I was born in the little town of Wood River, IL, on the banks of the Mississippi, and just about 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis.      Diehard Cardinal fan!!!!     All through High School I knew I’d be a doctor, no question about it.    That is, until I went to college.   At the University of Illinois, it was less than a semester before I discovered the campus radio station, WPGU.     I worked harder there than I did on my classes and found out…it was kinda fun.   I got to go backstage and meet rock stars and wannabe rock stars.   Plus there were guest lists, free bar tabs and all the cassettes and LPs the record companies could give me.      It didn’t take long before the doctor thing got lost and radio took over.

After I graduated in 1985 (Go Illini!!), my first job in the real world was WXQR / Jacksonville, the Rock and Roll Animal.    I worked there for 2 years getting some good experience, but the best thing I got was my wife, Elissa.

In 1987, we moved to the Myrtle Beach area, where my first job was actually at Rock 98, based in Georgetown.      The signal barely reached Surfside Beach, but at least we were the only station rockin’ the Grand Strand.

Then, Rock 98 was sold, and we were all fired.  

Transition to Country Music.    In 1989, Country was starting to explode, so I got in on the ground floor, working for WYAK / Y-103 for 7 years, before going to WJXY / Conway for a few months, and then Gator 107.9 for a year.

In 1997, Wave 104 needed a Program Director.   I got the job and got back into Rock.    But Wave had a sister station, WRNN, which also needed a Program Director…so I was doing both.     After a of couple years, in 2001, I became part of the morning show on WRNN and I’ve been there ever since.    It’s been an interesting journey, but aside from the whole ‘getting up at 2:30am thing’, it’s pretty cool.

Kristine Ward is an Emmy award winning news anchor who has been in the broadcasting business for more than 10 years. Kristine started her journey in TV news at the NBC affiliate, KARE 11, in Minneapolis, MN. At the age of 14, she became a co-host and reporter for "Whatever," the award winning magazine show for teens. During her nearly seven years on the show, she covered sports, local news and entertainment. Kristine interviewed hundreds of celebrities during international press junkets. Her favorite interviews include, Julie Andrews, Will Ferrell and Jacky Chan. Kristine started her "hard news" career at at KIMT News 3 in Mason City, IA. At the CBS affiliate, she produced and anchored the "Daybreak" morning show. Two years later she moved two hours down the road to another CBS affiliate in Cedar Rapids, IA to become the co-anchor of "CBS 2 This Morning" and the anchor of "CBS 2 News at Noon." Before moving to Iowa and beginning her career in journalism, Kristine grew up in Minnesota and later left the chilly Midwest for Southern California where she graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Broadcast News. During college, Kristine was preparing for her future career as a reporter and anchor at her college-owned station News Waves 26, Malibu's local news. When Kristine isn't working, she enjoys traveling, working out, and trying new restaurants (she loves receiving local suggestions). Follow Kristine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kris_zell

Pat Taylor is a self-proclaimed life long "radio-holic". Since 1974, he has been in the broadcasting industry. He started in the biz (in high school) in his hometown of Fairmont,West Virginia. After graduating from Fairmont State University with a Radio & Television Degree, Pat was on-air in Ocean City, MD., Lexington, KY.,& Louisville, KY. Since moving with his family to Myrtle Beach in 2004, Pat has been a part of the Next Media Radio of Myrtle Beach family as a Remote Broadcast Technician and Part-Time On-Air Personality. He is also a Operating Partner of Music On The Strand DJ Service, performing at events throughout the Southeast. Occasionally, he also serves as a Substitute Teacher in the Horry County School system.

Married to his lovely bride (Teresa) since 1988, he & his wife are the proud parents of 2 children (J.P. & Jessica), Keno (their dog), and Max (their guinea pig). Pat & his wife also coach their daughter's Volleyball team that participates in the Horry County Parks & Recreation Volleyball League. Pat is a member of the American Disc Jockey Association and the National Association of Mobile Entertainers. As the newest member of the Hot Talk Morning Show, Pat promises to be the "Best Dressed Man in Radio". After all, his wife has always told him he has "a face for radio"......