Jump to content

Don Geronimo: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,440,843 edits
Added date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | Category:Shock jocks | #UCB_Category 36/48
 
(656 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American radio personality}}
[[Image:DoniSmallPhoto.jpg|thumb|right|Don Geronimo]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
'''Michael Sorce''' (born [[September 18]], [[1958]]), better known as '''Don Geronimo''', is a radio personality featured on the nationally syndicated [[Don and Mike|Don and Mike Show]] , based at [[WJFK-FM]] (106.7 FM) in [[Washington, DC]].
{{Infobox presenter
| name = Don Geronimo
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Michael L. Sorce
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|9|18}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| show = The Don Geronimo Show
| station = http://pod-god.com / Sacramento, CA
| network = http://dongeronimopodcast.com
| timeslot =
| style =
| country = US
| prevshow = [[Don and Mike Show]]
| parents =
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Freda Wright-Sorce|1981|2005|end=her death}}
* {{marriage|Janet Sorce|2009}}
}}
| partner =
| children = 2
| web =
}}
'''Michael L. Sorce''' (born September 18, 1958), better known by his stage name '''Don Geronimo''', is an [[American radio]] personality<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Browne|editor-first1=Ray B.|title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture|year=2000|publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press|location=Bowling Green, OH|isbn=0-87972-821-3|page=659|editor2-last=Browne|editor2-first=Pat}}</ref> formerly featured on the nationally [[Radio syndication|syndicated]] [[Talk radio|radio talk show]] ''[[Don and Mike|Don and Mike Show]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Stations Sort Through Syndicating Glut|magazine=Billboard|date=September 4, 1993|pages=84}}</ref>


==Career==
Don grew up in [[Montgomery County, Maryland]] and attended [[Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School|Magruder High School]]. His future wife, [[Freda Wright-Sorce]], also attended Magruder, though they didn't begin dating until years later.
Geronimo began his career in radio at the age of 13 when he went to work at [[Rockville, Maryland]] [[AM broadcasting|AM station]] WINX (now [[WLXE]], a Spanish-language music station).<ref name="Shapiro_2008">{{cite book
| last1 = Shapiro
| first1 = Leonard
| author-link1 = Leonard Shapiro
| last2 = Pollin
| first2 = Andy
| author-link2 = Andy Pollin
| title = The Great Book of Washington, D.C. Sports Lists
| chapter = Andy's Top Washington Radio Legends
| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4_XrtqX4e78C&q=%22don+geronimo%22+radio&pg=PA157
| year = 2008
| publisher = Running Press
| page = 157
| isbn = 978-0-7624-3356-8
| quote = Don Geronimo (real name Mike Source{{sic}}) was a boy wonder on local radio, starting out at WINX at the age of 13.
}}</ref><ref name="DGS_2011-06-13">{{cite web
| url = http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/06/13/audio-the-don-geronimo-show-june-13-2011/
| title = The Don Geronimo Show – June 13, 2011
| date = 13 June 2011
| format = audio
| publisher = CBS Sacramento
| accessdate = 2011-08-04
}}</ref><ref name="Fisher_1986">{{cite book
| last = Fisher
| first = Marc
| author-link = Marc Fisher
| title = Something in the Air: Radio, Rock, and the Revolution That Shaped a Generation
| year = 2007
| chapter = Magic
| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KLNVmbXDZIcC&q=%22don+geronimo%22+radio&pg=PA314
| page = [https://archive.org/details/somethinginairra00fish/page/314 314]
| publisher = Marc Fisher
| isbn = 978-0-375-50907-0
| quote = Geronimo was so fascinated by radio as a boy in Rockville, Maryland...
| url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/somethinginairra00fish/page/314
}}</ref>
He continued working at a variety of local stations, being fired at each for lacking the required [[FCC broadcaster's license]], before forging a license. Geronimo landed what was then his dream job at [[WLS-FM]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]] in the early 1980s. He then moved to [[WBBM-FM]] (B96) to do the evening show. Eventually, he replaced [[Dick Biondi]] doing [[morning drive]] at the same station.<ref name="DGS_2011-06-13"/>


Geronimo returned to the [[Washington, D.C.]] area in 1985, doing afternoons at [[WAVA-FM]]. He moved to mornings in 1986, replacing ''Charlie & Harrigan''. His partnership with [[Mike O'Meara]], co-host of the ''[[Don and Mike Show]]'', was forged at WAVA. Their show moved to [[WJFK-FM]] in 1991.<ref name="Shapiro_2008"/><ref name="DGS_2011-06-13"/>
Don began his career in radio at the age of 13. His first major break was with WLS in Chicago in the early 80's. He then moved to [[WBBM-FM]] (B96) to do the evening show. Eventually, he replaced Dick Biondi doing "Morning Drive" at the same station.


''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' radio reporter [[Marc Fisher]] features Geronimo in his book ''Something in the Air'', on the rise and fall of radio in the [[United States]]. Fisher also conducted an interview with Geronimo prior to his first of three retirements, the first from ''[[The Don & Mike Show]]'' in 2008, during which Don spoke out about his frustration with the direction{{Clarify|date=July 2010}} radio has taken following high profile decency events such as the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident]].<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news | first=Marc | last=Fisher | title=After Good Times and Bad, Geronimo Says It's Beach Time | date=2008-02-24 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/22/AR2008022200661.html | newspaper =Washington Post | accessdate = 2008-02-27 }}</ref>
He met [[Mike O'Meara]], his co-host on the ''[[Don and Mike| Don and Mike Show]]'', in the mid 80's and the pair have been broadcasting together since that time, first at WAVA-FM (105.1 FM) in Washington (1985-1991), then at WJFK from 1991 to the present. The show was once syndicated in New York, but was dropped due to low ratings. The much higher rated Opie & Anthony Show was pleased by this result.


