WWWQ-HD2 - Former 99X On-air Staff

Former 99X On-air Staff

• Steve Barnes. Joined 99X in December 1992. Started in afternoon drive, moved to mornings in April 1994. Co-hosted "The Morning X". Hosted the weekend Top 30 Countdown. Last song he played on-air was "California" by Phantom Planet. Left the station in October 2003 to produce and act in independent films (but also to wait out a non-compete with 99X). Launched a morning show called All Access on 92.9 Dave FM (WZGC-FM) in Atlanta on September 13, 2004, with co-host Holly Firfer, formally of CNN. Dave FM decided to go personality free in the morning, so he parted ways with DAVE in September 2006. He has played the character "Agent Drucker" on the FOX show Prison Break.
• Jimmy Baron. Joined 99X in 1994 as part of the morning show with Leslie Fram and Sean Demery. Shortly afterwards, Barnes replaced Sean, leading to the show named The Morning X. Stayed with the morning show through its various changes: The Morning X with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy; The Don Miller Morning Show; The Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Morning Show; and Mornings with Axel, Jimmy, and Leslie. Exited the morning show in early April 2006 in anticipation of the expiration of his contract on April 5, 2006 and officially announced his departure from 99X on Friday, April 28, 2006. Hosted mornings on WZGC until 2011, when he and his co-host Yvonne Monet (also a former 99X DJ) were released.
• Christopher "Crash" Clark. Began as a traffic reporter for Power 99, continued on 99X, eventually added to sister station Q100. Was suspended more than once while working at the station. Was fired at the end of November 2005 for a contest gone wrong. According to reports, Crash was hosting a remote at a club and was giving away pairs of tickets to a private 99X concert by 311. A woman approached and offered to perform oral sex on someone at the club for the tickets. Crash assumed she wouldn't actually go through with it (noting that people had offered to do the same at previous events and hadn't) and was planning to give her the tickets even if she didn't. However, she did go through with it in the men's bathroom, upsetting the club owners and 99X programming director Leslie Fram. Made a brief final appearance on air near the end of Toucher's final show on March 17, 2006, where Clark jokingly asked Fram to hire him back "for the fifth time". Currently involved in a radio show with Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb known as The Toucher and Rich Show on WBCN in Boston.
• Steve Craig. Started at Power 99 as "The Big Watusi". Worked middays at 99X for all of its existence at 99.7, including the hour-long retro show ("House of Retro Pleasure", "Duplex of Retro Pleasure", and "The Retroplex"). Was dismissed from the station on January 11, 2008 following the announcement of the move of Q100 to 99.7. Still under contract with Cumulus, Craig returned on April 7 briefly hosting middays on 99X.com/WWWQ HD2. Currently hosting mornings on an interim basis at WZGC.
• Sean Demery. Started at Power 99 as "Shotgun Sean". Co-hosted 99X's first morning show with Leslie Fram beginning in late 1992. In 1994, Demery moved to the afternoon drive, where he at one point hosted the Friday drive-time program The Swinging Velveeta Lounge. Also served as the station's Music Director. During his final sign-off with the station on January 7, 2000, his last words were, "I'm Sean Demery, and I was 99X," a reference to 99X's slogan "I am 99X". (He followed that by playing his last song, "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths.) Served as Programming Director at Live 105 in San Francisco until October 2006 when he rejoined 99X as a member of the New Morning X. Departed 99X again on December 4, 2007, to move to Utah to rejoin his wife. (Demery's wife remained in San Francisco during the fourteen months Demery was back on 99X.)
• Keith Eubanks. Occasionally ran shifts on both Power 99 and 99X as "Fast Freddy Luka". Also occasionally appeared as Will Pendarvis' "roommate" Wendell. Best known as the voice of the station throughout the 1990s. His off-the-cuff imitation of 99X's first voice guy (done when said voice guy, who worked out of town, was unavailable) eventually morphed into a famous whisper-spoken delivery that, within a few years, could be heard on stations throughout the country. He died in 2002 from complications of pneumonia. (His voice could still be heard on Atlanta radio as late as early 2004 on station IDs for the now-defunct 105.3 WMAX.) Keith Eubanks Tribute
• Leslie Fram. Joined Power 99 in 1990 as a member of "The Breakfast Club". Served as 99X's program director for most of its existence at 99.7. Was dismissed from the station on January 11, 2008 following the announcement of the move of Q100 to 99.7. Now Senior Vice President of Music Strategy at CMT One Country in Nashville.
