The new Chilly Bill Smith morning show was supposed to debut Monday morning this week on KTSU, but thanks to our arctic blast, the station's Facebook page says the show is expected to officially start Thursday, February 19, 2021.
Smith, who also attended TSU, previously worked for Majic 102.1 from 1986 to 2012 according to his LinkedIn. He joined KTSU in 2018 to host Mid-Day Grooves which aired Saturday’s from 10am to 2pm.
“The Yolanda Adams Morning Show" started airing on KTSU in September 2019. Both Adams and Wiley are TSU alumni.
Adam's syndicated morning show launched in March 2007 and was the first daily gospel show to be nationally syndicated, reaching 38 stations across the United States. The show originated from Radio One Houston's Praise 92.1KROI and then later a Majic 102 HD sub-channel.
The show's syndication was cancelled in 2016, replaced with "Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell." From there, Adams and Wiley moved the show to Amazing 102.5 Houston. Then it was moved to KTSU.
The Yolanda Adams Morning Show is now being heard on Philly’s Favor 100.7 FM W264BH-FM & 99.5 WJBR-HD3 in Philadelphia as of February 8, 2021.
“Philly has been so loyal and so good to us, even when we went digital," Adams told the The Philadelphia Tribune. "We had lots of Philly numbers. No matter where we broadcasted from, we’ve never changed the format. We are still high energy, we’re still based on faith, family, friends and fun. Lots of fun. It’s very informative because sometimes you know in the morning, people have either slept through the news or didn’t get the right type of slant on the news, catered to them.”
KODA-FM SUNNY 99.1, Houston's Official At-Work Station, announced today that Jay Rodriguez will join the station as its new Morning Show Co-Host, beginning, Monday, April 22, 2013. Rodriguez will join Dana Tyson weekdays from 5am-9am. CT.
Rodriguez was previously the Executive Producer for the Yolanda Adams Morning Show, the nationally syndicated show that serves 50 affiliates across the country. He has been recognized by the radio industry and is a two-time winner of The Stellar Award for “Morning Show of the Year.”
“My first job in radio was working in the promotions department at SUNNY 20 years ago – I feel like I’m coming back home,” said Rodriguez. “I'm excited to join Dana weekday mornings and get to know our listeners in Houston.”
“Jay is going to bring a fresh new perspective to the SUNNY morning show,” said Marc Sherman, Vice President of Programming, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. “He knows how to connect with our audience, he’s funny and he has a heart. No question, our audience will really enjoy his addition to the morning show.”
(This post was from a press release sent to me by Clear Channel Houston)
As good as people think I am at tracking Texas media job moves, my image is better than reality. Don't expect that I see every Twitter or Facebook post about your new job. Don't get mad at me, contact me below to make sure I don't miss your big career move!
- Contact here for job changes
- Looking for TX TV jobs?
It appears the "Dana & Jay in the Morning" on top-rated SUNNY 99.1 KODA Houston is now the "Dana Tyson in the Morning" minus Jay Rodriguez.
A listener noted the changes and asked me last week. I emailed two press contacts for IHeartMedia Houston and never heard back. An email to Rodriguez came back with the message "Please be advised your email did not reach its intended recipient."
The SUNNY 99.1 website appears to be in transition between the new show names as you will encounter both as you browse around.
The two-time winner of The Stellar Award for "Morning Show of the Year" was previously the executive producer for the then Houston-based nationally syndicated "Yolanda Adams Morning Show."
"My first job in radio was working in the promotions department at SUNNY 20 years ago – I feel like I’m coming back home," Rodriguez said in a release in 2013 at the time of his hiring. "I'm excited to join Dana weekday mornings and get to know our listeners in Houston."
According to his old bio, Rodriguez's first job ever was as a DJ at Bear Creek Roller Rink.
As for Dana Tyson, she is a Houston radio icon, who has been on-air mornings with SUNNY 99.1 since 1991 when she started with Weaver Morrow. Tyson also has a podcast and is very involved in the Houston community.
