I give nicknames to everyone.  The greatest I have ever bestowed was “The Freckle.”  That was reserved for a freckled female that was my General Manager for my final years in radio in West Palm Beach.  I walked away back in 2011 and “The Freckle” was a big reason why I did so and have not come back since.

She was an interesting character.  First time as a General Manager and always sticking her nose into things she had no knowledge of and if her friends from church would say anything about the station during Sunday services it would be on the agenda Monday morning.  We were on a collision course.  Me and “The Freckle.”

I don’t play games.  I work hard and made the mistake of letting a job define me.  Some have called me “difficult” but that is a mask for someone that doesn’t appreciate anyone that is lazy.  I have no room in my life for lazy people.  If that makes me difficult then I will proudly wear that crown.  “The Freckle” did not like to be questioned.  You had to kiss her ring or you weren’t part of the tribe.  We were on a collision course.  Me and “The Freckle.”

I don’t like bullshit.  When it became clear to me that the Sheriff was corrupt and the TV/gossip columnist was an ass I took them on.  I have a big mouth and I really don’t care what people think.  That’s not how it was done in West Palm Beach.  The more you shoot your mouth off the more you become a target and I found that out the hard way.  The vermin came out of their holes and came after me.  One day I was falsely accused of something and of course all charges were dropped.  That didn’t matter to “The Freckle.”  Even though I was innocent and was basically a target of retribution by the Sheriff, she never stood by me.  I was off the air and banned from the station and all events.  When the truth was told, all charges dropped, I could see “The Freckle” steaming.  She had no choice to put me back on the air and why not?  I had solid number one ratings in all key demos.  The irony was that I was making “The Freckle” look good.  We were on a collision course.  Me and “The Freckle.”

Back in 2010 I told “The Freckle” the days of music are dead.  We need to do podcasts after the show.  It’s the biggest threat to commercial radio.  We need to drop all music in the morning and work harder on compelling content.  What did “The Freckle” do?  Ignored me and demand I play more music.  This arranged marriage was nearing the end.  “The Freckle” started to eliminate those that questioned her and wouldn’t kiss the ring.  The mental games had taken their toll on me.  My health was suffering and I had lost my edge and my confidence.  Long story short, I walked away from that toxic situation in early 2011.

Funny thing about history.  It will make you look like a prophet or a fool.  Today that morning show that replaced me is doing well.  They have a podcast after every show and they don’t play music.  I look at those days with “The Freckle” and I wondered why I waited so long to walk away.  I have so much more to share with you about “The Freckle”, but those stories will have to wait for my book.