Longtime local radio voice 'Marvelous Marvin' Boone off air in CBS Radio Tampa restructuring

  After more than 30 years in Tampa Bay area radio, "Marvelous Marvin" Boone is once again in need of a job.

He found out this morning, when WRBQ-FM program director Mason Dixon informed Boone, 52, that he would no longer appear on Q105's 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. midday shift. "I was the victim of budget cuts," said Boone, who has worked at WRBQ for eight years. "Everybody's downsizing...so, now my new job is getting a job."

Boone's departure is one of several personnel moves made at Tampa-area CBS Radio stations today, including the departure of several staffers at smooth jazz station WSJT-FM. At WSJT, local programmers have been replaced by Broadcast Architecture, a California-based consulting company which offers syndicated radio shows by smooth jazz musicians such as pianist Ramsey Lewis and saxophonist Dave Koz.

The change, implemented today, means only WSJT's morning show will feature local, live voices, displacing longtime personalities Alicia Kaye, George Nix and Al Santana. Ed Krampf, who took over as CBS Radio's top executive in Tampa Oct. 1, declined to confirm a report on the Radio & Records Web site that close to 20 people left the company following the changes.

"The ratings (at WSJT) weren't very good," said Krampf, who downplayed the cost savings element of the changes at the smooth jazz station. "We're adding some real brand names to maximize the ratings potential of the station."

Industry experts speculated CBS Radio might be planning a shakeup following the sudden departure of longtime Tampa market manager Charlie Ochs at the beginning of October. The company owns six stations in the area, including WRBQ, WSJT, WLLD-FM (Wild 98.7), WQYK-FM (99.5), WQYK-AM (1010 Sports Radio) and WYUU-FM (La Nueva 92).

Boone, 52, was full of wry humor today, fielding phone calls from tearful fans who seemed to take his departure worse than he has. A West Virginia native who landed at a New Port Richey station in 1977, Boone has worked at WMTX-FM (Mix 96), WHBO-AM (1040) and WFLA-AM (970) at various times, earning a reputation as master of oldies rock 'n' roll trivia. (at left, a picture from a 2006 Times feature on Boone's 115-pound weight loss)

The son and namesake of a radio DJ, Marvin Boone Sr., he remained philosophical about losing his job -- well aware that fewer radio stations are using established local voices for midday shifts, relying instead on distant syndicated DJs or low-priced new talent.

"I watched my dad get fired, I know the drill," said Boone, who already has a business DJ-ing for private functions and hopes to find a new job in local radio (see his Web site here). "I'm a man of faith, so I know God's in control, not me...All I know, is the Rays better win, or I'll really be depressed."

      

Comments

[mo]

What a disappointment this "new" Q105 is. Oh well, I guess I've now got to try to find a new radio station. I have tried, but this just isn't working for me. I hope the advertisers realize how many people are defecting & put their dollars elsewhere. It is the only thing that will make idiot, non-thinking, hatchet weilding drones sit up & take notice.

[Eric Deggans]

Fawn, you don't have to publish a comment five times to make your point. Your passion is admirable, but please try to post each message only once...

[FAWN LERNER-GILLI]

LISTENERS LIKE TO CLEARLY BE PART OF AN INTERACTIVE SHOW WITH PERSONABLE DEEJAYS ALL DAY LONG--THAT KEEPS THEM LISTENING WHEN THEY ARE PART OF THE SHOW. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE GAMES, QUIZ SHOWS, KARAOKE, ETC.? ITS BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS IF THEY'RE PART OF THE SITUATION. WITHOUT IT, Q105 WILL FALL GREATLY IN THE RATINGS. I CLEARLY BELIEVE MIKE REEVES COULD BE THE NEXT RICH FIELDS (PRICE IS RIGHT) AND MARVIN COULD ACTUALLY BE A REALLY COOL, A LOT MORE FUN VERSION OF DELILAH RADIO SHOW WITH A LITTLE WOLFMAN JACK WRAPPED IN IT!!!!
I WISH SOMEONE WOULD TELL MIKE AND MARVIN THAT BECAUSE I AM A FAITHFUL LISTENER & I BELIEVE MIKE KNOWS ME BY NAME!

