Radio Roots Revisited

It was surreal.  Truly surreal.  There I was, walking into the control room of a radio station...slightly envying the producer behind the board...stopping myself from blurting out "So what program do you guys use?  It doesn't look like Prophet nor any other program I've used before.  Do you have drops? What music do you use as filler?  Is it touch screen?"  Its felt like a lifetime since I've been in the studio of a radio station (save the quick visit to Colb in Ohio in November - what up Colby?!).  It was definitely a different experience though, because instead of the whiney baby rhymes of Nikki or Drake, there were opera like religious tunes playing in my headphones.  Yeah, you read that right LOL now let me start from the beginning.  Remember the wedding that I went to with Mama (where we killed the photo booth with our gangsta picture reel)?  Well, that day I was introduced to a woman who has her own afternoon program on a local Christian radio station.  My neighbor, knowing my background in Communications, made it a point to connect us stating "You never know what it could lead to!" and boy, was she right.

Annie, the radio woman, and I immediately connected!  She told me she started off as a secretary at the station and one day management recognized that she had a wonderful voice.  They especially loved her clear pronunciation.  She went on to give me a mini lesson in phonetics and diaphragm breathing (yes all in Spanish, yes in the middle of the wedding, and yes my life is a sitcom).  We exchanged numbers and she offered to tutor me on phonetics, pronunciation and anything else I may be interested in.  She also made a point to introduce me to her daughter who studied Television Production and seems to have interned or worked at just about every network this side of the island.

Annie in action

Before I knew it, Thursday had arrived and it was time for yet another cooking class...which happens to be steps from the radio station that Annie works at.  So, I gave her a call, and next thing I knew I was salivating at the sight of sound boards, microphones, and headphones.  It was a great feeling because I no longer have expectations or put ridiculous unnecessary stress on myself.  In the past, my immediate thoughts from the moment I entered the station would have been: What's my angle?  What am I trying to get out of this? Who do I need to talk to for a job around here? But as quickly as those thoughts came, I pushed them out.   Being there was enough of a blessing.  I am here to see what I've been placed here to do.  So, there was a calm over me, a peace that I really enjoyed relishing in.  By the end of the third talk break Annie was asking me to give her a few quick notes about me and my background.  By the fourth talk break she was signaling for me to have a seat and throw on some headphones.

Me tryna be slick with the camera phone LOL

Then, I got interviewed.  In Puerto Rico.  In Spanish.  I told my story.   In SPANISH.  Why I'm here, what I did before I got here, what being in Puerto Rico means to me, what the language means to me...which lead to what my grandmother means to me (which of course led to me crying for the first time in my life on air).  Was it perfect Spanish?  I'm almost positive it wasn't, but it didn't matter...it was AMAZING!  That was probably a bucket list item that I didn't even know I should have had until after I did it.  Once we got off the air she told me she could always use volunteers to help her with the phone.  I told her I had no problem with that and since I take that cooking class every Thursday we can designate Thursdays as our days together.  Then, she gave me a homework assignment.  I'm to practice the phonetic exercise she demonstrated the day of the wedding, I'm also to read the newspaper out loud daily and practice my diaphragm breathing...all in front of the mirror.  I assured her I would, took my 'homework' notes, and prepared to head out the door...then she dropped the bomb on me as she said "I sure hope you do practice because I'm going to have you do some reading on the air next week."  Pray for me!!!!!!

I had to try to get a shot of myself behind the mic again woo!

Megatron

Today, as I sat in a hot Puerto Rican house, making small talk with family members while watching "Maid in Manhattan", my Blackberry chimed.  The chime was a familiar one.  I have a new e-mail, I thought.  So, while everyone else was mesmerized by J-Lo's breathy line delivery, I checked my phone.

It was a forward and all that was written to me was "Crazy!".  I scrolled down only to see a link to a news article...and there it was: "DJ Megatron Shot and Killed In NY"

For a short time, quite a few years ago in Philadelphia, Megatron and I worked together at Radio One.  I hadn't spoken to Mega in years, but that made no difference when the news came that this young man, this father of three, was shot dead this morning in Staten Island.  Murdered and taken just like that.

All I can flash back to is Mega...always accommodating- always chill - always New York - always charismatic - always working - always offering advice - always humble...Mega.  I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that he's actually gone, so I can't even imagine what his family and close friends are going through.

As we journey through this life many of us strive to make a mark here, to feel like we accomplished something, like we mattered.  Corey McGriff mattered...and it had nothing to do with his resumé.  Whether you knew him for 5 minutes or 15 years, he made a lasting impression on you.   May you rest in peace Mega, your family is in my prayers...

To my radio family... I truly miss you all.  "The radio life" is like this club that we all belong to...like when we see each other its a mini reunion and a floodgate of memories just come back...all the ups and the downs...damn, its so hard to put into words.  That was a time in my life that I will never forget and so I'm thanking each and every one of you...from Bent to Colby, E. to Brother E., Rashida to Nia, Kit Kat to Sarah, Helen to Raph, Renny to Nelly, Drewdy to Will, Moshay to Michael Shawn, Laiya to Pooch to Monie...the list goes on and on....you each made a lasting memory, each played a part (whether big or small ) that helped to develop me into who I am today.  Unfortunately, sometimes it takes horrific events like this one to force us to stop and reflect.  Enjoy every moment, every breathe and every encounter...

Corey McGriff aka Megatron