UPDATE RadioInsight.com reports Sunny 99.1 afternoon DJ Rick Lovett is no longer voice tracking his shift. Chris Davis of WNCI Columbus takes over the timeslot.
No doubt the fortunes of the News 92 FM KROI staff has dramatically improved this week.
After launching in November 2011, the station's staff has worked in tight quarters. From a mail room converted into a newsroom, to an on air studio that was really a small production room for Radio One sister stations 97.9 The Box KBXX and Majic 102.1 KMJQ, the staff either knows each other really well or just plain knows too much.
That's all changed with the completion of a more than $900,000 expansion project that adds a brand new studio, newsroom, offices, green room and more. Five new news vehicles have been bought to boot. The new digs went online Wednesday morning in time for J.P. Pritchard and Lana Hughes' morning show.
Doug Abernethy, Regional Vice President of the Radio One clusters in Houston, Detroit and Indianapolis (he works from Houston), says this is one of the most challenging projects he's ever tackled in his long radio career.
"We had one shot to get it right and did not spare any expense," Abernethy told mikemcguff.com in his Greenway Plaza office. "We didn't want to be handicapped by lack of capital."
He says luck came his way as the tenant next to Radio One moved out as the radio company was planning to launch the new format. Otherwise, the station would have been offsite.
Commitment is one word Abernethy said over and over to me while giving me a tour of the FM news station's upgraded work space. This especially after other FM news stations that launched around the country during the same time period as KROI's flip, have already reverted back to music formats.
"Our vital signs are very good," Abernethy told me. "We knew it would be slow growth, but we are seeing good signs."
Abernethy says the biggest challenge is getting the News 92 FM name out to Houston. In his experience, getting buzz after launching a new music format has been easier. But he adds, once people find News 92 FM on the dial, "they love us." He says the time they spend listening has been very good.
The first and only Radio One news formatted station is currently ranked in the 20th plus range ratings wise according to Arbitron's 12+ numbers. A far cry from Radio One's other stations (KBXX and KMJQ) which are usually ranked in the top three group (battling with Clear Channel's KODA). But there is hope.
Radio-Info reports today that Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins says KROI's ratings are around a one share and is, "starting to increase its revenue quite nicely."
Abernethy is excited the ad rates for the news format are higher than what the sales department could charge for the former Praise 92 gospel format. The gospel format was cannibalizing ratings for Radio One's top rated Majic 102.1 KMJQ according to Abernethy, one reason it was flipped to a new format. Some of the gospel tunes have since shifted to Majic 102's playlist.
The company moved the gospel music online and to its HD sub channel. The Yolanda Adams Morning Show is still broadcast from Houston. Abernethy adds most of the Praise employees were moved to jobs at the company's other stations.
Not only is there an increase in revenue, but there is also an increase in resources and not just with the new facility. Reporter Steve Ottesen has joined the station from the NewsFix KIAH 39 newsroom (Ottesen also formerly anchored KNWS channel 51). Abernethy says traffic anchor Lanny Griffith will also be doing more general reporting as will sports anchor Jorge Vargas. He says the station is ready for long hurricane coverage too.
Naturally being a news station, people like to say KROI is in a radio war with Clear Channel's heritage station 740 KTRH (I've had posts about this in the past). However, Abernethy is not of the same thought. He says there was a clear opening in the Houston radio market for an all news format.
"KTRH is a powerhouse in the ratings and revenue arena, they do political talk better than anyone," Abernethy said. "People try to pin us against KTRH, but we don't want to limit taking from their audience. We want all the Houston stations' listeners."
And for any criticisms of KROI's FM signal, Abernethy simply told me, "it sounds better than AM."