After only two months in retirement,{{When|date=July 2010}} Geronimo announced that he would return to the air on [[WOCM]], a small, independently owned radio station in [[Ocean City, Maryland]]. ''Don Geronimo's Rockin' Soul Show'' featured popular music from the '70s and '80s. Geronimo described the show as "music that doesn't suck". After one month on the air at WOCM, Geronimo was fired from the station over creative differences.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Don subsequently hosted a mid-morning talk show on [[WGMD]] (92.7 FM [[Rehoboth Beach, Delaware]]) from June 22, 2009 to October 13, 2009, when he retired for his second time,{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} although he did some fill-in work at Classic Hits [[WCBS-FM]] in New York a few days in late November and December 2009.<ref>{{cite news | first=Don | last=Geronimo | title=Thanks for all the great support. | date=2009-12-26 | url =https://twitter.com/DonGeronimoShow/status/7081754357 | work =Twitter | accessdate = 2009-12-26 }}</ref>
In [[1996]], Don pleaded guilty to [[cocaine]] possession and received one year of probation. In [[1998]], after being stopped for doing 75 mph in a 35 mph zone in [[Virginia]], an officer found marijuana in his car. He was subsequently arrested for possession of marijuana and driving under the influence. He was later given a suspended 30 day sentence and one year of probation after being found guilty of [[marijuana]] possession and pleading guilty to one count of reckless driving.


Don Geronimo was named midday host of 1140 The Fan 1140 [[KHTK]] (AM), [[Sacramento]] effective on Monday, June 21, 2010. The four-hour program was scheduled Monday through Friday, noon to 4&nbsp;pm local time. On January 27, Geronimo announced that he would be a regular on the TV show ''Good Day Sacramento'', with his first appearance on February 14, 2011. On May 9, 2011, Geronimo announced that his contract with CBS was extended through 2014 and he was named Program Director for 1140 The Fan KHTK. As of July 11, 2011, Geronimo's show moved to the morning drive, 5:30–10&nbsp;am local time after the "Rise Guys" left for a gig in San Francisco. At the same time, Don also ended his in-studio presence on ''Good Day Sacramento''. He now occasionally contributes to GDS remotely via camera.<ref>[http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/09/3757763/rise-guys-leave-khtk-for-sf-station.html 'Rise Guys' leave KHTK for S.F. station - Sacramento Living - Sacramento Food and Wine, Home, Health | Sacramento Bee<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711132457/http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/09/3757763/rise-guys-leave-khtk-for-sf-station.html |date=July 11, 2011 }}</ref> On July 8, 2013, Geronimo's show moved to the midday slot on KHTK.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/119930/khtk-retools-don-geronimo-back-to-middays-doug-laz|title=KHTK Retools, Don Geronimo Back To Middays; Doug Lazy Moves To Afternoons At KSFM|date=July 1, 2013|work=All Access}}</ref>
Don has one daughter, Amy, the product of a six-month marriage when he was 18 years old. Long estranged due to emotional issues, Geronimo has recently reconnected with Amy and her three children. His son [[Bart Sorce|Bart]] (with [[Freda Wright-Sorce]]), currently attends [[Clemson_University|Clemson University]] in South Carolina. His wife, Freda, died on [[July 10]], [[2005]] in an automobile accident on [[Maryland Route 90]] near [[Ocean City, Maryland|Ocean City]], where the Sorces had their vacation home.


On Friday, October 4, 2013, ''The Don Geronimo Show'' was replaced by the [[Jason Ross (sportscaster)|Jason Ross]] show on CBS Sports Radio 1140 KHTK. A caller asked what happened, and Jason Ross simply explained, "CBS Sports Radio decided to go in another direction, which is sports. Don Geronimo is still employed by CBS Sports Radio." On October 16, 2013, Don went on the air on KHTK in Sacramento to thank those who supported him during his time in Sacramento. He said he was going to be doing a new project with CBS in the near future and it would be announced via his Twitter feed. On October 23, Don appeared on 106.7 The Fan's ''Lavar and Dukes'' show to announce his return to the station after five years, where he would appear weekdays from 7–10 p.m. local time, Saturdays from 9 a.m.–noon local time, and during [[Washington Redskins]] pre/post-game shows as well. On March 1, 2014, Geronimo stated that he would no longer be heard on WJFK anymore. He announced on his Twitter feed that "No one should be shocked I'm not in the plans for CBS/DC. I had opined recently on air how I didn't understand the logic. Now 30 more days."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DonGeronimoShow/status/439929197092290560|title=No one should be shocked I'm not in the plans for CBS/dc. I had opined recently on air how I didn't understand the logic. Now 30 more days w|author=Don Geronimo|date=1 Mar 2014|work=Twitter}}</ref>
Despite being viewed by some as heavier and generally less attractive, Don has recently (as far back as around 2004) had his likeness compared to that of [[Richard Dreyfuss]], which he has strongly denied until recently when an older couple approached him for an autograph, claiming that they had just seen him in Poseidon, and "loved his work".


