October 4, 2021
If you could have picked any other on-air personality name what would it have been, and what are your top jock names of all-time?
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Jana Sutter, WXXL: When I started in the business, I was Jordan (for Michael Jordan, I was in Carolina at the time), because there was already another jock in the market named Janda. When I left the market, I went back to my original name. Some classics would be Casey Kasem and Rick Dees. Rick Vaughn, KENZ: Willy Falcon! Favs: Harry Legg, Wolfman Jack.
R Dub! Z90/Magic 92.5: Don Keedick. I LOVE memorable and different names. Some favorites: Tino Cochino, Hamburger, Corndog, Skip Church and Geena The Filipina (these are real names!) Jonathan Shuford, WRVW: I don’t love pseudonyms personally, but once I had to use one and it was JJ McLovin. That name was not necessarily my choice, but it stuck with me for nine years. I actually had to move to get rid of the name. It’s been Jonathan ever since. I always thought the name Striker was cool, and I like Casey Kasem (a great on-air name).
Mike O’Donnell, WKRZ: It’s always been OD, have used it my entire career. Listeners would meet me and ask me if OD stood for “overdose,” and I would have to explain that it’s a nickname I’ve had since my high school days. I worked at a Rock station and the sports guy was named Jim Shorts, always got a kick out of that. We named a recent addition to the KRZ staff Chewy, he’s a big fun-loving guy and it’s working out great. Kevin Kash, WWEG/WIYY: I made up the name Rockin’ Bob Roberts when I was a teenager. His name goes great with puker voice. Todd Lyons, KATS: It’s a shame that the best on-air name was wasted on a pro basketball player – Magic Johnson. |
Toby Knapp, WASH: I’d have been something like Ricky Diggler… because when I was younger… well, I was younger and did dumb ass things at times. My favorite all-time jock name of all time is Dick Ring, who used to host mornings on the DOVE, WDUV-FM, a sleepy ultra-lite AC in Tampa Bay. He encouraged you to wake up with a D, er, a Ring in your EAR!
Josh Wolff, WAEB: I’ve always used my legal name and never had to give much thought to an alternate on-air name. One of my favs of all-time is Buck Naked. Big Rob, KSME: My first name was Rob Austin! Then I was Big Rob Austin then just dropped the last name and Big Rob on the Radio was born! I always loved the name Matthew Blades when he was in Denver. I toyed with the name Blades myself but it didn’t really feel good.. Uncle Nasty & Jack Mehoff always made me laugh as a kid. Gotta shout to the late Great, Mr. Please Please himself, Master Steve Cooper too.
Jammer, WEZB: Joey Meatballs, it just sounds South Philly. Cool names: Motormouth, Karema The Screama and Janet from Another Planet. Jeff Hurley, iHeartMedia: I love my air name (even though I’m not on-air anymore). I got it from a t-shirt in 2002 and never looked back. Chris P Bacon remains my favorite radio name of all time.
Mike McVay, McVay Media: I’m lucky to be able to use my own name, but when I was a kid and “played radio” in my parent’s attic, I used the name of an uncle of mine. Harry Jackson. I always thought that would be a good name. My favorite jock names have been Charlie Tuna, Machine Gun Kelly (the LA air talent), Jackson Armstrong, and another that’s real, John Records Landecker. “Records” truly is his middle name. |
Java Joel, WHBC: Early on when I had aspirations to be a hot-rockin’, flame throwin’ CHR night jock – I fancied calling myself “Doughboy“. But – didn’t work out that way. One of my favorite on-air names I ever heard was “Busta Nutt“- who followed me at 98PXY in Rochester NY. He’s now “Kobe On The Radio” at 94.1 The Zone in Rochester. Adam Rivers, WKCI: I’ve always like having my own name. Names I thought were cool, Busta Nutt and Kobe.
Mark Adams, KYLD/ KIOI: Top jocks names: Spyder Harrison, George McFly, Alan Cable, Hollywood Hamilton and Broadway Bill Lee. Bob Patrick, WXLK: Patrick Robert. Motormouth, Baba Booey and Tony 4-Tay. Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: I was never a fan of those goofy names, they always seemed contrived and too “Weenie and the Butt” for me. But a few were funny the first time I heard them like Skip Church, Wingnut and DJ Goofy White Kid.