[FAWN LERNER-GILLI]

I know Mason didn't personally do this, but I think it is terrible that Marvelous Marvin and Mike Reeves are not with Q105 anymore. Definitely, Mason is a wonderful personality and interesting, but.... Mason Dixon is only one of a whole team of people who made Q105 an excellent radio station to listen to. I think Bill and Jo-Jo wrote a lot of Mason's show to help make it funny. I think the lot of the people no longer at the radio station need to be back on air or the entire station will sink to the bottom of a lot more ratings in the future. LISTENERS LIKE TO CLEARLY BE PART OF AN INTERACTIVE SHOW WITH PERSONABLE DEEJAYS ALL DAY LONG--THAT KEEPS THEM LISTENING WHEN THEY ARE PART OF THE SHOW. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE GAMES, QUIZ SHOWS, KARAOKE, ETC.? ITS BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS IF THEY'RE PART OF THE SITUATION. WITHOUT IT, Q105 WILL FALL GREATLY IN THE RATINGS. I CLEARLY BELIEVE MIKE REEVES COULD BE THE NEXT RICH FIELDS (PRICE IS RIGHT) AND MARVIN COULD ACTUALLY BE A REALLY COOL, A LOT MORE FUN VERSION OF DELILAH RADIO SHOW WITH A LITTLE WOLFMAN JACK WRAPPED IN IT!!!!
I WISH SOMEONE WOULD TELL MIKE AND MARVIN THAT BECAUSE I AM A FAITHFUL LISTENER & I BELIEVE MIKE KNOWS ME BY NAME!
The station sounds canned and Clear-Channeled phony now without Marvin and Mike Reeves on the air in the midday and afternoons.
Both of them were so friendly and had so much personality. Listeners felt welcomed by them because neither of them ever sounded as if they were phony over-the-top jerks who are stuck on themselves. Most radio personalities in the midday and afternoons sound either like John Tesh syndicated boring shows or completely impersonal synthesized rubbish or Rush Limbaugh railing on.
Mike and Marvin had their own personal, unique ways to make the station a lot of fun. Mike was so much fun on the way home from teaching school all day. The trivia, games, jokes, call-in with your opinion contests, and the music was always so entertaining in the afternoon. I used to call him in the afternoon after teaching school as I was commuting to win contests or find out the latest news or information. Mike was very friendly, cordial, and made the ride home a lot more enjoyable. The listeners got to feel as if they were part of the show and not just some listening receiver to some radio personality stuck on himself and railing on about how terrific he the DeeJay is, etc., etc. I think I telephoned into that show every afternoon to try to win a contest and loved listening to things people said when they called in.
Marvin always was humorous in a suttle way, but very kind and personable to his listeners. The listeners made his show and I believe people felt comforted by his nice, caring manner. He was neither boring or corny. His show was perfect for a midday program for many of those professional people who work as they listen to the radio at their offices. The listeners became entertainers or had the opportunity to hear themselves request songs, etc.
The listeners got to feel as if they were part of the show and not just some listening receiver to some radio personality stuck on himself and railing on about how terrific he is, etc., etc.

[FAWN LERNER-GILLI]

I am certain that I am about the 5,000th person to email Mason about this. I know Mason didn't personally do this, but I think it is terrible that Marvelous Marvin and Mike Reeves are not with Q105 anymore. The station sounds canned and Clear-Channeled phony now without Marvin and Mike Reeves on the air in the midday and afternoons.
Both of them were so friendly and had so much personality. Listeners felt welcomed by them because neither of them ever sounded as if they were phony over-the-top jerks who are stuck on themselves. Most radio personalities in the midday and afternoons sound either like John Tesh syndicated boring shows or completely impersonal synthesized rubbish.
Mike and Marvin had their own personal, unique ways to make the station a lot of fun. Mike was so much fun on the way home from teaching school all day. The trivia, games, jokes, call-in with your opinion contests, and the music was always so entertaining in the afternoon. I used to call him in the afternoon after teaching school as I was commuting to win contests or find out the latest news or information. Mike was very friendly, cordial, and made the ride home a lot more enjoyable. The listeners got to feel as if they were part of the show and not just some listening receiver to some radio personality stuck on himself and railing on about how terrific he the DeeJay is, etc., etc.
Marvin always was funny in a suttle way, but very kind and personable to his listeners. The listeners made his show and I believe people felt comforted by his nice, caring manner. He was neither boring or corny. His show was perfect for a midday program for many of those professional people who work as they listen to the radio at their offices.
The listeners got to feel as if they were part of the show and not just some listening receiver to some radio personality stuck on himself and railing on about how terrific he is, etc., etc.

