Russ Martin

For the baseball player, see Russell Martin.
Russ Martin
Birth name Russell Dale Martin
Born (1960-10-04) October 4, 1960
Dallas, Texas
Show The Russ Martin Show
Station(s) KEGL (2010–Present)
KLLI-FM (2000–2008)
KEGL (1987–2000)
Time slot Monday – Friday
3:00pm – 7:00pm
Style Talk, Rock, Country, 97.1 The Eagle
Country United States
Website www.russmartin.com

Russell Dale Martin (born October 4, 1960) is an American on-air personality in Dallas, Texas. He has worked in the Dallas radio market for 27 years. Martin hosted the No. 1-rated The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, until Dec. 8, 2008, when KLLI switched to an all-sports format. On July 12, 2010, Martin returned to radio with his afternoon (3p-7p) show on 97.1 "The Eagle" (KEGL).

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.[1]

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.[2]

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 courageously 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.[3] The shows benefit The Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation.[4]

Interests

Russ Martin's interests include 1960s television 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,[5] the fastest 1966 Batmobile replica, a Munster Koach replica, and the 1976 Ford Grand Torino from Starsky and Hutch.[1]

The Russ Martin Show

The Russ Martin Show logo

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.[6]

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 3-7 p.m. 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.[7] In 2005 D Magazine named Martin best radio talk show host in the DFW area.[8]

In December 2008, Live 105.3 changed its format to include more live sports programming, and Martin was eliminated during the switch.[9]

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 6 - 10 a.m. time slot.[10]

On Sept. 14, 2011, 97.1FM KEGL started airing best-of-episodes of the Russ Martin's show. On Sept, 22, 2011, Chris Ryan (on air talent for 97.1 KEGL FM) announced the Russ Martin Show would be moving to the 3 – 7 .p.m time slot beginning Sept. 26, 2011.

On Nov. 17, 2014, KEGL's sister station KFXR-AM (which changed formats from brokered programming as "DFW 1190 AM" to Talk as "Talk Radio 1190") airs previous afternoon episodes of this show on their morning (7 to 11 a.m.) timeslot.[11]

As of June, 2015, in addition to Russ Martin, cast members included Dan O'Malley, Clo Raborn, Alfie Coy, Dr. Scott Thornton and Everett Newton.[12][13]

As of August, 2015, Kensi Ray has not been involved with the show. It's unclear whether or not she quit or was let go. During a show in July, she became offended during a segment and Russ instructed her to go home during the break. She hasn't been on-air since. Shortly after she re-joined the show, Kensi left due to a conflicting schedule. She mentioned that her schedule at home had changed and that she couldn't do the show anymore. She has since been featured as a guest on several occasions. It hasn't been determined if she is still working in radio. She was replaced by Jerry Caldwell.[14]

Starting in 2016, Russ started having various medical issues and has missed several shows throughout the year. Dan, Clo, and Alfie carry the show, with help from Scott West on occasion, and have remained at the top of the ratings during Russ' absences.

Controversy

Southlake, TX, police arrested Russ Martin while at Larry North Fitness on July 18, 2008, for charges of aggravated assault-bodily injury-deadly weapon following an incident occurring on July 14, 2008, concerning his then girlfriend Mandy Blake.[15] Martin was accused of pulling her hair, kicking her, and brandishing a pistol.[16] His charges were later reduced to misdemeanor assault. Two weeks prior to Martin's scheduled court date he accepted a plea bargain and pleaded no contest. Martin was placed on two years of deferred probation, and was required to complete a batterer's intervention program to clear his record. On Feb. 10, 2009, nearly eight months after the incident, Mandy Blake filed a complaint with the Southlake police department, claiming she had been coerced into making a statement for what she considered a very minor incident.[16] In an interview with Janet St. James, Martin stated that no one from the DA's office or Southlake police had ever contacted him to get his side of the story.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 RussMartin.INFO – Who is Russ Martin?
  2. ↑ Published on December 5, 2004, Page 1D, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
  3. ↑ Live 105.3
  4. ↑ http://www.russmartin.fm/
  5. ↑ RussMartin.INFO – 2007-04-03
  6. ↑ The Dallas Morning News 10/22/1999
  7. ↑ The Dallas Morning News 1/27/2002
  8. ↑ D Magazine August, 2005.
  9. ↑ http://www.nbcdfw.com/around-town/archive/1053-Changes-Format-Drops-Russ-Martin.html
  10. ↑ http://www.kegl.com/pages/russ_martin_show.html
  11. ↑ http://www.dfw.com/2014/11/14/944168/reports-kfxr1190-am-to-relaunch.html
  12. ↑ http://dallasattorney.com/about.html
  13. ↑ Russ Martin Show website Page accessed April 7, 2015
  14. ↑ http://jerrycaldwell.net
  15. ↑ http://static.cbslocal.com/station/ktvt/docs/2008/july/martin.pdf
  16. 1 2 3 http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/64796212.html
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