Tony Downes:
CLASS OF 1979
Vanguard High SchoolClass of 1979
Ocala, FL
Jones CollegeClass of 1983
Jacksonville, FL
Blessed Trinity SchoolClass of 1975
Ocala, FL
East Marion Elementary SchoolClass of 1972
Silver springs, FL
Ward - Highlands Elementary SchoolClass of 1971
Ocala, FL
Tony's Story
Life
I graduated from VHS and shortly attended CFCC then I transfered to Jones College Jacksonville Florida
BlurbsAbout me:
Radio Personality of almost 30 years and now owner of small FM Radio Station. At about age 3 I knew I wanted to be in radio as my mom would catch me in her car changing the radio station. Back then in Ocala radio consisted of a mere three AM stations: WMOP-AM 900, WTMC-AM 1290, and a black station; WKOS-AM 1370, which would later become WWKE-AM 1370 "Key Radio"." Constantly I would mimic the D.J. on the radio, and whenever on trips, I would log stations in my log book wondering and hoping one day to own a radio station. Through high school I would draw a studio with a house to mimic what my station would look like. In high school I envisioned WSSF-FM 101.3. I got my first taste of radio in 1979 when the late great Vernon Arnette trained me on weekends at WTMC. After high school I took my training to WFAM-FM 91.1 in Jacksonville, a part of Jones College, where my professor at the time expected no less than A scores on test. Often I was left with keys to lockup station. I was called the "jinx" at college station because while I was on the air President Ronald Reagan was shot and John Lennon had died during my shift. I also experimented with today's contemporary jazz by removing blues jazz from the play-list and just playing the hits. This often got me into trouble, but it sounded good in 1982, so I stuck with it. After graduating from Jones College with an Associates Degree in Broadcasting, WFAM-FM changed frequencies to its current position of 90.9 where it resides today as WKTZ-FM 90.9, a beautiful music station. I had a major influence on the frequency change which was due to a 100,000 watt station on the same frequency in Savannah, GA which was blasting all over WFAM¿s 1,000 watt signal. WKTZ is now 50,000 watts on 90.9. It took a couple of years when a station in Crystal River Florida gave me my first big break. Owner Thad Lowrey and a young Dave Harrell gave me my...Expand for more
first shot in commercial radio on WXCV-FM 95.3 "Citrus 95" where I was on air from 4PM to midnight. A year later, I was switched to 12am-6am to handle a disgruntled overnight jock, but I didn¿t care. I just wanted to do radio. I also experimented with what is now hot A/C on "Citrus" and also weathered major hurricane Elena in the 80s also created the raft race in Citrus County. After a management change, four years had gone by, and I was let go. The reason I was given by new management was I¿d never do radio again, but I proved them wrong as I moved to WLLO-FM 92.1, "Willow 92" in Williston, Florida, where again I experimented with "Easy Listening" by adding vocals to the format, similar to the sound of WDUV-FM 105.5 (Tampa) today. After "Willow" I was offered a full time overnight shift at WMMZ-FM "Z93", a 100,000 watt "CHR" station in Ocala Florida. I did the overnight shift there for two years before heading to WKTK-FM 98.5 (Crystal River) then WTRS-FM 102.3 then WXOF-FM 96.3, all doing part time. In the year 2000 WRZN-AM 720 "Sunshine 720" hired me as a part time weekender. I have also been doing weekends for WRZN¿s sister station WRGO-FM 102.7 "Fun 102.7". In 2002 the FCC allowed communities to have low power FM stations and the birth of WRLE-LP 94.9 Dunnellon Florida began, licensed to Power Ministries which I own. WRLE was licensed on February 2004. Now I live in that house with the studio I drew in high school. One station thought I¿d never do radio again, but it¿s a business I¿ll do till the day I die. Today I am happy to say I have a new wife and daughter and a son. Life cant be any better
School
Ms.Brown had to be my most inspirational teacher fondest memory our basketball team winning its second straight state championship and me covering it for school and weely paper i was sports editor of.
College
My fondest memory of college was WFAM 91.1 and Mr Trinkler hanging out for hours completing radio work often being left with the keys to lock up thats how much i loved radio.
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