R.I.P Steve Fredericks

[Donna Halper]

it was asked--
>> Isn't leaving historic icon WCAU...to go to Mac Richmond's WMEX for
>> a late night talk show a step down?
>>

Actually no, back then.  Mac had come from Philly, where he ran an ad 
agency (with offices in DC as well, if I recall correctly); it was while 
in Philly that he heard and later recruited Jerry Williams; and Mac 
still had a lot of contacts in that area of the country.  Working at 
WMEX was still seen as a good career move because being a talk host in 
Boston was very high-visibility, and usually got you lots of publicity.  
And while I am not accusing the late Mr Fredericks of anything, Dan is 
correct in mentioning being clean and sober.  Some career moves were 
fueled by needing to get out of a market and start again somewhere else, 
often as a result of drug or alcohol problems.  It was the industry's 
dirty little secret and few discussed it.