On September 10, 2021, iHeartMedia announced that Sorce would host The Don Geronimo Show on [[WBIG-FM|WBIG]] in Washington D.C., starting September 23, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BIG100Radio/status/1436307885307334656|title=He's Coming Soon to BIG 100!|author=BIG100|date=10 Sep 2021|work=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiofacts.com/iheartmedia-washington-d-c-s-big-100-announces-the-debut-of-the-new-don-geronimo-show/|title=iHeartMedia Washington, D.C.'s BIG 100 Announces the Debut of the New "Don Geronimo Show"|author=Wanja|date=10 Sep 2021|work=radiofacts}}</ref> The show aired during the 5:30am-10am drive-time slot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-the-don-geronimo-show-87156242/|title=The Don Geronimo Show (iHeart radio)|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823070733/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-the-don-geronimo-show-87156242/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Geronimo was fired from WBIG on July 29, 2023 for making disparaging comments on the air about a female reporter at [[WUSA (TV)|WUSA]].<ref>{{Cite web |first=Lance |last=Venta |date=July 29, 2023 |title=Don Geronimo Fired From WBIG For Comments About TV Sportscaster While At Commanders Training Camp |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/256403/don-geronimo-fired-from-wbig-for-comments-about-tv-sportscaster-while-at-commanders-training-camp/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>


===Radio history===
{{US-radio-bio-stub}}
Don has worked at the following stations:<ref name="DGS_2011-06-13"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Number !! Date !! Station !! City
|-
| 1 || 1973 || [[WGFB|WRWC]] || Rockton, IL
|-
| 2 || 1974 || [[WGEZ]] || Beloit, WI
|-
| 3 || 1974 || [[WYFE]] || Rockford, IL
|-
| 4 || 1974 || [[WNAM]] || Oshkosh, WI
|-
| 5 || 1975 || [[WOKY]] || Milwaukee, WI
|-
| 6 || 1975 || [[WROK (AM)]] || Rockford, IL
|-
| 7 || 1976 || [[WSPT]] || Stevens Point, WI
|-
| 8 || 1976 || [[WJAS|WKTQ]] "13Q" || Pittsburgh, PA
|-
| 9 || 1977 || [[WRKS|WXLO]] "99X" || New York City, NY
|-
| 10 || 1978 || [[WGBF (AM)|WGBF]] || Evansville, IN
|-
| 11 || 1978 || [[WCAO]] || Baltimore, MD
|-
| 12 || 1978 || [[WQOF|WWDC]] || Washington, DC
|-
| 13 || 1978 || [[WPRO-FM]] || Providence, RI
|-
| 14 || 1980 || [[WNDE]] || Indianapolis, IN
|-
| 15 || 1980 ||[[WZPL]] (Then called "Kiss 99") || Indianapolis, IN
|-
| 16 || || [[WUFL (FM)|WDRQ]] || Detroit, MI
|-
| 17 || 1979 - 1981 || [[WJFK (AM)|WPGC]] || Washington, DC
|-
| 18 || 1982 || [[KIIS-FM]] || Los Angeles, CA
|-
| 19 || 1982 || [[KFI]] || Los Angeles, CA<ref name="billboard1982" />
|-
| 20 || 1982 || [[WLS-FM]] || Chicago, IL<ref name="billboard1982">{{cite magazine|title=Vox Jox|magazine=Billboard|date=August 28, 1982|pages=23}}</ref>
|-
| 21 || || [[KDKA-FM|WBZZ]] "B94" || Pittsburgh, PA
|-
| 22 || || [[WBBM-FM]] "B96" || Chicago, IL
|-
| 23 || March 1985&ndash;June 1991 || [[WAVA-FM]] || Washington, DC<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Vox Jox|magazine=Billboard|date=March 30, 1985}}</ref>
|-
| 24 || October 1991&ndash;April 2008<br>October 24, 2013&ndash;February 26, 2014 || [[WJFK-FM]] || Washington, DC.<ref name="autogenerated5">{{cite news | title=Don Geronimo's Grief-Stricken Solo | date=2005-08-02 | newspaper=Washington Post | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/02/AR2005080200036.html | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | first=Paul | last=Farhi}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news | first=Kara | last=Rowland | title=Don Geronimo to leave talk-radio show | date=2008-02-05 | url =http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080205/BUSINESS/573627930/1006 | work =Washington Times| accessdate = 2008-02-05}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite news |title=Legendary Don Geronimo to Exit WJFK-FM on May 30 |date=2008-02-05 |url=http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/headline_id=n17597 |work=Radio Online |accessdate=2008-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504124505/http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/%24rol.exe/headline_id%3Dn17597 |archive-date=2008-05-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/10/23/don-geronimo-returns-to-d-c-radio/|title=Don Geronimo Returns to D.C. Radio|date=October 23, 2013|publisher=CBS DC}}</ref>
|-
| 25 || July 7, 2008&ndash;August 2008 || [[WOCM]] || Ocean City, MD<ref>{{cite news|title=Irie Radio Lands Big Fish For Afternoon Show|url=http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2008/07/04/Top-Stories/Irie-Radio-Lands-Big-Fish-For-Afternoon-Show|newspaper=Ocean City Dispatch|date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| 26 || June 22, 2009&ndash;October 13, 2009 || [[WGMD]] || Rehoboth Beach, DE.<ref name="autogenerated3" />
|-
| 27 || June 2010&ndash;October 3, 2013|| [[KHTK]] || Sacramento, CA<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|last=Tong|first=Anna|title=KHTK's Geronimo on move to Sacramento: 'I love it here'|url=http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/26/2778321/don-geronimo-returns-to-khtk-midday.html|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|date=May 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602004218/http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/26/2778321/don-geronimo-returns-to-khtk-midday.html|archive-date=June 2, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 28 || April 2014|| RELM ||
Sacramento, CA<ref>{{cite news|title=Geronimo moves to Online Radio: 'Geronimo looks forward to doing the show he's always wanted to do'|url=http://www.talkers.com/2014/03/19/wednesday-march-19-2014/|newspaper=Talkers.com|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-date=May 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514172722/http://www.talkers.com/2014/03/19/wednesday-march-19-2014/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|29
|August 2014 - September 2019
|http://pod-god.com
|Sacramento, CA<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thedailyrecord.com/2014/08/15/radio-god-leaves-the-relm/|title='Radio god' leaves the RELM – Maryland Daily Record|last=Jacobs|first=Danny|date=15 August 2014 |access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref>
|-
| 30 || November 2021 - July 2023 || [[WBIG-FM]] || Rockville, MD<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/entertainment/don-geronimo-is-back-on-dc-airwaves-with-big-100/65-7c346470-bde1-4c8c-b4f1-ea7a339d02f0/|title=DMV's legendary radio personality, disc jockey Don Geronimo is back!|date=November 16, 2021|accessdate = 2022-08-22 |publisher=WUSA (TV)}}</ref><ref name="WBIG-Firing"/>
|}