Radio One is jumping into the 24 hour news radio business for the first time anywhere, right here in Houston. Just announced today, the owner of 97.9 The Box KBXX and Magic 102 KMJQ, is flipping Praise 92.1 KROI to News 92 FM on November 14. This after 740 KTRH abandoned the News Radio slogan and fired longtime morning anchors J.P. Pritchard and Lana Hughes. Well now Pritchard and Hughes will reunite at the new station with a ton of other famous Houston broadcasting names (see below).
I've been alluding to an FM news station coming to Houston over the last few weeks. Rumors were flying, but no one was talking about it until now. Here is the official Radio One release about KROI:
Radio One Regional Vice-President Doug Abernethy announced today that KROI-FM/Houston (92.1 FM) will begin its programming as a full service news station the week of November 14, 2011. Using the on air moniker "News 92 FM," this 24 hour news and information station will be fortified by the world wide resources of ABC News Radio and Associated Press Platinum and will be populated with the voices of some of Houston's most well known and award-winning radio and television personalities.
The morning news will be anchored by Texas Radio Hall of Fame honorees J.P. Pritchard and Lana Hughes, who served the Houston market as a broadcast duo for over 27 years. Additional duties throughout the day will be handled by other local notables including (listed alphabetically) Mike Barajas (formerly of Fox 26 KRIV), Scott Braddock (formerly of 740 KTRH, 1080 KLRD), Carolyn Campbell (KHOU 11), Kevin Charles (Metro Networks,700 KSEV), Brent Clanton (formerly of 650 KIKK, 700 KSEV), Lanny Griffith (formerly of 101 KLOL, 94.5 KTBZ, Fox 26 KRIV), Laurie Kendrick (740 KTRH, 101 KLOL, 97.5 KFNC) , Martha Martinez (101 KLOL), Bonnie Petrie (740 KTRH, 1080 KRLD), Matt Sampsell Fox 26 KRIV, KIAH 39), Pattie Shieh (Fox 26 KRIV), Meteorologist Dr. Joe Sobel, Craig Roberts (KPRC 2, 101 KLOL, 55 KTBU), and Jorge Vargas (KIAH 39).
"Our review of Houston's broadcast landscape told us that those listeners interested in local news as well as national news were being poorly served," says Abernethy, "so we decided to make a commitment to delivering the news in a dependable fashion. People want to hear about news as it happens, and they shouldn't have to wait until their radio station 'catches up'. We'll deliver the news as it unfolds."
Ed Shane, founder and president of the Houston-based Shane Media Services, is serving as Project Manager on the format flip from gospel music to all news and predicts that Houstonians will find much to like about News 92 FM.
"We're going to give people the facts without the biased opinions that dominate so-called news stations," offers Shane. "We've assembled an A-list of broadcast journalists whose mission is to report the news and let people make up their own minds."
Shane says that the programming team, led by veteran news director Denise Bishop, will deliver an appealing blend of local, regional and national news along with topical information and the traffic and weather updates that are essential to Houston listeners.
Barry Mayo, President of the radio division for Radio One agrees. "The change that we announced today is a ground-breaking and necessary addition to the choices available to the residents of the Houston metro area," said Mayo. "The ability to realize a need and then take the appropriate action to satisfy it is what has sustained the popularity of our Houston radio stations."
The station will broadcast from recently expanded studios in the Radio One broadcast center that currently houses market leaders Majic 102 (KMJQ-FM) and 97.9 The Box (KBXX-FM). KROI-FM's current programming, Praise 92.1 will moved to Majic 102's HD channel and will stream online at www.PraiseHouston.com.
Praise 92.1 is home to the syndicated Yolanda Adams Morning Show, but I assume Adams will just keep broadcasting across the nation from the Radio One Houston studios (assuming she still broadcasts the show from here).
Male Houston radio host opens up about breast reduction surgery
When you think about breast reduction surgery, you probably think of women.However, more and more men are going under the knife to correct what is considered to be an embarrassing problem.As Co-Host and Executive Producer of the Roula & Ryan Show in 104.1 KRBE-FM, Eric Rowe has shared his life with millions of listeners.
