Meeting MY RADIO Idol: Where Do I Begin?
Sam D’Amico and Legendary DJ Elvis Duran
By Sam D’Amico
How many people can say they’ve met their idol? No, not that 15-second encounter when meeting Harry Styles or Anne Hathaway that one time in the back of a bar. The genuine kind, where you can look into that person’s eyes and say, “You are the reason I am where I am today.” That idol is someone you strive to be and is someone who had similar hopes and dreams as you.
That feeling, ladies and gents, is the tingly feeling that four lucky Five Towns College students got to experience when meeting one of the most legendary personalities on radio. This man has the most listened to Top 40 radio morning show in the United States of America. If that’s not impressive enough, he has his own Hollywood Star, and as of 2018, been inducted into the National Association of Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame. If you haven’t guessed already, this idol is the man, the myth, the legend, Elvis Duran.
At Book Revue in Huntington, New York, fans from near and far, lined up to see Duran. One fellow fan told me that she’d drive as far as possible to see her idol. “I drove four hours to be here, and it was totally worth it.” Anticipated fans came to buy Duran’s first book titled, “Where Do I Begin? Stories (I Sort Of Remember) from a Life Lived Out Loud.”
Duran was joined by News 12 Anchor Elisa DiStefano, with an exclusive interview to discuss his new book. Duran was surrounded by tons of love as his family, and other co-hosts were alongside him at the event. In the interview, Elisa highlighted some of the nuggets of inspiration Duran left throughout his book, including, “Being happy isn’t about turning yourself into the person you wish you could be, it’s about building a life that fits the person you are. And to do that, you have to get to know that person.” (P117)
Aspiring broadcasters got a taste of Duran’s life experiences as well as advice for the future. One particular student got the opportunity to ask Duran for some post-college graduate tips. “Internships are the best way. They really are fantastic. We are in an industry that is shrinking because content and the way its distributed is being spread out all over everywhere. There aren’t as many positions available as it used to be,” Duran advised.
Students were blown away by Duran’s expertise and wisdom. He connected with each student by wishing them luck as they embarked into the media field. FTC student Natalie Allouche was excited to meet the person she has listened to on the radio her whole life. “Today, I was able to meet someone who I’ve been listening to since I was in elementary school. Elvis Duran is by far the most humble and sweetest person I’ve ever met. It’s crazy to match a face to the voice I grew up listening to.”
Overall, this opportunity was an excellent way for aspiring broadcast journalists to come face to face with their idol. Duran’s new book, “Where Do I Begin? Stories (I Sort Of Remember) from a Life Lived Out Loud” can be brought in Book Revue in Huntington, as well as Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Audible.
