Rick Rydell
Encyclopedia
Rick Rydell is an American talk radio
host, outdoorsman, writer and author. Rydell has enjoyed a long career in radio, most prominently with various stations in Anchorage, Alaska
. He is currently the morning drive-time host on Anchorage station KENI
.
, growing up in a working class family. His mother worked for Boeing
as a general laborer, while his father worked as a tool maker for Heath Tecna, a supplier to Boeing. Rydell had three older sisters, one of whom had Down Syndrome
and died at age 3. He spent his second birthday in a hospital with his father, who was recovering from cancer-induced amputation of one of his legs.
At the beginning of second grade the family moved to Payette, Idaho
for a new job. It lasted only eight months. The family then moved to Billings, Montana
where his father began a new career in radio.
When Rydell was 16, his parents told him to find a job or move out. In response, he did both. His baseball coach was the program director at KGHL
, and offered him a job, with one condition: changing his last name to avoid confusion with his father's radio program. Rick Rydell was born.
with following gigs in KXYQ and KMJK in Portland, Oregon
, then a two-year stint in Cleveland at WNCX
. Rydell was the anchor on morning show that launched Mike Trivisonno
and Todd Brandt into radio fame.
He was fired in 1990 and moved to Anchorage, Alaska
. There, he was hired at a relatively new station, KBFX
. Various stations had floundered at the 100.5 frequency in Anchorage for over a decade before it was relaunched as KBFX, playing a classic rock
format. Rydell spent a number of years during the early and mid 1990s as KBFX's morning show host, the last several years with co-host Jackie Purcell, the weather director for Anchorage television station KTUU. Being fired in 1996, Rydell suddenly found himself out of work. He spent several years away from Anchorage and away from radio, mostly working in construction. He returned to Anchorage and made the transition to talk radio in 2001, following the retirement of KENI
's longtime morning host Dick Lobdell.
Rydell's program focused on local and state politics and current events. It shot up from 17th to #1 in six months where it has stayed at, or near the top ever since. Rydell now broadcasts weekday mornings on KENI. Rydell previously simulcast his show to Fairbanks
station KFBX
, as well as contributed commentaries to the station's newscasts.
Amongst Rydell's awards for his various radio programs, he was named "Best Morning Show" by The Oregonian
in 1988, "Best Comedy Series" in 1994, "Best Radio Show" in 2005, and "Most Uniquely Alaskan Radio Show" in 2006 by the Alaska Broadcasters Association. Rydell himself was named Alaska Republican
Man of the Year for 2004 by the Republican Party of Alaska
.
with his wife Susan. He has frequently mentioned on the air over the years that he is a booster of the programs of South Anchorage High School
.
He has also worked as a mechanic, lead singer of multiple rock bands, a hunting and fishing guide, and as a contractor.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host, outdoorsman, writer and author. Rydell has enjoyed a long career in radio, most prominently with various stations in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. He is currently the morning drive-time host on Anchorage station KENI
KENI
KENI is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Anchorage, Alaska, USA, the station serves the Southcentral Alaska area...
.
Early life
Richard Green was born on September 29, 1963 in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, growing up in a working class family. His mother worked for Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
as a general laborer, while his father worked as a tool maker for Heath Tecna, a supplier to Boeing. Rydell had three older sisters, one of whom had Down Syndrome
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
and died at age 3. He spent his second birthday in a hospital with his father, who was recovering from cancer-induced amputation of one of his legs.
At the beginning of second grade the family moved to Payette, Idaho
Payette, Idaho
Payette is a city in and the county seat of Payette County, Idaho, United States. The population was 7,054 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area....
for a new job. It lasted only eight months. The family then moved to Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
where his father began a new career in radio.
When Rydell was 16, his parents told him to find a job or move out. In response, he did both. His baseball coach was the program director at KGHL
KGHL (AM)
KGHL is a radio station broadcasting a Classic Country format. Licensed to Billings, Montana, USA, the station serves the Billings area. The station is currently owned by BMG Billings, LLC and features programing from CBS Radio. The station runs at 5,000 watts day, 1,800 watts night....