Joey Brooks, WKSS: Rick Vaughn!
Rod Philips, iHeartMedia: Top names of all-time include Greaseman, Tony Fly, George McFly, Java Joel, Rick Dees, Michael Yo. |
Matt “MJ” Johnson, WPLW: Once upon a time, WNTQ in Syracuse had an afternoon/MD guy who went by Jimmy Olsen. He was from the market and knew thousands of people. His real name was Matt Johnson. So, Tommy Frank and Jason Kidd at WWHT named me Matt Johnson to piss him off. We got into it with them and they did a free gas giveaway and we showed up and their GM walked straight up to me (as I was wearing my Matt Johnson monogramed jacket), and asks me, “What’s your name son?” I said Matt Johnson. He responded, “That’s not your name, that’s Jimmy’s name! What’s your real name?” I’ve been MJ ever since. I think Kane is classic. Cubby is one of my favorite jocks of all-time so that makes the list, and Wolfman Jack screams good “party time” over the radio, which is obviously what he was.
Orlando Davis, WLLD: I’ve always liked being my name, except when trying to get a job, with 102Jamz/Orlando and Duff Lindsey said “Orlando IN Orlando is hard on the ears, ain’t it?” Almost was “Biggie.” Best names? Wolfman Jack, Hitman Haze, and Buzz Craven.
Fish, WKRZ: It would’ve been Flounder, but it was copyrighted at the time so I couldn’t use it. Atom Bomb was always one of my favorites, and you can never go wrong with Wolfman Jack. I’ll always like the Wolfman!
Valentine, WBHT: I borrowed my current name from the original Valentine in LA back in the late nineties. The name stuck ever since. Elvis is a classic. I always though Bubba The Love Sponge was interesting, and Human Numan was cool for him, but not me. Back when I first went the on the air when I was 17-years-old, my PD just gave me that name. He said, “You’re going on the air as Human Numan!” I ditched the name when I left.
Jagger, KCHZ: I became Jagger when I was in Salt Lake City at KZHT. They had an online contest when I first arrived, it was called, “Name the New Guy!” It ran for two weeks and during that period I was known as “The New Guy” on the air. Jagger won out and the winner received front row tickets to see Backstreet Boys. I’ve always loved JoJo from LA, and Hollywood Hamilton really grabs your attention. They were some of my idols. And you can’t go wrong with Elvis Duran!
Randi West, WRMF: Not sure I have anything I would have picked since someone else named me to begin with. Some of my favorite on air names were Pork Chop Jenkins, Cocktail Carly and Late-Night Larry. Classics!
Buster Satterfield, WIOQ: I use to go by Detroit when I was in Fresno. I always liked that being from the Motor City. I always liked Flyin’ Brian, George McFly, and of course the legend, Wolfman Jack.
Bartel, WKTU: I’ve always like my own names from Jughead to Jug E. Fresh to Steve Bartel. Best names: Janet From Another Planet and Human Newman.
Rich Davis, KDWB: When I finally got to do shows at WYCR in York/Hanover, PA, PD Davey Crockett named me Harley Davidson because there was a Harley plant in York. When I went to Allentown, I used my legal name (Rich Davis). I started in overnights and did middays and when Billy Surf left, I moved into nights and they wanted a hipper name for me so I became Joe Friday for a couple years. Then I went to Philly and went back to Rich Davis. Fav’s: I remember the jocks I loved like Pete Michaels (the Night Wolf), Davey Crockett of course, Greg Thunder stands out, and I have to mention Terry “Motormouth” Young.
Kobe, WZNE: Tone E Fly was always a favorite of mine. Also, I hate to vote for myself, but Busta Nutt was instantly recognized in the city, and was a great name while I used it. Credit to Mike Danger who named me.Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
What one piece of advice has guided you well throughout your career?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@deanemediasolutions.com or bburke@deanemediasolutions.com
