Milwaukee Talks: WMIL's Karen Dalessandro

For eight years, Karen Dalessandro has been responsible solely for the female perspective on WMIL's "Moo Crew" morning show. But this is nothing new for Dalessandro, who started in the male-dominated world of radio 26 years ago, when very few women's voices were on the airwaves.

Since then, she has created a successful career for herself, and today, spends her mornings bantering with WMIL co-host Scott Dolphin and producer "Radar" whom she describes as brothers.

Although back in the day she didn't imagine herself working at a country station, she has learned to love the fans, the music and the passion that goes along with both. In this latest "Milwaukee Talks" segment, Dalessandro talks the only way she knows how to: as honestly and down-to-earth as the lyrics in a country song.

OMC: In 1980, when you started working in radio in Michigan, were there many -- or any -- female radio personalities in the area?

Karen Dalessandro: At that time, there was only a small handful of women on the air and one that I idolized where I grew up in Detroit.

OMC: Who did you idolize?

KD: Her name is Karen Savelly and she is still on the air in Detroit at a classic rock station.

OMC: At your first job, how were you received by your coworkers?

KD: Personally, I was treated great! It was an exciting environment. We were all part of team and I wound up marrying the morning guy. And if you're wondering, yes, we're still married -- 21 years later.

OMC: How did the listeners receive you?

KD: It was a college town so I was either hearing from students having a whole lot of fun, or communication majors that wanted advice on getting into radio. It was a young, accepting audience.

OMC: How has radio changed the most for you over the years?

KD: Technology. It's absolutely amazing how it has changed since I pulled vinyl records off shelves, put them on a turntable and edited tape with a razor blade. Now, everything, of course, is on computer. It's much easier and sounds better. There's no reason to reminisce about "the good ole" days.

OMC: Is country music your personal favorite genre?

KD: Having worked in just about every format including pop, rock and alternative, country is my favorite. I don't listen to country music exclusively, but it's the first button on my radio.

OMC: What's in your CD player right now?

KD: Quite a variety: Sugarland's "Twice the Speed of Light," some Nickleback, "Big and Rich." Also, I love Sheryl Crow and even AC/DC's "Back In Black."

OMC: Do you think the country world is more open or less open to female radio announcers?

KD: Way more open. It's a safe bet that you'll hear more women in prime time shifts (AM Drive/PM Drive) on country radio stations than other formats. Country music listeners are so passionate about everything on the radio -- the music and the disc jockeys. They're into the message, whether it comes from a guy or a girl, and as long as it relates to their lives. Gender isn't really an issue.

OMC: Is it difficult finding time to spend with your family considering your schedule?

KD: Waking up at 3:30 a.m. and going to bed at 8:30 p.m. doesn't make it easy to spend time with family. Not to mention the many outside station and charity appearances. And you would think someone in the communications business would have an incredible social life ... NOT! I just hope my friends know I love them because it's really tough staying in touch on a regular basis.

OMC: What is your schedule like in the morning? How many cups of coffee do you drink?

KD: Alarm goes off at 3:20 a.m. or 3:45 a.m. if I skip makeup -- a definite perk of being on the radio. I try to be at the station by 4:30 to catch up on overnight news and prepare for the show. Strangely, I never acquired a taste for coffee but I gotta start my day with a protein fruit shake and hot tea. Sometimes, I go for the hard stuff: Red Bull.

OMC: Can you just be yourself on the air, or are you a version of the real you on the air?

KD: Pretty much what you hear is what you get with the exception of a few expletives I let fly off the air. It's always been important to me to be genuine and since I share so much of my life on the air, I can't fake it.

OMC: If you weren't working in radio, what would you be doing?

KD: I have absolutely no other skills. This talking thing has worked out better than my schoolteachers ever thought it would. But I do have dreams. I always thought it would be cool to become a vet, a dolphin trainer, maybe even an FBI agent.

OMC: So how old are you?

KD: Let's just say I started in radio right out of high school more than 20 years ago ... You do the math.

OMC: Do you have children?

KD: I don't have kids but a very loud cockatoo named Oscar and a husband that has a lot of patience for me and the bird.

OMC: Is country music getting better and better, or will the new stuff never compete with the old?

KD: You can't take anything away from the legends like Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline. The new music out of Nashville is fresh and in my opinion, continues to get better and better. Music is always evolving. There needs to always be something new and captivating about any music format and I think country is doing it better than anyone.

OMC: What's it like working with Scott?

KD: When you work with "boys" like Scott and producer Radar, you need to have a sense of humor. They're both like brothers that live to torture me, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I tend to be the control freak that stresses over everything and these guys always know how to make me laugh. After eight years, I still get up every morning and look forward to working with them.

OMC: Do you have an off-air friendship with Scott?

KD: Between the morning show and many hours of appearances together, we see each other more than we see our respective families. So when it comes to "free time," it's nice to actually be free.

The WMIL morning show was nominated for a Country Music Association Award. This is the Moo Crew's third nomination, and they won it in 2001. The 40th Annual CMA Awards air Monday, Nov. 6 on ABC.