, and offered him a job, with one condition: changing his last name to avoid confusion with his father's radio program. Rick Rydell was born.
Radio career
Rydell first gained notoriety in radio in Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
with following gigs in KXYQ and KMJK in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, then a two-year stint in Cleveland at WNCX
WNCX
WNCX — branded 98.5 WNCX — is commercial radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, broadcasting a classic rock format. The station's studios are currently located in Cleveland's historic Halle Building, in the Playhouse Square District...
. Rydell was the anchor on morning show that launched Mike Trivisonno
Mike Trivisonno
Mike Trivisonno is a Radio Broadcaster, best known for hosting his own self-titled afternoon talk show on Cleveland radio station WTAM-AM/1100...
and Todd Brandt into radio fame.
He was fired in 1990 and moved to Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. There, he was hired at a relatively new station, KBFX
KBFX (FM)
KBFX is a commercial classic rock music radio station in Anchorage, Alaska.-History:The station began as KHVN, playing a religious format. It underwent several changes in both format and callsigns throughout the 1970s and 1980s....
. Various stations had floundered at the 100.5 frequency in Anchorage for over a decade before it was relaunched as KBFX, playing a classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format. Rydell spent a number of years during the early and mid 1990s as KBFX's morning show host, the last several years with co-host Jackie Purcell, the weather director for Anchorage television station KTUU. Being fired in 1996, Rydell suddenly found himself out of work. He spent several years away from Anchorage and away from radio, mostly working in construction. He returned to Anchorage and made the transition to talk radio in 2001, following the retirement of KENI
KENI
KENI is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Anchorage, Alaska, USA, the station serves the Southcentral Alaska area...
's longtime morning host Dick Lobdell.
Rydell's program focused on local and state politics and current events. It shot up from 17th to #1 in six months where it has stayed at, or near the top ever since. Rydell now broadcasts weekday mornings on KENI. Rydell previously simulcast his show to Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
station KFBX
KFBX
KFBX is a commercial radio station programming talk in Fairbanks, Alaska, broadcasting on 970 AM. It airs hourly news updates through ABC News Radio. It is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications....
, as well as contributed commentaries to the station's newscasts.
Amongst Rydell's awards for his various radio programs, he was named "Best Morning Show" by The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
in 1988, "Best Comedy Series" in 1994, "Best Radio Show" in 2005, and "Most Uniquely Alaskan Radio Show" in 2006 by the Alaska Broadcasters Association. Rydell himself was named Alaska Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Man of the Year for 2004 by the Republican Party of Alaska
Republican Party of Alaska
The Republican Party of Alaska is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage.It is the dominant or majority party in Alaska. Following the elections of 2008, Republicans hold the following statewide executive offices:*Governor*Lt...
.
Personal life
Rydell lives in South AnchorageAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
with his wife Susan. He has frequently mentioned on the air over the years that he is a booster of the programs of South Anchorage High School
South Anchorage High School
South Anchorage High School is a public high school that serves grades 9-12 in Anchorage, Alaska, as well as students from the neighboring Turnagain Arm communities of Girdwood and Indian. South Anchorage High School is part of the Anchorage School District, and opened in the fall of 2004...
.
He has also worked as a mechanic, lead singer of multiple rock bands, a hunting and fishing guide, and as a contractor.
Chronological list of radio stations worked
- KGHLKGHL (AM)KGHL is a radio station broadcasting a Classic Country format. Licensed to Billings, Montana, USA, the station serves the Billings area. The station is currently owned by BMG Billings, LLC and features programing from CBS Radio. The station runs at 5,000 watts day, 1,800 watts night....
- Billings, MontanaBillings, MontanaBillings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over... - KXLOKXLOKXLO is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Lewistown, Montana, USA. The station is currently owned by Kxlo Broadcast. Radio host Rick Rydell started his radio career at KXLO.-History:...
/KLCMKLCMKLCM is a radio station licensed to serve Lewistown, Montana. The station is owned by Montana Broadcast Communications, Inc. It airs a combined Classic rock and Modern Rock music format....
