Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > November > 01 > Entry
11/1: Steve McCoy’s first public comments about leaving Star
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Above: Tommy Sullivan, Vikki Locke and Steve McCoy at the Tabernacle, June 2, 2006, during the Next Big Thing concert featuring James Blunt, Bo Bice and K.T. Tunstall. CREDIT: Robb Cohen
Steve McCoy, who is leaving Star 94 Friday after 17 years along with Vikki Locke, wasn’t willing to submit to an interview by phone or in person so the best I could get was emailed answers to four of 18 questions I sent him yesterday. Here are the questions and answers verbatim except for grammatical fixes. What’s interesting is it sounds like he’s assuming Vikki will want to join him in a future endeavor once her health problems are out of the way. I don’t know if that’s the case because Vikki hasn’t been willing to talk since her original conversation with Richard Eldredge in June.
Q: What are you most proud of about the past 17 years?
A: The fact that Vikki and I were able to gain the confidence of a large audience and be so accepted for so many years is something that most morning shows envy in markets around the country. There’s so much “creative remembering” in radio today, and I’m proud that we were two people who always tried to create something new and unique every morning.
Q: You worked first with Vikki at Power and recommended she join you. Why?
A: Vikki was the best thing to happen to me. She’s one of the most creative people I’ve ever been around. It’s rare that you meet a person in your career who when it comes to career type goals sees things the same as you. We both would look at an interview or an idea like our Mile of Men, and come at it a different way…..but the beauty has always been that we would both build on each others ideas, and make every bit better each time. Neither of us ever worried who’s idea it was….but that it worked.
No matter what industry your in…when you have two people thinking like that….it’s magic and we are hopeful that magic can continue.
Q: What were your favorite moments from the show over the years (in some detail please) and your most embarrassing? Some notable moments I’ve been told they include Vikki’s birthday party that Rusty put together in 1993 in which David Justice and Halle Berry called in as well as Elton John; Tommy Sullivan eating off someone’s plate at a Waffle House, the 1996 April Fool’s Joke about the Olympics, the Live in it and Win It stunt, the Children’s Healthcare radiothon in which you revealed your son’s death on the air.
A: Actually there we’re a bunch of birthday shows. The first one was for Vikki’s birthday when I first learned Elton lived here. I grew up with Gerry Klaskala,who at that time was the head chef at Buckhead Diner, where Elton dined quite often. I asked Gerry if he would give a note I wrote inviting Elton to call in on Vikki’s birthday. Gerry got it done, and to my surprise Elton called Vikki on her birthday. That began a great friendship for us and Elton. He subsuquently came on the show and would stay all morning seven or eight more times, and the only time we both we’re speechless was when we we’re invited to dine with him and Bernie Taupin a few years ago. Vikki also got the opportunity to visit Elton at his London home a few years ago. On my first birthday show with Vikki, she got Pam Anderson to come on the show.
Q: Are you going to find another job in this market once your noncompete is up?
A: I am not retiring. Vikki and I have built a strong relationship and success in Atlanta. We both love the people and the city. I would be hopeful that other stations have taken notice of what we have been able to do. We both have worked hard for the community and I would love the opportunity to still be one of the top morning shows here in Atl. Next to my son dying at Children’s Healthcare, this has been the hardest number of months to go through on the air. We have tried to remain professional through out it all, and I know God must have a plan.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Neil
November 1, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
“Vikki was the best thing to happen to me. ” Hey Steve, what does your wife have to say about this? Even Rodney’s wife beats out Larry Wachs in terms of best thing that has happened to him.
By Joey Mills
November 1, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
Good Luck to both Steve and Vicki
By Shelly
November 1, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Best Wishes to you Steve. I hope to hear you back on the radio soon!
By Sportstalk
November 1, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Not sure how you can call doing the exact same thing every day for 17 years “trying to create something new and unique every morning”.
By FCM
November 1, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
Steve and Vicki, you woke me up for school from middle school through college….then began to wake me up for work too! Your not old, your CLASSIC!
Thank you for it all….
By Reg
November 1, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
From Steve’s comments it doesn’t sound like either one of them is retiring. Could they end up somewhere else?
By Scott
November 1, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
Good luck to both of you! You have been a part of my commute from the start. Find a good radio setting in ATL where us middle aged people can enjoy you as we get through the rest of our lives!
By Steve & Vikki Fan
November 2, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
STAR 94 FANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS … Steve & Vikki are not being jerks by not talking to the media!
They are under contract until 12/31/07, and they are contractually forbidden to speak publically about their firing (yes, it’s a firing!)
And all staff members are also forbidden to speak to the media - especially Rodney Ho.
So watch for more information in January!
Steve & Vikki deserve MUCH better treatment than they’ve received from the station management! They’ve been VERY classy under some difficult circumstances!
