Russ Martin
Encyclopedia
Russell Dale Martin is an American
radio
shock jock in Dallas, Texas
. He has worked in the Dallas radio market for over 26 years. Martin hosted the #1 rated The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, until December 8, 2008 when KLLI switched to an all-sports format. On July 12, 2010, Martin returned to radio with his new morning show on 97.1 The Eagle (KEGL). After a brief hiatus where the station claimed Russ was sick with the flu it was announced the show would be moving to afternoons.
, working 6 p.m. to midnight running the board for religious programs.
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.
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
.
work, Martin founded The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation in 2002 which benefits the families of police officer
s and firefighter
s 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. The shows benefit The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation.
Russ also serves on the advisory board at Operation Kindness
, a no-kill animal shelter
in Carrollton, Texas
.
show character Batman
as portrayed by Adam West
, as well as his near-obsession with James Garner
and the character Jim Rockford
. Martin also owns a collection of classic TV show cars such as a Dukes of Hazzard
's General Lee
replica, two 1966 Batmobile
replicas, a replica of the Mach Five
from the cartoon, Speed Racer
, and most recently the 1976 Ford Grand Torino from Starsky and Hutch
.
The first 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 time slot. Within two years, Martin's ratings had surpassed those of Dallas veteran radio personality Ron Chapman's ratings.
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 time slot. 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 had consistently high ratings for KLLI since his show debuted on 105.3. In 2005 D Magazine named Martin best radio talk show host in the DFW area.
In December 2008, Live 105.3 changed its format to include more live sports programming, and Martin was eliminated during the switch.
On July 1, 2010 97.1FM KEGL ran a promo announcing the return of The Russ Martin show. The show began airing on July 12, 2010 in the 6am-10am time slot.
On September 14, 2011 97.1FM KEGL stopped airing the show. The reason or state of the show is unknown as of yet. Rumors that 97.1 KEGL will flip to a Country format have arisen due in part to the web address: www.971thebull.com directing users to www.kegl.com As of September 19th 2011 www.kegl.com still contained both advertising and marketing material referencing Russ Martin.
On September 22, 2011 Chris Ryan (on air talent for 97.1 KEGL FM) announced the Russ Martin Show would be moving to the 3pm - 7pm time slot beginning Monday September 26, 2011. This marks the first time since 2008 that the Russ Martin Show will air in Dallas during afternoon drive time.
home. Martin was jailed for a short time before posting a $10,000 bail and being released. On July 10, 2009, Russ Martin pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor assault in a Fort Worth criminal court and received two years deferred adjudication.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
shock jock in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. He has worked in the Dallas radio market for over 26 years. Martin hosted the #1 rated The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, until December 8, 2008 when KLLI switched to an all-sports format. On July 12, 2010, Martin returned to radio with his new morning show on 97.1 The Eagle (KEGL). After a brief hiatus where the station claimed Russ was sick with the flu it was announced the show would be moving to afternoons.
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, TexasGreenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
, working 6 p.m. to midnight running the board for religious programs.
In 1982 Martin was hired by KTLR
KRVF
KRVF is a country music formatted radio station licensed to Kerens, Texas. This station transmits on rimshot frequency 106.9 FM and is owned and operated by LKCM Radio Group....
107.1 FM in Terrell, Texas
Terrell, Texas
Terrell is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States, and a southeastern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,606...
, to play country music on weekends. A year later in 1983 he was hired by KAAM
KAAM
KAAM, known as "K-Double-A-M", is an AM radio station broadcasting in the Dallas/Fort Worth "Metroplex" with a format of oldies/standards, and program length commercials...
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
Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
for an oldies format, and later worked part-time for Z-Rock while still working at KAAM and KAFM.
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
KDAF
KDAF, virtual channel 33 , is a CW-affiliated television station serving the Dallas-Fort Worth television market area. The station is licensed to Dallas and owned by the Tribune Company with its studios located off the John W. Carpenter Freeway in northwest Dallas. The station's transmitter is...
.
Charity work
Known for his local charityCharitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
work, Martin founded The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation in 2002 which benefits the families of police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s and firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s who have fallen in the line of duty. The Foundation also coordinates an annual parade called the Heroes Day Parade
Heroes Day Parade
Formerly known as the Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation Police and Fire Parade, the Heroes Day Parade is an annual event in North Texas to celebrate the role of Police and Fire workers as well as the military in protecting our lives everyday....
