New Country B97.9 - C.J. Cruze

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@CJCruze

C.J. Cruze’s career in commercial radio began in Charleston, Missouri in 1994 where he worked as a morning show personality while attending High School and working part time at a local grocery store.

C.J. took a small break from the radio business while he became the Night Manager of Town and Country Grocery Store in Charleston. Not staying away too long, he resurfaced in 1996 as the afternoon personality of KIYS in Jonesboro, Arkansas as well as weekend duties at a radio station in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

In July of 1997, C.J. moved back home to Missouri and began working nights at a local station in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. C.J. was also known as the courtside voice of the Charleston Blue jay basketball team. C.J. also worked part time at WIL-FM in St. Louis, Missouri on weekends. C.J. left Cape Girardeau radio in 1999 to work a brief stint (very brief) in the Marion-Carbondale Illinois market for WDDD-FM.

After a 1 year hiatus from radio, C.J. resurfaced in Sikeston, Missouri as the morning host of an AM news station. Cruze quickly moved over to the FM sister station as the morning show host where he stayed for 2 years before welcoming his first child into the world and moving to Afternoon Drive duties for that same station. C.J. also worked weekend shifts on sister stations in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In February of 2005, C.J. began his career with B97.9 in sales, soon after he made the smooth transition to morning news personality for Rick and Bubba. After nearly a year he moved to Afternoon Drive and has been there every since.

C.J. has won several Missouri Broadcaster Awards including Disc Jockey Of The Year and Best News Broadcast. C.J. is one of the emcees of the Kenny Rodgers Children’s Center Telethon and is the host of Telethon Idol on the Saturday Night of the Telethon.

HOMETOWN: Charleston, MO

TO WHAT DO YOU CREDIT YOUR SUCCESS?: I love the radio industry and everything about it. You have to love your job to be successful.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHICH FIVE CD’S WOULD YOU HAVE TO HAVE? Phil Collins Greatest Hits, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood – Carnival Ride, 50 Cent – Curtis, Best of Hootie & The Blowfish

FAVORITE WEBSITES: drudgereport.com, foxnews.com, espn.com, ebay.com

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME: I referee high school football, basketball and volleyball as well as umpire baseball and softball, watch shows recorded on my Charter DVR (shameless plug), play bowling on the Wii, hang out with my friends at Buffalo Wild Wings.

WHEN I WAS A KID, WHAT DID I WANT TO BE WHEN I GREW UP?: A band teacher or a radio personality.

PHOBIAS?: Phronemophobia- Fear of thinking.

Air Staff photos courtesy of Laura Davis Photography - Dexter, Missouri

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2013 ACM Winners

Apr 07, 2013 -- 10:16pm

Winners marked in BOLD

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR (fan voted)
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Zac Brown Band

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (previously determined via fan voting)
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (previously determined via fan voting)
Jana Kramer
Kacey Musgraves
Sunny Sweeney

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (previously determined via fan voting)
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORES [Winners of New Male, New Female & New Vocal Duo or Group Of The Year]
Florida Georgia Line
Brantley Gilbert
Jana Kramer

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville), Produced by: Mark Bright
Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
Red – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records), Produced by: Jeff Bhasker, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson
tailgates & tanlines – Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Mark Bright, Jeff Stevens
Tornado – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville), Produced by: Mike Wrucke
“Over You” – Miranda Lambert (RCA), Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
“Pontoon” – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
“Springsteen” – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN), Produced by: Hunter Hayes, Dann Huff

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“A Woman Like You” – Lee Brice
Composers: Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford, Jon Stone
Publishers: 3JB Music (BMI), Adios Pantalones (SESAC), Hears That Skyline Music (SESAC), Sixteen Stars Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band
Composers: Will Hoge, Eric Paslay
Publishers: Cal IV Songs (ASCAP), Will Hoge Music (BMI)

“Over You” – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton
Publishers: Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

“Springsteen” – Eric Church
Composers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell
Publishers: Bug Music (BMI), Ole Purple Cape Music (BMI), Sinnerlina (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
Composers: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges
Publishers: Happy Little Man Publishing (BMI), Songs From The Engine Room (BMI), Songs Of Universal Inc. (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award) [TIE]
“Creepin’” – Eric Church
Producer: Iris Baker; Director: Peter Zavadil

“Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Perry Bean, Kacey Musgraves; Director: Perry Bean

“Tornado” – Little Big Town
Producer: Iris Baker; Director: Shane Drake

“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
Producers: Stephanie Reeves, Eric Williams; Directors: Traci Goudie, Patrick Hubik

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
Producer: John Nguyen; Director: Declan Whitebloom

“The Wind” – Zac Brown Band
Producer: Ben Kalina; Director: Mike Judge

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)
“Don’t Rush” – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill (19/RCA/Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Dann Huff
“Easy” – Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Dann Huff, Brian Kennedy, Rascal Flatts
“Feel Like A Rock Star” – Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw) (Blue Chair/BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
“Let It Rain” – David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton (MCA Nashville)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell
“The Only Way I Know” – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow)
Produced by: Michael Knox

Florida Georgia Line Remixed Cruise with NELLY!!!

Mar 10, 2013 -- 10:28pm

New Lady A Music!!!

Jan 23, 2013 -- 6:35am

The story I hear is Miranda Lambert had this one on hold to record for herself when Hillary, Dave and Charles from Lady A fell in love with it too and begged Miranda to give them the shot to record it.

Miranda said sure and the rest is history!

Here's Lady Antebellum with "Downtown"