As a kid growing up in Owensboro, I always thought Joe Lowe had the coolest job. You see, every morning as I was getting ready for school, my Mom would have the radio tuned to WVJS and the "Joe Lowe Morning Show." It was a mix of music, news, community events, trivia, and Joe.
I didn't know much about that man named Joe Lowe but he could sure put a smile on my face when he announced school was cancelled due to snow or when he played The Monster Mash every Halloween morning.
I remember one morning my Mom turned on the TV instead of the radio. She said a camera had been installed in Joe Lowe's studio so people could now watch him while listening to his show. I was amazed. I sat there watching as he talked into the microphone, pushed buttons to play songs, and then turn to the camera to wave at the television audience. I loved being able to see what went on behind-the-scenes. I wanted a cool job like that someday.
Several years later, while in high school, I was hired as the youth reporter for Century TV 2 News. That's the cable station in Owensboro that later became Century TV 8 News. One day my news director at the time, Jerry Birge, said that Joe Lowe wanted to see me and that I should go next door to the radio building where WVJS was located. I had no idea why Joe wanted to see me. I was just amazed he knew who I was!
Joe said he wanted me to be on his morning show every Tuesday morning to discuss youth related issues. What an honor that was for me to actually be a part of the "Joe Lowe Morning Show" every week. Every time that On Air light came on in his studio, I'd get a little nervous, but I would just follow Joe's lead and everything would be fine.
I remember one morning very well. The Disney Channel wanted me to promote the new version of "The Mickey Mouse Club" on the cable station. I told them I could also talk about the show on the radio if they could give me someone from the show to interview. Disney's media representative called back and said one of the kids who was about to leave the show could talk to me. I was given their home phone number and called them, in Orlando, for a pre-interview. That kid's name is Justin Timberlake. A few days later, Joe and I talked to Justin live on the radio who told us he was thinking of starting a new pop group and wanted to name it N-SYNC. Joe and I used to joke that N-SYNC got their start on the morning show. We thought that was pretty cool.
Years later when I was the anchor of the cable station's nightly newscasts, Joe walked over to the TV building and handed me an On Air light. It was the very same one that lit up every time I used to go on the air from his studio. Joe said they were getting new ones in the radio building so he pulled this one off the wall for me. He told me every broadcaster should have a souvenir from their first job and he wanted me to have it. To this day, that On Air light is in my home.
Joe Lowe believed in me and helped me to believe that even I could work in this big bad business of broadcasting. He taught me to always dream big, to never take the viewers/listeners for granted, and to have fun with the job.
Not long ago, I was in Owensboro covering a story for 14 News. Joe happened to be at the event I was covering and came over to me. I'll never forget what he said. He said, "From that first day I met you, I knew you would do big things. I'm very proud of you, Brandon."
Monday morning, after I learned Joe had died from cancer, I walked over to that On Air light he gave me and turned it on. I'm on the air today, in part because that man I grew up listening to every morning on the radio, believed in me. Thank you, Joe. I'm glad I made you proud.
My thoughts and prayers are with Joe's family.
-Brandon
Joe Lowe
