"Matty in the Morning" Retires After 41 Years at Kiss 108
GoLocalProv Business Team
"Matty in the Morning" Retires After 41 Years at Kiss 108
Kiss 108 -- an iHeartRadio station -- posted his message on Tuesday to family, friends, colleagues, and fans on his last day.
Matty's Message
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Hi, radio buddies, thanks for tuning in. I know, I know what you're thinking.
'Wait a minute, wait a minute, you're acting like everything is normal. Everything isn't normal, Matty. One thing: we're proud of you, as your listeners, that you're always honest with us. Sometimes you say... well, too honest things, and get yourself in trouble.'
I know, and I have been honest for the 41 years I've been with you, and so that will continue now.
This past year has been a little rough for me. I had brain surgery. I had a broken foot. I started getting a little grumpy on the radio, which I hate because all I want to do is make people laugh. That's my job, just to make people laugh, and I got off target, I guess you would say.
I'm a lucky guy for a million reasons, but five of them are a great wife and four great kids, and my great wife and my great kids talked with me over the last several weeks and helped me come to a decision and the decision is this: as of now, I am retired. I'm leaving Kiss 108 and starting my new life as a mediocre golfer.
Okay, that's being kind. Let me rephrase: I'm starting my new retired life as a lousy golfer, but we decided it was time. I started at Kiss 41 years ago, and it wasn't my first radio job. So, you know, added up I, you know, I turned 72 years old, this year. I mean, it's time.
It's time.
A couple things I want to say, most importantly, that it's been such a glorious run. I'm so appreciative, I can't tell you. When I think back to when I started in radio, making $2.00 an hour, I never thought I would mount to this. I never thought I would win two Marconi Awards, which are given out to the top radio announcer in the country. I won it twice. I'm so proud of that.
I'm so proud of... I put the laughs away on 9/11 and did a serious show, where I stayed on for eight straight hours, to try to be there for you guys...
But most of it was the silly stuff, you know? At the Kiss Concert, in a Spider-Man outfit, being lowered from the ceiling and all these silly things that I did, over the years, with my team, just to make people laugh. That's all - that was my job and I feel as though, with a couple of blips here and there, that's what I did.
I just, I don't know, man. I think it's very possible that I could cry, right now, and I - I know it doesn't feel very manly to cry over a radio show but, yeah, it's been a wonderful run."