South Florida's Disco - Dance past would not be complete without mentioning the Dj's that made South Floridian's get up and dance, I am not talking about nightclub Dj's, rather the jocks whose voices would carry through out S. Florida's airwaves.
One of the most popular stations in the area during the 70's was 96 X.
305Disco was able to reach one of 96 X's most popular on air personalities, Stuart Elliot for comments about his career and life, below Stu Elliot sheds some light about his days as a radio jock in South Florida.
Stuart Elliot story.
I began my career in radio in September of 1975 at WMYQ / 96 FM. I was 17 at the time and just starting my senior year of high school (North Miami Beach Sr.).
Just two days later we became WMJX / 96 X. I stayed thru the beginning of Disco 96, returning a bit after their demise, it was from June 1980 till I signed them off in Feb. 1981. A few weeks later, I re-appeared at the new I-95 FM, many people thought it was 96 X under a new name. Zeta 4 was so bad, that people didn't miss that station at all, it had changed format from Zeta 4 a month before 96 X went off the air.
I stayed at I-95 FM till April 1985, at that time leaving to sign on the new 96 X ( Which is now Power 96 ). I hung around until August 1986, till Tanner came in as the new " program director " and I was the first from the "old" staff to be let go. I took an extended radio vacation and finally wound up at WHYI / Y-100 from May of 1988 until I finally hung up the headphones in August of 1996.
I have been working in the retail market for quite a long time ( it was my real "paying" job ), 19 years to be exact. Besides a slave to the retail world, I head up a department that services the Cruise Line industry ( Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and all their subsidiary lines ).
Today, my ties to radio are from people who I still keep in touch with like Footy, Kid Curry & Bruce Kelly as well as some others.
Until Footy's " Wing Ding " ended a few years back, Because of my friendship with Footy, when I left Y-100, I made a promise to him that no matter where I was, I'd be there to help out for that event if he ever decides to do it again, I'm there.
Other than that, I'm leading a regular persons life these days. I have a non-wife ( long time girlfriend, just like being married, but no jewelry or paper ), dog & cat. I still reside in South Florida, in Broward.
To keep me happy, I still have my 4000 or so Albums, CD's & Casettes, XM Radio & my ipod all which are 70's music intense.
I grew up in the 70's, my radio career started in the 70's, and frankly I don't care what anyone says, the 70's were the best years of my life and for music, and the music that came from that era will be mine till the day I die.
305Disco would like to thank Mr. Elliot for his comments.
While growing up in S. Florida, I remember hearing Stu Elliot fill the airwaves, his music selection was always top notch, his humor was witty and sometimes even dark.
I can recall one instance where Stu Elliot while on the air told his listening public he was quitting his job as a Disc Jockey, it was these certain off the wall antics that made Stu Elliot a favorite radio personality through out sunny S. Fla. amongst listeners, a trait not even remotely found in today's S. Fla airwaves.
Of course he pulled the wool over everyone's ears as no one remembered it was the first of April, April Fools day!
Stu Elliot Of 96 X F.M.