[Laura]

Please bring Marvin back to the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. time slot on Q105!!!! My husnband and I always enjoyed listening to him and especially the 12-1 hour when he took requests. There was a couple of times when I called to make a request for the bufont buffet and Marvin was great as far as playing the song that I requested but also thanking me. There was one time when I called in a request for a song to be played at a certain time and he was nice enough to do that. His show was one of the best on your station for that time frame. It's not the same anymore. There's other dj's out there who have gotten fired for saying and doing alot worse than him. My husband, myself, and friends hope that you reconsider and bring him back to his old time slot. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE BRING HIM BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

[Olson marin]

I saw it coming long time ago. the dehumanizing of radio.D All due to the lack of culture and the appreciation of music with a high level of musicianship . Do most of you know what that is ? Oh and lets not forget the greed for money money, sell your soul to the Devil.
Jazz the only true American art form and is being stepped all over. Now the puss of Kenny G as a DJ. that's all I can take. So guess what... internet radio is what I will be listening even if its a station from France playing good all - American Jazz.

[beltwaybandit]

Losing jobs is one thing. That was a business decision radio made in the 90s.

Losing the industry is another thing entirely and that is happening because of an outdated business model and the advent of the digital age.

In other words, the listener now has control over their content and do not need someone like a radio PD or DJ to make those choices for them. They can listen to what they want, when they want.

The same thing has happened to newspapers. Readers do not need some editor deciding what they get and what they don't, and editorially...they do not need editors telling them what to think about.

"Big business" was responsible for driving up valuations on stations and making a lot of small business people welathy. To pay for that a lot of radio "dead-weight" was released during consolidation. Radio station values went up and a lot more money was made.

Then digital came along and "poof".

Radio will go back to being a very small segment of the media and will focus once again on local programming.

But, its days as a significant medium are over. Newspapers are on the way right behind radio.

Big business can't do anything about that. And had nothing to do with it.

[Tom]

I have to disagree with the poster who said "big business" isn't killing radio. Radio has been losing jobs way before the Ipod and the internet -- starting in 1996, thanks to reckless deregulation. How long till there's talk of a radio bailout?

[kimberly (marvin's no.! fan)]

marvelous marvin is why i listened to q105. he always brighted up our office with his funny noon hour. i will follow him to whatever station he's goes too. he should have taken over the morning show and mason should have got the boot. good things will happen to marvelous marvin and i know he will be just fine.

[beltwaybandit]

Bob H....

I habve subscribed to both XM and Sirius but discontinued earlier this year due to changing driving habits. Great sevice while traveling long distances.

Sirius owes more than a billion dollars in debt payments fairly soon. I think it is several hundred million in February 2009. The company has nowhere near enough cash to meet that demand. So it remains to be seen whether SiriusXM even survives much longer.

The auto market is crashing and that is SatRad's major marketing push.

With a sagging economy consumers are projected to cut back non-essential expenses such as the 9.99-14.99 monthly payments for SiriusXM.

Bottom line: Enjoy your Satellite Radio while you can.

And P.S.: In mid-November 2008 Sirius ius going to combine XM's music channels with Sirius' and there will only be one music channel instead of the two per format now. Some talk programming will also be discontinued.

[Dana]

I was devastated when I heard that Q105 had let go of Marvelous Marvin. He is the the DJ that made Q105 so popular, not the other ones! Q105's ratings are going to WAY down because of that stupid move.

[Holly]

I am a long supporter of WSJT, and I am discussed with their changes. Alicia and George were folks that I liked listening to. Shameful.

[Bob H]

I've had Sirius for the last four years and never listen to local radio. The breadth of programming and variety - and lack of annoying D.J.'s and commercials - make it a very attractive alternative to "terrestrial" radio.

[RONNIE WILSON REAGAN]

At least they bounced that brain-dead, useless loser Charlie Ochs down 2 flights of stairs and out into the parking lot. I knew Thomas Jefferson. Tom Jefferson was a friend of mine. And Mr. Blanco...you're no Tom Jefferson!

[Philo Farnsworth]

Wherever Marvin winds up, that's the station I will listen to.

[Lindsay]

I'm just glad that Monica Moore is still on WSJT. She's my favorite!!

[FRANKIE]

MARVIN WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE DOWNSIZING IN COMPANIES. I WORKED FOR STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENCIES FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND WAS LET GO TO MAKE WAY FOR TWO YOUNGER PEOPLE, HOW SAD.

[FRANKIE]

MARVIN WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE DOWNSIZING IN COMPANIES. I WORKED FOR STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENCIES FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND WAS LET GO TO MAKE WAY FOR TWO YOUNGER PEOPLE, HOW SAD.

[Jay]

Mason Dixon is the most goofy and boring thing I have ever heard on the radio. Juvenile and corny humor he is just terrible. He is like a 8 year old with a mike.

