Some familiar voices are returning to the aetherwaves of Kelowna.
Andy and TJ, who formed the longest-running morning radio show in town for 18 years, and Mark Jefferies, another longtime Kelowna radio personality, will be back on the air on Kelowna’s newest radio station, CKOV-FM, 103.9 The Lake.
The popular morning show duo returns on the airwaves at 6 a.m. on Monday morning
Jefferies follows from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with newcomer Crystal Darche, who grew up in Penticton and takes over the afternoon drive slot from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“We’re excited to bring this seasoned on-air worker to 103.9 The Lake,” says station owner Paul Larsen.
“The familiar sounds of Andy and TJ and Mark and Crystal’s fresh new voice will really add to the overall dynamics of the station and complement our adult music format.”
Larsen bought the station’s assets for $ 500,000 after its earlier iteration, Soft 103.9 declared bankruptcy on March 31, 2020.
The station was originally registered as Oldies 103.9 on November 1, 2017.
“This is probably the most exciting chapter in our radio history and radio career,” TJ told Castanet News before her relaunch.
“We work for Paul Larsen at 103.9 The Lake. Locally owned, locally operated. Andy and I, if we’re nothing else, we’re all local. I’ve lived here for about 100 years and we absolutely love it.” Go on the air on a local radio station. “
After the couple left Bell Media, the couple started a voice-over business, and Andy James thought they’d had a good run and would go on half board.
That took a couple of months.
“Then Paul, whom I have known for 25 years, calls and says I have this idea, what do you think,” he said.
“That’s why we got into radio, radio works because it’s local … it connects with the locals. It’s like Castanet, it connects because it’s local information.
“People trust us and I dare say that people trust us.”
“The love we felt helped us because the past few months have not been all sunshine and lollipops,” said TJ.
“When Andy was unceremoniously fired and I was given another chance at our old meeting place, times were tough. This is someone who says what’s going on, and good things happen to good people. I am glad we are here. “
They agree that the show will be similar in many ways, except for the callsigns and music. And with music from earlier times in their lives, both believe that the stories they love to tell will have a connection to both the music and their audience.
“I can’t wait to get back on the air,” says TJ.