. 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. The shows benefit The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation.
Russ also serves on the advisory board at Operation Kindness
Operation Kindness
Operation Kindness, founded in 1976 in Carrollton, Texas, is a 501 non-profit organization and the oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Its income is derived from donations....
, a no-kill animal shelter
No-kill Shelter
A kill shelter is an animal shelter where animals are euthanized if they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be suitable for adoption or due to lack of shelter space...
in Carrollton, Texas
Carrollton, Texas
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
.
Interests
Russ Martin's interests include 1960s televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show character Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
as portrayed by Adam West
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
, as well as his near-obsession with James Garner
James Garner
James Garner is an American film and television actor, one of the first Hollywood actors to excel in both media. He has starred in several television series spanning a career of more than five decades...
and the character Jim Rockford
Jim Rockford
Jim Rockford is a fictional character on the television series The Rockford Files. The character, played by James Garner, is a struggling private investigator operating in Los Angeles....
. Martin also owns a collection of classic TV show cars such as a Dukes of Hazzard
Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
's General Lee
The General Lee
The General Lee is the modified Dodge Charger driven by the Duke cousins Bo and Luke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. It is known for the chases and stunts, especially high jumps, in almost every episode, and for having the doors welded shut, leaving the Dukes to climb in and out...
replica, two 1966 Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
replicas, a replica of the Mach Five
Mach Five
The is the racing car Speed Racer drives in the anime series of the same name . The car was designed, built, and created by "Pops Racer" , Speed Racer's father. It features a set of special devices which Speed Racer uses throughout the series...
from the cartoon, Speed Racer
Speed Racer
Speed Racer is an English adaptation name of the Japanese manga and anime, which centered on automobile racing. Mach GoGoGo was originally serialized in print form in Shueisha's 1958 Shōnen Book, and was released in tankōbon book form by Sun Wide Comics, re-released in Japan by Fusosha...
, and most recently the 1976 Ford Grand Torino from Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
.
The Russ Martin Show
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 time slot. 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 had consistently high ratings for KLLI since his show debuted on 105.3. In 2005 D Magazine named Martin best radio talk show host in the DFW area.
In December 2008, Live 105.3 changed its format to include more live sports programming, and Martin was eliminated during the switch.
On July 1, 2010 97.1FM KEGL ran a promo announcing the return of The Russ Martin show. The show began airing on July 12, 2010 in the 6am-10am time slot.
On September 14, 2011 97.1FM KEGL stopped airing the show. The reason or state of the show is unknown as of yet. Rumors that 97.1 KEGL will flip to a Country format have arisen due in part to the web address: www.971thebull.com directing users to www.kegl.com As of September 19th 2011 www.kegl.com still contained both advertising and marketing material referencing Russ Martin.
On September 22, 2011 Chris Ryan (on air talent for 97.1 KEGL FM) announced the Russ Martin Show would be moving to the 3pm - 7pm time slot beginning Monday September 26, 2011. This marks the first time since 2008 that the Russ Martin Show will air in Dallas during afternoon drive time.
Arrest
Martin was arrested on July 18, 2008 following an incident on July 14 where he allegedly assaulted his fiancee in his SouthlakeSouthlake, Texas
Southlake is a city in northeast Tarrant and southeast Denton counties, Texas. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 26,575. A suburb of Fort Worth and Dallas, Southlake is known for exemplary public schools, Southlake Town Square, and Carroll High School's 7-time state champion football...
home. Martin was jailed for a short time before posting a $10,000 bail and being released. On July 10, 2009, Russ Martin pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor assault in a Fort Worth criminal court and received two years deferred adjudication.
External links
- Russ Martin Show FAQ and Audio Archives
- Russ Martin's Auto Repair
- Operation Kindness
- Harder Beat Magazine article
- The Heroes Parade
- Reward Increased In Animal Cruelty Case from Dallas ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate WFAA - RussMartin.com
- Best Radio Yakety-Yakker article from D MagazineD MagazineThis article is about the magazine about Dallas. For the Italian magazine, see La Repubblica.D Magazine is a monthly magazine covering Dallas-Fort Worth. It covers a range of topics including politics, business, food, fashion and lifestyle in the city of Dallas. The first issue was published in...