Geronimo first appeared on air part-time on [[WLXE|WINX]] in Rockville, Maryland in 1971.<ref name="Shapiro_2008"/>
[[Category:American radio personalities|Geronimo, Don]]

[[Category:People from Maryland|Geronimo, Don]]
In November and December 2009, Geronimo filled shifts on [[WCBS-FM]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Don Geronimo on WCBS-FM 101.1 NYC Weekends|url=http://www.nysbroadcasters.org/news/broadcast-news/don-geronimo-on-wcbs-fm-1011-nyc-weekends/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117100254/http://www.nysbroadcasters.org/news/broadcast-news/don-geronimo-on-wcbs-fm-1011-nyc-weekends|publisher=New York State Broadcasters Association|date=2009-11-24|archive-date=2010-01-17|accessdate=2013-10-25}}</ref>
[[Category:1958 births|Geronimo, Don]]

[[Category:Living people|Geronimo, Don]]
===Acting===
Don has appeared in ''[[The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.]]'', ''[[Babylon 5]]'' and ''[[The King of Queens]]''. He is a member of the [[Screen Actors Guild]].{{Clarify|date=July 2010}} He has stated on several occasions on the Don and Mike Show that he and his partner at that time, Mike O'Meara, spoke without authorization during their Babylon 5 taping, which was supposed to have been a non-speaking role for each. Rather than re-shoot the scene, the show's producers arranged for their union memberships. This paved the way for a speaking role on ''[[The King of Queens]]'', where he spoke one line, "Lookin' good, Heffernan!" He has also co-hosted with [[Marty Bass]] post-game coverage of the [[Baltimore Ravens]] games for [[WJZ-TV]] (Channel 13).

==Personal life==

===Family===
Don's first wife, Freda, died on July 10, 2005, in an automobile accident on [[Maryland Route 90]] near [[Ocean City, Maryland]], where the Sorces had their vacation home. Freda was a frequent contributor to the ''Don and Mike Show'' and her spirited interaction with Don was an integral part of the program. Following her death, Don took a [[Wikt:hiatus|hiatus]] from the show until August 1, 2005, when he returned to the air with an emotional solo broadcast.<ref name=autogenerated5 /><ref>{{cite news|title=Wife of Popular Radio Host Killed in Crash |date=2005-07-11 |url=http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3578160 |work=WBOC-TV |accessdate=2007-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051221190223/http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3578160 |archive-date=2005-12-21 }}</ref>

Don married Janet Sorce on March 21, 2009,<ref>{{cite web | title=Don Geronimo and Janet Anniversary| website=[[YouTube]] | date=April 2, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myu4aeFZ0u8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/myu4aeFZ0u8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}} TV Announcement</ref> and has one son (Bart Sorce) and one daughter (Amy) from previous marriages.

On Friday, October 22, 2010, during the Don Geronimo live stage show Don slipped and fell off the stage. Don suffered head trauma and was admitted to a local hospital and later transferred to ICU.<ref>[http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=1997881&spid=24698 Radio Ink Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312055323/http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=1997881&spid=24698 |date=March 12, 2012 }}</ref>

