Russ Martin
Russ Martin (born October 4, 1960) is an American radio personality in Dallas, Texas. Martin currently hosts the The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas. Martin has been working in the Dallas radio market for over 20 years.
Biography
Martin grew up in Pleasant Grove, a large, working-class neighborhood in southeast Dallas, where he graduated from W.W. Samuell High School. Martin's radio career began in the 1980s at KGVL 1400 AM in Greenville, Texas, working 6 p.m. to midnight running the board for religious programs.[1]
In 1982 Martin was hired by KTLR 107.1 FM in Terrell, Texas, to play country music on weekends. A year later in 1983 he was hired by KAAM 1310 AM in Dallas as a part-time weekend disc jockey. In 1986 Martin was hired for another part-time position by the Satellite Music Network for an oldies format, and later worked part-time for Z-Rock while still working at KAAM and KAFM.[2]
In 1987 Martin was hired by top 40 station KEGL, "The Eagle", in Dallas. He also hosted a talk show on Sunday nights at KEGL. He hosted the television shows Hot TV and Hot Tickets which ran from 1988 to 1994 on the then local FOX affiliate KDAF.[3]
Charity Work
Known for his local charity work, Martin founded The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation in 2002 which benefits the families of police officers and firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty. The Foundation also coordinates an annual parade called the Heroes Day Parade. In 2006 he formed "The Russ Martin Show Experience", a band made up of RMS cast members, regular guests and local musicians. The band performs rock cover songs at live venues and at an annual "White Trash Party" to raise money for charity.[4] The shows benefit The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation.[5]
Russ also serves on the advisory board at Operation Kindness, a no-kill animal shelter in Carrollton, Texas.[6]
Personality
Interests
Martin is well-known for his fascination with the 1960s television show character Batman as portrayed by Adam West, as well as his near-obsession with James Garner as the character Jim Rockford. Martin also owns a collection of classic TV show cars such as a Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee replica[7], two 1966 Batmobile replica's, and a replica of the Mach Five from the cartoon, Speed Racer.[8]
The Russ Martin Show
The current incarnation of The Russ Martin Show began following the departure of The Howard Stern Show from KEGL. In 1997 he was asked to fill morning drive timeslot. Within two years, Martin's ratings had surpassed those of Dallas veteran radio personality Ron Chapman's ratings.[9]
In 2000, Martin left KEGL following a contract dispute. The Russ Martin Show reappeared on KYNG, a station that had previously been country-western music. Martin began his first show at KYNG on April 6, 2000, once again filling the morning drive timeslot. When Howard Stern was picked up by KYNG, The Russ Martin Show moved from its morning drive slot to 3-7pm. In 2003 KYNG changed its call letters to KLLI and took on the Live 105.3 branding.
The Russ Martin Show has had consistently high ratings for KLLI since his show debuted on 105.3.[10] In 2005 D Magazine named Martin best radio talk show host in the DFW area.[11]
See also
External links
- Live 105.3 KLLI official site
- Russ Martin Show FAQ and Audio Archives
- Official Spittleville Website
- Operation Kindness
- Harder Beat Magazine article
- The Heroes Parade
- Reward Increased In Animal Cruelty Case from Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA
- KEGL Morning Team Rises article from the Dallas Morning News
- Martin Leaves KEGL article from the Dallas Morning News
- 2001 Fall Arbitron Ratings article from the Dallas Morning News
- Fast Times At Russ Martin High article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Best Radio Yakety-Yakker article from D Magazine
References
- ^ RussMartin.INFO - Who is Russ Martin?
- ^ RussMartin.INFO - Who is Russ Martin?
- ^ Published on December 5, 2004, Page 1D, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
- ^ Live 105.3
- ^ The Russ Martin Show
- ^ http://www.operationkindness.org/AnimalSponsor/MercyService_RussMartinSpeech.pdf
- ^ RussMartin.INFO - 2007-04-03
- ^ RussMartin.INFO - Who is Russ Martin?
- ^ The Dallas Morning News 10/22/1999
- ^ The Dallas Morning News 1/27/2002
- ^ D Magazine August, 2005