Radio host reflects on roots in Spa City
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bobby Bones never stops.
It’s clear, sitting in his home studio on Music Square in Nashville, that the Mountain Pine native is constantly moving, always going every day from 3 a.m. to whenever he gets the time to slow down. But anyone who meets him will quickly see he thrives on the fast pace of the radio business.
“I started at KLAZ in Hot Springs when I was 17,” he said after finally sitting down to check emails in his office. The signed memorabilia and photos from the course of his career are mixed with pieces of Arkansas throughout the space.
Growing up in rural Arkansas, Bones was the first in his family to graduate
from high school and, later, from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. Hard work was his ticket out.
“I was just a kid from Mountain Pine, living on welfare and food stamps, and I knew working hard was the only way to change that,” he said. “I always made sure to work hard at school and with the radio, I always made sure to work hard and show up on time. I’ve known a lot of really talented people that don’t have the work ethic to back it up, and that’s the key.”
When asked about how he got to where he is, Bones keeps it short and sweet, saying that for five years he stayed with KLAZ before moving on to Q100 in Little Rock where “The Bobby Bones Night Show” began. In 2003, he moved to Austin, Texas, to another Clear Channel station where he hosted “The Bobby Bones Show” from 5-10 a.m. weekdays. The new gig gained him, along with his co-hosts and friends, Amy and “Lunchbox,” top rankings in the market and the fan base to back that success up.
“You know, around that time, the station really wasn’t doing well, and we weren’t making a lot of money, but on the same note I was able to bring in my friends that way,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to work with people that I like and I can honestly say these people you hear on air with me are my very best friends.”
While in Austin, Bones and his team were honored as Austin Radio Personality of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the Austin’s Alliance of Women in Media’s Radio Personality of the Year award seven consecutive years.
Bones said he developed his own system of syndicating the program. When audiences took notice, “The Bobby Bones Show” joined Premiere Networks in 2011, taking a place in the national lineup. Having worked in Top 40 the entire way, it came as a pleasant surprise when the company chose to transition the show to a country format in February 2013.
“You know, back in 1997, my first interview was with Darius Rucker at Magic Springs, and he’s still one of my favorite artists because he — like this genre — is very approachable,” he said. “I knew country. I grew up in Arkansas. The switch to country music was very easy for these reasons.”
Throughout his career, Bones — who is now broadcast weekly on approximately 80 stations, as well as on weekends with Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones on 130 affiliates and Fox Sports Radio’s Bobby Bones, which broadcasts on nearly 250 stations — has been told he doesn’t fit the mold of just about every genre he’s hosted. Bones said he’s heard it all and it’s not going to slow him down.
“I’ve never really fit into any group, and I’ve heard ‘He’s not pop,’ or ‘He can’t talk about sports,’ or ‘He’s not country,’” he said. “I’ve had to prove myself every time, but that’s just the way I’ve approached everything I’ve done.”
Bones, along with his video producer Eddie — which audiences will recognize from his weekly show — make up the half music, half stand-up, all-for-a-good-cause band, The Raging Idiots, which plays for charity events across the country. Every weekend, the duo plays sold out shows with all proceeds going to various charities. To date, they’ve raised almost $600,000 and their debut album “Charity Hilarity” was downloaded more than 10,000 times. But the band isn’t to be confused with Bones’ former band of the same name.
“When I was in probably ninth or 10th grade, I had this band called The Raging Idiots and we were terrible — I won’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “And we won this contest, that I’m pretty sure we were the only people who entered, to play ahead of Mustang Sally. So our first show, we were on stage and it was pouring down rain. No one showed up, but we still played.”
The Raging Idiots fans have come to know and love got their break at a charity event for Amy, where Bones and Eddie performed stand- up and their signature, funny songs for about 50 people.
“Then the next show it was 100 people, then a couple hundred more people then the shows started selling out,” he said. “People show up and pay money to hear our dumb songs and because it all goes to charity, we feel guilty if we think about stopping.”
Bones said “real artists” often open for The Raging Idiots which adds to the lightheartedness of the mission of the band.
“They really have to have a good sense of humor because they’re obviously serious musicians who are way better than us,” he said. “We have no plan to be serious any time soon and the folks we play with get that.”
Bones wants to be involved in every aspect of the entertainment business and has made his mark in television and film with appearances on ABC’s “Nashville,” Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” and Fox Business’ “The Independents.” He appeared in the movie “Bandslam” in 2009, which starred Vanessa Hudgens, and said he is writing a book. He wants to stay involved in everything, he said.
“My goal is to make it harder for them to fire me,” he said with a laugh. “I really do kind of throw everything against the wall and hope it sticks. I try it all until something works.”
And so far, it’s been working.
“The toughest part about all of it is the travel and the album launches, working on an alternative rock show when I’m not on the air, being out of the studio. My team is really good at holding down the fort while I’m not actually in the studio.”
As much time as he spends on the road, Bones said he still makes time to come back to Hot Springs because it’s still home.
“You know, my sister and her two kids are still there and I still have a place out on Lake Hamilton,” he said. “I’ve got the state of Arkansas tattooed on my arm and I’m a die-hard Razorbacks fan, and no matter the places I’ve been, I’m proud to say Arkansas is still — and always will be — my home.”