Rivers is originally from a large white woman in Fort Worth . That's his description. Never expect a straight answer from him. A stand up comedian, a 30 year veteran of morning radio and computer analyst. But always count on him when you need him. A native Texan.
After graduating from Elkins Broadcast Institute he started his career in Terrell Texas at KTLR. On the first over-night show, by accident, He used the station's calls letters KTER (the station across town) all night long. The owner called in at 6am and said it was the worst start to a broadcast career, but he was laughing so hard at the show he could not stand to call in and break up the party. His career has followed that same accidental path ever since.
He worked for several Dallas Radio stations before taken it on the road to Temple Texas at KPLE-FM, Waco Texas at KJNE-FM, WXOF-FM Tampa Florida, WSM-FM Nashville Tennessee and KHBR AM in Hillsboro . We found him frozen in minus 35 degree weather in Great Falls Montana at Q106 FM. So, to say he jumped at the chance to return home to sunny, friendly Texas would be an understatement.
What does he attribute is career path to? He told us is career may have taken a much more successful path had he not broken a chain letter while working as a stunt man at church. And too, the freak cheese grater accident didn't help either. NEVER a straight answer.
Brad has a daughter Brooksie Rivers, Grand daughter Neveah (he can't pronounce her name either so he just calls her NAVY) , and Son-in-law Jacob living in Dallas.
When we ask "how would you run our radio station if it were yours?" he said "It's not mine. The station belongs to the folks of the community. Open the phone lines, the doors and open your ears. The people that own the station is the people in and around the city of Corsicana . The community will determine what that radio station will be." When asked "where do you want to be in five years?" He said, "I don't know, we have to be concerned with today and give 100% and the future will be shown to you. Two simple questions have changed the way, or I should say has taken us back to where KAND came from and should be today. You future is forever positively impacted."
We are so very proud to call Brad Rivers our, well "YOUR" guy on KAND.
Have fun!
Smilin' Brad Rivers
Betsy Brooks: Nuevo Real
Its all happened so fast, I wonder how I got here.
One day one of the current part time employees at KAND told me they were looking for part time announcers. I had never thought about doing this but, I JUMPED! I have never looked back. It's wild, it's fast, you had better be on your toes. There are no do-overs.
The programming people want it live, normal, local, and most importantly REAL. That's me, I can't be anyone else.
I moved here from Arizona 9 years ago. I live with my mum and sister, also have a brother, he is married.
I went to high school here.And was in the ROTC program it was an awesome time. I am now in college. I have changed my major a couple of times. I love music and the color green. (and right now the boss is saying "as in money?") Yea, that will work!
Talk Time on Saturday is wild! People are talking about so many things, so fast and I am supposed to type it all up as they are talking! I almost get it right. After about 20 years or so I might get it all right.
Nueva Real is on the air Sundays at 12 noon, all brand new and a first of its kind. Bilingual Spanish and English and we post in Spanish and English on the KAND website. So, now I'm not only typing it all up in English, I'm typing it in Spanish too! Sometimes I forget what language I'm in. Johnny Vega is a brand new talent and my partner on Nuevo Real. You will like him. He has a lot of history in the area going back several generations.
It makes me feel so good when a thousand phone calls come in, they all begin to run together and then BAM! Someone like Ms. Roberts calls in wishing a lovely day for all her lovely little ladies and it brings it all back down to earth, Just real people talking on Real Country KAND. Now I get why Brad Rivers calls this the Front Porch for Central Texas. It's comfortable here. My friends live here, on the radio.
Betsy Brooks
Johnny Vega: Nuevo Real
Wow! What can I say?
One day I m working on a ranch. A few days later I'm part of an exciting new radio show.
It happened that fast!
I applied for a or any job at KAND and little did I know, they were looking for a Host for a brand
new kind of radio show. Betsy Brooks was put in charge of recruitment since she was the founding host and
programmer of the new show, Nuevo Real. We hit it off right away. She's smart, funny and cute. We had a nice
conversation. She called the boss in and he said "your the host of the newest and most unique kind of show between here,
and well, anywhere. Its all bilingual and Betsy says you can handle it. Now we need to see if you can handle the pressure of
working live, fast, and keep it completely real. My common sense was telling me "you don't know how to do this!".
My mind was screaming yes!
My family is from here and goes back many generations. We have always taken great pride in our Mexican heritage
while striving to make the English language as common as Spanish in our homes. And it's paying off.
