Sandy Wells interviews Rudy Panucci

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Today's Gazette: Sandy Wells interviews Rudy Panucci about his experiences in Charleston....


One weekend, I was listening to a show on 96.1 about the lost Lennon tapes. They kept cutting off the end of the show by cramming in too many commercials. I called to complain. "The general manager said, 'If you think you can do it better, come and do it. Nobody wants to work that shift anyway.' Next thing I know, I'm working there.

"It was the most poorly managed workplace I've ever encountered. Because of that, I was able to advance. Disc jockeys were dropping left and right. I ended up working 100 days straight because I would have to cover if my relief didn't show up. I would work from 7 at night to 6 in the morning. I didn't mind. I would occasionally break the rules and drop in a song that didn't belong on the playlist.

"Out-of-town owners brought in a fellow who was sales manager of V100 and made him general manager of both stations. I told him I'd worked 100 days straight and would like a little reward. So I was promoted to assistant program director at the same salary.

"After a few months, I had more listeners on Saturday night than we had on our morning-drive show on weekdays. Management started fighting over who could take responsibility for it. Interoffice politics killed the show in May 1990. It was not the best parting.

"I always wanted to bring 'Radio Free Charleston' back somehow. After people who actually knew what they were doing bought up the radio stations, there was no chance to come in and have the creative anarchy I'd had to just run wild.

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201004180455