• Keith Cunningham. Joined 99X in 1993. Started 99X as "Phone Boy" as named by Steve Barnes in Afternoon Drive. He continued to be a sidekick for Sean Demery and eventually helped out Steve Craig on the "House of Pleasure" earning the moniker "Retro Boy". Served as 99X's Programming Assistant until 1998. He left 99X to pursue a Record Company job with VelVel Records (The legendary Walter Yetnikoff's label). Then went to RoadRunner Records as Southeast Promotion Director and helped take Slipknot and Nickelback Platinum. He also worked for Clear Channel Atlanta as Marketing Assistant and Clear Channel Orlando as a Promotion Manager.
• Jay Harren. Joined 99X in 1997. Served as the station's music director from 2004 until his departure. Hosted "Sunday School" on Sunday nights, featuring off-the-playlist music. At the end of 2005, 99X's weekend programming was referred to as "99X On-Shuffle", with the concept being that the music was being supplied by Harren's iPod set to "shuffle". Harren has a neurological condition called synesthesia. In August 2004, he appeared in a brief CNN piece about the condition, coincidentally conducted by future All Access host Holly Firfer. Departed the station on Thursday, May 4, 2006, on the eve of Cumulus' acquisition of the station from Susquehanna. He is currently doing A&R for Columbia Records.
• Elliott Garstin. Host of "Sunday School", featuring independent and local bands. Replaced Jay Harren as MD in 2006. Departed 99x on January 22, 2008, just prior to the format flip.
• Doug Harding. Started at 99X as an intern in 1993. Primarily hosted weekends. Broadcast 99X's final shift.
• Matt "Organic" Jones. Generally hosted weekday overnights. Hosted a long-time Sunday morning specialty show, "Organic X", which featured a softer and more acoustic side of alternative music. Started at Album 88 and moved to Springfield as a PD for Channel Z, before returning to Atlanta to join 99X.
• Axel Lowe. Joined 99X in 1993. Worked nights after the departure of Will Pendarvis in 1995 before moving to afternoons. Temporarily helmed the morning show from spring until late September 2006. Also hosted "Southern Home by Design" on Turner South. Moved to Rock 100.5 after the frequency switch, now back on 99X for the morning drive.
• Jill. Joined 99X in 1998. Worked full-time before shifting to occasional, part-time shifts. Currently teaches American Literature, as well as working for Dave FM on Saturdays.
• Yvonne Monet. Joined 99X in 1992. Hosted the dance oriented show The Beat Factory, "X-Cellerator" and "The Pleasuredome" with Dr. Roger Libby. Moved to a Susquehanna station in Dallas in 1999 before returning to Atlanta in 2004. Currently owns a tennis company. Yvonne Monet's website.
• Will Pendarvis. Started at Power 99 in September 1992, hosting a nightly alternative music program called "Power 99 On the Edge", a precursor to 99X's format change nearly two months later. The show continued simply as "On the Edge" following the format change to 99X. Left the station in 1995. Worked mornings at Washington, DC's DC 101 before moving to New York's K-Rock 92.3. Currently works at Sirius Satellite Radio on the "Faction Rock Radio" channel.

• Chris Williams. Worked at the station from the late 90s until June 2004, variously as assistant program director, music director, and lastly program director. Was suspended, and later fired, from the station by General Manager, Mark Renier following the airing of a controversial spot on the Don Miller Morning Show in June 2004. He became program director at 105.3 the Buzz in 2005 and interim program director of 96rock in the summer of 2006. The two stations were merged into Project 9-6-1 with an active rock format in November 2006. Williams became program director thereafter.