Call into the show and Betsy and I are both bilingual. And in the same way the talk time show is conducted we will do
some buying and selling. But we take it to a new level! We post your comments in both English and Spanish on our web site. We
want to open both communities to each other for buying and selling and if in the process we move both communities
closer together, then we have done a great deal for everyone. 12 to 3 Sundays let me and Betsy Brooks and Nuevo
Real bring you some fun, some musical enjoyment and lets do a little buying and selling. Real Country music (yes we play it all!), real Tejano
and regional Mexican music. If you don't call us we can't play what you want.
Now, the beauty in all this is if I make a mistake you will know immediately and if you ask the question "don't you know what your doing?". I can
honestly say no. But dreams do come true and I am learning, I'm living it and I'm loving it!
Ride along every Sunday 12 to 3 on Nuevo Real!
Johnny Vega
David
Ross: On Air
David
moved to Corsicana in 1998 with his wife and four sons. He is a real
renaissance man having worked in customer service, been a sailor in the
United States Navy, drove a truck in the Oil Field for Eddie Chiles (Western
Company of North America) among other jobs.
After
cramming a four year degree in Radio and Television Communications into
thirteen years, David graduated from UTA in 1998 and began to work in the
metroplex at different radio stations. He first came to KAND in January of
1999 as a Sunday morning DJ. David was the morning DJ at KAND from December
of 2000 through May of 2003 when he left to pursue other opportunities. He
returned to KAND in April of 2008 as a part-time technical advisor and
sometime fill-in board operator. Since August of 2009, David has been doing
"Talk Time" on Saturday mornings.
David's other interests include acting on stage at the Warehouse
Theater occasionally, riding his motorcycle and spending time with his
family. Two of his sons are currently serving in the military, one in the
United States Navy and the other in the United States Marine Corps. His
second son is working in Waxahachie and his fourth son is currently a
sophomore at Corsicana High School.
David
has a Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling and is currently working as a
counselor intern and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Humanities
Department at Navarro College.
Rusty is currently the Executive
Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Community National Bank & Trust
where he has been employed for 14 years. Active in the community he
currently serves as President of Corsicana Youth Baseball and the YMCA, he
is a former City Councilman as well as past President of the Chamber of
Commerce and United Way. Rusty has been the Color Analyst on Corsicana High
School Football and Baseball games for three years and is also co-host of
"Sports Time with the Homers".
Rusty is a native of Corsicana and is a 1983 graduate of Corsicana High
School where he was a member of the State Finalist Football team and Captain
of the Baseball team. He earned a BBA in Finance from Texas State University
(formerly Southwest Texas State) in 1987. Rusty is married to the former
Diane Aldama, a teacher at Bowie Elementary, and they have one son Ryan a
student at Corsicana High School.
Rusty is very involved in youth sports and has coached many baseball and
soccer teams. He enjoys sports a great deal and this is how he got involved
in radio. "While I am not a full time radio person I really enjoy the
business and how it allows me to use my passion for sports and make use of
all those many hours that I have spent watching, listening and reading about
sports. We have a great sports team and we try to make the experience fun
and informational for the listeners. Besides with a mother (Mary Sikes) and
a father in law (Dick Aldama) in radio it is kind of in my blood."
Chuck is currently the local Subway Franchise Owner in Corsicana, Texas.
Every fall since 1995, Chuck has also penned the CHS Point After Column in
the Corsicana Daily Sun. The column offers insight from the previous Friday
Night Corsicana High School Football game. Chuck was the sideline reporter
or third man in the booth beginning with the 2009 CHS Football Season and is
a co-host of “Sports Time with the Homers”.
Chuck is a native of Corsicana and is a 1988 graduate of Corsicana
High School. He earned his BBA from the University of North Texas in 1992
and his MBA from the University of Dallas in 2001. Chuck also is a Navarro
College alumnus, earning his AD in 1990. Chuck is married to Gayle Smith
Williams and they have two daughters, Avery and Finley.
Chuck is very involved with many aspects of Corsicana Independent
School District Athletic Endeavors. “While not a radio professional, I do
enjoy promoting the kids of Corsicana and talking all aspects of sports. Via
print or having the tremendous opportunity to have a voice on KAND, I enjoy
spreading the sports word. Todd, Rusty and I truly enjoy the broadcasts and
hope that permeates to the listeners of KAND Radio.”
David
Ross: On Air