By Tim
November 2, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
I’m saddened to hear that Steve & Vicki are not going to be on Star 94 anymore. You guys have been waking me up since High School and as “FCM” above said through college and now into my adult life. I appreciate you and wish you the best. Hope you find a local station to continue on as we have so faithfully done for all these years! Best wishes and I hope to hear from you soon!
By sad sack
November 2, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
I wrote Mark Kanov a strongly worded email pretty much stating long time fans deserved a little more explanation and a little more notice (I thought they would be on until 12/31) for something of this magnitude. I told him I would not be listening to Star 94 anymore. He personally called me and basically said it was Steve’s decision to leave. He couldn’t go on without Vikki because of the chemistry…blah, blah, blah. I knew he was feeding me a load of crap! What a “mess” the mornings will now be. Who cares, I won’t be listening anymore anyway. Steve, if you’re listening, we LOVE you!
By tigger
November 2, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Haven’t listened in a while. What happened to Steve’s son?
By Tarryl
November 2, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
Hey tigger,
Steve had a young son that passed away some years ago while being cared for at Children’s Healthcare at Scottish Rite. I had the priviledge to work that radiothon that day with my coworkers and I was there that morning when he talked about it on the air. He was very transparent about what happened to him and his family.
By John
November 2, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
I assumed that Cindy & Ray would take over the morning slot after S/V dep. Morning radio with Star will definately not be the same. I hope Rob Stadler and Tom stay they are the last of the orig crew. So, I’m confused was this a firing or a moving on type of thing?
By Melanie
November 2, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
I was tuned in, as usual, to Star 94 as I was getting ready for work. I could NOT believe my ears! I am so so sad. I have listened to Steve McCoy since he came to Atlanta (26 yrs?). When he left Z93 & went to Texas, I was upset. As soon as I heard him on 94Q, I started listening. I love him! He did radio long before Vikki came along and can do it without her. Don’t get me wrong. I like Vikki and am very saddened by her health conditions. I hope she will be okay. I will miss her too. But Steve did radio without her before and can do it again. I sent an email to Star94 to let them know that they have lost a long time listener. I am not even going to listen in December when they play clips because it is too sad. I will never listen to them again. I can’t beleive they would fire Steve. Hopefully he will get on at another Atlanta station. That will be the station I listen too. AJC…Please keep us posted as to where Steve goes.
By Vicky
November 3, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
Definitely Steve and Vikki are truly professionals. I must have missed the announcement regarding Vikki leaving due to health reasons in June and did not realize the morning show as I knew it would be no longer on Friday morning as I heard the news on the way to work. I was truly devasted. It’s really funny how you get so use to hearing the same people every morning get your day started and although they don’t know you, you feel that you know them. It’s like loosing part of your family to hear this news. I wish Vikki the very best with her health. Health is the most important thing we have so it is very important to take care of that. As far as Steve, I don’t truly know the reason Steve will no longer be a part of the morning show, but he is quite capable of doing this morning show or any morning show on his own….He’s got a great personality and radio voice. I hope Steve lands a job in the public again and I am sure with his talent he will have great success! I can’t promise I will continue to listen to Star 94..I do still feel for Tom Sullivan and Rob with the news….If I find out Steve lands another radio station in the morning….I will definitely go to that station regardless of the type of music! I do agree with an earlier comment…I sure hope it would be for the middle aged group…Steve - you are our hero for the mornings! We miss you already! Best of luck to you and your family!
By kenny
November 3, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
If you believe Vikki is really leaving for ‘health reasons’ you will believe anything. Nobody walks away from a do-nothing job making the money she makes for ‘health reasons’. Star is obviously forcing them out because Q100 kicks their asses in ratings.
As for McCoy, he has been the luckiest man alive for 17 years. Silly but absolutely no talent. I have always considered it sacrilege for him to be sitting in McKee’s old chair. Locke is indeed the be$t thing that ever happened to him. He would have been selling Volvo’s by now without her.
Look for them both on B98.5 next year.
By kenny
November 3, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
If you believe Vikki is really leaving for ‘health reasons’ you will believe anything. Nobody walks away from a do-nothing job making the money she makes for ‘health reasons’. Star is obviously forcing them out because Q100 kicks their asses in ratings.
As for McCoy, he has been the luckiest man alive for 17 years. Silly but absolutely no talent. I have always considered it sacrilege for him to be sitting in McKee’s old chair. Locke is indeed the be$t thing that ever happened to him. He would have been selling Volvos by now without her.
Look for them both on B98.5 next year.
