John Carney
Weeknights 9 PM - 12 AM CST
Carney's commitment to a career in radio came on the heels of advice from his father, the late Jack Carney, who told him not to do it. As a professional defiant, young John knew what he had to do. It was on his twenty-first birthday that he celebrated his first day on the radio as the host of an afternoon country music show just outside of Denver (actually it was some 100 miles outside of Denver, but you've never heard of that town, and you can't get there by car anyway!!). That first gig lasted only three months, but John says it was still a positive experience. "I really got to be a fast packer!"
For over 50 years, St. Louisans' have found comfort in the fact that there has been a Carney on the radiowaves.
Broadcasting was not anything John Carney wanted to do as a kid, or even through high school. But now, with almost 30 years behind him in the industry, he can't see himself doing anything else. In a business where abnormal is the norm, John says, "I'm quite at home!"
Carney's commitment to a career in radio came on the heels of advice from his father, the late Jack Carney, who told him not to do it. As a professional defiant, young John knew what he had to do. It was on his twenty-first birthday that he celebrated his first day on the radio as the host of an afternoon country music show just outside of Denver (actually it was some 100 miles outside of Denver, but you've never heard of that town, and you can't get there by car anyway!!). That first gig lasted only three months, but John says it was still a positive experience. "I really got to be a fast packer!"
Job two took John to Columbia, Missouri to work with the famed Larry King at KFRU radio. He only pushed buttons for Larry's show from midnight to three in the morning - since King was syndicated out of Washington, he was not actually aware of Carney's existence on the planet. John did get some airtime there; at the conclusion of King's show, Carney hosted his own program during the highly coveted 3-6 a.m. slot. Word has it he was a big hit among both of that town's 2 insomniacs
Like his father, John loved St. Louis. He had his first crack on the air here in 1986 at KXOK when the station switched to an "all talk format." He produced for and co-hosted with the late Mort Crowley and Grant Horton. Unfortunately the format was short-lived when a year and a half later the station sold. It was at this point that John served as a comedy writer for Dick Cavett; A position that he kept for 5 years. Dick still keeps in touch, calling from time to time to remind John that he's not funny.
From there Carney had radio stints in the Ozarks and Carbondale, Illinois co-hosting a classic rock morning zoo. Even though he continued to hone his craft outside of the Gateway city, he never gave up hope of returning to St. Louis. Opportunity knocked again in 1989 in the form of a big band jock spot at WEW. After four years of spinning Kay Starr and Woody Hermann records, John became restless and found his way back into talk radio.
WIBV was the next stop for John which later became KTRS. It was there that he honed the art of interviewing and comfortably filling the airwaves with something other than music. His 9 to noon slot quickly gained notoriety with frequent stops to the studio by the famous and infamous. In 1997 John received the "Air Award" for talk show host of the year and was chosen as one of St. Louis' top radio personalities by the Riverfront times. And while we're back patting, John picked up "Media personality of the year" in 99 and 2002. In July of 1998 Carney signed on at KMOX to host evenings; A position he held for 13 years.
Even with John's deep love of the business, it takes a back seat to his family. Daughters Jaede and Joerdan are his China Dolls and as he puts it, "they'll be the prettiest nuns in the convent". The real brains of the outfit is wife Suzanne, In August of 2008, they had a son, John James. He has since been followed by another bouncing baby boy, Liam Ashbury. Carney's other kids are the one served by his foundation; Carney’s kids. The Carney’s kids Foundation raises money and awareness for several area charities whose focus is improving the lives of children. John’s love of food is evident in his “restaurant Tuesday feature and his 2 cookbooks “Taste of Restaurant Tuesday” and “Another Taste of Restaurnat Tuesday”. For more information on Carney’s Kids, go to www.carneyskids.org.
If there's time left after that, you'll find John teaching cooking classes around town, cheating at golf or making music with one of his bands.
Broadcasting was not anything John Carney wanted to do as a kid, or even through high school. But now, with almost 30 years behind him in the industry, he can't see himself doing anything else. In a business where abnormal is the norm, John says, "I'm quite at home!"
Carney's commitment to a career in radio came on the heels of advice from his father, the late Jack Carney, who told him not to do it. As a professional defiant, young John knew what he had to do. It was on his twenty-first birthday that he celebrated his first day on the radio as the host of an afternoon country music show just outside of Denver (actually it was some 100 miles outside of Denver, but you've never heard of that town, and you can't get there by car anyway!!). That first gig lasted only three months, but John says it was still a positive experience. "I really got to be a fast packer!"
Job two took John to Columbia, Missouri to work with the famed Larry King at KFRU radio. He only pushed buttons for Larry's show from midnight to three in the morning - since King was syndicated out of Washington, he was not actually aware of Carney's existence on the planet. John did get some airtime there; at the conclusion of King's show, Carney hosted his own program during the highly coveted 3-6 a.m. slot. Word has it he was a big hit among both of that town's 2 insomniacs
Like his father, John loved St. Louis. He had his first crack on the air here in 1986 at KXOK when the station switched to an "all talk format." He produced for and co-hosted with the late Mort Crowley and Grant Horton. Unfortunately the format was short-lived when a year and a half later the station sold. It was at this point that John served as a comedy writer for Dick Cavett; A position that he kept for 5 years. Dick still keeps in touch, calling from time to time to remind John that he's not funny.
From there Carney had radio stints in the Ozarks and Carbondale, Illinois co-hosting a classic rock morning zoo. Even though he continued to hone his craft outside of the Gateway city, he never gave up hope of returning to St. Louis. Opportunity knocked again in 1989 in the form of a big band jock spot at WEW. After four years of spinning Kay Starr and Woody Hermann records, John became restless and found his way back into talk radio.
WIBV was the next stop for John which later became KTRS. It was there that he honed the art of interviewing and comfortably filling the airwaves with something other than music. His 9 to noon slot quickly gained notoriety with frequent stops to the studio by the famous and infamous. In 1997 John received the "Air Award" for talk show host of the year and was chosen as one of St. Louis' top radio personalities by the Riverfront times. And while we're back patting, John picked up "Media personality of the year" in 99 and 2002. In July of 1998 Carney signed on at KMOX to host evenings; A position he held for 13 years.
Even with John's deep love of the business, it takes a back seat to his family. Daughters Jaede and Joerdan are his China Dolls and as he puts it, "they'll be the prettiest nuns in the convent". The real brains of the outfit is wife Suzanne, In August of 2008, they had a son, John James. He has since been followed by another bouncing baby boy, Liam Ashbury. Carney's other kids are the one served by his foundation; Carney’s kids. The Carney’s kids Foundation raises money and awareness for several area charities whose focus is improving the lives of children. John’s love of food is evident in his “restaurant Tuesday feature and his 2 cookbooks “Taste of Restaurant Tuesday” and “Another Taste of Restaurnat Tuesday”. For more information on Carney’s Kids, go to www.carneyskids.org.
If there's time left after that, you'll find John teaching cooking classes around town, cheating at golf or making music with one of his bands.
