Russ Martin
Russ Martin (born October 4, 1960) is an American radio personality in Dallas, Texas. Martin currently hosts the The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, Texas, which draws the highest ratings in its time slot. His approach to broadcasting is similar to that of shock jock Howard Stern, including the use of off-color humor and an on-air sidekick, J.D. Ryan, who reads the news.
Biography
Martin's radio career began in the 1980s at KGVL 1400AM in Greenville, Texas, working 6 Template:PM to midnight running the board for religious programs. A month later, his first on-air gig consisted of playing music for 30 minutes between shows.
In 1982 Martin was hired by KTLR 107.1FM in Terrell, Texas to play country music on weekends. A year later in 1983 he was hired by KAAM 1310AM in Dallas as a part-time weekend disc jockey. In 1986 Martin was hired for another part-time position by Satellite Music Network for an oldies format, and later worked part-time for Z-Rock while still working at KAAM and KAFM.
In 1987 Martin was hired for the 10 Template:PM - 2 [[{{{1}}}]] shift by top 40 station KEGL 97.1FM, "The Eagle", in Dallas. He hosted the television shows Hot TV and Hot Tickets which ran from 1988 to 1994 on the local FOX affiliate KDFW. Martin's fame in Dallas skyrocketed following The Howard Stern Radio Show being taken off the air by KEGL in 1997 when he was asked to fill the timeslot for the morning drive. He was able to push his "replacement" show to number one in the mornings, but never earned the respect of his managers. Eventually, Martin moved to do mornings at another Dallas radio station, KYNG 105.3FM, when they changed to an all talk format. He moved to his favorite time slot on afternoon drive after Stern's morning show was picked up by KYNG, and has remained there since. Following the success of his show, Martin has stated emphatically that he will never return to morning radio, no matter how much money a radio station may offer him. He shouldn't have to either, as he is now number one in all categories.
Known for his local charity work, Martin founded The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation in 2002 which benefits the families of police officers and firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty. He serves on the board of advisors at Operation Kindness, a no-kill animal shelter in Carrollton, Texas.
Martin is well-known for his fascination with the 1960s television show character Batman. He owns and drives two exact replicas of the Batmobile from the series and also has a replica Mach Five from the cartoon Speed Racer.
The Russ Martin Show
The Russ Martin Show airs weekdays from 3 Template:PM to 7 Template:PM on KLLI Live 105.3FM (formerly KYNG) throughout the Dallas metroplex and surrounding cities. At first listen, the show appears to simply consist of a couple guys swapping humorous stories and telling jokes while taking a few phone calls from listeners. People are often surprised to discover that much preparation goes into making the show sound as though it's off the cuff.
Double entendres are used skillfully by Martin when on the air to make seemingly innocuous subject matter instantly hilarious, with cast members heard snickering or breaking into hysterical laughter in the background. Easy-Bake Ovens, baking brownies and ballcocks are notable examples. Anecdotes usually revolve around the local Dallas community which helps foster the listeners love of the show.
Martin is notorious for writing and performing song parodies on the show with MIDI music and altered lyrics. He will take a classic song like Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks, convert the music to MIDI, and alter the lyrics to describe how cancer is eating away his colon (he does not have cancer). Martin rarely finishes a perfomance due to the laughter from the other cast members in the studio. He offended Dallas mayor Laura Miller with one such song and she refused to speak to him for months - a bad move on her part as Martin holds considerable sway over Dallas voters, many of whom are devoted listeners.
The show has a loyal, almost fanatical, following of listeners who communicate to Martin (either by calling the show or email) the comings and goings of other cast members and notable Dallas figures. For example, when J.D. Ryan goes on vacation, Martin will know his flight number and the hotel he is staying at before Ryan has a chance to tell anybody. The show is infamous for the pranks it pulls on program director Gavin Spittle. One amusing prank involved hiring a drywall contractor to "hide" Spittle's office behind a false wall and then film his reaction when he returned to work (Video).
In January 2006, Martin has started a drive to rename Garrett, Texas to Russ Martin, Texas. He claims the name change will "bring better roads, better street signs, better utilities and better tools for everyone". A website has been set up to collect petitions for the change.
Cast
- Russ Martin - Host
- J.D. Ryan - Co-Host
- Everett Newton - Rock & Roll Attorney (appears Wednesdays and Fridays)
- Rob Riddlemoser - Producer
- Dan O'Malley - Associate Producer
- Clo - Promotions Director
Former personalities who appeared as cast members or regular guests include former associate producer Eddie Boyd, former producer Dan Lewis, and porn star L.A. LaMann.
Quotes
"I didn't vote for Bill Clinton to slow down my computer." This quote was made during an August 1998 morning show on KEGL 97.1 FM, with reference to America's eagerness to read Kenneth Starr's report on the Monica Lewinsky scandal. After the report was released to the internet, the online traffic subsequently jammed cyberspace and created a major inconvenience for many.