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Favorite Radio Personality
33.8% Doc West (WXTW)*
Others with Votes (more than one):
* On the ballot | When I talked to him about what he was doing lately, Doc West, despite having only 20 minutes of sleep, sounded as articulate as ever. His familiar voice exuded enthusiasm as he told me about his Jamaican vacation, an annual trip he's hosted since 1990. "People down there are the nicest on Earth," West proclaimed. The day I spoke with him, he'd driven back from Chicago that morning (after spending 10 days in Jamaica), crashed on the floor of the studio for a few minutes and started his day doing what he does best: dominating Fort Wayne airwaves. "The all-inclusive all you can eat and drink trip is something West really enjoys. It's extremely musical and the people are great. "The people have respect," says West. Adding that it's all reggae and ska down there, he adds, "the only rock n' roll song I heard was, "You Shook Me All Night Long." Made famous by AC/DC, I think with a little work, it could be a reggae song." West knows people who have been to Jamaica 40 times, and some make it down there four times a year. He knows people who make a habit of bringing their families because of the warmth of the people and feeling of camaraderie. "It is that good," claims West. And so is West, after winning the best radio personality Whammy. He's been in the business a long time. It's safe to say that Fort Wayne radio is Doc West, and Doc West is Fort Wayne radio. There are only a few other long-time radio personalities in Fort Wayne. Listeners knew him as the mainstay of WXKE, but his main emphasis now is at Z94.1, whose format he describes as "classic, uptempo rock." He also slides over to X102 at midday and does news on WGL. All three are Travis Broadcasting stations. When I asked him about the future of Fort Wayne radio, West sees more competition, more "head to head combat, and not just in the area of rock n' roll." West didn't expect to win last Thursday. "I've never expected to win any of the other times," he says. "If it's one reason I won, it's because I'm very passionate (about music.) It's all about the musical community, and Jamaica." And why has he never expected to win? "I'm a shy guy." This, from a man who makes his living by being a very public figure? Yep. But then, a lot of successful people claim to be shy. And West is certainly entitled to his awards, because of his dedication to music. "I really appreciate it," he says of winning the award for what he loves to do. "I hope to rock 'til I drop." |
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