Rowdy Yates boasts a long radio career, having held on-air positions at various stations across Texas and beyond. Notably, he spent 16 years as a drive-time host at 100.3 KILT in Houston.
Now, he's using his vast industry knowledge to interview his broadcasting friends in a new podcast to hear never-before-heard tales from the radio studio.
"I think in many ways, it was the first (and in many cases) only time that a popular personality in Houston radio could really get the opportunity to express appreciation to their fans, tell their side of how things were, share a bit of the business that not many people were really aware of, and selfishly, to see my friends and get the opportunity to visit with my Houston radio heroes," Yates told mikemcguff.com.
Yates' latest episode is with Cactus Jack, formerly the afternoon DJ on 93Q KKBQ, just a few months after his near-fatal heart attack.
Other episodes include famous names like Dan Gallo, Joe Ladd, Andy Waldrop, and more.
"A few of the 'tales from the street' with veteran Houston news anchor Robert B. McEntire were quite captivating," Yates said. "Tom Fontaine and I reminiscing (if you can call it that) over the CBS Radio coverage of Hurricane IKE was pretty entertaining. We actually are going to do a follow-up with a number of folks that were there during that time and in the studios at 24 Greenway during the storm. I'm looking forward to that."
Yates tells me Paul Christy will be one of the next episodes.
"I think people will enjoy this because it is unscripted, unvarnished, and reveals a side of their favorite media types like they have never heard," Yates told me. "There are no rules, no restrictions, and no frills. It is about as raw, real and revealing as it can be."
Yates' passion for radio began at a young age. In fact, his dad, the legendary Texas radio newsman Joe Holstead, was a respected Dallas-Fort Worth journalist for nearly 30 years at the likes of 820 WBAP and was a backup for ABC Radio's Paul Harvey.
His start in radio at age 15 in Denton led to a career at stations such as 95.7 KIKK Houston, 98.5 KVOO Tulsa, and 101.9 The Twister KTST.
He currently hosts "The Original Country Gold" and "The Rowdy Ride Home," nationally syndicated by SuiteRadio.
Yates is a recipient of numerous accolades, including three nominations for Disc Jockey of the Year, a 2013 Academy of Country Music Award win, and the distinction of being the youngest inductee into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
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