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If I wrote the Orlando story, I couldn’t of imagined it would be as sweet as this. I’ve found that I’m blessed to have stumbled into this great career at WiLD 98.7, I’m goofy enough to keep a cranky, morning drive audience (somewhat) entertained, and I’m smart enough to hire the right people, to make WiLD truly the winning station it’s been. Without them, none if this would be possible.
I started radio in Tallahassee, where I worked and worked and worked, for great radio stations. In Top 40 radio, it was Hot 101.5, and WiLD 106. In Urban radio, it was 96.1 WHBX, and in Alternative radio, it was WXSR 101.5. July 1, 1998, I re-located, to Tampa, to join Josh & Brian with a new idea for radio. Once we bailed them out, and got them into the University of Hawaii, CBS Radio bought the station and the rest is history IN THE MAKING!
During an awesome time in radio, I’ve gotten the opportunity to flex my college, music muscle with artists such as Wyclef Jean, Jojo, Sarah McLachlan, Rascal Flatts, T-Pain, DJ Khaled, Plies and several others. Some by breaking their records, some by getting them signed to major deals and others by being counted as a strong supporter and friend. My musical interests are too vast to list, but I do idolize Notorious B.I.G., J. Moss, Donny Hathaway, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Phil Collins, Talib Kweli, India Arie, and Rascal Flatts. Other non-musical idols include Sammy Davis Jr., Muhammad Ali, Russell Simmons, Clive Davis, Calvin & Hobbes and my mentor Tom Rivers (dec.). I’ve been taught many different lessons either directly or by indirectly watching the lives of the fore mentioned. Any way you slice it, BE CLEAR, I’m damn lucky to be in this space.
Ride with me.
10 Questions with Orlando (www.allaccess.com)
NAME: Orlando
POSITION: PD/Morning Freak
STATION: WLLD (WiLD 98.7)
MARKET: TAMPA - ST. PETERSBURG
COMPANY: INFINITY BROADCASTING
BORN: GARY, IN
RAISED: CHICAGO, IL
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
'91 Intern-Weekends at WFHT/Tallahassee, '94 MD-Nights then Afternoons-PD at WXSR/Tallahassee, '96 MD-Afternoons then PD at WWLD/Tallahassee. '98 MD-Afternoons then PD/Mornings here at WLLD/TAMPA
1.. What got you into radio?
I got into this business, in '91, after being hired as a stripper at the WFHT/TALLAHASSEE, Business Mgr's bachelorette party. Once they saw that this 350 lb, college kid, had no problem shaking the manparts, they let me stay.
2. To date, any regrets in your radio career?
Hell yeah! Not getting any TV's, gift cards, hookers, sensual massages, or sports trips for playing them wack-ass records!
3. Do you ever see yourself coming off the air?
I can't see it, but the audience will let me know, quickly if it's time to go. I figure I can just mosey on down the hall. There's our Smooth Jazz and Oldies format here, so TAMPA ears can still hear me for awhile. The ear hair will just get more and more gray. Ewwwww, that's a sick visual!
4. Your team at WiLD 98.7 has changed very little. What do you think keeps them close?
Everyone at WiLD doesn't wanna work at a real radio station. It's better for this motley bunch, to be at a place that plays by a strange, back-alley set of rules. Plus we believe the next person, coming in, might be more jacked up then us, so we fight to keep each other's heads in the game. Sometimes we even come around to kicking each other in the goods! Great times.
5. TAMPA, has historically been a vigorously competitive market. Is this the most ferocious battle you've seen in TAMPA?
The ferocious times have gone, and those that fought that (BJ HARRIS, DR. DAVE, DOMINO, MASON DIXON) deserve praise for one of the best radio battles in the industry. It's real p*ssy now cuz everyone's "cliqued up" with five or six other stations, so there's no brawl. You ever tried to swing, at someone, in unison, with five other people? Not as effective as poppin' somebody, in the grill, on ya own...is it?
6. Are you having fun?
I'm happier than a crackhead with cash! There are A LOT of aspects of our lives that suck, internally and ex', but don't get it twisted. What we do is much nicer than pouring concrete, or running into burning buildings. We have fun while others have jobs.
7. You're a grizzled, veteran PD now. What advice would you give a newbie when they get their first PD job?
Two things! Hire people that are better than you and don't let it change you. The things that got you the opportunity, are the things that will make you special. However, the things that got you the opportunity are 180 degrees away from every person that you need approval from.
8. A freak gravitational shift has added three hours to everyday. What would you do with those extra three hours?
Add one more to sleep total, and the other two would go to on the streets. You learn a lot just by being around, away from a desktop or phone handset.
9. Where do you go to get away from it all?
I play Texas Hold 'Em, every two weeks, and I masturbate a lot!
10. If you were to leave Radio and music today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I would probably teach. I've always admired the relationship that cool teachers have with their students, and the effect that have on their futures. Plus, having control of that red pen? Whooo hooooo! Revenge bitches!!!!
Bonus Questions
In a couple sentences...what, if anything, is Radio missing right now?
Balls! Everything that made radio, RADIO, has been replaced with "...well, you know we can be sued", and "ROI" and "...let us tell you how you're gonna handle this issue" and "...what about the liability" and "HR is on line one!". We're all thieves now, cuz we steal fun every chance we get!
Sean Kingston 06.04.09
Jermaine Dupri 06.03.09
Dollicia Bryan 05.22.09
Dane Cook 05.15.09
Jadakiss 05.04.09
Simeon Rice 04.28.09
Ali Larter 04.22.09
Ahser Roth 04.20.09
Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy 04.09.09
Ralphie May 03.06.09
David Alan Grier 02.24.09
Tyler Perry 02.23.09
T.I. 02.11.09
Cindy Margolis 02.05.09
Keri Hilson 01.30.09
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May 09 Lightning Roud
Partying with Diddy
The Spot -- Kanye
Trop Boys – w/Acafool and Tom G.
No Air (Fight Night Remix) w/Navaho
I Put On (Bay to the Bottom rmx) w/Plies, 2 Pistols, DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, Acafool & Tom G.
WiLD Boys
Life In NY (North/South mix) w/ Wyclef, Cassidy, Shellz, Trini, & Papa Duc
Chevy Ridin High (Bay to the Bottom) w/Cool, Rick Ross, & Acafool
Overtime Verse
This is Why I'm Fat
Trendsetter
Winning Diss Against 97X Morning X