John Carney

For over 50 years, people have found comfort in the fact that there has been a Carney on the radiowaves.

Carney’s commitment to a career in radio came on the heels of advice from his father, the late Hall of Fame broadcaster 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 1984, 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 insomniacs

Like his father, John loved St. Louis. He had his first crack at major market radio in St. Louis in 1986 as John was paired with 2 more legendary broadcasters in Mort Crowly and Grant Horton. at KXOK when the station switched to an “all talk format.” It was at this point that John found another vehicle for his humor as a comedy writer for Dick Cavett; A position that he kept for five years. Dick still keeps in touch, calling from time to time to remind John that he’s still not funny.

By the early ’90s, John was back into talk radio, interviewing and comfortably filling the airwaves with something other than music. His nine-to-noon slot quickly gained notoriety with frequent stops to the studio by the famous and infamous. In 1997 and 2000, John received the “Air Award” for talk show host of the year and was chosen as one of St. Louis’s top radio personalities by the St. Louis media 5 different times. And while we’re back-patting, John picked up “Media personality of the year” in 99 and 2002, and 2007 by the National Restaurant Assn for his frequent culinary features on the show. In July of 1998, Carney signed on at a long-time powerhouse replacing the legendary Jim White.

Even with John’s deep love of the business, it takes a back seat to his family. With two teenage girls and two boys in single digits, Carney is well on his way to staffing his own basketball team. Carney’s other kids are the ones served by his foundation; Carney’s Kids, an organization that raises money and awareness for several area charities whose focus is improving the lives of children. Fundraising efforts have included the publishing of 2 cookbooks “Taste of Restaurant Tuesday” and “More Tastes of Restaurant Tuesday”. Plus, the annual CarneyVal held each February for for the last 20 years has brough in almost a million dollars for several local childrens charities. For more information on Carney’s Kids, go to www.carneyskids.org.

Julie Buck

One of St. Louis’s most well-known and popular broadcasters brings her personality to The Big 550 joining John Carney from 12 pm – 3 pm every weekday.

In addition to being the daughter of St. Louis legend Jack Buck, Julie is the younger sister of national sportscaster Joe Buck. She and her brother Joe also owned J. Buck’s Restaurant.

A lifelong St. Louisan, Julie Buck has achieved much in her life, from owning and directing marketing for the popular J. Buck’s Restaurants to a long and accomplished broadcasting career encompassing both radio and television.

Julie has devoted much of her life to volunteer work, including an alumni member of the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Advisory Board, Kidsmart Advisor and Volunteer, and a volunteer for MICDS.

Not restricting herself to entertainment, Julie is also a successful real estate agent with Laura McCarthy. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and three children.

For booking and promotion: max.foizey@ktrs.com