KANSAS CITY – After five years at KMBZ as the co-host of Midday, and more than three decades in the radio business — Jon Grayson is retiring.
We asked him to put some thoughts down on his last day, reflecting on his career and his time in KC. Here's what Jon wrote:
So here it is, the day I never thought would come. In a few short hours I’ll hang up my headphones, perhaps for the last time. In a lot of ways I’ve been incredibly lucky.
As a kid I was always steered away from potential careers that depended on personal talent alone, since my mom was convinced that people who made their living that way were somehow possessed of a magic that us regular folks don’t have.
But the day I first heard talk radio - a day I remember very clearly - I fell in love. I had no choice in the matter.
From calling in to talk shows as a college student to beating down the doors of my local station to hire me, this business always held a kind of allure I found irresistible.
My days as a producer and part-time, fill in and weekend host at 19; I worked my way from Tampa to Nashville; and my own, full-time host position at age 27… a mere babe in the talk radio woods.
From there to St. Louis, and finally here in Kansas City for the past five years, I’ve had plenty of career ups and downs. I spent seven years in national syndication, and was fired twice. But despite the lows, the highs always made this path worthwhile.
And the best part has always been the people. From the listeners to the callers to my co-workers, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have gotten along with almost all of you. The exceptions aren’t worth mentioning.
The movie “Talk Radio” called this America’s last neighborhood, and it wasn’t wrong. I’ve always wanted my shows to be the kind of thing you’d hear people jawing about at the bar, and it’s a formula I still believe in deeply.
We need this, even though sometimes it can get loud and contentious. We need this place where people, most of whom will never meet in person, can still hear each other; can still listen to each other.
We all, myself included, need to be challenged about what we believe because it forces us to define it to ourselves. I’ve never expected you to agree with me, only to ask yourself why you don’t.
So why leave? Why now? Why am I doing this, ten years before most people think about retirement? I hate to be ambiguous, but the fact is I’ve learned that there are some things I need to do in my life that simply run in conflict with my remaining on-air. My wife and I are making some changes in our lifestyle, our geography and our living standards to protect our safety and sanity that include an international move. That simply makes this job no longer feasible.
Looking back, as proud as I am about the job that I’ve done over these 35 years, that pales in comparison to how grateful I am to everyone who assisted me in moving my career along. There are far too many of you to mention, but please know that I truly appreciate all you did for me — even the ones who helped me by not hiring me.
That happens — radio’s a weird business. I’ve worked alongside so many people that I truly admire, and I’ve witnessed some great talent grow up in this as I did. I’ll miss this. I’ll miss you. And I’ll always be thankful that you made the choice to listen to anything I had to say. Continue to use your own voice, and I promise I will continue to try to keep you entertained in any way I can.
What’s next? I’m not entirely sure. I can tell you I don’t expect my retirement to be days on the beach reading Faulkner (although that will likely be a part of it). You know I could never keep my mouth shut for that long. All I can tell you for sure is that as long as you continue to follow, I will always have something to say.
Thank you Kansas City for opening your arms and your ears to me five years ago. I’ve loved learning this city, your ideas and ideals, your rhythm, your problems and the ways you shine. Keep trying to do better, you’ll find it’s always worth it. Thank you KMBZ for providing me yet another platform and connection to some truly great human beings.
And thank you Jayme for bearing with my antics long enough to have turned our show into the true partnership I believe it’s been.
With love,
Grayson
“I’ve given my life, the songs that I sing,
Matter of fact I’ve given everything.
Time has come, to not make a sound.
Time has come to lay my burden down.”
– Jimmy Buffett, "The Last Line"
