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Cliff and Co.

R

RadeoEngineer

I had the pleasure of being the DOE under many years of morning shows on KSON. When I started, it was James Holley "by golley", and through the years we went through numerous characters in the morning time slot. When Tony and Kris came in they were way over their heads but worked hard and exited as one of the top morning shows in San Diego. I remember playing golf one day with Dave Rickards and him complaining that he couldn't get his bonus because of T & K. There were genuinely great times during their occupation of the KSON morning show, and they never should have been allowed to leave, and it wasn't their fault that it happened.

When they left, KSON had to dig deep to come up with a new show. It was an almost impossible situation. After 10 years in the control room, T & K were KSON, and now across the street. Cliff Dumas was brought in with Morgan and Bill Tanner, none of whom had ever worked together (as I recall) and had to find a way to gel immediately. T & K rightfully took most of their audience with them, and it was up to Cliff and Co., and the Jefferson-Pilot promotions war chest to get them back. It was a tough situation. There was a lot of stumbling. The three of them were having difficulties (as one would expect) finding their way, and there were some personal issues with Morgan and her family. There was a lot to shake out.

After the initial thrill of having T & K in the building at Clear Channel, things started turning bad for them for reasons I know, but won't reveal. They were hamstrung. In the meantime Cliff, Morgan and Tanner started pulling it together. Eventually the heritage KSON, with lots of promotions cash and a far superior signal got back on top in the country morning show war, and T & K were left in the cold by a CC management that seemed bent on causing them to fail.

Over the years the players in Cliff and Co. changed, but they managed to do well enough to today be named On Air Personality of the Year by the Acadamy of Country Music. That's a big deal, and quite the achievement on the day you're fired.

Ain't nothin' like it used to be.

My congratulations to Cliff, Morgan , Tanner, and all of the ones I can't name since I left except for Torri, who I don't know.

I had a wonderful 20 years with Jefferson-Pilot, and I'm very thankful now to be retired and out of the business as it disentegrates.

Best of luck going forward Cliff.
 
Nicely done.
 
Nicely done, indeed. Please see the adjacent Mikey Show thread for clarification about why this solid, stable, "Best Major Market Country Morning Show" in America was torpedoed. I think this was the first time any San Diego Morning was named Best in the country, by any credible group. And they get blown out the day before. It is clear that Lincoln Financial San Diego represents the worst of the "disintegration" of radio.
 
canyouhearmenow said:
Nicely done, indeed. Please see the adjacent Mikey Show thread for clarification about why this solid, stable, "Best Major Market Country Morning Show" in America was torpedoed. I think this was the first time any San Diego Morning was named Best in the country, by any credible group. And they get blown out the day before. It is clear that Lincoln Financial San Diego represents the worst of the "disintegration" of radio.
Click to expand...

Tony and Kris won the same award in 2002.
 
RadeoEngineer said:
Tony and Kris won the same award in 2002.
Click to expand...

Yep, I remember that very well; the station was all over it in '02. Called me and personally wanted me to hang with T&K in studio -- what a treat -- when the "official announcement" was given.

I have nothing against Brooks, and noted that she's confident and has her own style. But Cliff was the glue that held the show together and I believe he can make magic with anyone teamed with.

Thanks for reading.

P.S. Cliff -- you can still do your own personal hometown handshake tour door-to-door.
 
A lot of negative feedback on the KSON facebook page about Cliff and Tori being gone. Some are saying they don't care for Brooks. I do give KSON credit for keeping those comments up. Some stations would censor it.
 
I think you really need to give a lot of credit to Brooks. She has been left to carry this ship all by herself and most likely wont be the "new" morning show. She lost her partners and she is taking the heat as a result. Pretty tough to put that smile on everyday and seem like the world is ok. I give her a great deal of credit for pulling this off for as long as she has to. She is lucky she still has a job but she has to take all the Bs the listeners give out because they lost their show. Not an easy gig.
 
benloulen said:
I think you really need to give a lot of credit to Brooks. She has been left to carry this ship all by herself and most likely wont be the "new" morning show.
Click to expand...

I do. She is in tough spot; but you are correct: she is producing a good show and is a real class act.
 
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