• Tim Andrews. Producer for The New Morning X. Joined 99X in 2007. Previously worked with the Regular Guys on 96 Rock and is now back with them at WNNX Rock 100.5 in Atlanta.
• Ben. Was the voice of cross-town competitor WBZY when it went on the air in 2002 under the on-air name "Roach". Joined 99X in 2004 and departed in May 2007.
• Monti Carlo. Joined the New Morning X for its first three weeks before moving to Seattle to start as an afternoon and morning DJ at KQMV. She is now currently out of the radio business.
• Melissa Carter. Was the news reporter on 99X for several years. Became part of the Bert Show when Q100 was launched. Currently working on The Bert Show on Q100 in Atlanta, and co-host of the former Radio With A TWIST syndicated radio program (with Dennis Hensley and Will Wikle).
• Carter, aka Bob Carter. First joined 99X after graduating from Georgia State University as yet another alum from the college radio powerhouse, Album 88 (WRAS). Worked with Cartoon Network's George Lowe (voice of Space Ghost) to produce the vast majority of commercials on 99X 1994-1996 before becoming Production Director and Air Talent from 1996-1999. Carter was 99's "X-Man" known for late night club appearances and events around the city. Carter won a "Spotlight on North American Opera" award with the Atlanta Opera while representing the station as well as several Achievements In Radio Awards for Commercial Production. He later joined Yvonne Monet in Dallas in 2000 on Merge 93.3 FM. Most recently, Carter returned to Atlanta and is currently on Dave FM, 92.9 in the mornings with Jimmy and Yvonne. He is also an accomplished anime and video game voice talent.
• Cat. Nights and weekends. Started 2003, departed 2004 for Rock 104 in Asheville, NC.
• Jeff Clark. Hosted a Sunday night free-form music program called Fear of Music during the first few years of 99X.
• Tom Clark, aka "Major Tom" (brother of Crash). Worked mornings on Power 99 (as part of "The Breakfast Club"), and continued on mornings after the format change to 99X. Left the station in the mid-90s. Last seen on Atlanta airwaves working mornings on the now-defunct Mix 105.7 / Cool 105.7. He has recently been seen in Huddle House television commercials, and co-hosted the former WXIA-TV produced mid-morning program Peachtree Morning from 1997-1998.
• Christopher Calandro. Associate producer, traffic reporter, phone screener for the morning shows, charged with "tertiary character casting". Injured during a stunt with Fat Kid on October 30, 2004, and spent months off the air battling a staph infection in his right knee. Was let go from 99X in June 2005. Before 99X, did traffic for WSB-AM and WSB-TV. Also produced the Regular Guys' show on Atlanta's 96 Rock under the nickname "Radio Boy" from 1999-2001. Currently a race announcer with Atlanta's Big Peach Running Company.
• Dekker. Worked nights at cross-town competitor WBZY before moving to 99X in March 2005. Worked nights until September 2007, when he was moved to manager of 99x's AV Room. Departed 99X at the end of 2007. Now works at WFAN-FM in New York City under his real name of Greg.
• Alicia Culver. Worked part-time doing various shifts on both Power 99 and 99X from 1988 to 1995. Died in her home in Lithia Springs, Ga., on December 22, 2008, of a brain aneurysm. She was 46 years old.

• Rick Stacy. Worked mornings for Power 99 (on "The Breakfast Club") and was MD/PD of the station during the transition to 99X. Departed 99X a few months after the format change. Now at WOCL/Orlando.
• Domino. Worked mornings for Power 99 (on "The Breakfast Club") and transitioned over to 99X, retaining morning show host. Departed 99X a few months after the change. Now at WOCL/Orlando.
• Fred Toucher. Joined 99X as an intern in 1999. Moved to air-staff full-time, working over-nights for several years before switching to mornings following the departure of Steve Barnes. Made his last appearance on 99X on March 17, 2006. Currently hosting a radio show with Rich Shertenlieb and Crash Clark known as The Toucher and Rich Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. Fred Toucher's website

• English Nick. Joined 99X in 2006 from 96 Rock. Worked part-time.
