Interview with Star 95's Lee Summers

My buddy Lee Summers is currently taking care of business on Star 95.9 FM, and that business is being funny.  I've always known he was a comedic talent but now through the power of radio tons of other people are getting the chance to find out too.  Check out this new interview I did with him where he talks shop and other things after the jump.



Ever since I've known you you have been a funny dude.  Was cuttin' jokes something that just came naturally to you or did you decide one day to try to make people laugh?

A little bit of both. My brother was always the funny guy around the house and he always made me want to be funny to get attention.  High school brought a new element to this. I realized that being quick witted was a good defense mechanism and people always like the "funny guy".  I think trying to be accepted and fit in played more of a part than anything. As for trying to be funny, that's usually the thing that makes
you least funny.  There comes a point when things start to flow and you notice your mind working in strange ways. Looking past the obvious to see the oddity is what makes good observational humor.

It's awesome that you are on the radio, what are your thoughts on that?  What type of station is it, and what music do you play?

We are considered a CHR (contemporary hit radio) station. We play top 40 music and break new hit music. It may not be my favorite genre of music but the popularity factor contributes to higher listenership of the show and that's what really matters.

I know for a fact that you like good music, including stuff that you would never hear on the radio.  What is it like to have to listen to stuff that you don't like all day long and are you able to pick what gets played?

It can be very frustrating playing repetitive music that I don't care for but so many people do like it that it does feel good to make people happy.  I have also influenced the new music selection along with my co-host and General Manager LT Schoonover to reflect some new acts that are not charting high but need to be heard.

With that said, what are your thoughts on music today in general?  Do you think there is any hope for popular music?

I think that music has steadily gone downhill since the nineties, most likely do to my age, But a lot of people agree. Auto tune and somebody making stupid noises over a drum beat doesn't really ring true as music to me. We are trying to break new acts like Scars on 45, Gotye, and Eric Hutchenson that have a very alternative pop feel.  If you remember the good old days when Pearl Jam and Nirvana were played
on pop stations you will see the cycle of late 80s and early 90s being consumed with urban/dance music and then all of the sudden the public was bored enough with that style to allow themselves to be open with accepting a polar opposite alternative grunge movement that revolutionized music on a Hendrixian level. I am hoping we are approaching this point again in music and am trying to spur it along
whenever possible.

Whenever we hang out, the stuff you pull that makes me laugh definitely wouldn't see air on a normal radio station.  How much do you have to censor yourself when you're on the air and would say that your performance on the radio is even a good representation of your sense of humor?

This is a daily struggle with censorship. Fortunately being an observational style comedian makes it easier to keep it clean but at the same time I always have to stop before things get to be what I would consider really good. It is tough to stay clean not just with language but with content. Just because you don't say "he got f**ked in the @ss" and say "he took a wiener in his hind end" doesn't make it acceptable. Innuendo is a big grey area. The rule of thumb in radio is that perception is reality. You either have to be very slick in your wording or don't even try to hide it and just say a PC version of what you would say like "he was sexually assaulted by another man". Really puts a damper on things. I will tell you this though, it has challenged me to push my creative writing and improv abilities to new levels by having to rewrite a joke 3 times in my head in under a second. Quickness is everything. Nothing is more pathetic than saying "H,ey it woulda been funny if I had said this" or "I shoulda said this". You have that one moment to shine and its over.
Its very tough.

You're definitely making the most of a hard situation in Southern West Virgina, that of being a creative person with seemingly no way of getting exposure.  What do you think the problem is around here?  Are you satisfied with where you are at or do you still feel held back?

I am grateful of the opportunities given to me to impact 10,000 plus listeners on a daily basis and we double listener-ship every 6-8 months.  There have been several bigger opportunities that have came down
the pipeline as a direct result. Being in this position and working so hard for so long to get exposure has given me a burden to help local talent get exposure. We strive to have the best local talent such as Comedians, Musicians, Artists, etc. on the show to promote themselves and have positively impacted the lives of many of these people.  That feels good.

 Am I wrong in thinking that you at one point wanted to be a comedian?
If that was the case, did you ever pursue it and what is the status of it.

I always consider myself a Comedian over a radio personality. I am a comedian using the medium of radio to be heard. I have done some standup and I enjoy it but having a partner to improv with has proven to be both more fruitful and satisfying in the long run.

What's next on your agenda?  Do you have any projects currently in the works?

LT and I will be programing a show for Sirius XM this year and that will be a big break through for both of us.  We will always maintain our show on FM and not abandon the listeners that helped us get where we are.
That should be up and going before 2013 as it stands now.

Do you do anything creatively outside of the radio show that people could check out?

I LOVE music. Its my favorite thing in the world. It can speak to you the way nothing else can. I do play live at local venues from time to time and you can get info for that from my Facebook page.  Jonah Carden and I are doing a 2-piece acoustic project that will be kicking off in March. Definitely check that out, Jonah is the most talented and well practiced musician I have ever met. So honored to be involved in a project with him.

Let people know where they can check ya out and get in contact with ya.

Facebook.com/leesummers95.9
Facebook.com/star95lee
Twitter- @star95.lee
Lee@star95.com

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