CSN Houston and Jim Crane's Long, Strange Trip to Nowhere
No sports fan in Houston really cares why the Rockets and Astros still aren't on TV. They don't care about the money behind the deals, the accusations of fraud, the back-room negotiations, per-subscriber rates, the posturing and the lawsuits. The only thing that they want is for their teams to be on television, and not just on a single provider.
Mark Adams Named VP/Programming At Clear Channel Portland
MARK ADAMS, who exited the VP/Programming post at CBS RADIO HOUSTON last month (NET NEWS 11/26), is returning to PORTLAND, OR to take over as VP/Programming at the CLEAR CHANNEL cluster.
Over $8.5 million raised to support pediatric cancer treatment, research and education
The New 93Q, Country Legends 97.1 and 106.9 & 107.5 Houston’s Eagle helped Texas Children’s Cancer Center raise over $690,000 during its 10th annual Radiothon December 6 and 7, 2013 adding to the total of $8.5 million over the past 10 years.
JB & Sandy on hunt for new Austin home
Entercom Austin today announced effective immediately that JB and Sandy Mcllree would no longer host morning drive on Austin’s Mix 94.7 and that a new morning show host had been hired.
KWBU seeks funds for tower move
At a time when membership and giving is dipping, Waco public radio station KWBU staffers and supporters are gearing up to ask listeners to give a little extra — about $50,000 extra — to solve long-standing signal problems.
Waco's The Beat moving
104.9 The Beat KWBT Waco 94.5 KBCT Edwards Media M&MM&M Broadcasting Rhythmic CHR “104.9 The Beat” KWBT Bellmead/Waco, TX will relocate to 94.5 on December 31.
MOVING
CNN producer Kysha Reid leaves cable news to be the morning executive producer at Fox 26 KRIV.
TVSpy reports Alexandra Carter joins KETK Tyler from KXII Sherman.
REMEMBERING
KTRK abc13 photographer Bob Dows has died
Bob Dows was most notably the photographer putting Marvin Zindler on TV every night along with producer Lori Reingold in the Action 13 unit.
As a product of the Houston Independent School District, I'm saddened by the news concerning the takeover as you are.
But this is not an education blog by any means. Seriously, have you really ever read what I write here with a critical eye. Keep it that way or you will be disappointed.
Now on with the show. Poking around the district's website, I found a page called "Distinguished HISD Alumni."
I thought it would be interesting to see who from the media world graduated from the Houston school district. This list is expanded to also include the entertainment world.
This is a post that I will take heat for because some readers will say, "you didn't mention x or y who went to this or that HISD school!"
Hey, don't blame me, I didn't come up with the list. Nor did I write the summaries.
That aside, even I learned a lot from the page. By now, most know that Houston brought Uncle Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather to the media world, but we have a lot of other big names if you add in music and entertainment into the mix. HSPVA takes up most of this space naturally.
Austin High School
Mark James (né Francis Zambon) (1959) — GRAMMY-award-winning songwriter who made his mark with songs like “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “Always On My Mind,” which were made famous (respectively) by singers B. J. Thomas, Elvis Presley, and Willie Nelson; inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2014.
Bellaire High School
Jeff Cohen (1972) — executive vice president and editor of The Houston Chronicle newspaper from 2002 - 2012.
Wayne Dolcefino (1974) — Longtime award winning KTRK abc13 investigative reporter. Now runs Dolcefino Consulting. Before that Johnston Junior High.
