I recently had lunch with the new B98.5 co-host Jeff Elliott, who arrived in Atlanta last fall.
Here are some highlights from my interview:
- He was originally a musician before becoming a DJ. He never became a big star. A girlfriend convinced him to get a more stable job so he tried radio. Stability is relative. And that girlfriend didn't stick around anyway.
- His first job was producing a radio show in Los Angeles for Gary Owen, the announcer from the classic show "Laugh In."
- Elliott got fired from his first on-air job at a top 40 station. Why? "My ego was out of control," he said. "It was a great lesson to me. Just do your work."
- He met his wife while working in Orange County and had his two daughters while in Greenville, S.C.
- He interviewed Larry Wachs (now of the Regular Guys) for a job two decades ago when he worked in Rochester, N.Y. Wachs went elsewhere. Now they are competing in Atlanta.
- Elliott had a great gig in Dallas for a few years but after getting divorce, he needed a change of scenery and ended up in West Palm Beach. "It's amazing how good radio is there," he said. Then his station was sold and he was out of work for seven months. Fortunately, Chris Eagen, program director at B98.5, called last summer.
- He liked Melissa Carter, his co host, right away. "She's smart. She's been in the market a long time. She's exactly the type of woman you'd want to be on the air with. She's genuine. She's passionate. She's competitive. All really strong qualities."
- His own selling points: "I'm a guy who's passionate about what I do. I'm a guy who's vulnerable. I'm a guy who's made a lot of mistakes and am not afraid to talk about them on air." For instance, when his ex-wife told him she was getting married to his former best friend, he talked about it.
- He has girlfriend of four years from South Africa named Azil.
- Keeping the show family friendly. Instead of saying the word "whore" recently, they used "w, rhymes with chore." And instead of saying sex, they use the euphemism "playing the piano." "People understand what you're talking about," he said. "They get it."
- His biggest hobby: golf. He used to play with the late great radio jock Kidd Kraddick in Dallas. Elliott's handicap was low. He could shoot in the mid-70s.
- He's a foodie. "If I mention a restaurant I like, will they give me free food?" he joked. He likes Muss & Turners in Smyrna, where he lives. There's a speak easy in the back called Eleanor's. He also likes South City Kitchen in Midtown. And he just had a birthday and Azil and he enjoyed Ray's on the River.
- Favorite B98.5 artist: John Mayer. "I've interviewed him a lot. He's a really good guy, uber intelligent."
B98.5 and ajc.com are both part of Cox Media Group.
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