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5/22: More on Cadillac
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cadillac Jack (Hyde Choate is his real name) opened officially today with Jim Vann and Kristen Gates. He and Kristen get equal billing in the name of the show.
Cadillac, who is 33 and has been with Kicks and Eagle since he was 19, sounded excited on the air and said he hopes to be around 10 to 15 years. His boss Victor Sansone is enthusiastic about his move, complimenting Cadillac for his economy of words, his sense of timing, his rich cadence, his understanding of the Kicks audience. “He understands you don’t have to sit there and talk to yourself endlessly,” Sansone said. “He’s comfort food. The listeners relate to him.”
I spoke with him Friday and he said though he had passed on the opportunity to do mornings in the past, he felt the time was right now. “I don’t want to be the afternoon guy when I’m 60,” he said. “This is a great personal decision, a great professional decision. At some point, you have to take the job. This time around, I knew I was ready. I look forward to coming even closer with the listeners. That’s what it’s about. The connection.”
His wife had just quit as a sales person at Kicks after a decade to take care of his three kids full time (Will, 7; Olivia, 3; and Charlotte, 7 weeks). “We didn’t know the offer was in front of us until she had already resigned,” he said.
Morning shows are the revenue and image drivers for most radio stations. He acknowledged that he will be under the microscope, something he didn’t have to worry about in the afternoons. “I’ll have to get a tough skin,” he said. “I’ll not a tough-skinned person. You have to expose yourself to everything you do.”
Comments
By joyce
May 22, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this
My husband and I are both thrilled to have Caddy on the morning show. I think he, Kristen and Jim Vann are the winning combination, “Way to go Kicks”. We now have a show to get you going instead of putting you to sleep………..
By VLS
May 22, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this
HORRIBLE. That just put the nail in the coffin for me. I am now 100% devoted to “Moby in the Morning”…
By denise
May 22, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this
I’m really happy about the new morning show. I listened this morning and was feeling good by the time I got to work. We have a good mix here. I’m sorry Jill had to leave, however I love Jim and you only need one person handling news and traffic.
Good luck Caddy, Kristen and Jim!
By Michelle
May 23, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this
I’m excited. I like Kristin, I like Jim, and I’ve always like Cadillac. Jill, got on my nerves. So. .I’m happy!
By JLK
May 23, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this
You can only take so many “Yeah Babies” and Omar the Chickens. See ya VLS, you’ll be missing the best……..
By Annie
May 23, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this
The could not be a better person for the morning show than Cadillac Jack. He is terrific - he is always in the know and so great with the listeners. You never have to worry about his saying something offensive, and he seems to really care about the people listening. I will start listening in the mornings again! Thanks Kicks.
By Sharon
May 23, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Glad for Caddy. He has come a long way since his partying days in the Buckboard! I liked Jill but I couldn’t tell the difference between her and Kristin. I love Jim and have always wished to hear more from him. I didn’t like how he was relegated to traffic only with the last group. Please, MORE JIM VANN!!
By Rhonda
May 23, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this
I, for one, was sorry to see Bandy & Bailey leave but Caddy is a good replacement if I can’t have them. That other guy was BORING!! I will miss Jill. Her and Jim along with B&B cracked me up and made my commute fun.
I sincerely wish Caddy much success!
By Michelle
May 23, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this
Sharon - I got Kristin and Jill confused as well. So, it wasn’t just me!
By Rodney Ho
May 23, 2006 12:18 PM | Link to this
Sharon and Michelle—- I think that was why Jill became sadly expendable. Radio is a cruel, cruel world. Jim and Caddy have very distinctive voices so no confusion there!
By Wesley
May 23, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this
Still loyal to Moby Yea Baby!!!!
By karen
May 24, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
I did like Jill as well but she made a lot of errors when telling us the news and didn’t know how to pronounce PURINA - but I wish her well - She will find something else in Atlanta.