Richard Linklater (1979) — independent film-maker, actor, and director who came to fame in the early 1990s; known for his edgy depictions of youth culture and modern life; inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in 2007
Cindy Pickett (1965) — actress whose career on both the large and small screens spans more than 30 years; perhaps best known for her role as the lead character´s mother in the movie, Ferris Bueller´s Day Off, Pickett has also appeared on TV shows such as Murder, She Wrote, L.A. Law, NYPD Blue, Medium, and CSI: Miami
Dennis Quaid (1972) — actor, best known for his roles in feature films like Inner Space, The Right Stuff, and The Big Easy
Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid (1969) — actor, best known for his quirky roles in oddball comedy films like Kingpins, Independence Day, and National Lampoon´s Vacation
Brent Spiner (1967) — actor and classmate of Randy Quaid; perhaps best known for his character "Data" on the TV series, Star Trek: The Next Generation
Donald Yearnsley "Trey" Wilson III (1966) — stage and film actor whose career spanned more than 25 years at the time of his death in 1989; appeared in feature films such as Bull Durham, Twins, and Raising Arizona and TV shows such as Dallas and Spenser: for Hire
Davis High School
Kenny Rogers (1956) — country music singer, gained fame in the 1980´s for songs like The Gambler, We´ve Got Tonight, and Lady
Furr High School
Carolyn Campbell (1974) — TV Reporter for Channel 11 (KHOU-TV)
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Lisa Hartman Black (1974) — actress, best known for her work on TV-series soap opera Knots Landing; married to country music singer Clint Black; also attended Long Middle and Sharpstown High Schools
Shelley Carrol (1982) — professional jazz musician (saxophone) and band leader; has recorded albums both solo (A Distant Star, 2001) and with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1997) — with whom he has toured; his music has also been featured on the televesion series, Melrose Place and Evening Shade
Justin Stewart Furtsenfeld (1994) — lead singer, guitar-player, and lyricist of the rock band "Blue October," which has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Late Night with Conan O´Brien
Jorge Garza (1987) — opera singer, has performed with the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Baltimore Opera, the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Orchestra de Lyon in France
Robert Glasper (1997) — professional musician (piano); founding member of the Robert Glasper Trio, which released its debut album, Mood, in 2003; has also played in the bands of Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, Mark Whitfield, Russell Malone, Nicholas Payton, Tim Warfield, Kenny Garrett, Charles Tolliver, Louis Hayes and Bilal
Everette Harp (1979) — jazz musician (saxophonist), best known for his self-titled debut album and second release, Common Ground
Andre Hayward (1989) — professional jazz musician (trombone); member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra; has performed with Roy Hargrove on the album Of Kindred Souls and with Dave Holland on the album What Goes Around; also backed up stars like Rosemary Clooney, Eartha Kitt, Diane Schuur, and Joe Williams
Sara Hickman (1981) — singer/songwriter, known for albums Equal Scary People, Shortstop, and Necessary Angels, the second of which yielded the adult-contemporary hit I Couldn't Help Myself
Beyoncé Knowles, (2000*) — lead singer of pop group Destiny´s Child, known for her debut multi-platinum solo album, Dangerously In Love, and group releases, Destiny´s Child and Survivor
Jason Moran (1993) — acclaimed jazz pianist with six solo albums to his credit and guest appearances on more than a dozen other artists´ albums; signed to Blue Note Records in 1997 while still a senior at the Manhattan School of Music
Matthew Mullenweg (2002) — co-founder and developer of WordPress, an open-source blogging software first released in 2003. He also founded Automattic, the parent company of websites such as VaultPress (a backup service) and Akismet (a spam filter) in 2005. He was named one of PC World's "Top 50 People on the Web" in 2007, and one of Inc.'s "30 under 30" and Business Week's "25 Most Influential People on the Web" in 2008.
