KIDD KRADDICK

David Craddick was born in 1959 and began his radio career as an overnight disc jockey at WKXY/Sarasota. He was eighteen when he moved to WRBQ/Tampa, adopting the nickname “Kidd” to emphasize his youth. In the early 1980s, he worked for stations in Miami, Fresno, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City before taking the night shift at KEGL/Dallas and establishing a following.

After KEGL changed formats, Kraddick became the morning host at KHKS/Dallas in 1993. The show became a local sensation, combining interviews, improvised comedy, and personal discussion. In 2001, Premiere Networks began syndicating Kidd Kraddick in the Morning; six years later, Kraddick’s YEA! Network began self-syndicating the show, which is heard nationwide on more than sixty-five stations.

In the 1990s, Kraddick also developed two radio-related products: The Morning Mouth, a monthly publication for morning personalities; and BitBoard, an online "sharing service" for radio personalities to acquire news and sounds to share with their listeners.

Kidd Kraddick died on July 28, 2013. After his death, it was decided that both the show and his charity Kidd’s Kids would continue as a tribute to its founder, with the show’s supporting cast, including Kellie Rasberry, “Big Al” Mack, “J-Si” Chavez and Jenna Owens.

He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2016.