Welcome to the self-serving part of the web-site.
I am a native of Cincinnati and grew up on the West
Side, in Bridgetown.
I became a radio announcer and producer because of many happy memories spent in the dramatic and music
productions of my high school, LaSalle. After cutting my radio teeth as a student announcer at Xavier University's
WVXU and as an intern at WEBN, I managed to get my first professional gig in 1987 as a part-time announcer and newswriter
at WRRM (Warm98) thanks to then-PD Tracy West. Months later, I returned to WVXU as full-time local host of the
NPR "Morning Edition" program, where I juggled as many as two radio broadcasts simultaneously along with many
other program elements. I kept my part-time job at Warm98, then worked as weekend newscaster "Mike Morgan"
on 700WLW, and then, finally, ended up at WWEZ. My part-time side jobs ended in 1990 when I married my wife, Sue.
Meanwhile, I spent close to 19-years at WVXU--the
first 11 of those as Morning Edition host. After the birth of our youngest, Gabe, in 1995 and a subsequent move
to Indiana, I decided the 3:30am alarm was too much and, thanks to WVXU "father" Dr. James C. King, I was given
the opportunity to work regular hours and oversee the station's nostalgia programming and documentaries. For this kindness I
will be eternally grateful because it turned me into a broadcast historian. WVXU and its six-station X-Star Network
were unceremoniously sold by Xavier for $15,000,000 in 2005 and the majority of the staff were scattered to the
radio winds. I landed briefly at WSCH in Lawrenceburg, IN, before reuniting with several other former WVXU'ers at 89.3
WMKV-FM. We're a small public radio station owned by Maple Knoll Retirement Communities and I am blessed for having
such a great radio home and employer. Somehow, I'm now in my 25th year of radio and still in love with the medium!
Along the way, I’ve done some other little things of interest…I was an adjunct professor
at Xavier, teaching “Broadcast Writing” for seven years. I love teaching. I
also have done my share of independent voice work for various companies (listed elsewhere on the web-site) and have written
a few pieces, including a lengthy history of Cincinnati’s Carew Tower for Queen City Heritage journal. A
book of historic photographs: Cincinnati Radio (Arcadia Press, 2011) is available at cincinnatiradiohistory.com.
I also have a few awards to display:
a New York Festivals medal, Ohio SPJ “Best Documentary-2008” and Ohio SPJ “Best Radio Producer-Ohio”
which I won in 2009, 2010 and 2011. There’s also a Communicator Award 2010 and 2011 and a several
other awards occupying shelves at home.
In 2001, I co-founded and am president of Media Heritage, Inc.
It’s a not-for-profit archive of Cincinnati’s radio and television history—an avocation that takes
up most of my personal time these days. I’ve conducted over 200 oral history interviews, have
made dozens of public appearances and speeches, and have taken up the responsibility of maintaining a history that not only
paved the way for my quarter-century career but also needs to be learned by the broadcasters of today and tomorrow.
Oh, and I rescued a pipe organ, am building a museum and am trying to raise money for a variety of projects, so watch
your wallet.
At home, Sue and I ride
herd over four super boys! We live on a farm in rural Southeastern Indiana (yes, I’m still
a West-Sider) and enjoy our dogs, ponds, woods and a home-made wine making operation.
I always love to talk but am a scatter
brain when it comes to returning email and voice mail promptly. Thanks for reading.