===Controversy===
In 1994, Geronimo and his then radio partner [[Mike O'Meara]] were sued for $35 million by an anonymous University of Maryland student who claimed the pair had violated her privacy and inflicted emotional distress.<ref name=wpost1994>{{cite news|last=Yorke|first=Jeffrey|title=Geronimo and O'Meara Sued|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72295069.html?dids=72295069:72295069&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08%2C+1994&author=Jeffrey+Yorke&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Geronimo+and+O%27Meara+Sued&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131160120/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72295069.html?dids=72295069:72295069&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08,+1994&author=Jeffrey+Yorke&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Geronimo+and+O'Meara+Sued&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|accessdate=11 August 2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=8 November 1994}}</ref>
In May 2007, a [[Leesburg, Virginia]] man named Carl Grossman, who had once been a frequent caller to the ''Don and Mike Show'', pleaded guilty to a [[misdemeanor]] charge of [[stalking]]. Geronimo had received a letter from the man which contained threats to Geronimo and his family. The judge also issued a lifetime [[restraining order]] in the case.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcrtv.com/ |title=Jail Time For Man Who Threatened Geronimo |accessdate=2007-05-29 |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228022423/http://www.dcrtv.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Retirements and returns===
On February 4, 2008, Don announced his retirement from his radio show to pursue his personal life for a while. His last appearance on the ''Don and Mike Show'' was Friday, April 11, 2008, with Mike O'Meara to continue the show after that (as the ''[[Mike O'Meara Show]]''). Don was widely expected to return to radio in some form in the future.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated4 />

After only two months in retirement, Geronimo announced that he would return to the air on [[WOCM]], a small, independently owned radio station in [[Ocean City, Maryland]]. ''Don Geronimo's Rockin' Soul Show'' aired weekdays from 1 pm &ndash; 3pm featuring popular music from the 1970s and 1980s. After four weeks, Geronimo left the station.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=825260|date=August 5, 2008|title=In Brief|publisher=FMQB|accessdate=2008-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809021353/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=825260|archive-date=August 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/SearchStoryPage.aspx?ContentID=B2vdpLScVDg%3d&Version=1&Search=Geronimo|title=Geronimo Exits WOCM|last=Schoenberger|first=John|date=August 4, 2008|publisher=Radio and Records}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In May 2010, Geronimo announced that, beginning June 21, he would be returning to 1140 [[KHTK]]—a station which had formerly syndicated the ''Don and Mike Show''—to host a mid-day show.<ref name=autogenerated2/> On Friday, October 4, 2013, this new ''Don Geronimo Show'' was replaced on KHTK by ''The Jason Ross Show''. Geronimo returned to the airwaves several days later to explain that KHTK decided to go with [[Sports radio|all sports]] programming, but that he would return to a CBS Radio station elsewhere soon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/123376/don-geronimo-says-goodbye-to-khtk-listeners|title=Don Geronimo Says Goodbye To KHTK Listeners|last=Simon|first=Perry Michael |date=Oct 16, 2013|publisher=All Access}}</ref>

Don Geronimo returned once again to the Washington, D.C., airwaves on [[WJFK-FM]] on October 24, 2013. His sports-oriented show aired weekdays from 7:00 to 10:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to noon. Initially, he broadcast the show from a studio at CBS Radio's main building in [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], then later from a studio at his Sacramento home when CBS internal politics prevented the show from being broadcast at the company’s building any longer.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} Co-hosts for the show were located at WJFK’s home studios in [[Lanham, Maryland]]. While it was intended that Geronimo would eventually move to the Washington area to do the show live at WJFK's studios, this never materialized after frequent preemptions and schedule changes. On March 1, 2014, Geronimo announced on Twitter he would no longer be heard on WJFK; The show he had broadcast on February 26, 2014, ended up being his last at WJFK.

On April 1, 2014, Geronimo began broadcasting a live [[podcast]], also titled ''The Don Geronimo Show'', weekdays on the RELM Network. The show was a commercial-free, uncensored, subscription-based podcast that listeners could stream live or download for offline listening. Geronimo described the show on Twitter as, “the show I always wanted to do.”{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} The final broadcast of that incarnation of ''The Don Geronimo Show'' aired September 13, 2019, with Geronimo declaring a hiatus to allow him to work on other projects.

On November 16, 2021, ''The Don Geronimo Show'' began broadcasting during the 5:30-10:00 am [[drive time]] slot at suburban Washington, D.C., classic rock station [[WBIG-FM]], an [[iHeartMedia]] affiliate in [[Rockville, Maryland]], located only two miles from the [[WINX-FM|station]] where he began his radio career at age 13.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_XrtqX4e78C&q=%22don+geronimo%22+radio&pg=PA157 | author = Andy Pollin | title = The Great Book of Washington, D.C.: Sports Lists | year = 2008 | page = 157 | publisher = Running Press | isbn = 9780786741700 |accessdate=2022-08-22}}</ref> However, WBIG fired Geronimo in July 2023, after he made sexist comments towards [[WUSA (TV)|WUSA9]] sports reporter Sharla McBride while broadcasting from [[Washington Commanders]] [[Training camp (National Football League)|training camp]].<ref name="WBIG-Firing">{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=2023-07-30 |title=Local Radio DJ Booted From Washington Commanders Training Camp After Calling Woman Sports Reporter "Barbie" On Air Is Fired |url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/washington-commanders-radio-dj-fired-called-reporter-barbie-on-air-1235450934/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://dongeronimo.org/ Fans of the Don Geronimo Show]{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.relmnetwork.com/#!dgs/c1zjd/ The Don Geronimo Show]
* [https://twitter.com/DonGeronimoShow Don Geronimo Show] [[Twitter]]
* {{IMDb name|id=1490475|name=Don Geronimo (as Michael Sorce)}}
* Interview on [[WUSA-TV]] 9: {{YouTube|yN6Gq1YUF6Y|part 1}} {{YouTube|5FBHTolEFEY|part 2}}

