Maxx Myrick

Maxx Myrick was voted #5 on 1999 's Best Programmers in America list by Radio Ink magazine. Myrick is also an ex-Marine that participated in Operation Fluid Drive, the evacuation of American citizens from Beirut, Lebanon in July of 1976.

After the Marines, Maxx majored in Communications at the University of Toledo where he began his radio career at WERC in 1977. His first professional job came the following year at Disco 99 WKLR as an Air Talent and within a year he became Music Director. In 1981 when WKLR's format changed to country, Myrick was hired to sign on WVOI in Toledo as PD/MD and PM Drive talent.

In 1985 Myrick moved to Cincinnati to work as AM Drive host and Music Director. In 1987 programming called him again, this time to convert failing A/C WLWZ in Greenville, South Carolina to mainstream Urban Z104. Myrick took the station from last to first in just one ratings period. One year later, Myrick moved from Greenville to Shreveport, Louisiana as PD to turn around KDKS. Shortly after, Myrick was called by radio legend Barry Mayo to sign on America's first Urban AC station WVAZ-Chicago as midday talent.

After a short stint as air talent in Chicago, Myrick moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1989 to program and create the first dual market satellite simulcast with 99.3 WPLZ-FM and 99.3 WPLC-FM. In 1990 after a short period as PD OF WJMO-AM/FM, Myrick moved to Atlanta to sign on failing AC WALR. WALR went from a .5 to a 4.0 in its first ratings book.

In 1992, after a change in ownership, Myrick moved to Pensacola, Florida to convert failing AC WLWZ to UAC Magic 100.7. He achieved number one ranking in both Pensacola and Mobile.

In 1993 Myrick moved to WVAZ in Chicago where he was promoted to Operations Manager in 1994. The station has received two Marconi Awards for Urban Station of the year and during Myrick's tenure the station only went below number two in the market two times between 1994 and 2000.

Myrick is the recipient of every major programming award including Billboard, Gavin, BRE, Impact, Urban Network, The National Black Programmers Coalition and The Midwest Radio & Music Association Radio Icon award. In 1995 and 1996 Myrick was named by Radio Ink as one of the top 10 Program Directors in America and in 2002, 2003 and 2004 Myrick has been listed on The Jazz Time Magazines Power Index of the most influential people in the world of jazz.

Listed in Who's Who in 1979 as one of the U.S. Jaycee's Outstanding Young Men of America, Myrick is the proud and devoted father of four: Tondalaya ,28; Khalfani, 19; Akili, 16; and Nyasha, 14. In 2000 Myrick left commercial radio to create and program XM Satellite Radio's

Real Jazz Channel XM 70 and in 2003 added the additional duties of Program Director of the Neo Soul Channel XM 61 The Flow.

To find out more about Real Jazz go to: http://realjazz.xmradio.com