salemjedi54 said:
Im sure that Skip Cheatam is making over 100 large a year. Do you have proof that Willis Johnson is still an "hourly" employee after 30 years doing mornings?
No proof...that's why I said "probably" (as I know who owns the station!) I've seen how some black talent in this town and elsewhere has gotten screwed over the years because management realizes that the talent's quest to get a message out there and to put all that passion and emotion into words sometimes outweighs a talent's persistence to get the big bucks. Now that doesn't justify paying white talent more than black talent, but I think some of the black jocks and personalities have been taken advantage of, and, too, some of them sell themselves way short of their own abilities and impact, and look at on-air jobs as a PRIVILEGE and RESPONSIBILITY. Me, I'd gladly pay Cheatham and ESPECIALLY Willis Johnson what they're really worth. I don't know a lot about Cheatham, but Willis Johnson is the glue that holds KKDA-AM together, and has forged such an incredible bond with his listeners and community...but never get much recognition for it. I'm sure Bagby had a similar hold on his own listeners (which Willis has probably inherited now.)
(This is all opinion, so please don't read me the Riot Act if I come off sounding stereotypical...this is just how I see it.)
Just for my own info...how did the morning show progression happen at KKDA-AM? I know Joyner was there in 1974-75-76 or longer, but not sure when Willis Johnson came in. Joyner, of course, ended up at K-104 about 1980 (live and local--no fly-jocking yet) replacing Warren Epps in the mornings. (Before Epps, I believe it was Vern Catron doing AM drive at K-104, correct?)