Life Photos Sounds Words Things Rockers

Where to start...
 
Well, these days I consider myself a Broadcaster/Real Estate Agent/Writer/Umpire/Softball Player/Entrepreuner.
 
In August of 2003, after 15 years, I left the job of Program Director of Washington, DC's Rock Station, DC101. I spent a few months of sitting on the couch watching TiVo, reading books, and falling in love with music all over again. When that got boring, I jumped headlong into Real Estate, went to ASA Umpire School, studied Spanish, and starting writing my second book - "My Life and Death in Rock Radio, A Mostly Fictional Account of My 25 Years in Broadcasting".  Recently, I've been working with the fine people at 98 Rock in Baltimore.
 
I have been interested in radio from the time I was a little boy growing up in Funkstown, Maryland. My brother Brian, next door neighbor Kenny and I started a radio station in the Rizer Family basement. We called the station "WFUN, where the fun has just begun". It didn't matter to us that no one could hear the station, all that mattered was that we were doing it.
 
I was very excited to break into radio at age 15 when my first radio idol, Uncle Ed Alexander, brought me in as an unpaid intern to file records and clear the AP wire. In a matter of weeks, I was hired by then WARK program director Bud Hurd as a board operator for Baltimore Orioles Baseball games. A few weeks later, on a Saturday night, an Orioles game was rained out. With no other options, Hurd asked me if I was ready to be a DJ. I was scared to death, but told him I was ready to go. (Click here to hear a little bit of that first show. Try not to laugh...I was only 15...and I DID get better!)
 
As I prepared my first record, Hurd suggested that "Buddy Rizer" sounded a little bit too much like the beer, and that a name change was in order. Looking around, Hurd suggested "Lance Rizer", after the Lance Cracker machine in the lunch room. With that, a DJ was born.
 
Unhappy with "Lance" as my radio name, I thought it would be funny to go by "Roy Rizer" while working at country sister station WWCS. (Letters that we liked to joke stood for "Worlds Worst Country Station"). Shortly after, Gene Manning bought both Hagerstown stations, and changed WWCS in to WXCS, 107X Marks The Rock. The format change brought another name change and "Rockin' Rob" was created.
 
When DC 101 came calling in 1988, I asked to use my real name on the air, a wish quickly granted by then program director Dave Brown. "Bud-bud-buddy-bud-bud-buddy" as the Greaseman preferred to say. My 15 years at "DC's Rock Station" was an amazing ride. I did just about every shift you could do, including mornings with Victoria Ray and David Hagen for two years. I served as Image Director, Music Director, and finally Program Director for my last 3 years at the station. A real highlight was the night I was named Billboard Magazine's 1999 Rock Music Director Of The Year at a ceremony in Miami, Florida. I also won 5 AIR Awards from the March Of Dimes.
 
Another highlight of my time at DC101 was the opportunity to work with the Legendary Eddie Gallaher for 8 years on WWDC-AM, a nostalgia music station. I co-hosted the morning show with him, and it was one of the great learning experiences of my life. Eddie passed away in 2003, for more on this great broadcaster and man, click here.
 
One of my goals is to purchase my own radio station, and run it on a day to day basis.  I've been working toward that goal as a partner in Tricaster Communications, LLC.  My partners in the venture are Marty Sheehan and Taylor Walsh.  We hope to have an announcement soon about our future plans.  It's been a scary process, but very educational and very fun.  I can't wait to share it with everyone.
 
 
Some of my other accomplishments include:

As if all that wasn't enough, I've also spent time on the road with rock bands (AC/DC, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Kix to name a few), written and performed my own music, and done some TV and stage work.
 
It's been a busy life...but as my mentor Eddie Gallaher always said...at least its never boring.