Hot 107.9’s syndicated host Ricky Smiley moves to Atlanta

Atlanta's Rickey Smiley has a close relationship with TV One since he syndicates his radio show for the radio division.

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Atlanta's Rickey Smiley has a close relationship with TV One since he syndicates his radio show for the radio division.

Originally posted October 8, 2009 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Morning host Ricky Smiley's manager Kevin Wasson confirmed today that Smiley has moved his entire show to Atlanta from Dallas.

As a syndicated host, he joined Hot 107.9 about a year ago, which dumped the local "A" team featuring Griff and Rashan Ali. Many figured it was a cost-cutting measure on Radio One's part because you can spread the costs of a syndicated talent over multiple markets.

Gary Abdo, the publicist for Uptown Comedy Corner, said Smiley will be at the club tonight, too., at 9 p.m., as host. With the BET Hip Hop Awards coming Saturday, a lot of Smiley's comedian buddies came into town and he called Abdo and offered to host. "It's more a social thing than work," Abdo said. "It's the gang getting together telling some jokes."

“He was one of the first comics to perform on our stage in 1993,” Abdo noted. “He swept the stage that day because we were setting up for our first night,” Abdo said. “We’re friends. I managed him for awhile.”

Abdo said Smiley always wanted to do radio and was good at it. As a comic, Atlanta was always his top market, Abdo noted, but Smiley never lived here – until now.

He joins Steve Harvey as another African-American morning host who moved to Atlanta and does a syndicated show from here. Harvey's on Majic 107.5/97.5.

Atlanta has a few other syndicated shows based here as well, notably Neal Boortz and Clark Howard on WSB-AM and the 2 Live Stews on 790/The Zone.