| By Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Jeff Sherman |
| Published Jan. 8, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. |
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If you wake up with radio in Milwaukee, you might know WOKY. The station, now known as "The Mighty 92," is a part of Milwaukee's history, and its call letters are basically shorthand for our city's name. Its morning show is Milwaukee, too, as "Good Day Milwaukee" with Gregory Jon and Meg McKenzie provides a fun look at local events, people and news.
Recently, we talked to Greg and Meg about their show, radio in general, Christmas music and more. Enjoy this latest edition of "Milwaukee Talks."
OMC: Give us your bios in a nutshell, please.
Jon: I started in the business of radio at a community college up north, Gogebic Community College (Ironwood, Minn.). Back then it was cool to be a DJ, and the guys would tell me, if you want chicks be a radio DJ. It was fun, and next the local radio station up there hired me part time and I just worked my way up. By age 19, I was a program director on the morning show. I did that for 10 years and then I got married when I was about 28. My wife says, "One year here and then we're out of here. I don't care where we go." I said, "OK," and she got a job offer in Milwaukee and I came along.
I started knocking on doors in Milwaukee. Went to TMJ. They kind of laughed at me. They said, "You're from where, Hurley/Ironwood and you expect to ..." And then it was QFM, they laughed at me and said, "I think I'd work on that resume on that tape, because you're not going to make it in Milwaukee."
I also tried out on KLH. I did an overnight thing as an audition and that didn't go anywhere. Then somebody directed me to Clear Channel (where I met) Kerry Wolfe, who was the program director for FM-106, I interviewed with him. He directed me to Dan Willis, who is the boss at this radio station, and he goes, "Yeah, we do need somebody. Can you work Friday?" and that's how I started. So I went from a rock station, basically a top 40 rock station up north, morning show, to playing Frank Sinatra. So it was a switch. Ever since then, I've just been here.
McKenzie: I have three boys at home, and I had been in communications and writing for years at a college. I didn't like it. It was dry and boring, so someone said why don't you do some sort of journalism? I was writing for a newspaper up in Ozaukee County and I really liked doing that, so I said, well, I want to try radio. So I literally just started pecking around on the Internet to find out about openings.
Like Greg, knocked on enough doors, but nobody was really talking to me. My husband knew somebody who worked for these (Clear Channel) stations and he gave me the name Kerry Wolfe. So, I picked up the phone, left a message for Kerry Wolfe, not knowing who in the world this guy was, and I got a call back like within 24 hours. I got a call back and I got a job in promotions and did that for about six months before I begged the newsroom to take me as an intern.
At the age of 28, I went back and worked for six months with no pay with a very loving husband and three children at home and after six months and no pay, Greg wanted a new newsperson, so he gave me the job.
GJ: Yeah. It's worked out. How long has it been, four years now?
MM: Yes. Hanging around helps. Greg had two co-hosts before me and they went away and I was still here, so now Greg and I do the "Good Day Milwaukee" show.
OMC: Do you use your real names?
MM: They're our real names.
OMC: How do you guys stand out and how do you compete in a crowded morning radio world?
GJ: You've got to find your niche. Our niche is being the Milwaukee station, the heritage station, we've got a lot of history here.
This station started in 1950 and you think of all of the super jocks that have gone through here. We've talked about Bob Barry and Robert L., who went on to WGN; Bob Collins, of course he passed away a few years ago, but I mean some big names have gone through this building. That's the kind of thing that we wanted; the history.
We have flashbacks on Thursday. We spotlight local bands. This town really does have a lot of great music, not just today but even back then. There's a resurgence right now. There are bands -- these guys are in their 60s. They're coming back. They're doing concerts. We had a dance a couple of weeks ago. We had 600 people show up for this band The Skunks. They were popular in the late '60s. They had hits on the radio. They're back together and they're playing.
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2 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
| Posted by | Preview |
| Myke & Debbi | Love yah Greg & Meg ! |
| moparmark | GREAT INTERVIEW!!! I have known and worked with them for a few years now yet ... |
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