Daily Inspiration: Meet Redneck

Today we’d like to introduce you to Redneck .

Hi Redneck; so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am thankful for the recognition from Nashville Voyager and the opportunity to share my story. I was born and raised in the south but left home early to become a professional Dance Instructor and choreographer. I traveled the world, but I always missed the food, music, and culture South of the Mason – Dixon that’s why I’d make it back home from time to time. I ended up in New York, where I met my Yankee bride and settled down, but I still needed my “Dose of Dixie.” My dance career fostered many relationships with producers, musicians, singers, and songwriters, and from time to time, I’d put one in touch with the other that, on occasion, led to record deals. So I decided to form “Southern Exposure Entertainment” My focus was finding and promoting local independent artists. I began getting local independent stations to play their music soon after I had so many talented musicians reaching out that the local stations couldn’t handle all the requests. On January 9, 2013, I launched “The Gumbo YaYa Radio Show,” highlighting music, food, and all things southern. When I first moved to New York from The Mississippi Gulf Coast, people would endearingly call me “Redneck.” That’s why when the show debuted on WRCR 1300AM. I elected to make “Redneck” the host because let’s face it, Scott A. Stout is just not that interesting and REDNECK sounds fitting for a show called Gumbo YaYa!

Initially, local artists and restaurant owners would show up at the station to sample their food and music live on air. The GYYRS was dubbed “A Picnic on The Radio” Gumbo YaYa Radio Show boasts we are the Worldwide Home of Independent Artists. Still, we had nowhere for them to perform, so we began getting venues in and around New York City to book the local and touring acts we were featured on the show, and broadcasting live on location. A nearby Italian establishment saw what we were doing. They were looking for a new identity, so they changed their name to Southern Exposure, swapped out the old menu for BBQ, Gumbo, Grits, Fried Chicken, etc., and asked us to host their weekly live music featuring the musicians we were profiled on the show.

Now our radio broadcast reaches the New York Metro area into parts of New Jersey, Connecticut & Pennsylvania and streams worldwide on the WRCR website and WRCR on Tunein; At last count, we had listeners in more than 12 countries and 20 states. We are coming up on our 10th Anniversary and still looking for great independent artists to showcase! “Remember, Folks, hug your friends, Kiss yer Family, Thank the Lord & Yall Keep Listening to The Gumbo YaYa Radio Show!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The show was an instant success with local artists and entrepreneurs; however, getting big names and national touring artists to join us was a challenge initially. Having an online presence helped; it was a grassroots movement where the artists and their fans spread the word. Soon we began getting music submissions and requests to join us from all over the country, like Nashville, Los Angeles, London, Dallas, Sidney, Belfast, and more. It seemed like we were on a roll, having just teamed up with a local venue to sponsor the show and host live concerts. Sadly a year into the partnership, the owner passed, and the venue was sold. However, we had to take a hiatus from terrestrial radio and continue the show via streaming platforms. We convinced the station to continue airing the show without sponsorship, and things were going great until my Yankee Bride was diagnosed with a spinal tumor. Thank God through surgery and therapy, although there are some lingering issues, she is here today to tell her story.

Eventually were contacted by a local FM station offering us a time slot for the show. Yeah, we are back on the air! As luck would have it, a year into this run, I was in an accident as a pedestrian and hit by a truck. Once again, the focus was shifted to family and health, so we took another break from broadcasting and went back to webcasting. After 7 surgeries & endless hours of physical therapy, I was ready to get back into the studio. It happened again!! Two later years this time. The pandemic! That’s right; we were doing the online thing again. As you know, in this business, out of sight, out of mind, we were so worried if we went back on the air that, we’d have no listeners. In March of 2022, we relaunched on WRCR now 1700am, and the response was overwhelming.

In addition to all the listeners and independent artists who supported our return, we’ve had some icons like William Lee Golden, Lacy J. Dalton, and David Frizzell, to mention a few. There are several Nashville and European PR Firms, Labels, and A&R Reps, not to mention all the independent artists making submissions daily. I’ve had offers to expand markets and talks of syndication. We’ve established a relationship with the ACM & The Josie Awards. And for the past 6 years, The Gumbo YaYa Radio Show has been broadcasting weekly on a local cable station.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Gumbo YaYa Radio Show is the Worldwide Home of The Independent Artists. We hold live interviews and feature music by independent artists from the Hudson Valley, across the Nation, and around the world, sharing and discussing a variety of interests & backgrounds in all genres of music, food, community, country & more. We are proud of our weekly “Salute to Service” segment, where we honor our Military and First Responders through musical tribute. I’m blessed to be able to do what I love. Grateful for all the people & independent artists who have made us a success. As I like to say, “It’s your show; I’m just the host.”

What matters most to you? Why?
My goal is to give support and recognition to Independent Artists. I know how hard it is to make it in the entertainment business, often costing more than you earn. There are so many amazing singers out there who never get the chance to hear their music by a label or producer or even the joy of hearing their own song played on the radio. That’s what we strive to accomplish.

Our mission is to help the Musicians, Singers & Songwriters that make The Gumbo YaYa Radio Show successful achieve their goals of being signed to a label or agency or having their music recorded, published, and performed. The Gumbo YaYa Radio Show regularly brings independent artists from all genres to New York City to appear on the show and perform at various venues in the area and has sent a few to Nashville to meet with top producers.

Contact Info:

• Website: GumboYaYaRadioShow.webs.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/gumboyayaradioshow/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/RedNeckGumboYaYa/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/GumboYaYaShow
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCkw81GOnviyi49I8ak8_n0Q
• Other: twitch.tv/gumboyayaradioshow