Michael Spears

[newsroom101]

Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers. Michael Spears passed away today after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by many on this board who had the opportunity to work with, and along side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his legion of friends in the radio industry.

 

[SirFreebie1975]

> Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers. Michael
> Spears passed away today after a lengthy and courageous
> battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by many on
> this board who had the opportunity to work with, and along
> side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his legion of
> friends in the radio industry.
>

May he Rest In Peace ..and my prayers are with his family

 

[dayone]

I discovered that Michael and I started at the same station (KAND-AM in Corsicana) as he was interviewing me for a weekend slot at KRLD in 1997. Michael helped me in many ways - both at KRLD and after I left... he will be missed.

 

[nuzguy]

> > Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers.
> Michael
> > Spears passed away today after a lengthy and courageous
> > battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by many
> on
> > this board who had the opportunity to work with, and along
>
> > side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his legion
> of
> > friends in the radio industry.
> >
>
> May he Rest In Peace ..and my prayers are with his family

It seems like only yesterday, the words in the radio speaker,
"Hal Martin and the Mighty 1190." Thank you, Michael, you've been a great part of the business. Your absence from the mic and management leaves a big void that won't soon be filled.
>

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

> > > Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers.
> > Michael
> > > Spears passed away today after a lengthy and courageous
> > > battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by many
>
> > on
> > > this board who had the opportunity to work with, and
> along
> >
> > > side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his
> legion
> > of
> > > friends in the radio industry.
> > >
> >
> > May he Rest In Peace ..and my prayers are with his family
>
>
> It seems like only yesterday, the words in the radio
> speaker,
> "Hal Martin and the Mighty 1190." Thank you, Michael,

It is sad. You either loved him or hated him,but you had to respect him for what he had accomplished in Dallas-FT.Worth. Another Mighty 1190 legend is gone. Cancer or Heart attacks seem to take a lot of lives in our industry. Do yourself a favor if you smoke..quit. If you drink,do so in moderation or quit altogether. Finally have a physical and follow the Doctor's advice. I know it sounds preachy,but frankly I am tired of reading the great ones in broadcasting pass away due to cancer or heart attacks. I want to see them live until they are hundred ,so they can teach and inspire a new generation of broadcasters. Michael touched many lives,and inspired others. I only wished he was with us longer to influence many more. My prayers are with him,his family,his close friends,and those who had worked along side of him.

 

[BrainDeadPrez]

> Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers. Michael
> Spears passed away today after a lengthy and courageous
> battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by many on
> this board who had the opportunity to work with, and along
> side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his legion of
> friends in the radio industry.
>

That is so sad. I remember him being in remission and everyone THOUGHT things were ok and the illness behind him. Saw him a few months back and didn't even recognize him. The cancer returned and hit him hard, prostate and then his spine at the end. Best I can tell, he was only 58 years old. But what a career and a long history of reinventing himself and being very successful in each 'incarnation' of himself...from a successful jock at KLIF, KFRC, CKLW and others, then to ownership, then in programming--bringing K104 to the top long ago, a position it still enjoys today. Then onto news at KRLD for 8 years, and concurrently owning a production company. Deepest condolences to his family, and also to his RADIO family...especially Jody Dean, Ken Dowe, and others who fought the battle alongside him as close friends.

Here's a nice piece on Michael I found on the web:

"Michael Spears is a broadcasting veteran. His career has included positions on the air and in management in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tampa. As a teenager, Spears worked at Gordon McLendon's legendary KLIF under the name Hal Martin, doing the night show while attending SMU. His night show's ratings were the highest in the history of the Dallas market, reaching at one point, nearly a 61 share of audience!

In 1969, Spears moved to Canada to work at Bill Drake's CKLW, near Detroit.

In 1972 McLendon chose Spears to launch Dallas' first live FM station KNUS. The station became #1 in 90 days!

In 1978 Spears and partners Bill Bungeroth and Paul Bilzerian purchased a small Florida AM station, WFSO and converted it to Tampa Bay's first 24-hour newstalk radio station WPLP. He gave Tedd Webb his first Talk radio job.

Michael returned to Dallas in 1982 to program K104-FM. The station became #1 in Dallas/Fort Worth, for the first time, under his leadership.

Spears is a 3 time winner of Billboard Magazine's "Station Of The Year" award, and also winner of "Program Director Of The Year" two times (once in Black radio). He is the only Anglo ever to achieve this honor.

He is an active member of East Dallas Christian Church and the Swiss Avenue Historic District where he has resided the past 15 years in a 1925 historic home. Michael is an ardent scuba diver and architecture enthusiast. Passions include Paris, San Francisco and Costa Rica."