By Al
November 8, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
I missed all the announcements, probably because I travel about 2 days out of the week and was just away. I’ve listened to Steve and Vikki since I moved to ATL 13 years ago. Steve and Vikki were head and shoulders above the rest. I will no longer be listening to Star94. Any new morning show with the phrase “SuperPhat” in it tells me I need to look for new station anyway. I hope they both show up on another station in Atlanta. That’s the one I will be listening to.
By Terry
November 8, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
I was so sad to hear that Steve and Vickie wee leaving. I have been listening to him for 20 something years now. I have always been a loyal listener but if these rumors are true about Star94 kicking them out then i will certainly elte them from my radio dial. How could they!!!! Vickie I sincrely hope you do get better and I pray that you and Steve both will be back on the air ASAP!
By Terry
November 8, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
I will miss you both Steve and Vickie and I hope you get better Vickie. as for oyu Steve….you have been a part of my life for too many years and the thought of going on without you is too much. If I cant hear you and Vickie on the radio I will start listening to CD’s. I grew up here in ATL and have listened to you since elementary. Now my kids listen to you. You both are a part of my family. Please come back soon!
By Indymark
November 8, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
ATL radio listeners…..consider yourself honored to be gaining the best morning show from Indianapolis. Marco, Shannon, & SuperPhat Mikey will be the best radio in your market within 12 months. We are sorry to lose them here in Colts country…but Emmis Communications pulled a bigger stunt than Star94. They sent the “Morning Mess” as they were known here and a group of listeners on a weeklong Carribean cruise. Then Monday morning at noon…pulled the plug on the whole format..fired all the radio personalities (Morning crew, mid-day, afternoon drive, and night time) and replaced them with 93 days of Christmas music!! I wish the “Mess” luck…a lot of Indy listeners will be following them via streaming audio.
By opieandy
November 9, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
Sounds like this mess of a station is going from bad to worse with whatever Phat is.
Bring back Quixie and Gary McKee.
By Margaret
November 9, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
What is going on?? I go away for a 10-day vacation, and no more Steve and Vickie??? If the new morning show has “phat” in its name, I won’t be listening anyway….I would rather have quiet if I cannot have Steve and Vickie…
By Margaret
November 9, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
What is going on?? I go away for a 10-day vacation, and no more Steve and Vickie??? If the new morning show has “phat” in its name, I won’t be listening anyway….I would rather have quiet if I cannot have Steve and Vickie…
By Radio Insider
November 9, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this
No matter what the station management says, STEVE & VIKKI DID NOT RETIRE, or even leave on their own schedule.
If Star didn’t lure Bert away from Q100 (which they didn’t), then S & V (and Tom & Shannon) would be history on 12/31/07 when their contracts expire.
Vikki chose to announce a “retirement” before she was fired also.
But people don’t understand that being fired in radio isn’t necessarily a bad thing … often times it’s a step UP!
Star 94 management (which will also be fired if Cumulus buys the station) showed no class in yanking them off the air two months early, and this might come back to haunt the station.
We haven’t seen the last of Steve & Vikki!
By annonomous
November 9, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
My earliest memory is when Steve called me in feb. 88, to inform me that i had won ONE of 5 Hyundai’s! And yes, Vicky was with him even then. I think it was power 99?? I recoginized his voice when i answered the phone. Other than that; i did’nt care for their banal, soccer mom, white bread format. I rarily listened to them. I l only listen to NPR, or college stations. (no advertising)
By Boomer
November 10, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
Opieandy,thanks for bringing up Gary McKee and Quixie in Dixie…ahh, the memories! McKee, Yetta, Willis the Guard WERE Atlanta radio. Suppose a station were bold enough to bring them out of retirement, add Tom “The King” Hughes for news, and the The Kimmer (and his crew…Wayne, No Offense, and Snake Davis on sports) for afternoon drive time. Now that would be a blast!
By joshua evans
November 12, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
good bye steve and vikki you have been waking me up ever since i was 12 years old. i am now 24 yrs old. i will miss you and vikki.
By jenny4
November 13, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
Star 94 has no idea what a big mistake they have made. They have under estimaded Steve and Vicky and their fans. I think that star 94 has just lost a hugh market, I know I will never listen to them again. I will listen to Steve and Vikki again where ever they go in Atlanta. I think that they will be able to have their pick of where they want work in the Atlanta area. the only question will be which lucky radio station will get them and their thousands of fans that will follow them.
By Justin
November 14, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
I really started to listen to Steve and Vikki when I started to drive myself…especially in the mornings to school. I LOVED that show!! I’ve recently been listening to Q100 (I know, I’m such a traitor), but I hated when I switched to Star 94 to hear about Steve and Vikki leaving!! That’s SO sad!!! Star will NOT be the same without them!!!!
By kissing
November 15, 2007 3:20 AM | Link to this
He s specialty http://ginbras.blog.dieta.pl >girls in bras kissing the mission. Lunch sam spluttered.