(Evelyn) Renée O´Connor (1989*) — actress, best known for her role as "Gabrielle" on the TV show Xena: Warrior Princess
Eutimio "Tim" Ruiz, Jr. (1993) — bass player for the Houston-based Tejano band La Mafia, which performed at the inaugural gala of President Bill Clinton in 1997, won 12 Tejano Music Awards, eight Premio Lo Nuestro awards, and two Grammy awards (1996 and 1998) for best Tejano album
Kendrick Scott (1998) — professional musician (drums); has played with jazz masters such as Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Stefon Harris, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, and Dianne Reeves; music was also featured in the soundtrack to the 2004 movie, She Hate Me
Mark Seliger (1977) — chief photographer for Rolling Stone and Us magazines since 1993; has also worked for GQ and Conde Nast
Mark Simmons (1993) — professional musician (drums); has performed on albums by Walter Beasley (Tonight We Love, 1997), Joey McIntyre (Stay the Same, 1999), Bobby Lyle (Straight and Smooth, 2004) , and Al Jarreau (Accentuate the Positive, 2004)
Ed Smart (1980) — professional musician (composer/arranger); his music has been featured on the prime time TV shows American Idol, Picket Fences, The Practice, and Touched by an Angel; composed music for award-winning documentary Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream; has worked with Beyoncé Knowles, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Amy Grant, and Michael W. Smith.
Helen Sung (1989) — professional musician (piano); has performed or recorded with such jazz stars as Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Buster Williams, and legendary composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter; featured on Blue Note recording artist Lonnie Plaxico´s album, Mélange
Camille Zamora (1988) — Professional opera singer; Zamora has performed with a number of ensembles and artists, including the London Symphony and Plácido Domingo. She has been recognized with a 2013 Congressional Citation and been named one of CNN’s Most Intriguing People. Zamora is also a contributor to The Huffington Post and the co-founder of Sing for Hope, a charity created to honor the memory of a close friend who died of HIV/AIDS.
Houston High School
Jeff Hunt (1980) — chief executive officer of global public-relations firm, GCI Group, one of the largest PR firms in the world; also president and CEO of both GCI Read-Poland in Texas and GCI Latin America
Jack Valenti (1937) — author, politician, and entertainment icon; aide to former president Lyndon Baines Johnson; became head of the Motion Picture Association of America in 1966 and spearheaded the creation of the movie-rating system that still exists today
Jones High School
Rosiland A. Jordan (1984) — White House Correspondent for NBC News in Washington, D.C.; reporting for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show
Jo Beth Williams (1966) — actress/producer/director, nominated for Emmy awards (1984 "Adam"), (1988 Baby M), and (1995 Frasier episode); Academy Award (1995 On Hope); and Golden Globe award (1989 Baby M)
Lamar High School
Lauren Anderson (1982) — prima ballerina from 1990 to 2006 with The Houston Ballet (the first African-American promoted to that position); has been a guest performer in shows in Chicago, Chile, Moscow, and New York
Marsha Dorsey Outlaw (1981) — professional visual artist who has worked with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and Michelle Barnes’ Community Artists Collective. Her murals and mosaics grace a number of public spaces around Houston, including Peggy Park in the Third Ward, and Piney Point Elementary School’s SPARK park.
Linda Ellerbee (1962) — author, journalist, award-winning television producer; wrote and anchored NBC News Overnight; also attended River Oaks Elementary and Lanier Middle Schools
Robert Foxworth (1960) — actor, best known for his roles on TV series Falcon Crest and Six Feet Under
Kelendria Trené "Kelly" Rowland (1999*) — member of the R&B musical group Destiny´s Child, whose albums have gone multi-platinum with hits like Survivor and Independent Woman; her debut solo album in 2002 went gold, and featured the hit song Dilemma, recorded with rap artist Nelly
Jaclyn Smith (1964), actress, best known for her role in 1970´s TV series Charlie´s Angels
James Marcus Smith (1956) — also known by his stage-name, "P. J. Proby," Smith is a singer, songwriter, and actor who has worked with such luminaries as country-music legend Johnny Cash and rock-n-roll phenomenon Elvis Presley
Tommy Tune (1957) — Tony award-winning Broadway performer, actor, dancer, singer, performer, choreographer, and director
Sherri Williams (1990) — Channel 39 News anchor
Marvin Zindler (1939*) — reporter at Channel 13 KTRK-TV station in Houston. His infamous investigation in La Grange was the inspiration for a Broadway musical; also attended Pershing Middle School
Lee High School
H. Clay Dahlberg (1965) — professional artist who creates primarily Western-themed sculpture. His work has earned the Best in Show distinction from the Texas Cowboy Artists Association and has been exhibited at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center.