 

[upndownthedial]

> I discovered that Michael and I started at the same station
> (KAND-AM in Corsicana) as he was interviewing me for a
> weekend slot at KRLD in 1997. Michael helped me in many
> ways - both at KRLD and after I left... he will be missed.
>
What a coincidence. I, too, started at KAND. Michael was always held up as a standard of excellence and he was one of the greats. My prayers are with his family

 

[rbrucecarter]

>> "Michael Spears is a broadcasting veteran. His career has
> included positions on the air and in management in Dallas,
> Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tampa. As a
> teenager, Spears worked at Gordon McLendon's legendary KLIF
> under the name Hal Martin, doing the night show while
> attending SMU. His night show's ratings were the highest in
> the history of the Dallas market, reaching at one point,
> nearly a 61 share of audience!

I remember listening to his show on KLIF in the late 60's from Midland, TX. 1190 made it out there with a weak signal - it took some doing to receive it day or night.

 

[dayone]

On Michael's site are some great photos and audio of him: http://www.michaelspears.com

 

[medill]

> > > > Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers.
> > > Michael
> > > > Spears passed away today after a lengthy and
> courageous
> > > > battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by
> many
> >
> > > on
> > > > this board who had the opportunity to work with, and
> > along
> > >
> > > > side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his
> > legion
> > > of
> > > > friends in the radio industry.
> > > >
> > >
> > > May he Rest In Peace ..and my prayers are with his
> family
> >
> >
> > It seems like only yesterday, the words in the radio
> > speaker,
> > "Hal Martin and the Mighty 1190." Thank you, Michael,
>
> It is sad. You either loved him or hated him,but you had to
> respect him for what he had accomplished in Dallas-FT.Worth.
> Another Mighty 1190 legend is gone. Cancer or Heart attacks
> seem to take a lot of lives in our industry. Do yourself a
> favor if you smoke..quit. If you drink,do so in moderation
> or quit altogether. Finally have a physical and follow the
> Doctor's advice. I know it sounds preachy,but frankly I am
> tired of reading the great ones in broadcasting pass away
> due to cancer or heart attacks. I want to see them live
> until they are hundred ,so they can teach and inspire a new
> generation of broadcasters. Michael touched many lives,and
> inspired others. I only wished he was with us longer to
> influence many more. My prayers are with him,his family,his
> close friends,and those who had worked along side of him.
>
I totally agree. There's another lesson to be learned. When I heard Michael was in hospice a couple of weeks ago, I knew I needed to get in touch with him soon. But business and vacation made me postpone that. Now, it's too late. (Except through prayer, if you believe in it).

Thanks, Michael! Glad I had a chance to know you.

 

[dean1]

I know Michael's family and close friends would wish to thank those of you here for your kind words and prayers.

Let me tell you the truth. When Michael and I worked together at KRLD, I often could barely stand him. I am also quite sure that it was all he could do to tolerate me. That had more to do with the fact that I was an insubordinate jerk than whether Michael's philosophy was correct or not. Now I am quite convinced that had he been allowed to install the ideas he had for that station, KRLD would have enjoyed remarkable success in these latter years. However, the corporate culture had changed - and creative individualist programmers were not as well recieved as they once had been.

Over the last few years, Michael and I became closer. That had far less to do with any change in my life than the changes being wrought in Michael's. He forgave and forgot, and showed great grace. That extended to his fight with cancer, which he approached with a positive attitude the likes of which I had never before encountered. I've seen people take on challenges such as Michael's, but never had I seen anyone take it on so well. He embraced the prospect of dying with regret, but in the same spirit of passion and verve with which he embraced the prospect of living. It was, in a word, one of the most inpsirational things I have ever seen. He was completely prepared for either eventuality. He was engaged to be married - yet a few weeks before he died, Michael also visited his mother's grave and told her to expect him soon. In the end, I can only say that he ran the race well, finished strong - and broke the tape with his arms raised in victory. We should all hope to do half as well.

As many lessons as I learned during the man's life, Michael Spears taught me far more by the manner of his death. He will be missed - but as Drew Pearson said upon the passing of Tom Landry, our friendship is not gone. It has only been transformed into something beautiful and new.

Jody

> > > > > Broadcasting has lost one of its great programmers.
> > > > Michael
> > > > > Spears passed away today after a lengthy and
> > courageous
> > > > > battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered by
> > many
> > >
> > > > on
> > > > > this board who had the opportunity to work with, and
>
> > > along
> > > >
> > > > > side of him. Prayers go out to his family from his
> > > legion
> > > > of
> > > > > friends in the radio industry.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > May he Rest In Peace ..and my prayers are with his
> > family
> > >
> > >
> > > It seems like only yesterday, the words in the radio
> > > speaker,
> > > "Hal Martin and the Mighty 1190." Thank you, Michael,
> >
> > It is sad. You either loved him or hated him,but you had
> to
> > respect him for what he had accomplished in
> Dallas-FT.Worth.
> > Another Mighty 1190 legend is gone. Cancer or Heart
> attacks
> > seem to take a lot of lives in our industry. Do yourself a
>
> > favor if you smoke..quit. If you drink,do so in moderation
>
> > or quit altogether. Finally have a physical and follow the
>
> > Doctor's advice. I know it sounds preachy,but frankly I am
>
> > tired of reading the great ones in broadcasting pass away
> > due to cancer or heart attacks. I want to see them live
> > until they are hundred ,so they can teach and inspire a
> new
> > generation of broadcasters. Michael touched many lives,and
>
> > inspired others. I only wished he was with us longer to
> > influence many more. My prayers are with him,his
> family,his
> > close friends,and those who had worked along side of him.
> >
> I totally agree. There's another lesson to be learned.
> When I heard Michael was in hospice a couple of weeks ago, I
> knew I needed to get in touch with him soon. But business
> and vacation made me postpone that. Now, it's too late.
> (Except through prayer, if you believe in it).
>
> Thanks, Michael! Glad I had a chance to know you.
>

