RadioInsight is today reporting that “STAR 101.5” KPLZ 32-year morning co-host Alan Budwill is retiring from full-time on-air work. Meanwhile, Kent Phillips will be shifting to afternoon drive beginning in 2019 in addition to his current PD duties. Current afternoon drive team Curt Kruse & Corine McKenzie move to mornings. Reporter Lance Venta notes: “Kruse and McKenzie will be accompanied by current morning show producer Leonard Barokas as “The Curt, Corine, and Leonard Morning Show”. Phillips will be joined in afternoons by current morning show members Jen Pirak and Marina Rockinger with Budwill checking in “from time to time”.
So I’m late but I remember these two getting together at my family home in Lake Oswego Oregon with my father Victor Ives who at the time was the manager of Magic 107 FM in Portland Oregon the night before their first on air show. Budwill is right, the team was put together because the previous morning show duo hated each other, although I don’t remember literal fist fights. My father and the program director John Barry ( on air name ) thought Kent and Alan were the perfect pair. I was not yet even 20 but I worked at the radio station in traffic and continuity and absolutely loved my radio brat life ( finally). Kent and Alan were magical, no pun intended and as life progressed and the FCC changed and the little stations gave way to huge media consumption, I watched my idols move to Washington and life was never the same. I adored Kent because he was my idea of the perfect man, a younger version of my father and Alan was as the kids now say was my “Everything “ ! I loved them both for different reasons and I’m so glad that life was so very good to them.
From the Internet Archive, some of our Lost Comments—
Maple Valley Mike says:
December 13, 2018 8:49 pm at
Definitely the end of an era.
Jason Remington says:
December 13, 2018 9:06 pm at
Not many have done 32 years at one radio station.
Mike Cherry says:
December 13, 2018 9:34 pm at
Indeed! Very few can claim a 32 year tenure at any broadcast outlet. Kent Phillips deserves to ditch the alarm clock after all those years. Now, Curt Kruse & Corine McKenzie get a chance to show if they have what it takes to make successful morning show for listeners & advertisers.