Mark Tassler's Story

Mark Tassler, along with Jerry Dahmen, gets up very early in the morning to help you start your day off right.  He's South Dakota born and proud of it.  Here's his story...

I was born in 1961 in Clear Lake, SD. It was shortly thereafter that I automatically fell in love with country and western music. I had the fortune of growing up in what I believe to be the best era for adapting to real country. It was a time of the great songs of the 50’s and 60’s.

I immediately attached to western swing along with the style of Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Carl Smith, Hank Sr.. I also got my hands on an album that my mother had purchased at the time that introduced what was known as Folk Country. The artist that was being introduced was a new comer that went by the name Waylon Jennings. Many years later in the mid to late 70’s when I was in high school and all the kids in school were thinking they were really somebody listening to pop music (I was still doin' country), someone said "what do you think of the new guy singing Lukenbach Texas? He’s pretty good isn’t he?" I just smiled while I thought to myself about one of the songs that Waylon had on the "Leavin’ Town" album-the song entitled "Anita" that I enjoyed in the mid 60’s.

And talking about the 70’s, what an era for country music! Johnny Duncan, Charlie Rich, Charlie Pride, Mel Tillis, Porter and Dolly to name a few. Oh! and Tom T’s "The year Clayton Delany Died" and "Country Bumpkin" by Cal Smith. Given the years of my growing up, I couldn’t go wrong. I hope that I have relayed to you by now my appreciation for the art that you and I listen to on Country 1000 KXRB.

I spent many years in broadcasting automobile racing , a sport that I have totally dedicated my life to. After finding that I’m the most comfortable when I have a microphone in front of me, I considered starting a new career-that of radio announcing. When I brought my love of country music into the thought, I was convinced that I had finally got my bearings straight on what I wanted to really do with my life. I shut down everything that I was currently doing very successfully and pursued radio.

My first and only contact was KXRB. They took me on board May 2, 1999, and allowed me to further the career that I love dearly. Special thanks to Joe Morrison and Ratt Reno for sharing the knowledge that they have with me. I look forward to a long and satisfying association with KXRB and it's loyal listeners.

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