Rather than a boring bunch of stuff about Gnarley, this is an interview done for Marino Radio Marketing, that gives you a nice glimpse into the life of Gnarley.

Morning Probe Questions
Answered by Gnarley Charley on 9/12/04

Why mornings? Why not something else?
I love creating a show. I love the whole entertainment aspect. What we do is show business! I also love spending the afternoons with my wife and kids.

What WOULD that something ‘else’ be? (another gig or occupation..)
I would love to do stand-up but I would hate the travel. I miss shooting my no script country video show “Xtreme Country”. CMT would fly me around the country, Las Vegas, & Nashville with a cameraman and a sound guy; we would just shoot on the fly.

You’ve been doing the Morning thang in Fresno for a while… has the gig changed over the years… have YOU changed?
Our breaks are longer. I think if you meet me at a bar or hear me on the air you won’t hear much change in my delivery or sound. I’m pretty much the same on and off the air. I try not to do too many time checks and weather sponsors while sitting around a bar. I think I-pod’s and mp3 players have changed the role of your local radio station. We still give them the new music but if they just want music they can go elsewhere.

*Give us brief rundown on each of you, your personal history, your radio bio, and tips on how to handle the Tulee Fog in the Central Valley.
I would go with Tule fog as for handling it…. slow down.
I am married to my soul mate Dawn. We have 2 children Kara is 13 and Ricky is 10.
I love to golf and watch sports. I have had many unique jobs before sticking with radio. I have worked in Italy, England, and The Bahamas.

NBC Sports London, England, I was a gopher during Wimbledon 88
Youth Director El Toro Baptist Church
I took 64 Kids on trips to the beach & summer camps

106 KKDJ Fresno AOR rock station morning show producer
Pd art farkis

Club Med Bahamas
Sailing instructor and entertainment

Nanny Milan Italy & part timer Radio Vita 105.5 Milan
I took care of a 5 year old girl and a 10-year-old boy

New Country 98 KNAX
Nights- PD Brad Chambers & PD Mike Brady

Country Video countdown UPN Fresno
Daily country video TV show

Froggy Country 101 KFRG Mornings with Gnarley Charley. PD Rick Stewart
KSKS the New Kiss Country 93.7
Murphy and Charley in the Mornings Pd Ken Boesen

Xtreme Country KGPE TV 47
CBS affiliate Fresno
Country video show

CMT TV Network Canada
Xtreme Country Show Nationwide in Canada for 3 years. Pd Ted Kennedy & Casie Clark

KCBL & KVBL Fox Sports
Hosted produced Oakland Raiders radio fan show

Alice 102.7 KALZ Hot AC
Laurie & Gnarley in the mornings Pd e curtis Johnson

*Briefly describe your show your personalities and the “premise” listeners wake up to every morning.
It sounds almost too simple. Our main demo is the 35-year-old soccer mom who is not that cool but thinks she is. I want her to depend on us to be that bridge to Hollywood celebrities and anything remotely cutting edge. Everything we do is geared towards her.

We live our lives on the radio. We want our listeners to feel informed. If you listen daily you will find information in many forms: lifestyle news, celebrity scuttlebutt, and what ever is relevant in busy schedule mini-van soccer mom world. Stories about my life, my partner’s life & random listeners. All with the feeling that Alice 102.7 keeps them cool and informed.

*Segue to the show planning, how much of it is prepared before you walk into the studio? How much left to spontaneity?
We prep all the time. We have a prep service that gathers information what we actually use is personal discretion. The more we have some personal tie to the story the better the response. We rarely edit calls leaving all calls full of spontaneity. The trick is knowing when it needs to end or when to stay with someone.

*If by sheer act of nature you were a forced castaway on a desert island with one person, who would you choose to be stuck with your PD or GM, and why?
My PD, I think he has some Boy Scout experience. I also think he likes to fish. I love my GM but I think he would want to get the rescue sponsored or turn the whole island into some NTR event.

*Do you ever take chances and then ask for forgiveness?
I try to do my homework so if I ever have to ask for forgiveness my motivation and method were both laced with great intentions.

**Quick Word Association: (I quickly mention topical characters, from politics to entertainment, sports to music)
‘American Juniors’ (talent show; ‘Idol’ for kids) (GC)...Crappy Parents
National contesting (GC)... out of reach
Rob Thomas (GC)... does he own Wendy’s
Fresno(GC)...Fres-Yes
Rednecks (GC)...very entertaining

**Throw us a freakin’ bone, name one thing about yourself or about each other, that most people don’t know. Be honest.
I will cry when my kids get awards or any type of minor accomplishment, but I am great at hiding it or blaming those damn allergies.

** If there was one facet of radio you’d like to see change, what would it be… and what kind of change? (Any thing in radio, v-tracking, morning philosophies, spot loads, consultants, management, PD’s involved with more than one station, etc).
I think video and radio should become friends and realize they are both on the same team.

**Parting Thoughts on anything, from the radio industry to the world we live in, marriage to this painful interview.
I’m not sure who penned this. “Live Life to the fullest. Think about all the people who passed up dessert on the Titanic.

EXTRA POINT QUESTIONS: Just choose a couple you could have fun answering, but be honest, along with creative!

Were any (either) of you voted “class clown” in high school? Voted anything at all? (Optional: What kind of students were you?)
Sanger High school class clown 1985
Only “F” on my college transcripts “Radio Broadcast” Fresno state

How would you describe the feeling a listener gets after 20 minutes of your fine radio extravaganza?
Informed & entertained in a compelling way

How does this separate you from the pack, the other shows in town?
We all have the same info but making it compelling and entertaining is where the separation begins

How do you motivate your producer?
Movie passes and food! Unexpected compliments. I was a producer and I will never forget how the littlest compliment would motivate me.

Which of you is most likely to be caught moving to Disco Night, or a Flashback 80’s event at a local nightspot?
Not only would I be caught My wife and I frequently create disco night’s and limo about 20 of our friends around town.

CHOOSE OR LOSE: I name items you choose to KEEP or toss away.

Another year of ‘Survivor’… or of ‘The Bachelor’ (GC)..Survivor I guess, Do I have to watch it?
Mexican or Italian… (FOOD that is!)..(GC)I want both can we get rid of britsh food!
Playing a song or executing someone else’s Bit Idea?..(GC) Stealing a Bit (DuH!!!)
Country music… or gangsta rap? (GC).. Gangsta Country (gallop by shootings)
Music cranked WAY too loud…. Or cranky kids?(GC).. Cranky Kids make great phoners!

The Sales Department: friend or foe?
FOE..FOE..FOE!!!! They are the wind in our sails (sales)

Station appearances, do you do them, even the freebies? Or do you need to get paid?
I like to get paid but I also see the Big Picture.

IT’S Oh-VAH! Thanks for your help, we’ll make you look like the superstar that you are! MM