Jeff Filgo (1985) — television producer/screenwriter who has worked on That 70?s Show, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Billy Gibbons (1968) — guitarist in rock band ZZ Top
Melanie Hauser (1971) — freelance sports writer, award-winning columnist, and feature writer who has worked for the Austin-American Statesman and The Houston Post and contributed to Sports Illustrated and other publications; one of the most respected golf journalists in the country
Randal "Randy" Lemmon (1980) radio personality on KPRC Talk Radio (950); hosts Randy Lemmon´s GardenLine
Ron Stone, Jr. (1981) — author and contributing reporter to KPRC-TV, Channel 2; collaborated on award-winning TV series The Eyes of Texas with his father, Ron Sr.; writer and producer at Stonefilms of Texas
John P. White (1991) — actor who has appeared in a number of Hollywood films, including Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Can?t Hardly Wait, and Galaxy Quest, as well as several television series, such as Chicago Hope and Party of Five
Stiles White (1987) — writer or production coordinator on a number of Hollywood films, including Galaxy Quest, The Sixth Sense, Inspector Gadget, and Pearl Harbor
Madison High School
Peter Brett Cullen (1974) — stage, screen, and television actor for more than 25 years; nominated by Soap Opera Digest for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1980s TV show Falcon Crest; has also played in movies (Apollo 13), TV mini-series (The Thorn Birds), and made appearances on prime-time shows (Desperate Housewives, The West Wing, Ally McBeal)
Milby High School
Miguel "Mike" Barajas (1973) — KRIV-TV FOX News anchor
Michael Berryhill (1963) — freelance writer; previously worked for The Houston Chronicle and The Houston Press
T. G. Waggoner (1938) — an early television wrestler, better known in the 1950´s as "Gorgeous George"
Reagan High School
Larry Hovis (1954) — actor; remembered for his role as Sergeant Carter on the 1960´s TV sitcom Hogan´s Heroes, as well as stints on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and Rowan & Martin´s Laugh-In
Dan Rather (1950) broadcast journalist, former CBS Evening News anchorman; also attended Love Elementary and Hamilton Middle Schools
San Jacinto High School-closed in 1971
Richard J.V. Johnson (1948) — chairman and publisher of The Houston Chronicle daily newspaper
Walter Cronkite (1933) — former CBS Evening News anchorman
Scarborough High School
Karen Dufilho-Rosen (1987) — Academy Award-winning producer of Pixar animated short films Geri´s Game (1997) and For the Birds (2000). Head of Pixar´s "shorts" department; produced outtakes for A Bug´s Life, Toy Story 2, and Monsters, Inc. Also responsible for 2003 Academy Award-nominated short film Mike´s New Car.
Sharpstown High School
Clarence Bagby (1982) — journalist and community activist; founder of the Houston Lesbian and Gay Community Center
Robert Earl Keen (1974) — Texas singer/songwriter
Sterling High School
Yolanda Adams (1979) — award-winning gospel singer; received Grammy awards in 1999 and 2001 for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, 13 Stellar Awards
Carlotta “Monique” Nation (1982) — Award-winning Houston television personality for KRIV-TV Fox 26 who covered a number of high-profile crime stories, including the execution of convicted killer Karla Faye Tucker in Huntsville and the dragging death of James Byrd Jr. in Jasper; recognized by the Young Women’s Christian Association as one of its Women of Achievement in 2000 and Young Minority Achievers in 2001; tied for first-place prize from Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her commentary on the Jasper case (1999) and second-place prize for her coverage of a fire (1997)
Waltrip High School
Shelley Duvall (1967) — actress/producer, known for her role as Olive Oyl in the film Popeye, and her Tall Tales and Bedtime Stories children´s TV series
Patrick Swayze (1971) — actor/dancer, known for his roles in the movies Dirty Dancing and Ghost. Also attended Oak Forest Elementary and Black Middle Schools
Washington High School
Jennifer Holliday (1978) — Tony Award-winning singer/actress, perhaps best known for her breakout performance in the Broadway show Dream Girls in 1981
Westbury High School
Robert "Bob" Allen (1964) — Houston´s Channel 13 (KTRK) Sports Director; also attended Lamar High School
Michael Strahan (1990*) — professional football player (defensive end) for the New York Giants
Wheatley High School
Lonnie Bernard Rochon (1945) — became the first black disc jockey in Houston, working as "The Rambler" at KNUZ and later KCOH. After stints in New York and St. Louis, ended his radio career as an on-air personality and community affairs director at KDAY in Los Angeles.