{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geronimo, Don}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:American talk radio hosts]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Chicago]]
<!-- [[Category:Delaware radio personalities]] -->
[[Category:Radio personalities from Detroit]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Maryland]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from New York City]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Pittsburgh]]
<!-- [[Category:Rhode Island radio personalities]] -->
[[Category:Radio personalities from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Shock jocks]]

Latest revision as of 23:19, 23 December 2024

Don Geronimo
Born
Michael L. Sorce

(1958-09-18) September 18, 1958 (age 66)
Spouses
Freda Wright-Sorce
​
​
(m. 1981; died 2005)​
Janet Sorce
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2
Career
ShowThe Don Geronimo Show
Station(s)http://pod-god.com / Sacramento, CA
Networkhttp://dongeronimopodcast.com
CountryUS
Previous showDon and Mike Show

Michael L. Sorce (born September 18, 1958), better known by his stage name Don Geronimo, is an American radio personality[1] formerly featured on the nationally syndicated radio talk show Don and Mike Show.[2]

Career

[edit]

Geronimo began his career in radio at the age of 13 when he went to work at Rockville, Maryland AM station WINX (now WLXE, a Spanish-language music station).[3][4][5] He continued working at a variety of local stations, being fired at each for lacking the required FCC broadcaster's license, before forging a license. Geronimo landed what was then his dream job at WLS-FM in Chicago, Illinois in the early 1980s. He then moved to WBBM-FM (B96) to do the evening show. Eventually, he replaced Dick Biondi doing morning drive at the same station.[4]

Geronimo returned to the Washington, D.C. area in 1985, doing afternoons at WAVA-FM. He moved to mornings in 1986, replacing Charlie & Harrigan. His partnership with Mike O'Meara, co-host of the Don and Mike Show, was forged at WAVA. Their show moved to WJFK-FM in 1991.[3][4]

Washington Post radio reporter Marc Fisher features Geronimo in his book Something in the Air, on the rise and fall of radio in the United States. Fisher also conducted an interview with Geronimo prior to his first of three retirements, the first from The Don & Mike Show in 2008, during which Don spoke out about his frustration with the direction[clarification needed] radio has taken following high profile decency events such as the Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident.[6]

After only two months in retirement,[when?] Geronimo announced that he would return to the air on WOCM, a small, independently owned radio station in Ocean City, Maryland. Don Geronimo's Rockin' Soul Show featured popular music from the '70s and '80s. Geronimo described the show as "music that doesn't suck". After one month on the air at WOCM, Geronimo was fired from the station over creative differences.[citation needed] Don subsequently hosted a mid-morning talk show on WGMD (92.7 FM Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) from June 22, 2009 to October 13, 2009, when he retired for his second time,[citation needed] although he did some fill-in work at Classic Hits WCBS-FM in New York a few days in late November and December 2009.[7]

Don Geronimo was named midday host of 1140 The Fan 1140 KHTK (AM), Sacramento effective on Monday, June 21, 2010. The four-hour program was scheduled Monday through Friday, noon to 4 pm local time. On January 27, Geronimo announced that he would be a regular on the TV show Good Day Sacramento, with his first appearance on February 14, 2011. On May 9, 2011, Geronimo announced that his contract with CBS was extended through 2014 and he was named Program Director for 1140 The Fan KHTK. As of July 11, 2011, Geronimo's show moved to the morning drive, 5:30–10 am local time after the "Rise Guys" left for a gig in San Francisco. At the same time, Don also ended his in-studio presence on Good Day Sacramento. He now occasionally contributes to GDS remotely via camera.[8] On July 8, 2013, Geronimo's show moved to the midday slot on KHTK.[9]

On Friday, October 4, 2013, The Don Geronimo Show was replaced by the Jason Ross show on CBS Sports Radio 1140 KHTK. A caller asked what happened, and Jason Ross simply explained, "CBS Sports Radio decided to go in another direction, which is sports. Don Geronimo is still employed by CBS Sports Radio." On October 16, 2013, Don went on the air on KHTK in Sacramento to thank those who supported him during his time in Sacramento. He said he was going to be doing a new project with CBS in the near future and it would be announced via his Twitter feed. On October 23, Don appeared on 106.7 The Fan's Lavar and Dukes show to announce his return to the station after five years, where he would appear weekdays from 7–10 p.m. local time, Saturdays from 9 a.m.–noon local time, and during Washington Redskins pre/post-game shows as well. On March 1, 2014, Geronimo stated that he would no longer be heard on WJFK anymore. He announced on his Twitter feed that "No one should be shocked I'm not in the plans for CBS/DC. I had opined recently on air how I didn't understand the logic. Now 30 more days."[10]

On September 10, 2021, iHeartMedia announced that Sorce would host The Don Geronimo Show on WBIG in Washington D.C., starting September 23, 2021.[11][12] The show aired during the 5:30am-10am drive-time slot.[13] Geronimo was fired from WBIG on July 29, 2023 for making disparaging comments on the air about a female reporter at WUSA.[14]

Radio history

[edit]

Don has worked at the following stations:[4]

