Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Rick Stephenson has lived the life radio has to offer, working in many different cities like Minneapolis, Albuquerque, Shreveport, and Phoenix, Arizona. Rick now makes his home in Peoria, Illinois and is the morning personality at 97.3 River Country. Although he's a "60's child" and grew up with the Beatles, Beach Boys, and the rock revolution, his choice of country radio has spanned for over three decades.
Rick's resume is impressive to say the least, having worked at KNEW in Oakland, where he performed every job from morning jock to production director. Ten years later, his company moved him to the Twin Cities where Rick became the morning air personality at WDGY, Minneapolis. He was a top five finalist for Billboard Magazine's "Radio Personality Of The Year" in 1989, and in the same year, he and his partner were voted by readers of a local paper, one of the top three morning teams in the city. He was also a panelist for USA Today for 18 months, picking top albums along with four other program directors from across the country.
From there, Rick programmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona, and enjoyed his most rewarding accomplishments in Shreveport, Louisiana where he programmed at KRMD for nearly five years. He led his staff to three consecutive LAB Station of the Year awards, two CMA and an NAB nomination. He also programmed at Clear Channel's KITT and KWKH, Shreveport, the home of the legendary Louisiana Hayride.
But after being a program director for fourteen years, Rick moved to Illinois in 2001 to become "Just a radio personality." And his experience continues to pay off! Rick has been awarded a Silver Dome Award for "Best Local Morning Show of the Year in a Medium Market" twice by the Illinois Broadcasters Association. Rick has been honored by the Country Radio Broadcasters in Nashville and received a Silver Dome Award for "Best Community Service Activity" for "Do Me A Favor Friday" and has been a Top 5 Finalist for the Country Music Association and Academy Of Country Music Personality of the Year.
The love of his life is his daughter, Megan. "God has blessed me with the most beautiful young lady you can imagine, and I am very proud of her in so many ways!" She married her long-time boyfriend Andy on February 28th.