If there’s one thing we’ve all come to appreciate here at the radio station – it’s the value of family. It takes a true team effort to bring this station to air — with all of the different stories, news highlights and witty commentary on a daily basis.
So for the voices that you hear day in and day out, we thought you just might want to know a little bit more about them…
Mitch O’Connor (Mornings with Mitch & Kara)
As I sit in front of this screen trying to figure out what to write, I am wondering what do you, the reader/listener, want to read? Is it fiction or fact that would interest you the most?
My name is Mitch O’Connor. I feel like a contestant on “What’s my Line” with that opening statement. I have been in radio for quite some time – I am not going to elaborate on how long, getting my start at CJAM at U of W. That’s about all I got from there.
My love for country music started when my wife, Janet, and I were on our honeymoon. As we traveled down to Hilton Head, South Carolina we picked up a country music station in Pittsburgh called “The Bear” as they played “Chattahoochee” from Alan Jackson. There was no turning back after that. I think we wore that tape out for the next two weeks.
My daughters all sing to Sugarland and Taylor Swift whenever they hear them. I think I can point to Janet for that one. She sings with a band called Bosco and one of the songs she loves to perform is from Sugarland as well as “Suds in the Bucket.” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that one. But all in all, I never tire of it.
Off-air, my life consists of 3 girls aged 14, 11 and 9 who all have different schedules – yours too right? My oldest, Alice, is in her first year at Walkerville and she couldn’t love it more. Carly rides horses and is currently on the volleyball team at Southwood School. Our youngest, Tess, is never too far away from paint, pencils or craft supplies. She called her first ever drawing “a square rainbow.” Like proud parents we plaqued it and it’s on a wall in our house.
I have worked mainly the Eastern half of Canada, making stops in Nova Scotia/P.E.I./New Brunswick/Quebec and Ontario. I am a Southern Ontario boy having lived in Windsor and London for most of my life. I have 4 kids whose ages range from 24 to 9 and my wife Janet and I just celebrated our 15th anniversary. She is going to get T-Shirts made up saying “You can wake up with my husband” now that I am on the morning show. She gets a kick out of that.
One of the things I like to do is sailing. I have found nothing better then being out on the water on a warm summer night with the moonlight providing the beacon. I could stay out there all night long. I am a member of the Windsor Police Pipe band and have been playing pipes for 5 years now. Come on out we are always looking for new members. I also enjoy fly-fishing but haven’t found the time to get much in lately. With three little girls at home, our schedules are pretty busy.
If I could find a way to live on Pelee Island and still keep a mainland job, I would be there in a minute. I find it one of the most appealing places I’ve ever visited. We love hopping on the ferry with our bikes and touring around the Island chasing snakes – oops maybe I shouldn’t say that, “ERCA might get me.”
I could list my favourite movies and songs and stuff like that but they change. One movie I love and can never find, starred Jimmy Stewart. It was called Shenandoah. It’s one of those movies that at the end I get allergic for some reason. Runny nose. Red eyes – you know allergic…nudge nudge…
Amateur theatre is another fondness I have. Having worked with Brian Raisbeck at Theatre Alive in “ANNIE”, Windsor Light Music in “Damn Yankees” and Theatre Windsor where I have been involved in a couple of productions in the last few years. I have also worked with Korda Productions. Right now, time is my greatest deterrent. I don’t have enough of it, so my participation in shows will have to wait for a bit.
So after having read this you have to ask yourself which is fact and which is fiction? If you have a sailboat and need crew sometime? – Call me.
Mitch
Kara Ro ( Mornings with Mitch & Kara)
Kara Ro, is a Canadian boxer. She is the current Women’s International Boxing Association lightweight champion. She has enjoyed an extensive career as an athlete. As early as the first grade, she received awards for her athleticism. She was a member of eight high school teams and awarded MVP in basketball, volleyball and track and field. As a university student, she played volleyball for the University of Windsor. Not only was she elected captain of the team, but also ranked in the top ten in Canada. After her second year at university, Kara was introduced to the world of boxing. After two years in Windsor boxing clubs, she decided to go to Detroit, Michigan. In addition to many outstanding boxing awards in her amateur competitions, she won the prestigious Ringside National Tournament. Kara is currently a ring announcer for various boxing events throughout both Canada and the United States. She has also held a media career, working for two other media outlets in the Windsor-essex area and is thrilled to be joining the Country 959 team!
