For what it's worth, here are 25 "fun facts" about Mike Martini:
1. Native Cincinnatian, grew up in Bridgetown and, yes, I'm related to ("that!") Martini!
2. Did play "Lil Abner" at LaSalle as well as parts in several other plays...and was a band geek, too. Go ahead, make fun.
3. Started at WVXU as a student afternoon jazz host in 1985. Not too many college stations around anymore for kids to learn the craft unfortunately.
4. Did an internship at WEBN 1985 & 86...got to drive Bo Wood's BMW to get it detailed once!
5. Landed my first professional gig after graduation in 1987. Tracy West hired me at Warm98 as afternoon news writer and weekend, late-night jock (kids, it's called "paying your dues" and I loved every minute!) when studios were on top floor of Textile Building overlooking Ohio River.
6. Founded "Goodspice Productions" with pal Jay Kuhn and dj'd hundreds of parties and receptions over the next 18-years. Yes, I hate the chicken dance and the hokey-pokey.
7. Came back to WVXU in October 1987 to become local host of Morning Edition--my first full-time gig! Got up at 4-am (and kept the weekend Warm98 job on the side) and did so for next 11-years, never once calling in sick, and working every holiday but Christmas! Great job...got to do some really interesting things which I can tell you about over a cold beer.
8. Left Warm98 after Tracy was fired in 1988 and was hired, as "Mike Morgan," to do PT weekend overnight news at WLW for Kathy Lehr. Was VERY FIRST announcer to broadcast from then-new WLW studios in Mt. Adams. Enjoyed "the Big One" but became physically exhausted doing the overnight xtra stuff.
9. Got a nice Sunday afternoon PT gig on WWEZ (McFarland Street downtown) and did that for a year before quitting to focus on WVXU job.
10. Married Sue in 1990...a very patient woman.
11. Graduated with a Masters degree in Education (English and Communications) from Xavier in 1992.
12. First of four awesome sons born in 1995--Gabe--followed by Tony, Theo and Dom.
13. Moved to Indiana in 1995, bought 70 acres, built a house and actually sank a 1952 Ford 8N tractor in the pond (true story) for which I gained some degree of notoriety among the locals.
14. Tired of falling asleep at the wheel, I reluctantly "retired" from Morning Edition in 1998. Station Director Dr. James C. King was generous to create a position at WVXU for me in charge of old radio documentaries and "Theatre of the Mind." Thanks, Doc!
15. 1999, started work on "the Nation's Station" documentary. Met and interviewed idols Barnouw, Corwin, Eddie Albert, Andy Williams, Earl Hamner and others. The project came out in 2002 and won some awards.
16. Founded non-profit Media Heritage along with Mark Magistrelli in 2001. It's my expensive hobby but hopefully we're preserving Cincinnati's rich radio and television history, which is very, very important to me. Everyone has their personal "mission" and this one is mine!
17. Adjunct professor at Xavier, 1998-2006, at Xavier University. Taught "Broadcast Writing" to some wonderful students. Also taught Communications briefly at IUPU-Columbus.
18. WVXU is sold in 2005 and by August of that year, we are unemployed. Greeks had an expression: "pantas rei" (things change) and it was a very emotional event in my life. We had a network of seven stations and was the most successful public station in the country....and it was all taken away for $15-mil. Sad.
19. Marty Pieratt lifted me out of the gutter and gave me a gig as morning newsguy and, later, afternoon country music jock, on his WSCH "Eagle" radio station in Lawrenceburg for which I'll be eternally grateful. Thanks, Marty.
20. Found full-time job with old 'VXU pals George Zahn and Bob Hanneken at WMKV (89.3 fm, wmkvfm.org) and we've managed to recreate, on a much smaller scale, some of the "best of old WVXU." Have a nice office, working with friends, and back having a blast again playing the "really" oldies as well as Fibber, Benny and Gildy. Thanks Maple Knoll!
21. 2006, with 20-years "in the can," I qualified for and was accepted into, membership into the prestigious Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters. A HUGE honor.
22. Won 2008 First Place, Best Documentary--Large Market Stations, Ohio SPJ for documentary on 1937 Flood and its impact on Cincinnati radio.
23. Won 2009 "Producer of the Year--Large Market," Ohio SPJ for Delta Queen documentary as well as 2nd place for Best Documentary.
24. Also 2009, became in-stadium "voice" for the Cincinnati Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium.
25. 2007-present, Sound Effects guru for New Edgecliff Theater, assisted UC students and Cincinnati Historical Society.
Also have articles published in "Queen City Heritage," "Fifty-Plus Magazine" and some poetry and stage scripts, so I still consider myself a writer at heart.
Drop me a line sometime at mmartini@radiocincy.com !