Number Date Station City
1 1973 WRWC Rockton, IL
2 1974 WGEZ Beloit, WI
3 1974 WYFE Rockford, IL
4 1974 WNAM Oshkosh, WI
5 1975 WOKY Milwaukee, WI
6 1975 WROK (AM) Rockford, IL
7 1976 WSPT Stevens Point, WI
8 1976 WKTQ "13Q" Pittsburgh, PA
9 1977 WXLO "99X" New York City, NY
10 1978 WGBF Evansville, IN
11 1978 WCAO Baltimore, MD
12 1978 WWDC Washington, DC
13 1978 WPRO-FM Providence, RI
14 1980 WNDE Indianapolis, IN
15 1980 WZPL (Then called "Kiss 99") Indianapolis, IN
16 WDRQ Detroit, MI
17 1979 - 1981 WPGC Washington, DC
18 1982 KIIS-FM Los Angeles, CA
19 1982 KFI Los Angeles, CA[15]
20 1982 WLS-FM Chicago, IL[15]
21 WBZZ "B94" Pittsburgh, PA
22 WBBM-FM "B96" Chicago, IL
23 March 1985–June 1991 WAVA-FM Washington, DC[16]
24 October 1991–April 2008
October 24, 2013–February 26, 2014		 WJFK-FM Washington, DC.[17][18][19][20]
25 July 7, 2008–August 2008 WOCM Ocean City, MD[21]
26 June 22, 2009–October 13, 2009 WGMD Rehoboth Beach, DE.[6]
27 June 2010–October 3, 2013 KHTK Sacramento, CA[22]
28 April 2014 RELM

Sacramento, CA[23]

29 August 2014 - September 2019 http://pod-god.com Sacramento, CA[24]
30 November 2021 - July 2023 WBIG-FM Rockville, MD[25][26]

Geronimo first appeared on air part-time on WINX in Rockville, Maryland in 1971.[3]

In November and December 2009, Geronimo filled shifts on WCBS-FM in New York City.[27]

Acting

[edit]

Don has appeared in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., Babylon 5 and The King of Queens. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.[clarification needed] He has stated on several occasions on the Don and Mike Show that he and his partner at that time, Mike O'Meara, spoke without authorization during their Babylon 5 taping, which was supposed to have been a non-speaking role for each. Rather than re-shoot the scene, the show's producers arranged for their union memberships. This paved the way for a speaking role on The King of Queens, where he spoke one line, "Lookin' good, Heffernan!" He has also co-hosted with Marty Bass post-game coverage of the Baltimore Ravens games for WJZ-TV (Channel 13).

Personal life

[edit]

Family

[edit]

Don's first wife, Freda, died on July 10, 2005, in an automobile accident on Maryland Route 90 near Ocean City, Maryland, where the Sorces had their vacation home. Freda was a frequent contributor to the Don and Mike Show and her spirited interaction with Don was an integral part of the program. Following her death, Don took a hiatus from the show until August 1, 2005, when he returned to the air with an emotional solo broadcast.[17][28]

Don married Janet Sorce on March 21, 2009,[29] and has one son (Bart Sorce) and one daughter (Amy) from previous marriages.

On Friday, October 22, 2010, during the Don Geronimo live stage show Don slipped and fell off the stage. Don suffered head trauma and was admitted to a local hospital and later transferred to ICU.[30]

Controversy

[edit]

In 1994, Geronimo and his then radio partner Mike O'Meara were sued for $35 million by an anonymous University of Maryland student who claimed the pair had violated her privacy and inflicted emotional distress.[31] In May 2007, a Leesburg, Virginia man named Carl Grossman, who had once been a frequent caller to the Don and Mike Show, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. Geronimo had received a letter from the man which contained threats to Geronimo and his family. The judge also issued a lifetime restraining order in the case.[32]

Retirements and returns

[edit]

On February 4, 2008, Don announced his retirement from his radio show to pursue his personal life for a while. His last appearance on the Don and Mike Show was Friday, April 11, 2008, with Mike O'Meara to continue the show after that (as the Mike O'Meara Show). Don was widely expected to return to radio in some form in the future.[18][19]

After only two months in retirement, Geronimo announced that he would return to the air on WOCM, a small, independently owned radio station in Ocean City, Maryland. Don Geronimo's Rockin' Soul Show aired weekdays from 1 pm – 3pm featuring popular music from the 1970s and 1980s. After four weeks, Geronimo left the station.[33][34]

In May 2010, Geronimo announced that, beginning June 21, he would be returning to 1140 KHTK—a station which had formerly syndicated the Don and Mike Show—to host a mid-day show.[22] On Friday, October 4, 2013, this new Don Geronimo Show was replaced on KHTK by The Jason Ross Show. Geronimo returned to the airwaves several days later to explain that KHTK decided to go with all sports programming, but that he would return to a CBS Radio station elsewhere soon.[35]

Don Geronimo returned once again to the Washington, D.C., airwaves on WJFK-FM on October 24, 2013. His sports-oriented show aired weekdays from 7:00 to 10:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to noon. Initially, he broadcast the show from a studio at CBS Radio's main building in Sacramento, then later from a studio at his Sacramento home when CBS internal politics prevented the show from being broadcast at the company’s building any longer.[citation needed] Co-hosts for the show were located at WJFK’s home studios in Lanham, Maryland. While it was intended that Geronimo would eventually move to the Washington area to do the show live at WJFK's studios, this never materialized after frequent preemptions and schedule changes. On March 1, 2014, Geronimo announced on Twitter he would no longer be heard on WJFK; The show he had broadcast on February 26, 2014, ended up being his last at WJFK.

On April 1, 2014, Geronimo began broadcasting a live podcast, also titled The Don Geronimo Show, weekdays on the RELM Network. The show was a commercial-free, uncensored, subscription-based podcast that listeners could stream live or download for offline listening. Geronimo described the show on Twitter as, “the show I always wanted to do.”[citation needed] The final broadcast of that incarnation of The Don Geronimo Show aired September 13, 2019, with Geronimo declaring a hiatus to allow him to work on other projects.

