Cruz Era Ends In South Florida
• After a remarkable 34-year run as host of the wildly popular Quiet Storm on Cox Media Group Urban AC WHQT (Hot 105)/Miami, market legend Freddie Cruz officially hung up his headphones and eased into retirement after his show last Thursday evening. Video of Freddie’s final break is posted on Facebook.
Afterwards, Cruz was the guest of honor at a farewell party held inside CMG’s 4th floor performance studio. Attendees included current and former Hot 105 personalities, current and Cox employees, current and former competitors, and a live studio audience, all there to pay their respects to a true market icon.
In a Friday morning staff memo, Phil Michaels-Trueba, Hot 105’s Director Of Branding & Programming said, “The KING of Evening radio in South Florida is officially retired after 34 years on the airwaves! I want to thank ALL of you for making last night a very special evening for Freddie as he performed his final show on Hot 105’s Quiet Storm. Freddie is an icon and a legend in the South Florida radio landscape. He is unique to Miami and a special part of the Hot 105 brand throughout the years. When I came back to Hot 105 in 2006 as Director of Branding and Programming, I coined the phrase that Freddie ‘was responsible for the population boom in South Florida,’ because he was as the consistently rated No. 1 evening show month after month, year after year.”
The Cuban-born Cruz immigrated with his family to Hoboken, NJ. After serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Cruz planted his roots in South Florida in 1973 and got his radio start two years later at Spanish-language WFAB-AM/Miami. He joined Hot 105 on the first day it went on the air on January 10, 1985 as the host of the Quiet Stormand began his historic run as the magic city’s No. 1 evening show.
Michaels-Trueba added, “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Freddie for over 28 years. He’s not only an icon and legend on the South Florida airwaves, but also a dear friend and I wish him happiness, health and what he loved most — LOVE on his retirement. His first plan is to take a trip to Alaska with his family.”
• In the interim, Hot 105 personality Chico The Virgo will be hosting the Quiet Storm as the company launches a planet-wide search for its next Quiet Storm host. The position is posted online.
