Professional Career
On November 22, 2011 it was announced that Kevin would be podcasting as part of the Steve Dahl podcast a pay service offered by veteran Shock Jock Steve Dahl. His first podcast will be available December 2, 2011 to all subscribers. www.Dahl.com
As of November 17, 2011 Kevin Matthews is no longer with WLAV-FM in Grand Rapids, MI as part of the shakeout in Cumulus Media's takeover of Citadel Broadcasting.
Matthews, who returned to West Michigan five years ago to be the morning man on WLAV-FM (96.9) was removed and was replaced by veteran rock jocks Tony Gates and Michelle McKormick beginning Friday morning, November 18th.
Darrin Arriens, director of operations for Cumulus Media declined comment and Marcus Bradman, director of events and promotions for Cumulus in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, directed comments to Cumulus' corporate headquarters in Atlanta.
In a Facebook post, Matthews wrote: "I love you Kevheads so very much, thanks for the love back. What a wonderful group of human beings you are. We sure have had some laughs."
Sources include Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk with the Grand Rapids Press and WOOD-TV.
During the summer of 1986, KWK-FM brought Matthews to St. Louis from WLAV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but he was fired the next year. He was hired by WLUP-FM "The Loop" in March, 1987 as the weekday overnight and Sunday host. A month later, WMVP AM1000 started simulcasting The Loop, including Matthews' show. Soon thereafter, Matthews' show began broadcasting exclusively from the AM dial between Jonathon Brandmeier in the morning and Steve & Garry in the afternoon. During this era, Matthews made occasional comedy-concert appearances in the Chicago area, generally performing blue. He also promoted a line of clothing featuring himself and his characters. His fans were referred to as "Kev-Heads." During this phase of his career he looked remarkably like the title character in Willow played by Warwick Davis. Callers were fond of telling Kevin how much they enjoyed his work in Willow.
In September, 1993, just five months after renewing his contract to continue middays on AM1000, Matthews moved back to The Loop as morning man when it switched from album rock to talk, and AM1000 flipped to an all-sports format. In September 1996, he returned to AM1000 as midday host after its failed first attempt at sports-talk. In October 1997, he shifted from middays to afternoons, going up against former colleague Steve Dahl at WCKG 105.9.
Eleven months later, he ended his 11-year association with AM1000 and its former sister-station, The Loop, almost immediately signing on to do mornings at WXCD 94.7 (now WLS-FM). He lasted there until August 22, 2001, but would go on to WCKG 105.9 as midday host in 2002. He remained at WCKG until two days before his contract expired.
Kevin Matthews spent the summer of 2005 doing weekly thirty minute internet broadcasts, during which he proclaimed Chicago radio "dead". On September 8, 2005, it was announced that Matthews would be returning to Grand Rapids, Michigan to be the morning show host at WLAV-FM and Director of Program Development for Citadel Broadcasting.
Read more about this topic: Kevin Matthews (radio Personality)
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