Rebecca Wolfe (Midday Host)
Ok, soooo I talk for a living, but for some reason when asked to write a bio, I suddenly have nothing to say. Why is that? It’s hard to tell you about my favourite songs for example – because they’re always changing depending on what mood I’m in… like, if I’m angry, I’ll probably be cranking Carrie Underwood. If I’m feeling lonely, I’ll put on some Josh Turner, just cause there’s something special about that sexy deep voice of his. But if I’m cleaning I usually have Tim McGraw, or the Hello Dolly soundtrack on… yes, I love musicals. Movies too, especially the one about the guy that did all that stuff…. Yeah, that one!
You know what goes well with movies??? My nachos! I don’t want to brag or anything, but I make the best nacho’s you’ve ever had (the secret ingredient is something way better than love). You may be wondering “what’s better than love”? well, it’s tasty and it’s in my nachos. Unfortunately the nachos are pretty much the only thing I can successfully put together in the kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, I do love to cook, it’s just it doesn’t always go my way. Don’t feel bad for me though, when I burn dinner, I usually have a box of Oreos in the cupboard I pull out. Do you think sometimes this causes me to subconsciously burn my dinner?
When I’m not lying on the couch rubbing my tummy from eating too many Oreos, I could be doing any number of things. I like to volunteer a lot here in Windsor; I’ve been on the council of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario for several years now. I shop, perhaps a little too much… especially for shoes (but I have freakishly large feet, so I use that as an excuse). I’m also a germaphobe so I spend a lot of time cleaning: my house, my car, the Country 95.9 studios… it’s a good thing everyone here is pretty patient and can put up with me.
I guess that’s pretty much it… well the most important thing to add, is that you can catch me on air on Country 95.9 between 9&2. Give me a call in the studio’s… I’d love to hear from you!
Gary Evans (Afternoon Drive)
The “Bio Page”. I feel a bit odd writing this. Where do you work? At Hotel Dieu? Henry Ford or DMC? The Keg? Do you post your Bio in the break room? I guess it feels a bit odd because it kind of feels like we’ve already got a lot in common. No matter where you go, fans of country music have this camaraderie that defies nationality, age and gender. It’s kind of like running into some of the guys I’ve played hockey with years ago. Even if it’s been 5, 10 or 20 years it’s like no more than a week has gone by.
So, I’m originally from Halifax, went to St Mary’s University (stop it! proves I can skate!) working in radio there for 13 years. From Halifax I was off to Tallahassee, Florida working for a group of radio stations. Tally is home to Florida State and the Seminoles. There’s some wicked football and amazing fans! North Florida was gorgeous. HUGE oak trees draped with Spanish Moss. Have you seen the movie “Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil”? A lot of the places, particularly in South Georgia were just like that. About 45 minutes north of Tallahassee was Georgia. Peanut farms, pecan orchards and funnel cakes. Funnel cakes are yummy! 45 minutes south of Tallahassee is Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. Boys and girls, Apalachicola Bay IS the Redneck Riviera! Had a lot of fun there. Here’s something I found really cool…I lived on Cripple Creek (as in the song by The Band) which runs off the Chattahoochee River (as in Alan Jackson waterskiing). After Tallahassee it was down to Tampa/Sarasota for three years. Kind of a cool radio station, right on the edge of a golf course, by a water hazard complete with two gators. I got to visit a lot of very cool places, The Keys, Kennedy Space Center, the Salvador Dali Museum in Florida. Travelled out of the state too. I have a soft spot for Louisiana.
Many have suggested I must be nuts for wanting to leave, but, I truly missed the unique culture and amazing people in our part of the world…the seasons too. 90-95 degrees can get kind of “old” after a while.
There’s a really great group of people here at Blackburn. I’ve known Mitch for a couple of years now, really cool guy…turns out we’ve got about a half dozen mutual friends out East! Kara’s great too, every bit as pleasant as she sounds on the radio. There are lots of other people behind the scenes who are very talented and a lot of fun to be around. Michelle, our Office Manager, Tara and Theresa (two of our producers), the two Mike’s and Adelle in the newsroom, James, a writer, who does an amazing Christopher Walken impression, Maureen and Ashley in Marketing…and about a dozen others.
Rambling, aren’t I?
God, I love Italian food. And holy smokes is it ever good in Windsor! This place is like a culinary UN…so far I’ve just been hanging out with the Italians. I work off all that yummy lasagna by skating…I’m going to be finding a hockey team to play for too. I’m a goalie, in case you’re looking.
TV? House, the National Geographic Channel, Discovery when there’s no hockey on…that’s all I can think of at the moment. I enjoy reading Herman Wouk, Michael Clancy and J D Salinger.
That’s my bio. I think it’s only fair that you email me yours. gevans@blackburnradio.com
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