- Lewistown, MontanaLewistown, MontanaLewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls... - KREM (FM) - Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
- KOJMKOJMKOJM is a radio station licensed to serve Havre, Montana. The station is owned by New Media Broadcasters, Inc. It airs a Classic Hits music format.The station was assigned the KOJM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission....
/KPQXKPQXKPQX is a radio station licensed to serve Havre, Montana. The station is owned by New Media Broadcasters Inc. It airs a Country music format.The station was assigned the KPQX call letters by the Federal Communications Commission....
- Havre, MontanaHavre, MontanaHavre is a city in, and the county seat of, Hill County, Montana, United States. It is said to be named after the city of Le Havre in France. The population was 9,621 at the 2000 census.-History:... - KZLS - Billings
- KZBQKZBQKZBQ is a radio station broadcasting a format. Licensed to Pocatello, Idaho, USA, the station serves the Pocatello area. The station is currently owned by Idaho Wireless Corporation....
- Pocatello, IdahoPocatello, IdahoPocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock... - KWLS (now KMMM) - Pratt, KansasPratt, KansasPratt is a city in and the county seat of Pratt County in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,835. Pratt is home to Pratt Community College.-19th century:Pratt was founded in 1884 and named after Caleb S...
- KBLI - Blackfoot, IdahoBlackfoot, IdahoBlackfoot is a city in Bingham County, Idaho, United States. The population was 10,419 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Bingham County. Blackfoot is self-designated the "Potato Capital of the World", because it claims to have the largest potato industry in the world...
- KTKUKTKUKTKU is a commercial country music radio station in Juneau, Alaska, broadcasting on 105.1 FM. It is located at the Juneau Radio Center, at 3161 Channel Drive with its sister stations KINY, KJNO and KSUP...
- Juneau, AlaskaJuneau, AlaskaThe City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900... - KZZU - Spokane
- KJRBKJRBKJRB is a news/talk radio station in Spokane, Washington, United States currently owned by Mapleton License of Spokane, LLC.-History:KJRB has had a long and colorful history showcasing many famous announcers including Randy Evans and Treasure Goodtimes , Larry Lujack, Charlie Brown, Norm Gregory,...
/KEZEKEZEKEZE , "Hot 96.9") is a rhythmic contemporary formatted radio station licensed to Spokane, Washington, USA. The Morgan Murphy Media station broadcasts at 96.9 MHz on the FM dial with an effective radiated power of 8.2 kW...
- Spokane - KKZXKKZXKKZX is a classic rock radio station serving the Spokane, Washington, area. The station offers up a steady diet of rock music hits from the 1960s to the early 1990s, along with colorful personalities such as venerable C. Foster Kane, Jim Arnold and Jeff Downz. The station broadcasts with an ERP of...
- Spokane - KMJKKLTHKLTH is an Oldies/Classic Hits formatted radio station located in the Portland, Oregon, area and broadcasts at 106.7 FM. KLTH's studios are located in downtown Portland and its transmitter is located in Portland's west hills...
- Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States... - WNCXWNCXWNCX — branded 98.5 WNCX — is commercial radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, broadcasting a classic rock format. The station's studios are currently located in Cleveland's historic Halle Building, in the Playhouse Square District...
- Cleveland, OhioCleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border... - KBFXKBFX (FM)KBFX is a commercial classic rock music radio station in Anchorage, Alaska.-History:The station began as KHVN, playing a religious format. It underwent several changes in both format and callsigns throughout the 1970s and 1980s....
- Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, AlaskaAnchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States... - KNIKKNLTKKSR is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Walla Walla, Washington, the station serves the Tri-Cities area. The station is currently owned by New Northwest Broadcasters, LLC.-History:...
- Anchorage - KENIKENIKENI is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Anchorage, Alaska, USA, the station serves the Southcentral Alaska area...
- Anchorage
External links
- Home page at KENI
- http://2005.am970.com/pages/programs.html
- Directory listing at 440.com
- http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed14.shtml