TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Big Island morning man
skips out earlyMel "Mynah Bird" Medeiros, the "Perry and Price" of the Big Island, went off the air a day early last week after a 22-year-run with Big Island Radio.
Listeners expected him to bid aloha in his simulcast over KIPA-AM 620 and KKON-AM 790 on Friday, but instead heard Wild Bill Logan doing the show.
The earlier-than-expected departure was by mutual agreement, according to Justin Duty, program director of two of Big Island Radio's six FM stations.
Medeiros had previously given KIPA officials his two weeks' notice and had stated on the air his intention to apply for work with Hugh "Buddy" Gordon, the former KIPA general manager whose Hilo Broadcasting LLC recently purchased KAHU-AM 1060.
Gordon confirmed to TheBuzz that he has hired Medeiros, who had no noncompete clause to hold him.
Gordon is hiring other talent and will change KAHU's call letters and automated Hawaiian music format.
"It's going to be very local," Gordon said, but is withholding other details until the deal closes and FCC approval is granted, likely early next month.
Without the Hilo-Kona simulcast, Medeiros' audience will be cut by about half as KAHU's 5,000 watt signal stays primarily on the Hilo side of the island.
Gordon owns the lease on Big Island Radio's studio and office space and maintains an ownership stake in the stations, which are co-owned by ASA Corp. ASA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honolulu's Persis Corp.
President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Pfeffer was out of town and unavailable as was Big Island Radio General Manager Nelson Ray Parker.
The company has ended the simulcast of two of its six FM stations, which until the halt simulcast three formats.
The rock format has disappeared from KHWI-FM 92.7 in Hilo, giving way to so-called "urban" hits. KAOY-FM 101.5 in Kona is still a rock station, Duty said.
The new "Wild 92.7" air staff, Charles "Daddy Long Legzz" Danko, Jill Taylor, Duty, and Mo (formerly of KKOA-FM 107.7) will hit the air Friday.
"We're all going to go on the air together," Duty said.
Prior to joining Big Island Radio, Medeiros was the veteran morning man on KPUA-AM 670.
By way of disclosure, back in the day your columnist worked for Gordon at KIPA, worked with Medeiros at KPUA and worked with Logan at KSSK-AM/FM.
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