Rizzo & Jeff Resurface In Asheville
• After nearly a year on the radio beach, as it were, we are thrilled to share the news that the highly motivated major market morning duo — and gifted digital ninjas — Rizzo & Jeff are circling for a landing in beautiful Asheville, NC, hired by Saga’s Asheville Radio Group as the new morning show on Classic Rock WTMT (105.9 The Mountain), with a launch date of Feb. 12. We know this because the guys revealed their big news Friday afternoon during a Facebook Live session.
When we last left our heroes, they were doing afternoon drive on iHeartMedia Hot Talk WAIO (Radio 95.1)/Rochester, NY until late March 2023, when they exited during a round of corporate restructuring, despite being named as “iHeartRadio Digital Influencers of the Year,” beating out talent in top 10 markets.
Jeff Daly (right) is the artist formerly known as “Rat” back in the day, who was teamed up for years with Josh “Puff” Foreman as “Rat & Puff” in nights at WFLZ/Tampa, later in afternoons at WIOQ (Q102)/Philadelphia, and mornings on the former WDZH (98.7 AMP Radio)/Detroit, where he and Rizzo were initially teamed up. Richard “Rizzo” Deaver (left) was originally a cast member of The Scott & Todd Show — and later, The Todd Show— at WPLJ/New York, and met Daly when he joined The Rat & Puff Show at WDZH. After a brief pre-pandemic run at WKHQ/Traverse City, MI, the guys were hired by WAIO.
For their part, Rizzo & Jeff issued a statement that reads, “We couldn’t be more excited to work with a forward-thinking company that sees the future of radio for what it is — LIVE, LOCAL and SOCIAL. We can not wait to bring the influencer power that we have to go against the company directly who directly awarded us the best at it! Saga is pressed to go into the future of radio ahead of the curve. They operate out of vision not fear. We owe Pat Paxton, Steve Richards and Tom Davis a debt of gratitude that will be rewarded ten-fold.”
The statement continues, “In our ability to survive on social media alone this year we learned it isn’t about the market size or chasing the ‘BIG JOB.’ That ‘BIG JOB’ is when you finally find the right company — and that IS Saga and Asheville Radio group! This is our LAST STOP! We cannot wait to join this company and WIN BIG! Look out radio — Rizzo and Jeff are back… and we are hungry. Sit back, watch and listen Monday through Friday 6-10am on WTMT. Find the show podcast on ALL PLATFORMS daily and on Facebook! The show begins Monday 2/12! Also a special shout out to Keith Kauffman of Workhouse Media for finalizing and making this an easy transition for all involved!”
