Joey Ramones brother Mickey Leigh. Plus his times at Atlanta's 99x that included a confrontation with Courtney Love
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