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Straight From The Mouth
The Morning Mouth's July Interview with Big D & Bubba
(Reprinted by permission; Copyright © 2007 Talentmasters Inc.)

How did you go from Baton Rouge to 30+ stations later?

Bubba: We started in 1999 at WYNK/Baton Rouge. We had kinda built it up on our own before we got to Nashville. It's was around that time that Premiere picked us up.

Big Big D: I hope this doesn't come off pompous, but back in the beginning, we didn't have our own studio, so after we got off the air in the morning, we'd have the midday guy do his show from the production room so we could do our syndicated show from the main studio. Then we started talking with Clear Channel's Marc Chase and he said "Have you guys ever thought about moving to Nashville and doing this out of WSIX?" So we moved to Nashville and into our own studio. From there, we did our national show in the morning, then come back in the afternoon and do just a Nashville show.

Just for the record, how "Big" is Big D?

Big D: 6'3", 350.

And "D" is short for...

Big D: Dummy! No, Derek.

According to your bio, you started at a Christian station in Cookville, TN, at the age of 14?

Big D: Yes, at (goes into dee-jay liner voice) WATX, the Christian voice of the Cumberlands, AM 1590!

How did you get to and from work? Did your mom or dad have to drive you there?

Big D: Yes, my dad took me to my first interview. It was in a double-wide trailer with a gravel parking lot. So I walked in, met with a guy for about 3 minutes, and after he laughed at me that I wanted to get into radio he then asked, "Can you start Saturday?" My dad drove me, till I was 15, then I got my learner's permit.

Bubba, your bio says you jocked in Tokyo -- that's a long way from Houma?

Bubba: Yeah, I did some weekends for an American language station there. This was after a stay in Guam. After high school I kind of wanted to surf and figure out what I wanted to do. So I stayed there a couple of years, did radio there, and towards the end I worked out this deal to do weekends in Tokyo. It was pretty cool.

Let's talk about the show. For a syndicated country show, you're appear to be doing what others haven't -- succeed. Country has been a tough format to syndicate. How have you managed this?

Big D: Timing has a lot to do with it. Remember, back in the 50's,

syndication was the rule.

Bubba: You had all those preachers who would send you tapes to run on all those great stations - Including the 500,000 watt stations out of Mexico. Then they got into the whole 'gotta-be-local to win. And now, I think you're seeing a mix of this. But what people are so afraid of is "We can't get our birthdays on." "We can't get traffic or accidents on a bridge -- you guys can't talk about it." And that's a big misconception. With our show they get that. You can have the national content, but keep the local flavor. A good example of this was for our Texas stations when they had experienced a lot of local flooding. We were very heavy on the coverage.

Big D: In fact we were doing current, by the minute weather advisories, and we're able to do that within a few minutes of it being released.

And you're saying that only those stations in Texas would get these advisories?

Big D: Yes, and in each city. We've kind of worked out some proprietary things of the show where we can do that. And then in the next break we've got on Keith Urban talkin' about coming out of rehab. And again, this is a good mix of local and national content turning into good content.

Bubba: Look, there's a lot of local radio that's not compelling. Not because it's local, but because it's not good.

Is it fair to say those timely cut-aways and market visits have been the key to your success?

Big D: Yes. It got to the point where Bubba and I were travelling so much, I said "You know what? We've got to get our pilot's licenses." So the next day we we out for our licenses, which we have since gotten and now have our own plane. In fact, we're coming to Atlanta in it next week.

So, basically, you're spending 10-12 hours a day at work? Big D: Absolutely!

When do you ever find time to relax?

Bubba: Well, we have a few hours between shows. Sundays, we spend time at home, hit church, have fun with the kids.

Big D: We haven't played golf in years.

While you're doing all the updates, two shows, station liners, scheduling travel, etc., who's the person who helps you put it all together?

Bubba: Patrick Thomas, our producer. He's terrific. Please, don't take him away from us.

Best 3 morning shows you ever heard?

Big D: Ross (Brittain) & Gary (Bryan) Z100. Coyote McCloud & Rhett Walker (back when they were with Y107/Nashville. Also, you have to throw in Dees. I got started playin' The Rick Dees Countdown, I was completely sold on that guy.

If I owed my career to one person it would be...

Bubba: My dad. Everyone in radio had one of those moments where you just and he say "Son, don't do it. Stick with it." And to that I would say thanks dad.

Big D: For me, Bill Penn the guy who hired me at that double-wide trailer.

If Paris Hilton called into your show tomorrow the first question would be...

Big D: Do you really love Jesus? What do you think Bubba?

Bubba: I kinda like yours. I'd just keep it there. We could do a whole show on that.

If you hadn't done radio, what do you suppose you'd be doing today?

Big D: I'd be a charter pilot.

Bubba: I'd be a fireman.

If you became the President of radio for a day, what would you change first?

Big D: I'd get rid of all the whispering image guys. You know (in whispering voice) "This is Z ONE... da de da... I like growl! I'd hire Marc Driscoll everywhere.

Funniest thing you ever did on the radio?

Bubba: When we were trying to help out with the gas crisis, we had our producer go out in the back of the station with a jack-hammer and drill for oil. He actually hit a water-main and got us in a lot of trouble. Lot of theatre of the mind going on there, but it really happened.

Something you should have gotten fired for, but didn't?

Big D: We actively participate in getting into the minds of any competitor, even on a national scope. And we don't do it in an in-your face way.

Bubba: They don't even know it's happening.

Big D: It's very CIA'ish. We'll tell you more at Boot Camp.

Obviously, your career has taken off -- not to mention you have your own plane. Just for the record, what was the amount shown on your first radio paycheck?

Bubba: $750 a month divided by 2. I thought I was rolling! This was overnights and I ran the Dee's countdown on weekends.

Big D: My 1st paycheck was $48 -- (Jock voice) WATX Christian voice of the Cumberlands - AM 1590!

Most embarrassing moment on air?

Bubba: Back before we syndicated we had this local TV weather guy who did a prerecorded forecast. Anyway, he had a speech impediment and (in character) talks slikes dis - you know, like gangsta talk. So I would impersonate him, you know, not to make fun of him, but to like make fun of him. So one day I came on after his his piece and said "Hey shanks Scott, itch definitely hot in the capital shitty." Then I said, oh God, did I really say 'shitty" on the air. The phones went nuts. Some people called in and said "Hey, you're right, the weather is shitty!

Read previous Morning Mouth interviews.

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