Radio Ones goes syndicated with morning show
By Kenya Vaughn Of the St. Louis American
“Back in March when we decided to blow off our morning show – which is exactly what we did – you have to believe me when I say that we had no idea that it would take us six months to come up with a new one,” said Mark Douglass, general manager for Hot 104.1 FM.
“And candidly, we didn’t think that we would wind up with a morning show of the magnitude of Rickey Smiley and Deez Nuts.”
Last Monday, Smiley and Deez Nuts (Ebony, Sista Sondra, Gary, Headkrack, Gary With The T and Rock T) made their syndication debut here in St. Louis. The Radio One team put the crew to work as they canvassed their new market with meet-and-greets.
The kick-off activities culminated with a luncheon that included elected officials and other dignitaries in the St. Louis and Metro East community including East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. and St. Louis License Collector Mike McMillan.
“I believe that the radio station is the cornerstone of the community,” Smiley said. “I grew up in the ‘70s when radio was real.”
Smiley talked about the efforts of his show in Dallas and how he has initiated efforts to get listeners active in issues that impact their lives.
“We really get into politics, we really get into the community we’re not just all laughs,” Smiley said.
His Dallas show has a live mayoral debate, giveaways to the elderly, single mothers and father-son outings – even raising $20,000 that resulted in solving two murders.
“This ain’t about just laughing, telling jokes and hee-hee and haw-hawing every morning,” Smiley said.
Smiley is a household name for those who have been following the black comedy scene for the past decade or so, most memorably for his stint as host of BET’s Comicview back in 2000.
“Steve Harvey was retiring in Dallas and called me and said, ‘Hey, man, I’m ready to resign and I need you to come to Dallas,’” Smiley recalled how he got his break in radio.
That was in 2004. Smiley took serious advantage of the hookup provided by his fellow comedian and frat brother (Omega Psi Phi). Two weeks after the proposal he hit the airwaves, and the show quickly grew to become Dallas’ top-rated morning show.
Three years later, Harvey has the nation’s number one syndicated urban morning show, and Smiley is his newest competition in the St. Louis market.
Smiley was eager to discuss his St. Louis connection, which came by way of grinding the comedy club scene.
“Coming to St. Louis is like a homecoming for me,” Smiley said. “I started my standup comedy career right here in St. Louis. I would drive up from Birmingham and perform at a nightclub called Mannies.”
Smiley talked of sharing the stage with local comic Darius Bradford on tour as they opened for Cedric The Entertainer.
“I’ve been eating at Sweetie Pies for the past five or six years,” Smiley said, laughing.
The Rickey Smiley and Deez Nuts Radio Show airs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Radio One’s Hot 104.1 FM. For more information visit www.whhlhot1041.com.
