Phil Manning

Episode 94: A tribute to Kerry Gray

97X, podcast

Kerry Gray was the program director at 97X in the late 80s/early 90s, and a radio “lifer.” He was a real live wire – super-energetic, enthusiastic, funny as heck… and also completely into the music. In fact, Kerry and Phil Manning teamed up to expand the back catalogue of the station, and they also launched the first ever “Modern Rock 500” in 1989.

In this episode, Julie Maxwell, Julie Maxwell, Jeff Rohrs, Mike Taylor and Steve Baker join Dave and Damian to share their remembrances, and the episode wraps up with some archival audio of Kerry and Brett Heartz on-air at 97X back in October of 1989.

Kerry also launched the radio career of “Bubba the Love Sponge” – whom Kerry met at a nightclub in Terre Haute, Indiana, then brought onto his show as an intern. In 2016, Kerry was on his way a new job as co-host of a syndicated morning show with Bubba in Florida when he was in a car accident. At the hospital, testing revealed multiple tumors on his brain… and Kerry battled brain cancer for a year before passing away in March of 2017 at the age of 50.

Very fitting that Kerry’s celebration of life was a dance party.

KERRY began his radio career at 15 and spent 30+ years in radio, which included WEQX/MANCHESTER, VT-ALBANY, NY, KBCO/DENVER, WEDG (103.3 THE EDGE)/BUFFALO, and CJXY (Y108)/HAMILTON, ON.  

KERRY had a larger-than-life personality and a really great heart. His presence made people around him want to be better. He was one of the sweetest and weirdest guys I ever knew.” — former WEDG Program Director James Kurdziel

Source

Kerry Gray, far left, tailgating for the Indy 500.

Dave Tellmann at left, with Kerry Gray and Bubba the Love Sponge (both leaning on car – Bubba in red jacket).

In the episode, we talk about Kerry’s car catching fire in the Oxford parking lot of 97X. Here’s the aftermath:

Brett Heartz and Kerry do their car show model impersonation.

Episode 92: Day in Eden or Day from Hell?

97X, Music, podcast

“Day in Eden 1993” was the first concert that 97X produced. Things did not go as planned. Goo Goo Doll meltdowns, tainted food trays, wrestling moves, copious amounts of cheap beer and cheaper smokes, folk music slam-dancing…

Former staffers Steve Baker, Phil Manning, Jae Forman, Rob Ervin, Steve Roemer, Joe Sampson and Aaron Borns share their memories of that ill-fated afternoon – and reveal a couple of secrets along the way.

97X staffers and volunteers… in the calm before the storm

“Day in Eden” was an event created by the Cincinnati Park Board, and held in late-Spring/early-Summer at Eden Park in Cincinnati. In an effort to broaden the appeal of the event, they ask 97X to book bands for 1993. The lineup was:

  • Wailing Souls (a Grammy-nominated reggae band)
  • Goo Goo Dolls (pre-meteoric “adult alternative” fame)
  • The Judybats (folk-inflected alt rock band from Knoxville, TN)

The temporary stage for that year’s show was set up near Mirror Lake in Eden Park.

Note the bare feet on Johny and Robbie
A slam-dancing favorite
Sharks don’t care if the meat and cheese are touching.

Episode 46: More Phun with Phil Manning

97X, Music, podcast

In this podcast episode, we continue our chat with Phil Manning, who joined 97X in the summer of 1988 and was with the station until December of 1994, spending most of those years in the program director role. This episode features stories about Bob Mould, Richard Thompson, comedian Chip Chinery, angry Goo Goo Dolls, Folgers coffee, fax machines, Hawaiian honeymoons and a great promo featuring Phil doing his Morrissey impersonation. And somehow we manage to squeeze in some serious thoughts from Phil about the things that made 97X so special. 

Phil’s in the front row, 2nd from left, at the infamous Day in Eden outdoor concert at Eden Park.

Episode 45: Phil Manning – Manning the Airwaves

97X, podcast

Phil Manning started at the very bottom of the totem pole at 97X shortly after he graduated from college in 1988. He began with a single weekend overnight shift but gradually worked his way up to program director, and had that role at 97X for nearly five years during the halcyon days of the early to mid 90s. Phil talks about how he got the gig, his interesting side jobs, his roommates, his “whopping” salary and how he became a “radio vagabond” in several major markets after departing 97X in 1994, including spending 10+ years at The End in Seattle and a stint at 91X in San Diego.

Phil at the mic at Bogart’s during the 10th Anniversary Concert (Barenaked Ladies, Royal Crescent Mob, Too Much Joy and Sleep Theater)
We’re pretty sure that’s Dave’s hand…
Phil and Dave with the B-52s “Cosmic Thing” disc… this must’ve been taken before Channel Z went on the air in Cincinnati.