 

[davideduardo]

>
> As many lessons as I learned during the man's life, Michael
> Spears taught me far more by the manner of his death. He
> will be missed - but as Drew Pearson said upon the passing
> of Tom Landry, our friendship is not gone. It has only been
> transformed into something beautiful and new.

I was with, among other folks, a former PD of KTXQ, a former PD of KZEW and KTXQ as well as the current PDs of several Dallas stations when we heard the news.

Michael Spears made a difference in radio in Dallas and in America.

 

[edwardrmurrow]

> I know Michael's family and close friends would wish to
> thank those of you here for your kind words and prayers.
>
> Let me tell you the truth. When Michael and I worked
> together at KRLD, I often could barely stand him. I am also
> quite sure that it was all he could do to tolerate me. That
> had more to do with the fact that I was an insubordinate
> jerk than whether Michael's philosophy was correct or not.
> Now I am quite convinced that had he been allowed to install
> the ideas he had for that station, KRLD would have enjoyed
> remarkable success in these latter years. However, the
> corporate culture had changed - and creative individualist
> programmers were not as well recieved as they once had been.
>
>
> Over the last few years, Michael and I became closer. That
> had far less to do with any change in my life than the
> changes being wrought in Michael's. He forgave and forgot,
> and showed great grace. That extended to his fight with
> cancer, which he approached with a positive attitude the
> likes of which I had never before encountered. I've seen



> people take on challenges such as Michael's, but never had I
> seen anyone take it on so well. He embraced the prospect of
> dying with regret, but in the same spirit of passion and
> verve with which he embraced the prospect of living. It was,
> in a word, one of the most inpsirational things I have ever
> seen. He was completely prepared for either eventuality. He
> was engaged to be married - yet a few weeks before he died,
> Michael also visited his mother's grave and told her to
> expect him soon. In the end, I can only say that he ran the
> race well, finished strong - and broke the tape with his
> arms raised in victory. We should all hope to do half as
> well.
>
> As many lessons as I learned during the man's life, Michael
> Spears taught me far more by the manner of his death. He
> will be missed - but as Drew Pearson said upon the passing
> of Tom Landry, our friendship is not gone. It has only been
> transformed into something beautiful and new.
>
> Jody


Jody,you are so right about Michael and his determination to make another station a great success once more,had he been allowed to. His death marks another era closing in broadcast history and another window closing for what was radio. The innovation,creativity and local content were what made him and other McClendon disciples broadcast legends. I mourn for him and I mourn for radio as well,for there will never be another like him,and there will never be a station that had that certain magic. He was tough and as you said hated at times,but he put the station,no matter where he was at,first, and thats all that mattered once you think about it. Notice I said 'THE "station, not multi stations,that have become a virus of the last few years alone. Micheal Spears, another broadcaster,who indeed was a broadcaster in ever sense of the word, gone. We were blessed.

 

[Davradio]

I have been away from the board for the last few days, and only today heard about the passing of Michael Spears. I have said before that we have crossed paths on different levels, but always with the idea of that I was learning from one of the very best in the business.

There are times, and I am sure that I speak for some-- that we dont' always agree with the Program Directors or the General Manager, and at one time or another we think We can do it better than THEY!

I am here to tell you, with Michael, we might have thought all of that, but the end product, and results were all his!

This world, will miss the likes of Michaels Spears, as he has missed the likes of other before him. This business, we call radio, will never be the same.. The changes, the coroorations, and such, we will never go back to the way it once was.

For all of that, I am grateful that someone like Michaels Spears came here, taught, and excelled in his world.

For those of you that were his friend, my deepest sympathy to you, and for those of us that were able to work with him or for him, we will always have a piece of him with us, wherever we go!

Just a thought!
> >
> > As many lessons as I learned during the man's life,
> Michael
> > Spears taught me far more by the manner of his death. He
> > will be missed - but as Drew Pearson said upon the passing
>
> > of Tom Landry, our friendship is not gone. It has only
> been
> > transformed into something beautiful and new.
>
> I was with, among other folks, a former PD of KTXQ, a former
> PD of KZEW and KTXQ as well as the current PDs of several
> Dallas stations when we heard the news.
>
> Michael Spears made a difference in radio in Dallas and in
> America.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Dave Michaels
Davradio Productions
Dallas, Texas</P>