What Rayman Was Like Behind The Microphone

I've worked with Rayman for the last 8 years, and it's turning out to be difficult to see him go into retirement.  I'm happy for him, because he definitely deserves this next stage in life.  Still, I'm going to miss seeing him everyday at the studios.  Things won't be the same without the old rock n' roller.

Who am I?  How do I know Ray?  Here's a little background.

I work on B105, and over the years I've also worked on Kool 101.7, mostly behind the scenes.  About a year an a half ago, I stepped into a management role on Kool, and inherited Ray as one of my staff.   Oh man.  I didn't know what I was in for.  Ray is PASSIONATE about music.  Crazy, actually.  He had all these big ideas and he would come into my office with a scrap of paper with all these songs we should play, all these songs that were "dogs," and fighting tooth and nail for everything for Kool 101.7.   He did, and still does, love that radio station more than anyone.

I'd walk by the studio and see him clapping and stomping his feet to music.  It was probably the Rolling Stones.  He would get pretty fired up.  Funny thing was that he'd have his headphones on and we couldn't hear the music, so all we saw was a middle aged guy doing some kind of spastic dance behind the mic.  It didn't bother him at all.  I'll remember the youthful grin from ear to ear he'd give me when I'd roll my eyes at him.  He's still a kid at heart.

I have two kids, and ever since I'd bring our oldest to the station, he would make him feel like a superstar.  He even bought Zach a Christmas gift a time or two.  He would stop in and give me life advice.  Some of it was pretty good, some of it was just batshit crazy.  You never know what will come out of his mouth.  But Ray is a very kind and giving guy.

When Ray told me he was going to retire, I told him we needed to acknowledge his career and do something special for him.  He wasn't exactly on board.  He didn't feel like he deserved all the attention.  I told him two things.  First he deserves it after all these years, and secondly his listeners deserve it.   He agreed, but it took some talking him into.

We've got big shoes to fill now that Ray has hung up his headphones.  (And big hats, he's still got quite the mane.)

Happy retirement, Ray.  We love you and we're going to miss you.