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Today's Grand Rapids Press has the details...
Kevin Matthews' voice to return to GR airwaves
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
By John Sinkevics
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Kev-Heads, rejoice. He's back.
Kevin Matthews, whose hilarious on-air antics delighted Grand Rapids radio listeners in the early 1980s before he left West Michigan to take Chicago radio by storm, returns to WLAV-FM (96.9) next week as the station's morning show host and as a Citadel Broadcasting executive.
Matthews, 49, returns to West Michigan's air waves at 5:30 a.m. Monday, with WLAV's current morning personality and longtime pal Tony Gates moving to the classic rock station's midday slot.
"This is where it all started and just to get the opportunity to come back home," Matthews said in explaining his move from the Windy City. "My number one goal was to work with the best people from here on out."
That means reuniting with Gates and morning show sidekick Ed "Uncle Buck" Buchanan, who both helped Matthews break into Grand Rapids radio more than 25 years ago.
"Tony and I are going to do all kinds of stuff," gushed Matthews, creator of memorable on-air characters such as Jim Shorts, who is expected to return to Grand Rapids, too. "Tony knows what comes out of this trick bag. I'm humbled to be taking over for Tony, but it's really good to be back here.
"I can't wait. This is like Motley Crue getting back together."
Gates, who also serves as Citadel's vice president for brand development in Michigan, called Matthews "by far, one of the most talented individuals I've ever met."
Matt Hanlon, regional president for Citadel, also named Matthews director of station development for all 23 Michigan stations owned by the broadcasting company, meaning he will assist with station programming.
Hanlon and Gates said they have spent a year trying to bring Matthews back to Grand Rapids from Chicago, where he worked on popular shows for stations such as WLUP-AM/FM (The Loop), WZZN-FM and WCKG-FM. Matthews said he left WCKG in April.
"I quit on April Fool's Day, which is a good day to quit because people think it's a (comedy) bit," he said.
Matthews signed a five-year contract with Citadel, although Hanlon declined to discuss details or a salary. Hanlon said the Matthews-Gates one-two punch should further enhance WLAV's reputation.
"Tony Gates brought it up a few years ago and said it could be the biggest thing to happen in radio entertainment in West Michigan," said Hanlon, speculating that Matthews' fresh, funny approach will appeal to young audiences, older classic-rock listeners and dedicated Kev-Heads, who have kept up with Matthews over the years.
"Will it (Matthews' show) be more popular? It doesn't matter. We've got them both ... . It strengthens our brand."
The midday show with Wally Londo, aka Brent Alberts, will move to evenings, 7 p.m. to midnight, Hanlon said.
Kevin Matthews' voice to return to GR airwaves
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
By John Sinkevics
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Kev-Heads, rejoice. He's back.
Kevin Matthews, whose hilarious on-air antics delighted Grand Rapids radio listeners in the early 1980s before he left West Michigan to take Chicago radio by storm, returns to WLAV-FM (96.9) next week as the station's morning show host and as a Citadel Broadcasting executive.
Matthews, 49, returns to West Michigan's air waves at 5:30 a.m. Monday, with WLAV's current morning personality and longtime pal Tony Gates moving to the classic rock station's midday slot.
"This is where it all started and just to get the opportunity to come back home," Matthews said in explaining his move from the Windy City. "My number one goal was to work with the best people from here on out."
That means reuniting with Gates and morning show sidekick Ed "Uncle Buck" Buchanan, who both helped Matthews break into Grand Rapids radio more than 25 years ago.
"Tony and I are going to do all kinds of stuff," gushed Matthews, creator of memorable on-air characters such as Jim Shorts, who is expected to return to Grand Rapids, too. "Tony knows what comes out of this trick bag. I'm humbled to be taking over for Tony, but it's really good to be back here.
"I can't wait. This is like Motley Crue getting back together."
Gates, who also serves as Citadel's vice president for brand development in Michigan, called Matthews "by far, one of the most talented individuals I've ever met."
Matt Hanlon, regional president for Citadel, also named Matthews director of station development for all 23 Michigan stations owned by the broadcasting company, meaning he will assist with station programming.
Hanlon and Gates said they have spent a year trying to bring Matthews back to Grand Rapids from Chicago, where he worked on popular shows for stations such as WLUP-AM/FM (The Loop), WZZN-FM and WCKG-FM. Matthews said he left WCKG in April.
"I quit on April Fool's Day, which is a good day to quit because people think it's a (comedy) bit," he said.
Matthews signed a five-year contract with Citadel, although Hanlon declined to discuss details or a salary. Hanlon said the Matthews-Gates one-two punch should further enhance WLAV's reputation.
"Tony Gates brought it up a few years ago and said it could be the biggest thing to happen in radio entertainment in West Michigan," said Hanlon, speculating that Matthews' fresh, funny approach will appeal to young audiences, older classic-rock listeners and dedicated Kev-Heads, who have kept up with Matthews over the years.
"Will it (Matthews' show) be more popular? It doesn't matter. We've got them both ... . It strengthens our brand."
The midday show with Wally Londo, aka Brent Alberts, will move to evenings, 7 p.m. to midnight, Hanlon said.