hiː ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn ˈiːst ɡɹˈænd fˈɔːɹks, mˌɪnɪsˈoʊɾə ænd bɪɡˈæn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɪks, wˌɛn hɪz fɹˈɛnd ʃˈædoʊ stˈiːvənz ɛŋkˈɜːɹɪdʒd hˌɪm tə tɹˈaɪ ɹˈeɪdɪˌoʊ.
He grew up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota and began his career in 1966, when his friend Shadoe Stevens encouraged him to try radio.