“I was stunned, thrilled when I got the call from Toby Keith. Mike, you have been elected to the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame.”
That’s what veteran Q104 morning show host Mike Kennedy told me Wednesday about how happy he was over this rare honor.
Only four deejays nationally were elected this year and our guy was one of them.
Kennedy was attending the Country Radio Convention in Nashville last week when it all went down. He told me he had no clue he was going to be inducted. But he sure has earned the honor.
Kennedy is one of those rare radio personalities today that enjoys more than two decades of both on the air success as well as being an executive in a very tough industry.
Mike is from Emporia, Kansas where he began his radio career in the 1970’s as a just kid.
“I’d only been in fast food and clean up before radio and stayed in this biz ever since.”
Kennedy told me former 61 Country legend Ted Cramer is also in the Hall of Fame. Cramer is with Q104 sister station KFKF FM today. Kennedy began his career with Q104 in 1991 as a program director working over legendary radio bad boy Randy Miller.
At that time Miller and Johnny Dare ruled the airwaves in KC.
When Randy left Mike took his spot as anchor of the morning show. Q104 had been a top 40 station but had gone to a young country format in 1993.
And whereas Dare has all the big name comics and rock stars on his show, Kennedy has the top country stars and comics on Q104.
Kennedy is close with several artists that he’s worked with over the last 20 years. Names like Toby, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Maria Lambert and Jewel.
I’m on his show on Fridays and have met several of these stars especially Jewel who comes on his show several times a year when she’s out doing concerts.
Clearly Dare and Kennedy are the two big guns in Kansas City radio today.
Kennedy is also program director for his station. Mike’s wife Nycki Pace works at Entercom on The Point 99.7 FM with Kelly Urich.
But it’s Q104 that does the huge Thursday nights at Power & Light District with country bands all summer headed up by Mike and his staff.
Mike’s pride and joy is his little dog Niles who is often by Kennedy’s side in the mornings when the show is rolling.
I’m the only one the dog has bitten the time I tried to pet him. Go figure.
Congratulations to Mike. Great honor.
Glazer, what is your involement with the Monk Brothers?
I heard they have their hands in all the crime in Eastern Jackson County.
No clue don’t know them. Hey if I did would I admit it? Hah, kidding.
Don’t worry. If their show makes any sort of splash at all (highly doubtful), Glazier will be sure to glob onto them.
Hater no clue WTF you mean or are talking about. What shows? Huh. Learn to read. We are full up on crazy here so find another hole to fall in. PS learn to spell.
Google it old man. Or check your TV Guide if that’s more comfortable for you.
You mean the ‘old man’ who could boot your ass, has hoter chicks than you ever did and banged your mom back in the day..she was a Monday hit. That what you mean.
They’re all informants for the prosecution.
congrats mike….
you deserved this!!!!!!!!!
The most interesting thing here is a story about a local guy getting a nice award, hall of fame, and haters try and get something evil about me out of it. Where do these guys come from? Just gutter rats I guess.
Niles has never bitten me so just shows he knows good people when he meets them.
But Dares dog did bite Kelly, but I think he smelled Kellys dog and reacted to that. Kelly is a great guy, huge animal lover and very good friend, so wasn’t because he isn’t a good person.