On November 16, 2021, The Don Geronimo Show began broadcasting during the 5:30-10:00 am drive time slot at suburban Washington, D.C., classic rock station WBIG-FM, an iHeartMedia affiliate in Rockville, Maryland, located only two miles from the station where he began his radio career at age 13.[36] However, WBIG fired Geronimo in July 2023, after he made sexist comments towards WUSA9 sports reporter Sharla McBride while broadcasting from Washington Commanders training camp.[26]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Browne, Ray B.; Browne, Pat, eds. (2000). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 659. ISBN 0-87972-821-3.
  2. ^ "Stations Sort Through Syndicating Glut". Billboard. September 4, 1993. p. 84.
  3. ^ a b c Shapiro, Leonard; Pollin, Andy (2008). "Andy's Top Washington Radio Legends". The Great Book of Washington, D.C. Sports Lists. Running Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-7624-3356-8. Don Geronimo (real name Mike Source [sic]) was a boy wonder on local radio, starting out at WINX at the age of 13.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Don Geronimo Show – June 13, 2011" (audio). CBS Sacramento. June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Fisher, Marc (2007). "Magic". Something in the Air: Radio, Rock, and the Revolution That Shaped a Generation. Marc Fisher. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-375-50907-0. Geronimo was so fascinated by radio as a boy in Rockville, Maryland...
  6. ^ a b Fisher, Marc (February 24, 2008). "After Good Times and Bad, Geronimo Says It's Beach Time". Washington Post. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  7. ^ Geronimo, Don (December 26, 2009). "Thanks for all the great support". Twitter. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  8. ^ 'Rise Guys' leave KHTK for S.F. station - Sacramento Living - Sacramento Food and Wine, Home, Health | Sacramento Bee Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "KHTK Retools, Don Geronimo Back To Middays; Doug Lazy Moves To Afternoons At KSFM". All Access. July 1, 2013.
  10. ^ Don Geronimo (March 1, 2014). "No one should be shocked I'm not in the plans for CBS/dc. I had opined recently on air how I didn't understand the logic. Now 30 more days w". Twitter.
  11. ^ BIG100 (September 10, 2021). "He's Coming Soon to BIG 100!". Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Wanja (September 10, 2021). "iHeartMedia Washington, D.C.'s BIG 100 Announces the Debut of the New "Don Geronimo Show"". radiofacts.
  13. ^ "The Don Geronimo Show (iHeart radio)". Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Venta, Lance (July 29, 2023). "Don Geronimo Fired From WBIG For Comments About TV Sportscaster While At Commanders Training Camp". RadioInsight. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Vox Jox". Billboard. August 28, 1982. p. 23.
  16. ^ "Vox Jox". Billboard. March 30, 1985.
  17. ^ a b Farhi, Paul (August 2, 2005). "Don Geronimo's Grief-Stricken Solo". Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
  18. ^ a b Rowland, Kara (February 5, 2008). "Don Geronimo to leave talk-radio show". Washington Times. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
  19. ^ a b "Legendary Don Geronimo to Exit WJFK-FM on May 30". Radio Online. February 5, 2008. Archived from the original on May 4, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
  20. ^ "Don Geronimo Returns to D.C. Radio". CBS DC. October 23, 2013.
  21. ^ "Irie Radio Lands Big Fish For Afternoon Show". Ocean City Dispatch. July 4, 2008.
  22. ^ a b Tong, Anna (May 26, 2010). "KHTK's Geronimo on move to Sacramento: 'I love it here'". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010.
  23. ^ "Geronimo moves to Online Radio: 'Geronimo looks forward to doing the show he's always wanted to do'". Talkers.com. March 19, 2014. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  24. ^ Jacobs, Danny (August 15, 2014). "'Radio god' leaves the RELM – Maryland Daily Record". Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  25. ^ "DMV's legendary radio personality, disc jockey Don Geronimo is back!". WUSA (TV). November 16, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  26. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (July 30, 2023). "Local Radio DJ Booted From Washington Commanders Training Camp After Calling Woman Sports Reporter "Barbie" On Air Is Fired". Deadline. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  27. ^ "Don Geronimo on WCBS-FM 101.1 NYC Weekends". New York State Broadcasters Association. November 24, 2009. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  28. ^ "Wife of Popular Radio Host Killed in Crash". WBOC-TV. July 11, 2005. Archived from the original on December 21, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  29. ^ "Don Geronimo and Janet Anniversary". YouTube. April 2, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. TV Announcement
  30. ^ Radio Ink Magazine Archived March 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ Yorke, Jeffrey (November 8, 1994). "Geronimo and O'Meara Sued". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  32. ^ "Jail Time For Man Who Threatened Geronimo". Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  33. ^ "In Brief". FMQB. August 5, 2008. Archived from the original on August 9, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  34. ^ Schoenberger, John (August 4, 2008). "Geronimo Exits WOCM". Radio and Records.[permanent dead link‍]
  35. ^ Simon, Perry Michael (October 16, 2013). "Don Geronimo Says Goodbye To KHTK Listeners". All Access.
  36. ^ Andy Pollin (2008). The Great Book of Washington, D.C.: Sports Lists. Running Press. p. 157. ISBN 9780786741700. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Don_Geronimo&oldid=1264864383"