Who is Russ Martin?

Name: Russ Martin

Website: RussMartin.com

E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Birthdate: 10/04/1960

First Radio Job: KGVL (1400) Greenville, 1980

Russ Martin grew up in the Dallas Fort Worth area, more specifically, Pleasant Grove. He's been in local radio for over 26 years in a variety of jobs. He spent many years at KEGL where he worked most time slots over years. When Howard Stern was cancelled in the DFW market, he was put in what some considered the unfortunate spot of replacing him. Much to everyone's surprise he managed to work the show into the top 5 in the mornings.

His contract expired around April 1999, and he continued to work at The Eagle while trying to work out a new contract. Six months later the "No Compete" clause in his contract expired. This meant that he could legally go to another station the next day, with no legal ramifications. Meanwhile, over at KYNG, the CBS radio station was considering a switch to the "Hot Talk" format, considering it's country format was tanking in the rankings. The management contacted Russ Martin, and learned that he could leave The Eagle and start the next day. Russ left The Eagle on March, 15, 2000, and took two weeks off before starting at KYNG on April 3, 2000 at 6:00am. On March 10, 2003, KYNG changed call letters to KLLI.

On December 8, 2008, 105.3 flipped to an all sports format, and Russ was removed from the air. He remained under contract to CBS until April 2011. On July 1, 2010, KEGL announced the return of Russ Martin to the Dallas airwaves. As a listener, we can only assume something happened contract wise that allowed him to return to the air.

His KEGL morning show began on July 12, 2010 at 6:00am.

Russ' CB handle growing up: CowPattyDaddy

Russ owns a number of cars, including a Mach 5, 2 Batmobiles, a pickup and a corvette. (And who knows what else, really.)


Other Events:

March, 2005 - Russ buys a house in Tarrant County. He's not a fan of the 817 area code, but things at Martin Manor seem to be going well.

September, 2005 - The 4th annual Hero's Parade started at Texas Stadium and ended at Texas Motor Speedway. Attendance was down a little from previous years as many departments were shorthanded, having sent personnel to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

October, 2005 - 3rd Annual Russ Martin Show Staff strip-off.

February, 2006 - Russ performs at the White Trash Party with the "Russ Martin Show Experience." This gives Russ the idea that the band should continue and go on tour.

May 1, 2007 - Russ starts dipping, the same day Trey stops. 

June 5, 2007 - Russ reportedly signs a new long term contract with CBS. He celebrates by taking the next day off.

May, 2008 - Russ opens his auto show, Russ Martin Automotive.

December 8, 2008 - 105.3 changes to "The Fan." The Russ Martin Show is gone from the air.

July 1, 2010 - KEGL, Dallas, announces the Russ Martin is returning to mornings.

Work History:
1980 Hired part time by KGVL-AM (1400), Greenville, working 6 p.m. to midnight running the board for religious programs. Gets first on-air gig a month later playing music for 30 minutes between shows.

1981 Fired from KGVL. Re-hired four months later.

1982 Hired by KTLR-FM (107.1) in Terrell, playing country music on weekends.

1983 Hired at KAAM-AM (1310) in Dallas as part-time weekend DJ. Also starts working part-time weekends at KAFM-FM (92.5).

1986 Hired part time by Satellite Music Network for oldies format. Also begins working part time for Z-Rock while still working at KAAM and KAFM. It's during this time that he uses the on air names of "Snake" and (Looking it up, I drew a blank when I wrote this.)

1987 Hired for 10 p.m.-2 a.m. shift by top-40 station KEGL-FM (97.1) in Dallas. Eventually moves to mid-days.

1988 Shoots pilot for Hot Tickets, a local lifestyle magazine TV show, with former KAFM colleague J.D. Ryan. The show runs through 1993 on KDAF-TV (Channel 33) and KTXA-TV (Channel 21),

1992 Returns to KEGL-FM (97.1), now a rock station, and eventually moves to midday shift.

1997 Takes over morning-drive shift for Howard Stern.

2000 Works as fill-in morning host at new talk station KYNG-FM (105.3) for eight months while Howard Stern works out his contract with Infinity Broadcasting. Moves to afternoon-drive shift in January 2001.

12/08/2008 - The Russ Martin Show is dropped from Live105.3 due to CBS flipping the station to "The Fan." Be sure to read Russ' Update.

07/01/2010 - KEGL (97.1 Dallas) announced that Russ Martin will return to the KEGL airwaves.

07/12/2010 - Russ Martin returns to KEGL.