Joseph Leslie "Joe" Sample (1957) — jazz musician for more than 40 years; successful both as a solo artist (with albums like The Pecan Tree) and as a piano player for The Crusaders for more than 30 years
Worthing High School
Ralph Cooper (1966) — KCOH Radio (1430 AM) Sports Rap host, veteran sports broadcaster and sports writer; also attended Grimes ES and Attucks MS
Terri Ellis (1982) — founding member of the girl group EnVogue; recorded a string of hits in the early 1990s, including My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It), Free Your Mind, and the theme song on the movie soundtrack to Set It Off starring Queen Latifah
Yates High School
Debbie Allen (1967) — actress/dancer /director/producer, often remembered for her role as "Lydia Grant" in the 1980s TV drama series Fame
Phylicia Allen Rashad (1966) — actress/producer, perhaps best known for her role opposite famed comedian Bill Cosby as Claire Huxtable on the 1980´s sitcom The Cosby Show
Kim Gagné (1982) — two-time Emmy Award winner and supervising producer of “The Steve Harvey Show”; also started the show “City Under Siege” for FOX-TV, “The Defenders” and “Great Day Houston with Whitney Casey” for KHOU-TV Channel 11
Conrad O. Johnson (1933) — known as "Prof;" world-renowned jazz saxophonist and leader of the Conrad Johnson Orchestra; patented his own model of a saxophone ligature (the CJ Ligature); established the Conrad Johnson Music & Fine Arts Foundation and the Conrad Johnson School of Music, a Magnet program for aspiring jazz musicians (housed at Kashmere High School)
Roland Martin (1987) — nationally syndicated columnist, commentator for the TV One Cable Network, and host and managing editor of “Washington Watch with Roland Martin,” a one-hour Sunday morning news show; also a CNN analyst who was named by Ebony magazine in 2008, 2009, and 2010 as one of the 150 Most Influential African-Americans in the United States
David McGee (1981) — professional artist whose work has been included in either group or curated exhibits in such esteemed institutions as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Harvard University, and the Menil Collection; has received numerous grants and awards for his work, and had solo exhibitions in Texas, New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina
* = the person attended but did not graduate from that school
KHOU 11 News I-Team takes investigative journalism to a new level
The award-winning 11 News I-Team will include senior investigative reporters Jeremy Rogalski and Mark Greenblatt. They’ll be joined by a team of veteran reporters, producers and photographers. Together they form the largest investigative unit in Texas.
Library gets grant to save KUHT films
The UH library system holds more than 500 reels of film that were produced between the 1950’s and 1970’s by KUHT.
Top 10 Web Revenue Mistakes of TV and Radio
From Director of Interactive/web manager types not qualified to implement a realistic revenue strategy to expensive research and consultants not bringing results.
Houston's Jim Parsons wins Emmy for Big Bang Theory
Houston's own Jim Parsons took home the prize for his portrayal of eccentric genius Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory at the 62nd Emmy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night.
TV station voice calls NBC anchor sad excuse for a journalist
As thousands of El Pasoans set their televisions to KTSM-TV Channel 9 to either watch the Miss Universe pageant or wait for the 10 p.m. newscast, they were treated to one of those live TV slip ups that come only once in a lifetime.
