Brett Heartz

Episode 94: A tribute to Kerry Gray

97X, podcast

Kerry Gray was the program director at 97X in the late 80s/early 90s, and a radio “lifer.” He was a real live wire – super-energetic, enthusiastic, funny as heck… and also completely into the music. In fact, Kerry and Phil Manning teamed up to expand the back catalogue of the station, and they also launched the first ever “Modern Rock 500” in 1989.

In this episode, Julie Maxwell, Julie Maxwell, Jeff Rohrs, Mike Taylor and Steve Baker join Dave and Damian to share their remembrances, and the episode wraps up with some archival audio of Kerry and Brett Heartz on-air at 97X back in October of 1989.

Kerry also launched the radio career of “Bubba the Love Sponge” – whom Kerry met at a nightclub in Terre Haute, Indiana, then brought onto his show as an intern. In 2016, Kerry was on his way a new job as co-host of a syndicated morning show with Bubba in Florida when he was in a car accident. At the hospital, testing revealed multiple tumors on his brain… and Kerry battled brain cancer for a year before passing away in March of 2017 at the age of 50.

Very fitting that Kerry’s celebration of life was a dance party.

KERRY began his radio career at 15 and spent 30+ years in radio, which included WEQX/MANCHESTER, VT-ALBANY, NY, KBCO/DENVER, WEDG (103.3 THE EDGE)/BUFFALO, and CJXY (Y108)/HAMILTON, ON.  

KERRY had a larger-than-life personality and a really great heart. His presence made people around him want to be better. He was one of the sweetest and weirdest guys I ever knew.” — former WEDG Program Director James Kurdziel

Source

Kerry Gray, far left, tailgating for the Indy 500.

Dave Tellmann at left, with Kerry Gray and Bubba the Love Sponge (both leaning on car – Bubba in red jacket).

In the episode, we talk about Kerry’s car catching fire in the Oxford parking lot of 97X. Here’s the aftermath:

Brett Heartz and Kerry do their car show model impersonation.

Episode 60: Hungry for more Brett Heartz

97X, podcast

Here’s Part Deux of our chat with Brett Heartz, who bookended his long and illustrious radio career with stints at 97X in the late 80s and 2004. This episode includes the on-air banter between Brett and the late Kerry Grey when an earthquake struck the San Francisco area during a 1989 World Series game between the SF Giants and the Oakland A’s, as well as Brett’s tales of corporate radio (spoiler alert: it sucks). 

Brett talks about Kerry Grey’s car catching fire and burning in the 97X parking lot – here’s visual proof:

Looks like the 97X bumper sticker survived…
Kerry at left, Brett on the right (and on the hood)
Hot Wheels supermodels Brett & Kerry

Brett saved a couple of “six pack suggestion” letters that truly showcase the creativity of 97X listeners.

This one was like a pop-up book – you had to open the windows and doors of the house to reveal the songs:

episode 59: You Gotta Have (Brett) Heartz

97X, podcast

Brett Heartz got the 97X bug when he was in high school, a fever that was aided and abetted by his interview with Danny Crash and Mr. K for a cable-access program. Thanks to his Mr. K connection, he wound up working on-air at 97X in the late 80s (and being roommates with Phil Manning). His long career in radio came full circle 15 years later when he returned to 97X for weekend shifts before the terrestrial station signed off in 2004. We talk to Brett about Hamilton’s “Modern Rock Mafia,” limo rides to REM, backstage at Bogart’s, and random encounters with fellow 97Xers in The Big Easy.

Brett’s in the back row, 2nd from the right

Here’s Brett’s 1985 interview with Danny Crash and Mr. K when Brett was in a Broadcasting Arts class at Hamilton High School:

Brett also shared some newspaper clippings and other memorabilia from his time at 97X in the late 80s.

Those arrows seem overly ambitious… but perhaps with an aluminum foil antenna!

In case you were wondering (or maybe it was just us), the Canadian band called The Grapes of Wrath broke up in 1992, but reunited in 2010, were inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018 and still play gigs.

Hamilton, Ohio: Center of the Modern Rock Universe

97X, Music

Here’s an absolute gem: a Hamilton High School-produced TV show from 1985. This episode is guest-hosted by Brett Heartz, who later went on to work at 97X. His guests were:

  1. Dan “Danny Crash” Reed, who also worked at 97X, WFPK in Louisville, WNKU, managed Bogart’s and now serves as afternoon host and music director for WXPN in Philadelphia as well as Talent Relations Manager for the syndicated World Cafe program.
  2. Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell, who worked at 97X, WEBN and 92.5 The Fox until his tragic passing from injuries due to a motorcycle accident in 2008.

In other words, it’s one radio legend interviewing two others. Dan and Mr. K were at 97X at the time of this show, so they talk about the station quite a bit.

It’s well worth noting that all three of these gents go started on their radio path thanks to the Broadcasting Arts class at Hamilton High School. What Dan says in the interview is spot on: the opportunity to work on radio and TV productions in high school gives students a leg up in their career path.

According to the YouTube description, the Broadcasting Arts class ran from 1981-1988 at Hamilton HS. Probably a victim of budget cuts, or perhaps the teacher who organized it moved on. I’m sure there are far fewer classes like this in 2020 than there were in 1985, and that’s a crying shame. Because this show is a great indication of how a passion for music can be channeled into a career.

Show some heart for Brett Heartz

97X

Former 97X DJ Brett Heartz needs our help. About a year ago, he was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which is incurable. He’s currently on “the list” of folks who need kidney donors, and it could be years before a suitable donor is found.

In the interim, his wife Wendy has given up her management role for an hourly, overnight position so she can help with home dialysis, doctor appointments, treatments, etc. And the medical bills are mounting.

The GoFundMe is here, and I urge you to read the whole story.

Every donation helps.