• Eric the Web Gangsta. First appeared on The Morning X in 1999, covering all aspects of the Internet, video games, computers, and assorted new technology for listeners. He reported live from the floor of E³ and from the first-day-of-sales for the PlayStation 2. He also did commentary with Matt Jones on the station's public affairs program on technology issues. He also wrote articles for the station's listener magazine 99Xpress. He is currently a monthly contributor to Morning Mouth magazine, a trade publication for radio morning shows. He left in October 2007 to run internet media for Cox Communications.
• Mitch Evans, sports/traffic. He worked briefly for the morning show in the spring of 2006. He left the show in the summer of 2006.Now Sports Director at WGST and pre/post game show host on the Atlanta Braves radio network.
• Dave Hill. Previously worked at Album 88. Currently a PD at 98 Rock in Baltimore.
• Rob Jenners. Joined 99X with the creation of The New Morning X in October 2006. Previously worked at Miami's BIG 105.9. Departed 99X on the announcement of the move of Q100 to 99.7 on January 11, 2008.
• Just Dave.
• Klinger. Alumni of Album 88. Currently hosting mornings on Project 9-6-1 in Atlanta.
• James Knight. Currently working in LA on James Cameron's Avatar. Radio was a hobby until Feb of 2007, when he moved to LA. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2595922/
• Margot. She now does nights at Dave FM.
• Mark Owens. Producer for the New Morning X. Was on sister station Q100's as "Phil Terrana", The Bert Show Assistant Producer/Man on the Street. Before that was 99X's Saturday overnight DJ. "Phil Terrana" is the real name of long-time Atlanta-area morning show host Steve McCoy.
• Jeremy Powell - "Fat Kid". Cast during the "Toucher 6-Day Morning Show," a precursor to the Toucher, Jimmy, & Leslie Show. He started as an intern and then was hired as an associate producer for the TJL Morning Show. Fat Kid was arrested twice while performing stunts for the morning show. He was let go on January 13, 2006 due to budget cuts. He worked nights at "96-5 The Mountain" in Chattanooga, Tennessee from June 2006 - September 2007. Fat Kid was recently fired from KQYK 95.7 The Blaze in Mankato, MN after Minnesota State University, Mankato took offense to his on-air comments of a hockey cheerleader.Fat Kid's infamous fooling gets him fired The audio that got Fat Kid fired is posted on YouTube. Currently, Fat Kid is podcasting from his home and searching for another radio job. www.Fat-Kid-Rocks.com
• Mark Renier. General manager of 99X from its inception until May 2006.
• Brian Sack. Did commercial work for the station in the late 1990s, including "Angry Brian" bits. Now the public viewer on the Glenn Beck Program on CNN Headline News.
• Rich Shertenlieb. Started as an intern for the Morning X, soon turned into the show's stunt guy. Most famous for his protest of Martha Burk at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he held up a sign that said "Make Me Dinner/Iron My Shirt". This stunt was covered by ESPN and hundreds of other news organizations. Also received recognition for rescuing a carjacking victim. Before 99X, he co-hosted Tech Talk on WREK while a management student at Georgia Tech. After leaving 99X, worked on Kidd Kraddick in the Morning in Dallas through December 2005. Currently hosting a radio show, with former 99X'ers Fred Toucher and Crash Clark, known as The Toucher and Rich Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.
• Twisted Todd.
• Gary "Wally" Wallace, former morning show director for the Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Show. Formerly known as "Zippy" from Radio Disney. Quit 99X on April 14, 2006, following a dispute with incoming station management about his involvement in the morning show. Currently hosting Total Axxess on the WAY-FM Network.
• Whip. Joined 99X in 2004. Covered the evening shift. Left in May 2005 to become the morning host at 105.3 the Buzz. He was let go from the Buzz in November 2006 when that station merged with 96rock to become Project 9-6-1.
• Jeff Woodall. Earned a station shift by winning 99X's "Quit Your Day Job" contest in 2004.
• BJ Kinard. Original program director for 99X.com and when 99X first returned to the airwaves. Left the station in mid-2010. Now on "96.1 KZQ" (WKZQ) in Myrtle Beach.