Dan​Tooker

Tooker had several radio aliases including Dean Richards, The White Night at Night and Taz to name a few. His first real break came on Indianapolis juggernaut WIBC. Tooker an avid Indy Car fan (he would regularly skip school (High school and college) during the month of May to watch the cars practice and qualify.) worked as an Indy 500 correspondent under the legendary Bob Lamey (The Voice of the Indianapolis Colts). It wasn’t long before he was a regular on local television and ESPN “I grew up listening/looking up to Rick Dees, Adam Smasher, Jeff Pigeon and Tom Griswold. Rick Dees wasn’t getting paid 30 grand a year to stand at the Milwaukee fairgrounds wearing a fire suit in the middle of August with 97% humidity. I love Rick Dees and wanted to be him. That became my focus.” He then walked away from sports broadcasting to focus on personality radio. Tooker appeared on Kokomo’s WIOU and WZWZ , Indianapolis WZPL,WNAP, WTLC,  WFBQ, WHHH, and WNDE as a night host and fill in.

 

His shows where listener call based to the point where he was regularly hot-lined by Program Directors to “shut up” and play music. In a 1996 Radio and Records Interview Tooker Said “I didn’t get into radio to be a groupie or to get back stage. Honestly, I don’t care about the music. I am trying to make the guy who is working the night shift at White Castle life a scoch better.” By chance Tooker ran into WZPL (Kiss 99) Sam Graves and Don Payne who gave his  first Solo Morning Show Opportunity on WAXT (Graves and Payne Co Owned the station). Graves, Payne and WAXT not only developed his broadcasting career but gave Dan the flexibility to start and prefect his standup career (see Stand-Up). Tooker’s Stand-up career was at an all-time high but his personal life was in turmoil when KLYV Dubuque, Iowa reached out to him to replace the very popular Morning Duo of Dawson and Collins.” I floundered till I met Alan Fee. My radio career was successful before but Alan Fee pushed/forced me to a new level”. Tooker and Fee became Dubuque, Iowa’s #1 Morning show in 6 months. KFRX Lincoln, Nebraska and Des Moines, Iowa KKDM where quick stops before landing at KHKI.