TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Just before his death due to a brain aneurysm last week Wednesday, Honolulu Broadcasting Co. Inc. President Charles Giddens made the personnel decision that took three veteran Hawaii radio personalities off the air at "Oldies 107.9" KGMZ FM. Giddens had been in ill health prior to the aneurysm. Changes to the lineup
at oldies stationStation manager and morning show co-host Jay Stone, co-host Danielle Tucker, and midday personality Jon Kealoha did their last shows Wednesday.
Giddens' last communication to Cox Radio Hawaii Vice President and General Manager Austin Vali instructed him to act as his agent in terminating the three, as he was too ill to travel.
Giddens' e-mail said, "The economy is playing havoc with many stations and their operations and I am saddened that it's hit so personally here."
The only live personality remaining on the station during the week will be Program Director John Matthews, who has now been promoted to station manager and morning show host.
Matthews said other air shifts will be recorded by the staff at Cox stations, which are also located at Pali Palms Plaza in Kailua. Part-time weekend air personalities Bart DaSilva and Ron O'Neil remain on the employee roster, and will retain part-time status, according to Vali.
Vali said Giddens indicated his wishes were to keep the station's oldies format.
Stone said he was blindsided by the decision. "Usually you can read the tea leaves, but this was out of the blue," he said.
However, he said, "It's is how the (radio) business is these days and you just have to accept it."
Stone will concentrate on voice-over work, including announcing duties for KGMB TV. Kealoha runs his own entertainment company, and Matthews said Tucker would be called upon to do fill-in work.
Across town ...
... at 93.1 KQMQ FM, Tucker's former co-host Michael Qseng sat in with Q Morning Zoo hosts Jeff Kino, Lois Miyashiro and Shawn Ho.Qseng and Tucker hosted the show from early 80s until the early 90s.
Kino said he found out Friday that Qseng was in town for a brief visit and planned to leave yesterday, but wanted to feature him as a guest on the show before he left.
"We converted the show from the Q Morning Zoo to the Animal House for the last two hours," Kino said. Miyashiro goes on vacation next week, and on Monday, former KQMQ DJ Wili Moku will sit in with Kino.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com