Bill Martinez is probably the most well-rounded experienced radio professional in the business. He started as an on-air talent that led to music directing, programming, sales and marketing, sales management and then station management. Today, life has come full circle for Bill Martinez finding himself behind the microphone that he had left some thirty years ago. Today Bill is the host of a new national radio show, “Bill Martinez Live,” which airs across the nation Monday through Friday from 9-11am ET.
Martinez and his wife have five children, seven grandchildren and live in California, and Florida. He reveled in the early career days. “I was in the Marines, doing public affairs and “Good Morning Camp Pendleton, but not as good as Robin Williams.” It was also at that time that I was working three different weekend shifts at KWIZ when it was at the world-famous Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana.”
“I stayed at KWIZ until I got out of the Marine Corps, then I was offered to go to KDAY following the legendary Wolfman
Jack, which I did from 1972-75.” Another Los Angeles legend, Charlie Tuna hired Martinez at KIIS AM/FM and eventually became the assistant program director. “It was a great time and we did a lot of community outreach, including playing baseball at Dodger Stadium with the cast and crew of ‘Happy Days.’
Martinez left KIIS for KRLA and Art Laboe, but found himself spending more time in marketing and running his own company until 1991. That was when he went back to college to get his theology degree. “That didn’t play out the way I thought it would,” he said. “We were in a recession, so I called Art Astor at KIK-FM and worked for him until 2000 when Salem hired me to run KIEV, as their General Sales Manager.”
In addition to his nationally syndicated show, Martinez manages the Dr. Bob Marshall “Healthline” program, which also airs six days a week across the country. Now Bill Martinez is the host of “Bill Martinez Live,” heard nationwide in over 150 markets.
Show : Bill Martinez Live