A true romantic at heart, Rodney Gordon prefers slows and easy listening music, such as jazz and R&B. However, when he puts his game face on at SLAM 100.5fm...Progressive Urban, his selections are all for the people. "That's the secret to being a good DJ," he revealed. Known in the entertainment world as John Boy, the 31-year-old makes up the dynamic team at T&T's newest radio frequency, which is also a part of the Guardian Media Ltd (GML). Dubbed The Firestorm Movement, John Boy and Leslie "Ezel" Moore-the voice behind the noon to 3 pm (Monday-Thursday) segment-have no problem bringing the flavour. "I would describe it as more music-oriented with less talk," said Ezel about Firestorm. "On any given day, you can play a song that could brighten up somebody's day. That's the power of music."
A terrific feeling
Having honed his skills at various radio stations since 1994, for John Boy, SLAM is the real deal. "It's a terrific feeling," he asserted. "It's definitely something new...Something energetic." According to the Tacarigua resident, being a DJ means putting people before self. It also means being able to connect with listeners. Ezel, 31, shared similar views. The Trincity-based announcer knows just what it takes for listeners to keep it locked. According to him, it's much more than meets the eyes...or ears. "It's not all about talk. As a DJ, you need to learn your craft. You have to be able to read well and you need to have as wide a vocabulary as possible," said the former Chicago State University Business major. "It's also very important to have people skills and the ability to interact with others and let them vibes with you."
Progressive concept
Thus far, Ezel said the response from the general public about The Firestorm Movement had been positive-and they're working hard to keep it that way. "People really love the mix of music. They enjoy the variety," stated John Boy. "Having a knowledge of music and listening to all genres is the key." Long-time friends and business colleagues, their chemistry off air is just as magnetic as it is on. "We've known each other for years so we gel well together. It really is a natural thing," assured Ezel. Envisioning a great future for the three-month-old station, Ezel, who describes himself as a "serious person," said SLAM was moving to break boundaries and set new standards in the local radio industry. To accomplish that, they're leading by example. "We all love music and it's a natural part of us. That's the way I look at it. The progressive concept ideas of this station are refreshing and we're doing it the SLAM way!"
