Radio profile of popular KHJ host.

A15

Jim Lavoie

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From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., from Monday to Friday, radio rules the roost as the city of Fredericton awakens to another school or work day.

Many radio clock alarms spout out music and the familiarity of a voice, as our favorite station starts to push the listener onward to face the day ahead. It is a part of a lifecycle that interacts with many on a 365 days basis.

It is the voice that activates, motivates and can even irritate you first thing because they are talking in mid-morning form and at a fast pace as you are trying to decipher news, sports, weather and contests, while clearing the morning fog from your head. As the household goes about preparation for the day, many are done in various forms of synchronicity with what is happening on the radio.

What the channel is tuned to is something that usually is an agreed upon by the family unit, generally parents but can be others. What matters most is once chosen it becomes a fixture in the daily routine. The radio stations have chosen wisely in determining their King of the Roads to lay out what is waiting for the transit ahead and any events happening or planned for every day.

Preparation for the morning shows has been underway for hours before the six a.m. start up on Rookwood Avenue home of KHJ (Country), The Fox (Rock)105.3, and Capital FM (Pop) 106.9 fm. Three distinct music formats, three different announcing styles, each with their own vast committed listeners yet each in synchronization in excelling in their morning man persona. This week we feature Country Music Guru Brent Buchanan.

KHJ's Brent Buchanan is an easy going guy, a bit laid back you'd say and talking to him in person you tend to fall into the same pattern. He feels the best part of being the morning guy is being a daily part of his listener's life.

"It is like we are sharing a pot of coffee, they just sit back for awhile and then stroll through the morning with me each and every day," said Buchanan. "If I can put a smile on just one person's face in the morning, it's worth it."

What comes through when he speaks of his listeners is just how much he truly cares about them. He tells the story of one listener who is a huge George Jones fan and Buchanan took it upon himself to get this fan a backstage pass to meet the country superstar.

"To see this gentleman's face when George came out to the meet and greet area was priceless," laughed Buchanan. "Little things like that really mean a lot to me!"

In terms of the rapport and interaction with his listeners, Buchanan feels his broadcasting style is fairly simple.

"I relate to my audience and I talk to them and not at them. It is like we are sharing a coffee or breakfast at the kitchen table. There are a lot of important things to digest in the morning. Like the weather and road conditions, late or cancelled school buses, construction, delays, local breaking news."

He also feels it is important that the audience knows a little bit about him and what his family is up to.

"My seven-year-old daughter Emma will call me in the mornings and folks love it when I put her on live every once in awhile," Buchanan said proudly. He knows that an audience can spot a fake easily so as he says "I just go on the air and be myself and am the same person behind the microphone as I am on the weekends at Grand Lake."

When asked why he has stayed long-term here In Fredericton and what he likes and dislikes about the city, he is straight to the point.

"Well, there is a reason that TV's Canada's Worst Drivers shot an episode here, but that is the only thing about Fredericton I can say bugs me."

Buchanan grew up in Fredericton, went to the Park Street School, Nasis Middle school and Fredericton High.

"My families all here, I lived in Toronto for a couple years. Fun city, but I couldn't imagine bringing up kids in a big city. Fredericton is the perfect place to raise a family. I love my job here and I love this city!"

Those are the radio station are also involved in a tremendous amount of charity work and volunteer for many causes - does anything stand out?

"I MC every year at the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame. It's a great evening, with great music. I also help organize The Freddy Fulton Musical tribute in Minto every year. This year's tribute is set for Sunday Oct.18. Minto has a special place in my heart. Back a few years ago, Mayor Gary Dipolo and the village gave me an honorary citizenship," said a proud Buchanan.

In terms of big country acts coming to Fredericton or for that matter local country acts, Buchanan says: "In regards to country music, Fredericton is lacking venues for local country acts to play. There are many great country acts from around the Maritimes and they all would love to come play Fredericton, but where? As for the big acts, the headliner is the Aiken Center acts, I think those are going to Saint John, Moncton and Halifax. Not because the Aiken Center is a bad venue, it's the fans. The fans won't get out there and buy their tickets. Promoters don't want to gamble on a city that has a history of not selling seats. Why come to Fredericton and only sell 1,000 tickets at the Aiken Center when they can go down the road an hour and sell 4,000?"

Off the air time finds Buchanan enjoying the musical stylings of traditional country.

"If you are driving with me be prepared to hear some Merle Haggard, George Jones, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. I think one of the best country songs is Hello Walls, sung by Faron Young and was written by Willie Nelson. My two favourites are Merle Haggard and George Jones and I have had the pleasure of meeting both in person.

"Another great side of this job over the many years has been who I work with. I consider both Trevor and Freddy Mac great friends. Both guys do so much for the community. It's really a pleasure to come to work each morning at 5 a.m. and see these guys. We don't really get to hang out that much. Usually two or three times a year you'll see all three of us out at the same time. That's always a great time, and that's all I'm going to say about that."