[Son of zappa]

Marvin should of been moved to the morning show and Mason and his boring and I mean boring show dumped. Have you ever tried listening to Mason in the morning, his show is not even in the top 10 in the Tampa market. Why is this corny show still on the air? I'm sure CBS will be turning the whole station format over sometime soon especially after they let the only true DJ they had go. If it was a budget cut why did they spend over 150K to put on a concert in Clearwater with a bunch of 70's psudo groups that should be headlining a state fair. What a waste of money. Corporate radio s_cks

[jeannib]

aha - so that's why the live broadcast ceased tuesday afternoon thru late wednesday.

i am very sorry to know they laid off some of the finest DJ's they had.

I agree re the Kathy Curtis new music moment not being "smooth jazz" type selections. a lot of them are ??-able. the really good ones....heck that's the last time you'll hear it.

as for their going the cheaper route via utilizing syndicated DJ shows....hey sunday night with Dave Koz was enuf for me. now we have to listen to him every afternoon!!! NOT!

this is a sad day in history.

soo long 94.1 - i wish you the best

[beltwaybandit]

Big Business is not what is killing off newspapers and severely hampering radio.

Outdated business models are the reason these media outlets are going down hill fast.

Radio likely will survive because it has a relatively low cost structure to provide its services.

Newspapers are in an unrecoverable position with their expensive printing and delivery costs.

Once revenue started to go down, newspapers began getting presuured and radio soon followed.

When the economy weakened, it just accelerated the inevitable.

WSJT markets itself as Smooth Jazz but it does NOT play jazz, and certainly not "smooth" jazz. It plays R&B, plus a little of this and a little of that. I like R&B fine...but not on a supposed "smooth jazz" station.

Either management at WSJT is too cheap to pay for new jingles and they keep themselves as smooth jazz because their jingles are already paid for and sound cool, or they aren't very bright and just missed the fact that smooth jazz stations have pretty much died of around the country and the ratings here in the Bay Area have fallen off as well.

If you want to know how bad things are in Tampa radio, try finding local news on any radio station in Tampa after 6PM or on weekends. Even "Newsradio 970 WFLA" no longer provides local news on weekday evenings and for most of the weekends.

Pathetic management trying to cut costs to pay for their debt financing...and to compensate for the revenue decline they are facing.

Just like newspapers.

[Tom]

DJs are rapidly headed the way of the 8 track. It's far more profitable for these corporations to play taped "announcers" and the same 50 songs over and over again...and let's not forget those commercials!

Support community radio.

[Webster]

This is just another example of the future of broadcast radio. Clear Channel,Cox,CBS etc. own 95% of this country's media. We're lucky to have a few independents like WMNF,WUSF and yes, the St.Pete Times. There used to be laws against owning a monopoly of media outlets, but big business had them changed.

[MJ]

Why in the world would you want to get rid of an asset like marvelous marvin.
get rid of jack connley, or mike reaves, or rocko... not marvelous marvin!!!..
i will changing radio stations for the mid day programming.
i wish him the best.

[Mary]

Alicia Kaye was awesome...The numbers are down at WSJT because Kathy Curtis plays that crap that is not smooth jazz.

[RAFE]

That hillbilly Mason Dixon should have been fired. I can't believe anyone still listens to him.

[Justin]

11:34 - You are an idiot. This man loses his job and all you can talk about is John McCain?? It's losers like you who show no dignity to people in hard times that need to be laughed at, not presidential candidates. I have never listened to this man but I hope he bounces back and finds work. It seems as though he will.

[John McCain]

Errr if I was president I'd get him a job as a plumber. Have you heard of the plumber? plumber? plumber? oh no, I don't know where I am............................................I wanna be president!!!

[BOB NEW DIRECT]

As a sales manager recently yelled in frustration: "I mean there's somethin' wrong!!' when speaking about the industry. If this isn't yet another sick example of a great waste of valubale talent i don't know what is!

[Carl G]

It is a very sad day. There is no longer any sunshine in the Sunshine State during this time slot. Please rethink this decision and bring Marvin back!

[GlennS.]

Marvin has long been one of my favorites. He is part of that increasingly rare breed of DJs who actually have some knowledge about the music they play. This is the guy who should be syndicated. I'm going to miss him but I know he'll be bouncing (and bopping) back.

[Dr Johnny P LoveTrain]

Marvin shouldn't have been FIRED! The 10am-3pm Shift on Q 105 will NOT be the same! Rico Blanco is No Marvin! I wonder who will be the NEW 10am-3pm DJ?