I am proud to say I’m a Colorado native – although I hate it when people put that stupid sticker on their cars. I would much rather display “Warning…I accelerate to hit pedestrians!” I got into radio for one reason – free drinks at Mr. Lucky’s in Glendale. That used to be the best bar in town. Dance music upstairs, hard rock downstairs. It’s a memorable moment for an aspiring radio DJ when he hears for the first time: “Your money’s no good here!” Seriously though, it was my love for music that drove me into this business. I was always fascinated with performers, fans, recording engineers, promoters, and the record reps who pound the pavement, trying to get a station to play a new, unheard of band.
I was working part-time in radio here in Denver and I also had a band. One night we were playing at a dive on Capitol Hill called the Ratskellar. The board of health closed it down thankfully. We were performing in the basement and up above my drum kit was a large piece of bowed plywood. I asked the bartender what was up with the rotten wood? He told me to wait a couple hours. You see, that piece of plywood was nailed to the ceiling to prevent the beer leaking thru the floor from the upstairs tap. Around midnight I started getting a putrid hops and barley golden shower. That’s when I decided to give radio my full-time attention.
I love the music from the early 90’s. I thought the Seattle explosion was the best thing to happen to music since the Beatles invaded our shores so many years ago. I have to admit I also have a soft spot for Guns&Roses, Van Halen, and AC/DC. I also like some of the electronica artists like Fat Boy Slim, Future Sound of London, and BT. Those guys are major influences in my “Mash-Ups” which we feature Thursday mornings. My favorite local band is the Flobots. My favorite TV show is South Park. My uncle Don Yannacito teaches film at Colorado University and had Trey and Matt in his class, and also appeared in their student movie about Alfred Packer.
My wife and I were married at St. Catherine’s in North Denver. Our first date was at the St. Rocco’s Feast in the parking lot of the Potenza Lodge. Somebody in the Smaldone family bid $10 grand for the Virgin Mary Statue. You should have seen the party at Gaetanos.
The best part of working at 101.5FM Radio is the opportunity we have to play all this great new music coming out. It’s awesome working with Lynne and Chuck on the Morning Show – it almost makes up for the fact that I still qualify for food stamps.
