SCREAMIN' SCOTT RANDALL
Air Personality,
WRIF 101 FM

Screamin' Scott Randall (pictured at right with Specs VIP, Dick Kernen) is such a rock guy it's hard to imagine him working anywhere but WRIF. With his throaty growl, long hair and laid-back attitude, it's easy to imagine he just woke up one day, partied with a few rock stars (they are on every corner these days) and wound up spinning records overnight.

But without spoiling his image too much, Scott actually earned his 1am-6am air shift on "Detroit's Home of Rock 'n Roll" by skipping a lot of parties and then some in order to practice his craft.

THE WAPAKONETA YEARS (1982-1992)

While his heroes -- like WRIF's Arthur Penhallow -- dotted the urban landscape, Scott's first job upon graduating from Specs took him to rural Ohio.

As the name would imply, Wapakoneta is a painfully small town for a city boy with a dream. However, once inside the studio, the backdrop faded away. Scott was on the radio, and getting paid for it now too.

Scott clearly preferred this new world to the fast-paced life he'd led as a burger-flipper back in Detroit. For the next 10 years, he'd move from station to station, from one small town to another, before he felt ready to head home to try his luck at a career in The Motor City.

THE RITZ ERA

Upon his return to Detroit, Scott took a job as a club DJ at “The Ritz” in Roseville. Throughout the '80s and into the '90s, The Ritz was a popular rock venue on the small to mid-size tour circuit where national artists like the Black Crowes and Vince Neil played on their way up (and back down) the charts.

In addition to keeping the dance floor moving and reminding the crowd to tip the waitstaff on a nightly basis, hosting wacky contests and introducing bands as they hit the stage brought Scott recognition among the club crowd – winning him an award for Best DJ in a Metro Times readers' poll in 1993 – as well as the attention of local radio execs.

Z-ROCK

In 1993, Z-Rock affiliate WDZR-FM launched “The Screamin' Scott Morning Show," which proved to be the major turning point in his career. Scott was back on the air, only this time, it was Detroit. Not only was he the only local talent on the station (most of the day was spent in Texas via satellite), but he managed to hold his own in the market for 3-1/2 years. The rock guy had arrived.

WRIF 101 FM

Since hopping aboard "The Riff" in 1997, Scott's career has come full circle. He can look back at the Ritz era -- providing
a history that goes back much further than his years at WRIF -- and remember when Kid Rock and Eminem were just a couple of local dudes paying their dues right there along with him. And as he looks forward to catching up to Arthur P's 30-plus years at the station, Scott is also giving back. As a regular guest speaker and spokesperson for Specs Howard School, his self-deprecating humor and advice encourages the next generation to follow their dreams. Perhaps they too will one day look ahead and hope to beat Scott's record.

Links to MORE about Scott Randall:

Screamin' Scott (bio)
(WRIF web site)

KELLY BROWN
Air Talent
WIOT 104.7 FM
(Toledo, OH)

SHELLEY IRWIN
Host/Producer
WGVU-1480 AM
(Grand Rapids, MI)

SCREAMIN' SCOTT RANDALL
Air Personality
WRIF 101 FM
(Detroit, MI)

Mike Staff
DJ/Owner
Mike Staff Production(Madison Heights, MI)

CAROLYN STONE
Assistant Program Director/Air Personality
106.5 The Zone
(Toledo, OH)

GARY WANN
Promotion Writer/ Producer
Fox 2 Detroit
(Detroit, MI)