Kenneth Hoffer
(Ken Michaels/ Trevor Chase)
From his early years Ken wanted to be on the radio. One night, he called the radio station (WOKK Meridian, MS) and won guest DJ. At the age of 8 he was the guest DJ the next night. He loved it, his passion for radio was outstanding. Talking with his dad, dad suggested, “why don’t you see if you can get a part time job on the radio, I’ll drive you back and forth.” Ken jumped on the phone and started calling Van Mac, the program Director of WOKK. There was no openings. He called for months.
Then he tried a different station, WMOX, where Program Director, Noel Adcock hired him on the spot. Ken would run the local controls for all MSU Sports.
By 13, Van at WOKK had an opening for an overnight weekend DJ. Van called Noel and inquired. Ken took the gig and at the age of 13 had his own overnight weekend show from 100,000 watt, WOKK, Meridian, MS.
Summer quickly came and Ken got his drivers license (15 yrs). He was promoted to, “The Ken Michaels Show” every Monday through Friday from 12 midnight - 5:30 AM.
Ken also worked as the local producer for Alabama football with Eli Gold on WQGL-WPRN, Butler, Al that he would later become General Manager of, and local producer for years of USM sports with Jon Cox.
Ken went on to graduate at Southeast Lauderdale High School and took the position of Program Director, at 17, with “98 My Country”, (WMYQ) Newton/Meridian, MS. Ken Rainey, Sr. the owner and Ken Michaels decided to bring Meridian a different choice in radio, one that had never been done… a “good time rock n roll radio station.“ It lasted a year and there have been none since.
Ken went on to kick-start “The Hot New Z102“ (WMMZ), a pure rock to pop station. He was a top rated night jock and was moved to morning drive.
Ken and his crew left Z102 to jump start a station from scratch, “Best Songs On The Radio“, 103.3 ZKR (WZKR), in May of 2001.
Soon after Ken was offered the position of assistant program director and imaging director positions at the heritage Dothan, AL station, “95.5, WTVY“…three years later he accepted the same position at top rated, “106.7, WKMX”.
That year following the nomination, Ken won the ADDY Award.
Ken worked in the Pine Belt years ago as the small market CMA radio station of the year, “B-95” (WBBN) doing middays and hosted the night show on “Rock 104“ (WXRR).
Ken has also served as assistant program director at KLAA and KFOX 105 in Alexandra, General Manager at WQST, Forest, General Manager at WPRN, Butler, AL, Operations Manager at WSLY-WYLS, York, AL and General Manager of WMER in Meridian, MS.
Ken anchored a season of “The Friday Night Blitz“ on WGBC- TV 30.
He was also the voice that you’d hear between songs on select radio stations as their voice over talent: “SuperKountry” (WJFN) Brandon, MS,” Spirit 106” (WYJS), Jackson, MS, 98.1 “The Zone“ (WMXI), Hattiesburg, MS, “EZ87.7“ (WJMF), Jackson, MS and the original WMER (96-04) in Meridian, MS.
You would have also heard him on the Choctaw Indian Fair Advertisements, as he was their voice and the voice of the Sunday Earl Aycock TV Gospel Show.
During his career he was always “the weather guy.” He worked with The Weather Channel Radio Network on numerous occasions. His work has also been seen on WeatherNation, AccuWeather, FoxWeather, ABC and NBC. In addition he provided hurricane coverage on CNN Radio.
Ken owns Digitally Kennected, LLC. D.K. specializes in audio music programming, vocal production, imaging, news, weather and special reports.
Phone/Text: 601.283.3111
Email: ken@digitallykennected.com
Facebook: Ken Michaels (Hoffer)
Instagram: KenMichaelsX
YouTube: @digitallykennected
@kenmichaels@mastodon.social on #Mastodon
www.kmic.net
