creativity
on the radio
1979-1993 Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong
KUAM | Guam 1979-1981
My very first job in radio materialized just as I was about to head back to San Francisco from a tiny tropical island in Micronesia where a boyfriend and I had moved on an adventure. Having worked as a cocktail waitress, sales lady at a cosmetics counter and finally as a secretary for a construction company, I was ready to throw in the "trowel" and head home when I spotted a newspaper advert seeking a newsreader for a little radio/television station on the top of a hill in Agana, Guam. The most fun I've had ANYWHERE!
I was mentored and encouraged at KUAM by Station Manager Jon Anderson, newsman Rick Hutto. Channel Director Dave Hoebing, all no longer with us, and Morning Drive host Jerry Roberts aka JQ Fanihi, pictured here, who encouraged me to send out this demo tape .
KKUA | Honolulu 1981-1982
My next radio gig was the 7pm to midnight slot at KKUA Honolulu. The aforementioned demo tape was sent to four radio stations in Hawaii and three responded with offers. Eventually KKUA's Channel Director gave me free rein to bring theater into my radio show, so I populated the 7pm to midnight slot with a cast of characters. I performed them live, much to the amusement of the kids who watched me from their apartment across from the station's ON AIR booth!
Here's what radio sounded like back in 1981 before those characters took over
COMMERCIAL RADIO | Hong Kong 1983-1989
Arriving as a newlywed in Hong Kong, I landed the Saturday 12pm - 4pm slot on CR's English station, bringing with me an imaginary sidekick in the form of a precocious tap dancing, curly topped 6-year old. "Shirley" had an episodic soap opera where she drove a taxi, made a bundle of cash, lost it on the stock market, featured in a martial arts movie, and became the mascot of a triad gang. Voice talents included Mr. Sammy her Cantonese tutor, Andy Chworowsky, Job Stewart and Ajay Mehta. Program Director Mike Souza gave me a lot of creative freedom, but Shirley retired her tap shoes when I left Commercial Radio's English channel.
104FM SELECT | Hong Kong 1991-1993
Having taken a break from radio to focus on theater and commercial voiceover work, in 1991 I was asked to help build a radio station from the ground up, an offer I couldn't refuse! We created Hong Kong's first fluidly bilingual radio station, and I found my Cantonese speaking co-host in children's entertainer and magician Harry Wong aka Harry Gor-gor.
We were the first voices heard on air when the station launched. You have to really like your co-host if you're on the air from 6am - 10am... I did and we had a great time.