(I used to write a bi-weekly column, RadioRadio, for Players magazine in the Tampa Bay area. The following story appeared in 1991.)

Profile: Marla Stone

By Bob Andelman

Marla Stone is fresh example proof that it is still possible to work your way up from the bottom into an airshift at a major market radio station.

This week, 98Rock entrusted its daily 2-6 a.m. graveyard shift to Stone. It's a significant move a number of reasons, not the least of which is that she has been a featured traffic reporter at crosstown rival 95YNF ever since Fast Eddie left more than a year ago.

Stone joined 95 almost four years ago as a University of South Florida intern. She worked in the station's research department and even did news, traffic and overnights as a country jock when WSUN was 95's sister station. After Fast Eddie took off, Stone's visibility rose during afternoon drive with Charlie Logan. The two developed a snappy rapport. And the traffic reporter had her cake and ate it, too, being employed full-time by Metro Traffic and part-time by 95.

Still, Stone says, "I really always wanted to be a jock."

One day, with no other job in sight, she resigned from 95 and set out to get a job as a DJ. "Nothing they did at 95 had anything to do with this," she says. "Traffic is just not what I wanted to do. But that was a great way for me to get in. My great love in life is rock 'n' roll. Charlie is still my idol; I'd like to do what he's done, become a PD."

It took a lot less time than Stone expected before Greg Mull offered her the early morning slot at 98Rock. Kelli Casey, who was on maternity leave from her 10 p.m.-2 a.m. slot, decided against coming back to work at the same time Mull heard from Stone. "It was an interesting coincidence," says Mull. "They (95) kept passing Marla over and I thought she was real good, so I hired her."

"I feel like I'm really, really lucky," she says. "I never thought this would happen. I'm like, cool."

CONGRATS! To Charlie Logan, who was named Music Director of the Year by Billboard magazine. It was his second time around.

PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS AND KEEP REACHING FOR THE STARS! Isn't that what Casey Casem always says?

We haven't had a really good letter to pass along in a while (probably since we stopped running our address at the end of this column), so consider this:

"Dear RadioRadio,

"After reading your last few columns may I suggest that you change your name to 95ynf Info & Publicity Line.

"With an exceptional (sic) mention or short blerb (sic) here and there, one reading your column gets the impression that the only real station in town is the aforementioned 95.

"Ok, so they got a couple of guys in the morning who like to talk dirty ... big deal (most of us went through that phase when we were in Jr. High). And so Mr. Logan waited nearly a decade to become PD ... does that make him all of a sudden the world's greatest programming genius? C'mon, he's just another guy who was on the radio with a bad voice. Don't misunderstand ... I like 95's music at times. I just wish they'd get rid of these guys who either can't talk normally or try to sound like they think some rock 'n' roll DJ is supposed to (Capone/Albums).

"Finally, I suppose now that Mason is back (another retread ... didn't Tampa Bay lose him when the Old Q died?) you'll devote column after column to him and his ego!

"Sincerely,

"Jerry McMurtry."

Depending upon what week it is, there are always complaints from some quarters that RadioRadio leans too much to one station or another - usually from one station or another. We'd really like to receive more input from their listeners and our readers, so here's your chance. What stations and personalities would you like to read more about?

Send a letter or postcard to RadioRadio, c/o Players, PO Box 1867, Pinellas Park, FL 34664. Fax is (813) 577-1414.

ATTENTION, JERRY! Here's a list of artists appearing "In the Studio" on 95 for the coming weeks: Edgar Winter Group (9/29); Moody Blues (10/6); Kansas (10/13); Lynyrd Skynyrd (10/20); Humble Pie (10/27); and Steppenwolf (11/3). The golden oldies parade airs every Sunday at 8 a.m.

ATTENTION, JERRY'S EVIL TWIN! 98Rock is offering a free, 24-hour info line providing the latest data on concerts, clubs, music news and reviews, local bands, heavy metal, venue directions and our fave feature, Big Chief Meteorologist Reports ("It's going to be hot as bitch out there"). The number to call: 898-4636.

A TRAGIC WASTE! That's when a busload of lawyers goes over a cliff and there are three empty seats.

Speaking of lawyers ... WFLA talk show host Lionel signed a new contract with the station that will keep him around through 1993. We don't know if he negotiated the deal himself.

JAZZ NOTES! Here's what's coming up on WUSF 90 FM's Jazz calendar:

American Jazz Radio Festival: Andy Bey, Leo Johnson (9/28); Lou Rawls, Houston Person and Etta James (10/5); Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Petrucciani (10/12); Michel Camilo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette (10/19); Ray Anderson, Steve Turre and Robin Eubanks (10/26). Saturdays at midnight.

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz: Harry Connick, Jr. (10/17); George Shearing and Steve Allen (10/24); Joey DeFrancesco (10/31). Thursdays at 11 p.m.

SPORTS SHORTS! SportsRadio 910 AM carries the Tampa Bay Bucs, University of Miami Hurricanes and University of Florida Gators football games. Special UF programs also include "Gator Football Report" (weekdays, 12:30 p.m.), "Gator Hotline" with Coach Steve Spurrier (Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.) and "Talkin' Football" with Ray Graves (Thursdays, 5 p.m.). ... Other special programming on SportsRadio: "Offsides" with Dan Dierdorf (weekdays, 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.); "Inside the NFL" with Roger Staubach (weekdays 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.); "Ron Franklin's SEC Report" (TBA); and "Pro Football This Week" (Saturday afternoons).

Over at WFLA, Lee Roy Selmon hosts 970 AM's two-hour Bucs pre-game show every week. And tune in every Friday morning to hear Selmon join Al Gardner and Tedd Webb for "Selmon Says" at 8:15 a.m.

And finally, WTKN 570 AM broadcasts UF Gator games and will also carry the following additional college games: Gators vs. Mississippi State (9/28); Auburn vs. Tennessee (9/28); Notre Dame vs. Stanford (10/5); USC vs. Notre Dame (10/26); Penn State vs, Pittsburgh (11/28); and Army vs. Navy (12/7).

GOING TO THE CHAPEL! Mix 96 midday jock "Marvelous" Marvin Boone is engaged to be married. Couldn't have happened to a skinnier guy.

GONE TROPPO! WTMP 1150 AM airs "The Island Sound Machine" every Friday night at 11 p.m. The show features reggae, calypso and soca music.

GOING ... GOING ... GONE! "Battle Lines" is a new talk show heard Mon.-Fri. on WTKN 570 AM from 9-11 p.m. Co-hosts are Jeff Baker and Bruce Bendt. The program is produced by something call T.I.P. Radio; the T.I.P. stands for "Truth in Programming." That and the fact TKN slaps a disclaimer on the show are enough to tune us out.